risons with more men, as but about five thousand of the new levies have yet arrived in camp, out of fifteen thousand ordered. I will this day send up Mr. Machin, a Lieutenant of the Train, who has just returned from overseeing the works at Boston. He is as proper a person as any I can send, being an ingenious, faithful hand, and one that has had considerable experience as an Engineer. I shall enjoin on him to attend closely to the business he is going to execute. Rest assured, gentlemen, that every assistance in my power shall be most cheerfully granted; and that I am, with esteem, yours, &c.,

Go. WASHINGTON.

To Messrs. Yates, Jay, Livingston, Tappan, and Livingston, the Secret Committee of the New-York Convention, at Fort Montgomery.

[To the above was added the account of the battle of Sullivan's Island, Charlestown, South-Carolina.]

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO COLONEL JAMES CLINTON.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 21, 1776.

SIR: The bearer, Lieutenant Machin, I have sent to act as an Engineer in the posts under your command, and at such other places as may be thought necessary. He is an ingenious man, and has given great satisfaction as an Engineer at Boston, from which he has just returned.

I have received from the Secret Committee a representation of your want of Matrosses, which can be supplied in no other way but by draughting those that are proper from other corps, and exercising them to the artillery; it is what we have been obliged to do here. The men thus draughted may be considered as remaining with their own regiments, and only doing duty with the Train on the present occasion.

I am, sir, &c.,

Go. WASHINGTON.

To Colonel Clinton, 3d N. Y., Fort Montgomery.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO LIEUTENANT MACHIN.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 21, 1776.

SIR: You are, without delay, to proceed for Fort Montgomery or Constitution, in the Highlands, on Hudson's River, and there put yourself under the command of Colonel James Clinton, or the Commanding Officer there, to act as Engineer in completing such works as are or may be laid out for the defence of the river and adjacent defiles on each side of the river. Your being steady and giving close attention to this business is necessary. It is, therefore, expected and required of you that you personally attend where you may be most wanted to forward the works. In case of an attack from the enemy, or in any engagement with them, you are to join the Train of Artillery on that station, and act according to your office.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

Go. WASHINGTON.

To Lieutenant Machin, of Artillery.

COMMISSARY TRUMBULL TO JAMES BOWDOIN.

New-York, July 21, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: Your favour of the 19th instant, signed in the name and behalf of the Council of Massachusetts-Bay, is this day delivered me. I received that referred to from Mr. President Powell, and answered it per post the next day. A person is now at No. 4, and everything in readiness to receive and forward the troops from New-England, going to Crown-Point, as fast as they arrive there, agreeable to your expectations and my engagements.

I most sincerely congratulate you on the success of General Lee and his troops in South-Carolina, the particulars of which will undoubtedly be transmitted to you by General Washington, by your express. It appears they are disabled from further action this season.

I am, with the greatest esteem and respect, your Honours' and the Council's most obedient and humble servant,

Jos. TROMBULL.

To the Honourable James Bowdoin, Esq., President of the Council of Massachusetts-Bay.

GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Long-Island, July 21, 1776, two o'clock.

SIR: Colonel Hand reports seven large ships are coming up from the Hook to the Narrows.

A negro belonging to one Strickler, at Gravesend, was taken prisoner (as he says) last Sunday at Coney-Island. Yesterday he made his escape, and was taken prisoner by the rifle-guard. He reports eight hundred negroes collected oft Staten-Island, this day to be formed into a regiment.

I am your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

N. GREENE.

To His Excellency General Washington, Head-Quarters, New-York.

ROBERT YATES TO GENERAL GATES.

Poughkeepsie, July 21, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed copy of some late resolutions of the Convention of the State of New-York will inform you that we are a Committee of that body, and charged with the execution of the business mentioned in them. As the chain intended to obstruct the navigation of the river Sorel cannot now be applied to that use, and will serve to prevent the enemy's ships from going beyond the forts on Hudson's River, we must beg the favour of you to send the whole, or such parts of it as may expeditiously be had, to Poughkeepsie, and consign it to Messrs. Van Zandt, Lawrence, and Tudor, with the utmost despatch. Be pleased to inform those gentlemen of the length of such part of the chain you can send, in order that they may direct the deficiency to be supplied.

We shall by this opportunity request of the Committee of Albany immediately to furnish us with one hundred and fifty sawed logs of the largest size, to' support the chain, and we flatter ourselves that your attention and influence will be extended to both these objects.

We have the honour to be, sir, with the greatest esteem and respect, your most obedient and humble servant. By order of the Committee:

ROBERT YATES, Chairman.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of

New-York, July 16, 1776.

Resolved, unanimously, That a Secret Committee be appointed to devise and carry into execution such measures as to them shall appear most effectual for obstructing the Channel of Hudson's River, or annoying the enemy's Ships in their navigation up the said River, and that this Convention pledge themselves for defraying the charges incident thereon.

And Resolved and Ordered, That Mr. Jay, Mr. Robert Yates, Major Tappen, Mr. Robert R. Livingston, Mr. Gilbert Livingston, and Mr. Paulding, be the said Committee.

A true extract from the Minutes:

ROBERT YATES,

Chairman to the Secret Committee.

WILLIAM GILLILAND TO GENERAL GATES.

Crown-Point, July 21, 1776.

SIR: I am very sorry to be a complainant against one of my own, one of my first settlers on Lake Champlain; but his threatenings have been so frequent and so severe against the Continental Officers, and against me, for the part I have taken on their side, that it has been thought proper to confine him. I have just now heard, with much astonishment, that he is gone from hence to Ticonderoga, under the patronage of Major Udney Hay. Should he be released without inquiry, adieu to American or to political virtue. I shall stand forth as his prosecutor, and think I have sufficient evidence to support me; and am, with the most profound respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

WILLIAM GILLILAND.

N. B. The prisoner's name is George Belton.

COLONEL HARTLEY TO GENERAL GATES.

Crown-Point, July 21, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: As soon as I arrived here yesterday evening, I sent off the goods, &c, wanted for the Indians. I presume they arrived at Ticonderoga last night. I also