Assembly, Convention, or Committee or Council of Safety of the said Colony, shall order otherwise; and that I will not, directly or indirectly, give any intelligence whatsoever to the enemies of the United Colonies, or do or say anything in opposition to, or in prejudice of, the measures and proceedings of any Congress for the said Colonies during the present troubles, or until I am duly exchanged or discharged.

Given under my hand this 6th day of July, A. D. 1776.

R. BRUERÉ, Midshipman, &c.

GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Long-Island, July 5, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: I beg leave to recommend to your consideration the establishing a certain guard at Red Hook. It is undoubtedly a post of vast importance. Detached guards never defend a place equal to troops stationed at a particular post. Both officers and men contract an affection for a post after being there some time; they will be more industrious to have everything in readiness, and obstinate in defence. The little baggage that each private has is of consequence to him, and will influence his conduct in time of action, if it is at stake. The officers also will have new motives: they, knowing a post to be committed to their trust, and that the whole disgrace will fall upon them if any misconduct happens, will be much more likely to take every necessary precaution to avoid so great an evil. But an officer that commands a detachment thinks little more than how to pass away his time during his tour of duty, it being uncertain whether he shall ever command there again.

I sent to General Scott this morning four persons taken at the Narrows last night. The following is a copy of their examination. They were taken separately, and agreed in their account in everything, except the number of men. The Captain's account was the least, and, I believe, the nearest right, and I apprehend not much from the truth.

The fleet sailed from Halifax the 10th of June, and arrived the 29th. The fleet consists of one hundred and twenty sail of topsail vessels, and they have on board ten thousand troops received at Halifax, besides some of the Scotch brigade that have joined the fleet on the passage. The troops from the West Indies joined the army at Halifax, and were there received by them.

List of the Generals: Howe, Pigot, Percy, Grant, Jones.

A list of the ships of force: Asia, 64; Centurion, 50; Chatham, 50; Phœnix, 40; Greyhound, 30; Rose, 20; Swan, 16; Senegal, 16.

Four days before the fleet sailed from Halifax a packet arrived from England, that brought an account of Admiral Howe's sailing with a fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, on board of which were twenty thousand troops. The fleet sailed a few days before the packet: they are expected in here every day.

General Carleton's regiment went from Halifax to Quebeck. The Niger ship, that went from Halifax in April to Canada, met Burgoyne going up the river with thirty-six transports, and six thousand troops on board. General Carleton's son went into Quebeck painted like an Indian.

The people of Staten-Island went on board the fleet as they lay at the Hook, several boat loads of them.

Our people are firing with the nine-pounders at the Narrows, but have not heard where they have done any execution. There was a smart fire heard at the west end of Staten-Island about four this morning. It is supposed to be an attack upon Fort Smith, in the south part of Staten-Island.

Nothing further has happened since yesterday.

Believe me to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

NATHANAEL GREENE.

GENERAL MIFFLIN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp at Mount Washington, July 5, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I find the works well advanced, but not in a state of defence. The teams allotted to them have been taken off: some of them sent to town for materials, and there detained; others necessarily employed in hauling up the powder (which is now stored in the best place I could find) and provisions from the landing.

From the Colonels' reports the men's arms are in a most alarming situation. Colonel Magaw has not more than one hundred and twenty-five in his regiment fit for service; Colonel Shee about three hundred, including all the carbines which they received lately by your order. If the enemy pay us a visit we will do our best, and endeavour to make up in zeal what we want in appointment.

Should sufficient reinforcements arrive at New-York, may we not expect a share? You are best acquainted with the importance of this post, my dear General, and I flatter myself will put it into our power to do something more than mere defensive work within our lines. I think the enemy may divert our attention to the heights above King's Bridge; if so, is it expected that we can detach a party to oppose them? I shall be happy in your orders how to act if a landing should be attempted above or below us, at the same time that we may have reason to believe our present post to be one of their objects. Were the works in good order, and the men well equipped; I could easily determine these points, but circumstanced as we are, I do not see how we can permit even a small party to leave the environs of this camp, without exposing it to imminent danger, and yet I might be tempted to try it.

I propose to exercise with the artillery, if the works will admit of it, two companies who are not armed. Our principal business within the works must be with artillery.

We have many arms which might soon be put in order if Colonel Moylan will favour us with four armourers and some tools. Captain Bacon promised it several days past, but still neglects us.

I am, my dear General, your obedient servant and friend,

THOMAS MIFFLIN, B. G.

His Excellency Gen. Washington, Camp at New-York.

GOVERNOUR TRITMBULL TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 11, 1776.]

Lebanon, July 5, 1776.

SIR: In my last, of the 10th of June, I informed you I had called the General Assembly to meet at Hartford, on the 14th then current, to take into consideration the requisitions of Congress of the 1st and 3d of June, for reinforcements to the armies at New-York and in Canada. They accordingly met, and cheerfully granted the reinforcements required, including one regiment ordered to be raised in May last, and not particularly destined. They consist of nine battalions—two for the Northern Department, and seven for New-York. David Waterbury, Jun., Esq., is appointed Brigadier-General for the Northern Department, and James Wadsworth, Jun., Esq., for New-York.

As at this season of the year the pressure of country business was such as to engage the attention of the people in general, and was not to be left without great difficulty, and the small-pox in Canada naturally would deter those from engaging in the service who had never passed through that distemper, it was thought necessary by the Assembly to encourage men to inlist, by offering them a bounty; and accordingly six pounds as a bounty to each able-bodied man that should inlist into the battalions destined for Canada, and three pounds for those destined to New-York.

In the rest of the session, after officers were appointed, proper measures were consulted for arming and equipping the troops to be raised, and furnishing them with other necessaries, agreeably to the resolves of Congress.

The Assembly, apprehending that the bounty granted to the battalions of Militia might retard the raising the Continental regiment ordered to be raised in this Colony in May last, thought it necessary and did grant a bounty of forty shillings to each able-bodied man that should inlist into that regiment.

The battalions of Militia are now filling up as fast as may be, though the prevalence of the small-pox in the Northern Army intimidates our men, and retards the inlistments. Proper orders have been given to the Brigadiers General, and by them to the Colonels, to hasten the raising, equipping, and marching the troops. Many have marched for New-York, and the rest will soon follow; in the mean-time, lest the want of these battalions should be felt at New-York, three regiments of horse of our Militia are ordered to join the army at New-York, and, if wanted, to continue there till the battalions of foot arrive.