A General Return of the Forces in the JERSEYS, under the command of Brig. Gen. MERCER, July 22, 1776.

HUGH MERCER, Brigadier-General.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE CAMP AT ELIZABETHTOWN, DATED JULY 25, 1776.

Yesterday nine of our Riflemen crossed the river in order to harass some Regulars who were throwing up a kind of breastwork on a bridge for their enemies, who kept firing on our men for some time, without doing any execution, till one of the brave fellows went within a few yards of the enemy and desired them to surrender. At that instant he received a ball through his head, which killed him on the spot. The Colonel sent over a flag of truce to the commanding officer on the Island, desiring leave to brine off his man, which the officer very politely agreed to, and let him take man, rifle, and all his accoutrements. After talking a little, he inquired what news was stirring. On being told that General Clinton had been defeated at Carolina, he bore it very well; but on being acquainted that Lord Dunmore had been driven from Gwin's Island, he looked very much confused.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 29, 1776.]

New-York, July 25, 1776.

SIR: Disagreeable as it is to me, and unpleasing as it may be to Congress, to multiply officers, I find myself under the unavoidable necessity of asking an increase of my Aids-de-Camp. The augmentation of my command, the increase of my correspondence, the orders to give, the instructions to draw, cut out more business than I am able to execute in time with propriety. The business of so many different departments centring with me, and by me to be handed on to Congress for their information, added to the intercourse I am obliged to keep up with the adjacent States, and incidental occurrences, (all of which require confidential and not hack writers to execute,) renders it impossible, in the present state of things, for my family to discharge the several duties expected of me with that precision and despatch that I could wish. What will it be, then, when we come into a more active scene, and I am called upon from twenty different places perhaps at the same instant?

Congress will do me the justice to believe, I hope, that it is not my inclination or wish to run the Continent to any unnecessary expense; and those who better know me will not suspect that show and parade can have any influence on my mind in this instance. A conviction of the necessity of it for the regular discharge of the trust reposed in me is the governing motive for the application, and, as such, is submitted to Congress by, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

New-York, July 25, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Congress having empowered me to appoint suitable places of rendezvous for the battalions raising in your Government for the Northern Army, and to communicate the same to you, also to advance them one month's pay, &c., as you will perceive by the enclosed copy of their resolution which I have the honour to transmit, I must request the favour of you to direct them to march by companies, as they are raised, to Skenesborough, and there receive orders and instructions for their conduct from the officer commanding the Northern Army; and also to advance the month's pay, and take every necessary measure for forwarding their march, and complying with the purport of the said resolve; assuring you that whatever money may be advanced necessarily in carrying the same into execution shall be repaid to your order.

Before I conclude I cannot but confess that I do not clearly understand what battalions Congress allude to, and therefore beg leave to refer you to the requisition I presume they made upon the subject.

I am, with great respect, yours,

GO. WASHINGTON.

To the General Court of Massachusetts-Bay.

[Similar Letter sent to Governour Trumbull and the New-Hampshire Convention.]

COLONEL REED TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 29, and referred to the Committee appointed to revise Articles of War.]

New-York, July 25, 1776.

SIR: The discipline of the Army falling more immediately within the notice of my department will; I hope, sufficiently apologize for recommending Mr. Tudor, the Judge-Advocate, to the attention of Congress.

The military system of government, though much more complete than at first, is yet extremely defective. The mildness of the punishment, even of crimes the most destructive to the Army, such as desertion, burglary, drink, of sleeping on guard, which are capital in all other parts of the world, not to mention mutiny and sedition, which is a growing evil, have rather made such crimes known to others than serve as examples. This Army is composed of a greater mixture than any which has yet been collected, and I am sorry to say we have too many who would equal, if not exceed, the King's troops in all kinds of disorder and irregularity. To men of this stamp thirty-nine lashes is so contemptible a punishment that it is very frequent for them, in the hearing of their comrades, to offer to take much more for a pint of rum. Neither my nature nor education would lead me to unnecessary severity, but I cannot, consistently with the duty and regard I owe the service, avoid giving my clear opinion, that unless some very material alterations in some articles take place, the publick will be greatly defrauded, military duty neglected, and the most dangerous consequences ensue to the American cause.

Since bounties have been introduced, a new species of desertion has appeared, that of leaving one corps to inlist into another, and we have some instances of its being done a second and a third time. I would humbly propose that some additional punishment to that for simple desertion be made. We have a general court-martial sitting every day, by which a Field-Officer and twelve Captains are kept from all other duty, a circumstance, perhaps, which never happened in any army before; and yet crimes, especially desertions, increase every day. The punishing desertion capitally I am sensible would only prevent discovery and detection, and would not meet the genius of the people; but if the number of lashes was increased, so as not to be less than one hundred, and the offender liable to double fatigue, I hope it would be more effectual.

Mr. Tudor will propose several other regulations which appear very proper, and to which I humbly beg leave to solicit the attention of Congress, as a matter of no small importance. It would be extremely useful, and I may say necessary, that, should any alterations be made, a new edition of the articles should be published, as we have now many new regiments who cannot procure any, and offenders plead ignorance with great reason.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOS. REED.