General Return of the Army of the UNITED COLONIES, commanded by His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., General and Commander-in-Chief; Head-Quarters at NEW-YORK, June 12, 1776.

EDWARD FLEMING, Deputy Adjutant-General.

Return of the Regiment of Artillery in the service of the United Colonies, commanded by HENRY KNOX, Esq.; NEW-YORK, June 12, 1776.

EDWARD FLEMING, Deputy Adjutant-General.

ORDERS TO COLONEL JAMES CLINTON.

To Colonel JAMES CLINTON, Third NEW-YORK:

SIR : You are to repair to Fort Montgomery, and take upon you the command of the posts in the Highlands. Use every means in your power to provide your regiment with arms fit for service; as one step towards which, endeavour to employ an armourer or two, or more, as the case may require.

Use every possible diligence in forwarding the works at forts Montgomery and Constitution, agreeable to late directions given to Mr. Bedlow, who will furnish you with the same: as it is proposed by the Provincial Congress of New-York to recall their Commissioners from those posts, and leave the care of them altogether to the commanding officer of the Continental forces, and his order.

As these are or may become posts of infinite importance, especially the lower one, I cannot sufficiently impress upon you the necessity of putting them into a fit posture of defence, without delay. I have desired that a battalion, or at least five hundred of the York Militia, may be ordered to reinforce those garrisons, as well for the purpose of defence as to assist in the work. These are also to be under your command. The whole are to be kept close to duty, and not suffered to be absent on furlough but in case of real necessity, and then not more than two at a time are to be absent from a company at once.

Review the men; inspect the arms, &c. Make a report of the state of things, so soon as you get to these posts.

Your Lieutenant-Colonel (Livingston) is to be sent to this place in order to proceed to Long-Island, to take charge of the remainder of your regiment, posted toward the east end thereof.

Inform me if there are barracks or houses convenient to the forts Montgomery and Constitution, in which the Militia ordered there can be lodged.

Make weekly returns of your strength, and advise me regularly of all occurrences of any kind of importance.

Given under my hand, at Head-Quarters, near the City of New-York, this 14th day of June, Anno Domini 1776.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

New-York, June 16, 1776.

DEAR SIR : I was favoured with yours of the 10th inst., by last night’s post. The stroke meditating by the Indians against our frontier inhabitants is what I have long thought would happen, as they were not engaged in our interest. But I am in full hopes you will be able to repel their hostile designs, and convince them of their imprudence in joining our enemies without the least cause of quarrel.

As to the intrenching tools, I shall direct the Quartermaster to send up some as early as possible; but in respect to what you say about cannon and ammunition, I am at a loss whether it is intended as an application or not. I do not know that any of the former have been requested but for the armed vessels on the lakes, or of the latter but what has been sent for the Canada expedition. I wish you to explain the matter, and that your requisitions for necessaries may be always certain and explicit as to quality and quantity.

As the Militia to reinforce the Army in Canada and for keeping open our communication with that Province, or a part of them, will probably be on their march before long, I think it will be advisable for you to write the different Governments furnishing them, of the routes they should take, and of the places proper for their rendezvous.

I wrote you yesterday, and on the 9th instant, to which I refer you for full answers to all yours between the 21st ult. and your last.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To General Schuyler.