CONGRESS OF NEW-JERSEY TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Burlington, July 3, 1776.

SIR: I am directed to transmit the enclosed Resolves, which we hope will answer valuable purposes.

I have the honour to be, your most humble servant.

By order of Congress:

SAMUEL TUCKER, President.

To the Honourable the President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.

Ordered, That the Provincial Congress of New-York be empowered to apprehend and secure such of the Inhabitants of that Colony who have removed into this as they may think necessary for the publick good; and all persons within this Colony are desired to aid and assist in the execution of such orders for that purpose as they may think proper to make.

Ordered, That Stephen Crane, Lewis Ogden, and Caleb Camp, be a Secret Committee to correspond and co-operate with the Secret Committee of the Provincial Congress of New-York; and that the said Committee be vested with power to issue Warrants, and apprehend and confine such person or persons as they may think necessary for the pub-lick good.

Extract from the Minutes:

WILLIAM PATTERSON, Secretary.

GENERAL LIVINGSTON TO GENERAL MERCER.

Elizabethtown, July 3, 1776—six o’clock P. M.

SIR: With respect to the operations of the enemy last night we have no intelligence at all. What we can collect respecting their motions to-day is, that a little after sunrise this morning a party of them, amounting, according to the estimation of one of the inhabitants who was made a prisoner, to between fifty and sixty, took him, with his effects, as he was removing from Staten-Island, and was on the ferry stairs opposite to our Point. They returned all his effects, and made him promise to go over to this place, fetch his wife, and to live in peace, assuring him that they came not to injure, but to protect the inhabitants. During the day a party of them have showed themselves at the house of one Pool, a tavern on the Island, about a mile along shore.

They have taken up the planks of a drawbridge across a creek in the Salt Meadow, on the Staten-Island side, opposite to the Point. Their sentries appear along shore to the westward as far as Rahway River, which is about three miles from the Point towards Amboy, and near the Blazing Star Ferry, in order, I suppose, to prevent all access from this Province to that Island. Since, I received a letter from Colonel Reed, (on my way to New-York,) informing me of their having landed on the Island; and collecting from his letter that my presence was more necessary here than at New-York, I have ordered Captain Neil, of our Artillery company at Amboy, to proceed immediately with his company and four field-pieces, in two divisions, one—consisting of one-third of his men and two field-pieces—to the Blazing Star Ferry, the other to come on to this place, where report is to be made, and to wait my further orders. This at present I propose to station at Elizabethtown Point, and at Newark Ferry, where there are already two field-pieces, but no men belonging to them.

Our people here seem to be greatly dispirited at so great a part of the force of this Province being drawn off to New-York, (important as they deem that object to the enemy,) while they are absolutely at their mercy. If the Connecticut Militia is arrived in such numbers as, with the Continental troops, to be adequate to repel the expected attack upon New-York, with the aid of part of the Jersey forces, it really seems necessary, in my poor judgment, to return part of them to defend the borders of this Province, between Newark and Amboy, from their depredations; but this, sir, is humbly submitted to the judgment of my superiors in command.

I have the honour to be, sir, your very humble servant,

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON,

Brig. Gen. of Militia of New-Jersey.

To the Honourable Hugh Mercer, Esq.

P. S. At the Point we have about four or five hundred men, but with indifferent arms and few officers.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Received and read in Congress July 4, 1776.]

New-York, July 3, 1776.

SIR: Since I had the honour of addressing you, and on the same day, several ships more arrived within the Hook, making the number that came in then a hundred and ten, and there remains no doubt of the whole of the fleet from Halifax being now here.

Yesterday morning fifty of them came up the Bay and anchored on the Staten-Island side. Their views I cannot precisely determine, but am extremely apprehensive, as part of them only came, that they mean to surround the Island and secure the stock upon it. I had consulted with a Committee of the Provincial Congress upon the subject before the arrival of the fleet, and they appointed a person to superintend the business and to drive the stock off. I also wrote Brigadier-General Heard, and directed him to the measure, lest it might be neglected; but am fearful it has not been effected.

Our reinforcement of Militia is but yet small; I cannot ascertain the amount, not having got a return. However, I trust if the enemy make an attack they will meet with a repulse, as I have the pleasure to inform you that an agreeable spirit and willingness for action seem to animate and pervade the whole of our troops.

As it is difficult to determine what objects the enemy may have in contemplation, and whether they may not detach some part of their force to Amboy to ravage that part of the country, if not extend their views farther, I submit it to Congress whether it may not be expedient for them to repeat and press home their requests to the different Governments that are to provide men for the flying-camp, to furnish their quotas with all possible despatch. It is a matter of great importance, and will be of serious consequence to have the camp established in case the enemy should be able to possess themselves of this river, and cut off the supplies of troops that might be necessary on certain emergencies to be sent from home.

I must entreat your attention to an application I made some time ago for flints. We are extremely deficient in this necessary article, and shall be greatly distressed if we cannot obtain a supply. Of lead, we have a sufficient quantity for the whole campaign, taken off the houses here.

Esteeming it of infinite advantage to prevent the enemy from getting fresh provisions, and horses for their wagons, artillery, &c., I gave orders to a party of our men on Staten-Island, since writing General Heard, to drive the stock off without waiting for the assistance or direction of the Committees there, lest their slow mode of transacting business might produce too much delay, and have sent this morning to know what they have done. I am this minute informed by a gentleman that the Committee of Elizabethtown sent their company of Light-Horse on Monday to effect it, and that some of their Militia was to give their aid yesterday; he adds that he was credibly told last night by part of the Militia coming to this place, that yesterday they saw a good deal of stock driving off the Island and crossing to the Jerseys; if the business is not executed before now, it will be impossible to do it.

I have the honour to be, with sentiments of the greatest esteem, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

COLONEL CURTENIUS TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, July 3, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am out of money, and can do nothing without it; should be glad you would send me five thousand pounds on account of Captain Brasher, or let me know whether I must come up to receive it. The last raised troops are in want of guns, but cannot get them because Mr. Norwood or I have not any orders to deliver them to any other troops but the first four regiments that were raised. If I am to deliver any, please to give me an order in writing.

The Regulars have landed at Staten-Island without opposition