neighbours, and in the evening came to this Fort, being nearer the enemy and better situated to discover their motions.

Yesterday evening I was joined by Colonel Woodhull, with between two and three hundred of his regiment; this morning, early, by Lieutenant-Colonel McClaghry, with upwards of five hundred of his; and I hourly expect parts of two other regiments; when these join me, I will draught out of the four, six hundred men, and employ them as your Excellency has directed.

I have ordered the Colonels I have called in to leave the frontier companies at home, to protect the country against the Indians, should they be troublesome; and as many men out of each company as will be sufficient to guard against any attempts that might be made by internal enemies.

The men turn out of their harvest-fields to defend their country, with surprising alacrity. The absence of so many of them, however, at this time, when their harvests are perishing for want of the sickle, will greatly distress the country. I could wish, therefore, a less number might answer the purpose, I would fain hope the enemy mean, by their shipping in our bays, at present, only to cut off the communication between the country and city, and prevent our obstructing the channel. Many of the Militia may be called in in eight hours, some in a much less time, should there be occasion for them.

Since writing the above, I received a letter from Colonel Hay, of Haverstraw, a copy of which is enclosed. I will send a small party down there this evening, or in the morning, but don't believe I shall be able to continue them long, as the Militia here will think it hard to be carried there.

The bearer, Mr. Boyd, who is well acquainted with this country, the fortifications here, and may be confided in, will be able to give your Excellency any further information.

I am, with great esteem, your Excellency's most obedient servant,

GEO. CLINTON.

P. S. I should be glad to know whether it is best to keep the sloops, Sic, ordered down to Fort Constitution, there, as it may be attended with considerable expense; which, however, if they can be made to answer good purpose, ought not, in my opinion, to be regarded.

COLONEL HAMMAN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Tarrytown, July 15, 1776.

May it please your Excellency to take into consideration our humble petition. Whereas two of the enemy's ships of war, with their barges and their tenders, are arrived up the North River as far as Tarrytown, we suppose with a hostile design to distress us; with the concurrence of the Congress and assistance of the Committee, and by the forwardness of a number of volunteers, a considerable number of people are collected to our assistance, most of whom are very anxious about their harvests, which are now fit for collection, and in a suffering condition for want of labourers. We therefore humbly petition your Excellency to send us such a number of troops as your Excellency shall judge proper, to rescue the inhabitants up and down the river from the cruel designs of the enemy. As to further particulars, must beg leave to refer your Excellency to the bearer, Captain Dutcher.

In the name of the officers here present, I have the honour to subscribe myself your Excellency's most obedient,

JAMES HAMMAN,

Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Battalion of Militia in Westchester County.

To the Hon. George Washington, Esq., &c.

EGBERT BENSON TO THE NEW-YORK CONVENTION.

Red-Hook, July 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I received a letter yesterday from General Washington, informing that two ships of war had sailed up Hudson's River, with design, as supposed, to seize the passes in the Highlands, and requesting that the Militia of this County and from the western towns in Connecticut might instantly march to secure those posts. The letter I immediately transmitted to Brigadier Ten Brock, and despatched the necessary expresses to Connecticut.

This general call of our Militia will be attended with, many difficulties, which has induced me to write you on the subject, in order that we may have the advice of the Convention, and that the peculiar circumstances of our County may be taken into consideration. I conceived it a matter of such importance that I have hired an express to convey this letter.

In no part of the Colony have the resolutions of Congress respecting dangerous and disaffected persons been so strictly executed as in this County. Agreeably to those resolutions we have disarmed a great number of people, and the arms have been applied either to arm the companies from time to time raised in the County, or sent to the forts in the High-lands, for the use of the troops in garrison there, and consequently the County is entirely deprived of them, without a possibility (as there are none either manufactured or to be purchased) of procuring others in their stead. Not only so, but many of our friends have parted with their arms to the Continental forces, out of zeal for the cause; and very lately, upon a very pressing letter from Colonel Clinton, the Whigs in this neighbourhood spared him seventy-five muskets, conceiving that we had much better be without arms ourselves than that the troops, whom we were obliged daily to pay and subsist, and stationed in places subject to an immediate attack, should remain unarmed.

The number of persons in the County who, by these means, are destitute of arms, must be considerable. In the precinct where I live, (than which I doubt whether there are two in the County where there is less disaffection,) the Militia of which consists of about four hundred men, upwards of one hundred have been disarmed for that cause, besides many who have sold their arms from the motives I mentioned; and I am informed by a gentleman who attended the late reviews, that of some regiments the entire rear and great part of the centre ranks were without arms.

To disarm people because they were supposed too dangerous to be entrusted with arms—which, indeed, was the case—and it being out of their power either to procure them again, or others in their stead, and then to call these people out to action, appears rather inconsistent. But even admit-ting we could equip them properly, it is a matter well worth considering, the danger of bringing a number of persons, (and the number will be great if our whole Militia marches,) actually our enemies, into the field to oppose an army which they are daily seeking opportunities to join. On the other hand, to permit them to remain at ease, without compelling them to bear their part of the burden, is unreasonable, and will be productive of clamour and dissatisfaction, if not entirely prevent others from turning out in defence of their country. It is true, we have always obliged the Tories to appear in the ranks and be subject to be draughted, because we knew that in most cases they would hire others to serve in their stead, (I mean when the draughts were intended to form a part of the Army;) and such as were not of sufficient ability for that purpose have deserted, and lurked in the woods, and were the occasion of the late insurrection. We have always thought we should be happy if we were capable of combating our internal foes, and leave those from without to be resisted in some other way.

Our Militia, merely as a Militia, seems to be not properly the subject of a general call; or, in other words, considering how many are unarmed, and how many, from their enmity to our cause, should be confined at home, were they even disposed to march, the inhabitants of this County, collectively, cannot be formed into a Militia for every purpose. What is the proper remedy, I will not pretend to determine.

I take the liberty of mentioning the expedient I proposed when last before Congress, namely, that, without depending upon the Militia, a certain military force or corps should be raised to act in its stead. If it should be deemed unreason-able that it should be at the expense of the Colony, let it be a County charge; the expense will be great, it is true, but it will then be an equal, whereas it is now a partial tax. I have no digested plan for raising this corps or body of men to serve in lieu of the Militia. Suppose they were to have a trifling pay when at home, (for they need not always be imbodied,) and when in actual service the Continental allowance. I would propose that certain superintending officers should always be in pay, who should constantly go through the County and see that the men were trained, equipped, and furnished with ammunition. I fear that, estimating the strength of the Militia by the number of men in the County, we may rely too much on them, and be finally deceived.