world. Let us, therefore, rely upon the goodness of the cause and the aid of the Supreme Being, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions. The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the tyranny meditated against them. Let us, therefore, animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a freeman, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.

The General recommends to the Officers great coolness in time of action, and to the Soldiers a strict attention and obedience, with a becoming firmness and spirit.

Any Officer or Soldier, or any particular Corps, distinguishing themselves by any acts of bravery and courage, will assuredly meet with notice and rewards; and, on the other hand, those who behave ill will as certainly be exposed and punished; the General being resolved, as well for the honour and safety of the country as Army, to show no favour to such as refuse or neglect their duty at so important a crisis.

The General expressly orders that no Officer or Soldier, on any pretence whatever, without leave in writing from the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, do leave the parade, so as to be out of drum call in case of an alarm, which may be hourly expected. The Regiments are immediately to be under arms at their respective parades, and should any be absent they will be severely punished. The whole Army to be at their alarm posts, completely equipped, to-morrow, a little before day.

Ensign Charles Miller, of Captain Wright’s Company, and Colonel Wylly’s Regiment, charged with “absenting himself from his guard,” tried by a General Court-Martial and acquitted. The General approves the sentence, and orders him to be dismissed from his arrest.

As there is a probability of rain, the General strongly recommends to the Officers to pay particular attention to the men’s Arms and Ammunition, that neither may be damaged.

Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, who was ordered to sit on the General Court-Martial in the Orders of yesterday, being absent on command, Lieutenant-Colonel Tyler is to sit in Court.

Evening Orders. —It is the General’s desire that the men lay upon their Arms in their Tents and Quarters, ready to turn out at a moment’s warning, as there is the greatest likelihood of it.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 3, 1776.

The Director-General of the Hospital having laid before the General a plan of conduct for the Surgeons and Mates. of the Regiments, by which, in case of action, they will do their duty with greater ease and benefit to the service, and the General much approving thereof, they are to attend the Director-General, and each take a copy of said plan, to which they are strictly to conform. The Adjutants of the several Regiments to make this order particularly known to each Sugeon and Mate without delay.

A working party to-morrow, consisting of eight hundred men, properly officered, from Generals Heath’s, Spencer’s, Lord Stirling’s, and Scott’s Brigades: Spencer’s at Bayard’s Hill Plain and Jones’s Hill—Captain Chapman to direct them; the others to apply at the Engineer’s Store for tools and directions, (at the west end of the Barrack,) Scott’s Brigade in particular, not to depart the store until they have a director, as it will relieve the Engineer from much intricateness; they being unacquainted, did not find the place destined for them yesterday, by which means the works at the Bomb-Battery were entirely omitted.

After Orders. —That the several Brigades and Troops fie at their alarm posts every morning at daybreak, as ordered this morning, and hold themselves in constant readiness, in case of an alarm.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 4, 1776.

The Colonels and Commanding Officers of Regiments are to make out Pay-Abstracts for the month of May. These are to be carefully examined by the Brigadiers under whom they serve, and by the Paymaster-General, before the Warrants are brought to be signed by the General; they are then to deliver them in, and receive payment.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
[Read July 8. Referred to Board of War.]

New-York, July 4, 1776.

SIR: This will be handed you by Colonel Stephenson, whom I have ordered, with the Captains of the two Rifle companies from Maryland, to wait on Congress. They will point out such measures as they conceive most likely to advance the raising of the new Rifle battalion, and the persons they think worthy of promotion, that have served in the three companies here, agreeable to the enclosed list. I am not acquainted with them myself but from their report and recommendation, which I doubt not to be just, and that if Congress will please to inquire of them, they will mention other proper persons for officers. Only about forty of the three old companies have reinlisted, which I shall form into one for the present, and place under an officer or two till a further and completed arrangement is made of the whole battalions.

I have the honour to be, with great esteem, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

A List of Officers recommended to serve in Captain Hugh Stephenson’s Company of Riflemen: Abraham Shepherd Captain, Samuel Finlay First Lieutenant, William Kelley Second Lieutenant, Henry Bedinger, Third Lieutenant To serve in Captain Rawlings’s Company: Richard Davis Captain, Daniel Cresap First Lieutenant, Newman Tannehill Second Lieutenant, Rezin Davis Third Lieutenant, not at present in the Company.

To serve in Captain Williams’s Company: Philemon Griffith Captain, Thomas Hussey Luckett First Lieutenant, Adamson Tannehill Second Lieutenant, Henry Hard-man Third Lieutenant, not at present in the Company.

New-York, July 4, 1776.

On Monday about one thousand of the Ministerial Troops landed on the west end of Long-Island, but soon embarked again, and seeing a party of Riflemen, said to be about one thousand, gave them three huzzas, which they returned with the Indian war-whoop. On Tuesday morning some of them appeared coming up, and before night about forty-five sail came above the Narrows, and anchored at and near the Watering place, where they fired about fifty cannon shot, of which we have not heard the occasion, and landed many of their men, whom we could plainly see exercising and parading. It was apprehended they intended to penetrate into the interior parts of the Island, or to some of the neighbouring towns, but it does not appear that they have yet attempted it, or done anything on shore, except taking up a little bridge on the Causeway between the Landing and the Highlands at the Ferry. We hear General Mercer with a detachment was yesterday despatched to watch their motions, and act as occasion might require.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER, FROM NEW-YORK, DATED THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1776, TWELVE O’CLOCK AT NIGHT.

One of the enemy’s armed sloops, of fourteen guns, having this evening run up near Elizabethtown Point, was attacked from the shore with two twelve-pounders, a great number of her men killed, she set on fire and entirely destroyed. Eight of the enemy’s boats endeavoured to land some men last night on Long-Island, below the Narrows, but met with so warm a reception that they put back. We killed some of them, and took four prisoners. A finer set of men and better armed I never saw than the New-Jersey Militia which are here.

ULSTER COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE.

In consequence of an Order issued by this Committee the 28th ultimo, directing Cadwallader Colden, Jun., to appear here this day, where he had appealed from the Joint Committees of Newburgh and New-Windsor on the.24th ultimo:

Mr. Colden appeared accordingly, and a Letter was produced and read to this Committee, directed to the Joint Committees of this County by Cadwallader Colden, Jun., wherein the said Colden refers to the principles and opinion