EXECUTIVE CORRESPONDENCE, MARCH, 1779. BENNINGTON 5 March 1779. Sir,-Yours of yesterdays date by Lt. Butterfield I reed this morning, and am very sorry the Troops raised for the Defence of the Northern frontiers are delayed for want of Provisions. I enclose you a Copy at Large of a Letter I reed from General Clinton,' by which you will Larn, that I am fully Authorized to raise such men & naturally implies that they are to [be] supported out of the Continental Store, which I trust you will deliver as soon as you obtain this knowledge. I will be answerable if any Blame shall come against you on that account. I am Sir your Humble Servant, THOMAS CHITTENDEN. Enoch Woodbridge Esqr C. 1. [Commissary of Issues.] Copy of a Letter to General Washington: BENNINGTON 5 March 1779. Sir, I am directed by my Council & the General Assembly of this State, to recommend to your Excellency the present unhappy situation of the Inhabitants of the Northern frontiers of this State, & to pray your Excellency's interposition for their future Relief. The contiguous situation of those inhabitants to the Enemy has rendered their Safety peculiarly uncertain from the first commencement of the present War; the many alarms occasioned by the repeated approaches of the Enemy have kept its inhabitants in such a fluctuating condition as has rendered it impracticable for them to have secured any considerable supplies of provisions for their families beforehand. The encroachments of the Army under the Command of Lt. General Burgoyne into this State in the year 1777, their daring Attempts to distroy this Town & the public Stores then deposited here, commanded the attention, as well as the most vigorous exertions of those Inhabitants-and Altho there was then very plentiful Crops of Grain, Corn, Hay, &c., on the Ground, yet by reason of the Enemy, the inhabitants were prevented from securing any consid erable part of it. That by their continuing in Service for the purpose of reducing General Burgoyne to a Submission, the season of the year was so far advanced as to put it out of the power of those inhabitants to make the necessary preparations for a Crop of Winter Grain on which they have ever had their Greatest dependence since the first settlement of this part of the Country. They are therefore principally reduced to an Indian Cake in Scant proportion to the number of their Families, & by the distruction of their Sheep by the Enemy, their loss of them otherwise as well as their flax, their backs & their bellies have become Co Sufferers. In this deplorable Situation, may it please your Excellency, they remain firm & unshaken, & being generally well armed and accoutred, are ready on any sudden Emergency and on the Shortest Notice to face & Encounter their inveterate foe Undaunted. But on Viewing their pre 1 1 Brigadier General James Clinton, of New York, of the continental service. sent Circumstances, it may be your Excellency may be prevailed on to make such Provisions for the Security of the Frontiers of this State (which is no less so to three other States) as may prevent the fatal necessity of those inhabitants being continued in Constant Service the ensuing summer. With this will be communicated a Copy of a Letter from General Clinton of the 25 ulto. by which your Excellency will perceive his rediness to Grant every relief in his power. In consequence of this Letter I have ordered the Continuance of the Company of Militia therein named & an addition of 50 men Exclusive of Commissioned officers to join them immediately. If after all that has been exhibited on this Subject it should be found inconsistent to adopt any other measures in the case, I desire an order may be granted for the Subsistence & pay of such officers & soldiers as may be found necessary to raise from time to Time within this State for the purpose aforesaid. The Bearer hereof, Joseph Fay, Esqr in whose attachment to the Common cause your Excellency may repose the Greatest confidence, will be able to give any further inteligence in the primises, & patiently wait any advice or directions your Excellency may please to Communicate. I am Sir your Excellency's most His Excellency Gen' Washington. Copy, Attest, Jos. FAY, Sec'y. THOMAS CHITTENDEN. ARLINGTON, 6 March 1779. Sir,-Your kind favour of the 25 ult. came to hand and in consequence of your advice I have ordered the continuance of the Company of Militia & an addition of fifty men more of the Militia of this State (exclusive of Commissioned officers) who will march this day to join Capt. Brownsons Command at Rutland. This may serve to secure the Frontier inhabitants for the present, but as the Lakes are now open which affords an opportunity for the immediate advances of the Enemy's armed Vessels, such security is only Tempory & a greater force will be forthwith necessary to prevent the inhabitants removing with their Families and such of their effects as [they] may be able to bring with them. I sincearly thank you for the rediness which you have hitherto shown on all occasions to Communicate any relief in your power for those distressed inhabitants & desire you'd please to accept the same, & in the mean Time beg to know what further assistants you can afford them. I have no disposition to Trouble His Excellency Gen' Washington or Congress on the Subject if any thing short can Secure the Inhabitants, but their daily applications to me makes it necessary that I bear their case in mind, and Continue my applications in their behalf until (if possible) I obtain relief for them. The bearer hereof, Joseph Fay, Esq. in whom you may confide, will be ready to give you any further Inteligence in the premises in his power. I wish to be Indulged with an immeadiate answer to this that I may be the better Enabled to know what method will be adviceable for me to persue next for relief. I am Dr. [sir] your most Brigadier Gen Clinton. THOMAS CHITTENDEN. BENNINGTON, 10th March 1779. Sir,-Your favour of the 5 of November last was Seasonably dilivered me by Ira Allen Esqr. I have purposely omitted an answer until the General Assembly at their present Session should be able to direct me in what manner I might be Warranted to do it, which I find cannot be more explicitly done than by inclosing their Resolution for disolving the union (so called) with sixteen Towns East of Connecticut River, which I have inclosed. The Laws of this State are now nearly fitted for the press & will be immeadiately printed & Circulated among the inhabitants, the execution of which I flatter myself will prove sufficient to quit [quiet] any disturbances among the Inhabitants west of Connecticut river; but as those on the East side (who have been heretofore considered as being united with this State) are accomplices with some few diseflected persons on the west side of Connecticut river, in creating feuds and Jealousies to the disturbance of N. Hampshire, as well as this State, your wisdom therefore, in quelling those disturbances East of the river will doubless [doubtless] prove Sufficient. The bearer, Ira Allen, Esqr, who is appointed to communicate this, will be able to give any further inteligence in the matter. I am Sir with Sentiments of Esteem Your honor's most Obedient Humble Servant, THOMAS CHITTENDEN. The Honble Meshech Wire [Weare,] EsqTM- President of the Council N. Hampshire. IN COUNCIL, Arlington 12 March 1779. Sir,-You are hereby directed to diliver over the South Hundred acres of the farm formerly in the possession of Jeremiah French to John Fassett Jr., Esq., Commissioner of Sales of Land. Martin Powel Esq", C. Seq". 12. THOMAS CHITTENDEN. Sir,-You are hereby directed to make application to Martin Powel Esq. of Manchester for the South hundred acres of the farm formerly in Possession of Jeremiah French, in which said Manchester, & Take the Same into possession, which you will keep until you have further orders from this Council. THOMAS CHITTENDEN. To John Fassett [Jr.,] Esqr, C. of Sales of Land: Council adjourned until the 4th Wednesday of April next to meet at the house of His Excellency Thomas Chittenden in this Town.> Attest, M. LYON, D. Secy. P. T. THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL AS A BOARD OF WAR. March 11, 1779, the Governor and Council commenced their action as a BOARD OF WAR, under the resolution of the General Assembly of Feb. 25. The record of this Board will therefore be given in connection with the Council record, in chronological order as near as may be. 1 For documents on this subject see Appendix G. ARLINGTON, March 11th 1779. BOARD OF WAR met at the House of his Excellency Thomas Chitten den, Esqr. Members Present, His Excellency THOM. CHITTENDEN, Esq., Honorable TIMOTHY BROWNSON, Esqr. Honorable MOSES ROBINSON, Esqr. and made choice of MATTHEW LYON, Secretary of the Board of War. ARLINGTON, March 11 1779. Resolved that the Capt. General issue an order to Col. Gideon Warren Commanding him to call forth one hundred men properly officered of the militia of this [his] Regiment forthwith on the reception of this, and to hold them in constant readiness at a minutes warning to march for the defence of the frontier Inhabitants of this State whenever he shall receive intelligince from Capt. Brownson or other officer commanding the post at Rutland that the Lake Champlain is clear of Ice; and that their pay commence three days before they March. ARLINGTON, March 11 1779. Dr Sir,-In consequence of repeated applications to me by the frontier inhabitants of this State, I have ordered one hundred men of Colo. Warrens regiment properly officered to be got ready immediately on the reception of their orders and to hold them in readiness to march at a minutes warning to your assistance whenever you shall certify him that the Lakes are clear of Ice, which I desire you to do as soon as you shall come to the knowledge of it. I shall send some directions to the inhabitants to remove, the particulars of which I cannot well insert here. Must refer you to the bearer, Capt. Fassett. I am dear Sir your most obedient humble servant, Capt. Gideon Brownson. THOS. CHITTENDEN. N. B.-I am informed by Capt. Fassett, that the inhabitants of Pitsford have agreed to build a picquet in some convenient part of that town at their own expence, I would therefore recommend to you to afford them a detachment from your Command on the completion of the Picquit and the arrival of Colo. Warren's Militia. T. C. Copy. ARLINGTON, March 12th 1779. Sir,—As it was omitted, in the other Letter, to advise you in regard to the inhabitants of Castleton, and as I have recommended it to them to build a picquet Fort in that Town, would advise that on the arrival of the Militia from Colo. Warren's Regiment you send them some relief to keep the same. Your humble servant, Capt. Gideon Brownson. THOS. CHITTENDEN. ARLINGTON March 12th 1779. Whereas this State is a frontier to the Northern Enemy it is therefore necessary that some lines be ascertained where this State will attempt to defend the Inhabitants: Therefore Resolved that the North line of Castleton, the west and north lines of Pittsford to the foot of the Green Mountains, be and hereby is Established a line between the Inhabitants of this State and the Enemy, and all the Inhabitants of this State living to the north of said line are directed, and ordered to immediately move with their families and Effects within said Lines. This Board on the Petition of the Inhabitants do also recommend the Inhabitants of Castleton and Pittsford to immediately erect a Picket fort near the Center of the Inhabitants of each Town and that the women and children (excepting a few near the fort) move to some convenient place south and that the men with such part of their stocks as may be necessary remain on their farms and work in Collective bodies with their arms. WAR OFFICE April 2a at Arlington 1779. This Board having taken into their consideration the present defenceless situation of the frontier inhabitants of this State, and the dangers they must be immediately exposed to on the breaking up of the Lakes, have and do hereby resolve, that one hundred men exclusive of Commissioned officers be immediately raised and officered in the several Regiments in this State hereafter named, for the immediate defence of the Frontiers thereof, who are to continue in service sixty days, including the day they march, unless sooner discharged, and that their pay commence two days before such march: Resolved that the order to Colo. Gideon Warren of the 11th of March Last be forthwith countermanded, and that the Captain General be directed by this Board to issue his order requiring Colo. Warren to raise one Captain one 2d Lieutenant and fitty non-commissioned officers and soldiers of his Regiment immediately and to hold them in constant readiness to march on the shortest notice for the defence of the frontiers whenever he shall receive intelligence from the officer commanding the post at Rutland that the Lake is clear of Ice, and that their pay commence two days before they march, and to continue in service sixty days including the day they march, unless sooner discharged. ARLINGTON, 2a April 1779. . Necessity obliges this Board to call on you at this time for the assistance of such part of your Regiment as named in the orders herein enclosed to you. You will readily conceive that the Lakes will soon be clear of Ice, and in consequence the frontier inhabitants of this part of the State will be immediately exposed to the rage of the enemy; the requests of those inhabitants are pressing, loud and repeated. I flatter myself your men will cheerfully turn out on this occasion as I have reason to expect (by Mr. Fay's favourable return from head quarters) that provision will be made to defend the frontiers from a different Quarter, and perhaps sooner than sixty days, which if done the men will be sooner discharged. I am Dear Sir your humble servant, THOMAS CHITTENDEN. Sent to Colo. S. Fletcher, Colo. S. Herrick, Col. Joel Marsh, Colo. Gideon Warren. Letter to Colo. Warren and orders—(Copy.) ARLINGTON, 2d April 1779. Sir, The Board of War having taken into consideration the situation of the northern frontiers of this State, have resolved to raise a further |