GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Long-Island, July 25, 1776.

SIR: The challenge I mentioned to your Excellency the other evening 1 find is given and accepted, and the parties have appointed to-morrow morning to fight. As I am made acquainted with the matter, I beg your Excellency's direction in what manner I am to conduct myself.

This moment Colonel Hand was with me, and acquaints me that I have mistaken his intentions respecting promotions. As he is coming to Head-Quarters, I wish he may explain the matter to your Excellency, and the alteration be made on the return there, or sent back to me, and I will make the necessary alterations here.

I apprehend it is necessary to have an order of Congress for the removal of the wheat along New-Utrecht, Graves-end, &c, shore, that if the enemy should land there, they may not have it in their power to do us any injury; for everything they destroy or carry off will be a matter of triumph. The wheat is almost fit to thrash, and can be speedily removed out of harm's way.

I should be exceeding glad if your Excellency would visit this post, when at liberty, to see if there are any alterations or further regulations necessary.

I am, with due respect, your Excellency's obedient servant,

NATH. GREENE.

To His Excellency General Washington, New-York.

N. B. The challenge mentioned in the forepart of my letter was given by Lieutenant Dunworth (discharged the other day) to Captain Talbut. I did not wish to know anything about it; but it was made known to me, and many of the officers know that I do know it. This perplexes me a little, knowing duelling to be against all law, both civil and military.

GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Long-Island, July 25, 1776.

SIR: I have just completed a brigade return for the vacancies in the different regiments. My brigade is so dispersed that it is difficult getting returns seasonably. I should have made this return yesterday, but could not get Colonel Hand's until last evening.

The outguards report nothing worthy your Excellency's notice this morning.

I am so confined writing passes, &c, that it is impossible for me to attend to the duties of the day, which, in many instances, prejudices the service. Such a confined situation leaves one no opportunity of viewing things for themselves. It is recommended by one of the greatest Generals of the age, not only to issue orders, but to see to the execution, for the Army being composed of men of indolence, if the commander is not attentive to every individual in the different departments the machine becomes dislocated, and the progress of business retarded.

The science or art of war requires a freedom of thought and leisure to reflect upon the various incidents that daily occur, which cannot be had where the whole of one's time is engrossed in clerical employments. The time devoted to this employment is not the only injury I feel, but it confines my thoughts as well as engrosses my time. It is like a merchandise of small wares.

I must beg leave to recommend to your Excellency's consideration the appointing an officer to write and sign the necessary passes. The person I should wish to be appointed is Lieutenant Blodget. If it was put in general orders that passes signed by him should be deemed authentick as if signed by me, it would leave me at liberty to pursue the more important employments of my station.

I hope your Excellency will not think this application results from a lazy habit, or a desire to free myself from business—far from it; I am never more happy than when I am honourably or usefully employed. If your Excellency thinks I can promote the service as much in this employment as any other, I shall cheerfully execute the business, without the least murmur.

I am, with all due respect, your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant,

NATH. GREENE.

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

New-York, July 25, 1776.

Our troops stationed on Bergen-Point, give the Ministerial fleet and army some uneasiness, by firing at the tenders, boats, &c. It so galls and provokes them, that they return the fire with great fury, but have not done the least damage to our people.

Last Lord's day a great many shot were heard in this city and at Bergen-Point. The occasion was this: A barge from the fleet, full of men, landed on the Point, but were opposed and driven off with precipitation by our troops; a smart fire ensued from a tender for a considerable time, without doing any injury. By two deserters, we are informed that a Captain and two privates were killed on board their barge.

We hear from New-Jersey and Connecticut that a great part of the men being absent on military service, and the time of harvest coming on, the women, assisted by the elderly men, whose age rendered them unfit for the Army, have so effectually exerted themselves, that they have generally got in the harvest completely, the laudable example being set by the ladies of the first character in each place. And we are credibly informed that many of them have declared that they will take the farming business upon themselves, so long as the rights and liberties of their country require the presence of their sons, husbands, and lovers, in the field.

GENERAL HEATH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Greenwich, July 25, 1776.

MAT IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCE The bearer, Lieutenant-Colonel Jacobs, of Colonel Bailey's regiment, complains that one Ensign Seth Bryant, belonging to said regiment, and now employed in the works, was yesterday afternoon, by order of my Lord Stirling, put under guard in a common guard-house, where he still remains, on suspicion of embezzlement. A procedure so extraordinary, constrains me to represent the matter to your Excellency, as your Excellency is sensible that in all service, and in special, by the rules and regulations by which this Army is to be governed, "whenever any officer or soldier shall commit a crime deserving punishment, he shall, if an officer, be put in arrest; if a non-commissioned officer or soldier, be imprisoned." Whether he be guilty of not, I cannot tell; the judgment of a general court-martial is to determine. But as he wears a Continental commission, his being confined under guard must give umbrage to every gentleman who sustains a commission in the Army.

I am, with great respect, your Excellency's most humble servant,

W. HEATH.

To His Excellency General Washington, present.

REPORTS OF GENERAL AND FIELD-OFFICERS.

Greenwich, July 25, 1776.

In pursuance of the general order of yesterday, directing the Brigadier and the Colonel or Commanding Officer of each Regiment in his Brigade to meet and estimate the quantity of Paper absolutely necessary to serve a Regiment a month, &c., the officers of the First Brigade met this day for that purpose.

Present: Brigadier-General Heath, Colonel Prescott, Colonel Read, Lieutenant-Colonel Sheppard, Lieutenant-Colonel Jacobs, Lieutenant-Colonel Wesson.

The subject-matter being maturely considered, the officers are of opinion that twelve quires of Paper are absolutely necessary-for each Regiment per month, if they are to provide their own books.

W. HEATH, Brigadier-General.

Quantity of Paper necessary for each Regiment of General Greene's Brigade.

For five Morning Reports, to be made by the Corporals, of the state of each Company, one to each officer in the Company, and one to the Adjutant, eight sheets per day. Also a Daily Report of the sick to the Surgeon of the Regiment by the Corporal, and of the absent men, one sheet per day.

The Adjutant must every day make a report of the state of the Regiment to the Commanding Officer.

The Sergeant of each Company to make a Provision Return every other day to the Quartermaster.

The Adjutant to make three Weekly Returns—one to