COMMITTEE OF HANOVER PRECINCT, ULSTER COUNTY, NEW-YORK.

At a meeting of the Committee of Hanover Precinct, at the house of Widow Crist, on Tuesday, the 25th of this instant, June, 1776, William Cross Chairman:

Resolved, 1st, That John Barkly and James Huston do attend Captain Vancuran’s Company on the 27th of this instant, June.

And they attended accordingly, when the Company elected James Munnel, Sen., Second Lieutenant, and John Barber Ensign, agreeably to the orders of the Provincial Congress.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL GATES.

Albany, June 25, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: About twelve last night General Arnold arrived here. Our Army has been under the necessity of leaving the inhabited part of Canada and retreating to Isle-aux-Noix, which has been happily effected without loss of men, and only nine batteaus and three pieces of cannon left behind. The sick are coming on to Crown Point. General Sullivan, with the remainder, was at Isle-aux-Noix on the 19th, and intended to remain there until he received orders from General Washington or me to retire further south, although I believe he will be obliged to leave it either by his own Army or that of the enemy. I have recommended a farther retreat to Point-au-Fer or Isle-la-Motte, both because it was the unanimous opinion of a Council of War and the wish of all the officers, who, General Arnold informs me, have addressed him upon the occasion, and because I know it will not be a difficult matter for the enemy to occupy both shores on this side of him, for six miles, and prevent, if not a retreat, at least a supply of provisions.

I wish you to hasten up with all possible despatch, that we may advise together on the most eligible methods to be pursued to prevent an increase of our misfortunes in this unlucky quarter. I have a very confident hope that our naval superiority will prevent the enemy’s crossing Lake Champlain; and although they will exert themselves in building vessels of force, yet I think we can outbuild them.

I shall this day send to Connecticut and the Massachusetts for ship-carpenters, as we cannot be supplied with any from New-York.

Adieu, my dear General, and believe me, with every friendly and affectionate wish, your most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable General Gates.

Be so good as to take a bed with me, that, whilst you remain, we may be as much together as possible.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Albany, June 25, 1776.

SIR: General Sullivan, with our Northern Army, is now at Isle-aux-Noix, to which place he retired on the 18th instant, having conducted his retreat from the Sorel in such a manner as not to lose a man, and only nine batteaus, with three pieces of cannon. For particulars, as I am crowded with business, permit me to refer you to Mr. Trumbull, who will write you by the bearer. We have happily such a naval superiority on Lake Champlain that I have a confident hope the enemy will not appear upon it this campaign, especially as our strength in that way is increasing by the addition of gondolas, two of which are nearly finished. Congress has ordered that we should by all means keep the navigation of that Lake to ourselves; I must, therefore, employ more ship-carpenters, and should be glad if your Honour would order some proper persons to engage two companies of twenty-five each. The wages will be the same as those receive that are now employed in the publick service; and I wish they should enter into a similar agreement, observing that their pay will commence from the time they respectively leave home, and allowing at the rate of one day for every twenty miles for coming to or returning from Albany; from thence the same as those now employed. What that is, your Honour will see by the enclosed, which is a copy of my agreement with one of the companies now employed. As they must necessarily provide themselves with provisions during their march, I will allow them one-third of a dollar per day until they arrive at Albany; and as every species of this allowance cannot at all times be got, th0e difference will be paid at the end of the campaign; and therefore they will give receipts to the Commissaries for the quantity of each specie they may receive.

Sundry persons are prisoners here—some from Canada, and others from Tryon County. The Committee of this place think it dangerous that they should remain in it, and have requested me to move them elsewhere. I have ordered them to your Colony. They are to leave this to-morrow, by way of Dutchess County, and I have directed their route to Hartford. Permit me to beg your Honour to give the necessary directions for their future residence. A list of the names is enclosed. Sergeant Brown, of the Artillery, I am informed by General Arnold and others, attempted to escape into Quebeck. He, I think, ought to be closely confined for his breach of promise.

Be so good, sir, as to favour me with a line in answer by the bearer, and advise me, if you possibly can, when you guess the carpenters (if any) may reach Albany.

I am, dear sir, your Honour’s most obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable Governour Trumbull.

ALBANY COMMITTEE.

Albany Committee-Chamber, June 13, 1776.

Mr. Rensselaer made the following motion, and was seconded:

Whereas our constituents have deemed Abraham C. Cuyler, Henry Cuyler, Stephen De Lancey, John Monier, John Duncan, Lieutenant McDonald, and Benjamin Hilton, notoriously disaffected to the measures pursued by the friends to American liberty, and in consequence thereof imprisoned them, and instructed us to remove them out of this County: As one of their Representatives, I move that the said persons above-mentioned be removed, under guard, to Hartford, in Connecticut; and that a letter be written to his Honour Govenour Trumbull, requesting him to dispose of them in his Colony, as he shall think proper; and that the said persons pay all the expenses which have or may be incurred by reason of their confinement, removal, and maintenance.

Upon which debates arising, and the question being put, resolved in the affirmative.

Extract from the Minutes:

MAT. VISSCHER, Secretary.

List of Charges against the persons sent from this City to HARTFORD, in CONNECTICUT.

Abraham C. Cuyler is openly and avowedly countenancing of, and associating with, such persons as were suspected of being unfriendly to the American cause, without having regard to the rank or character of such persons, and frequently speaking in the most violent terms against the cause of America; amongst which he said the King’s standard would be hoisted before the 1st day of June last past; it being asked who would hoist it, he answered it would be done, and rather than it should not be done, he would do it himself. At another time he mentioned that if twelve or fourteen of the ringleaders out of the town of Albany were hanged, matters would not be carried as they now are, to deprive the people of their just rights by their arbitrary proceedings; that he was a friend to the Constitution of Great Britain, and good order and Government; and that England never meant to distress America, and that we brought the war upon ourselves; and that the Americans were acting in open rebellion; and that many of the Congress had sinister views, and meant only to make their fortunes; and further he has by artful and insinuating speeches, endeavoured to depreciate the Continental currency. It would be needless to enumerate the many and scandalous speeches he has made use of against his bleeding country, as a further confirmation in our opinion of his unfriendly behaviour. He was apprised of almost every disaster that happened to our troops before the news came by express to us, and made mention of the manœuvres of the British Army, the intention of the Indians in going to Canada, and many other circumstances of a like kind, which have since come to pass. It has also appeared, from an affidavit of one Brando, of Catskill, that one Jansen, of the same place, asked him (Brando) whether he