It is truly surprising that whilst the New England militia are marching hundreds of miles in a severe season and leaving a large body of the enemy near the center of their country, and none but militia to oppose their attempts to ravage, those who are in immediate danger of distruction should need rousing from a stupid lethargy to save themselves, and it will be more so if they should not be roused.

Philadelphia is undoubtedly an object of great importance, but, I think, cannot be more so than these passes of which if the enemy should avail themselves all communication between the Eastern and Southern States will be entirly cut off, and I cannot but think this to be a principal object with the enemy.

If I may be allowed to express my own opinion I think the service cannot under present circumstances be better promoted than by posting a respectable body of troops in West Chester County, and another in the Jersies, extending from Tapan to Morris Town. This will produce a diversion on the side of the enemy and at the same time. secure our own communication. Whilst in the other case I think it will be in danger of being cut off. Your Excellency's superior wisdom will, however, best determine what should be done.

By a person the day before yesterday from New York we have a confirmation that General How is returned to that place, and that barracks are taking up with the greatest expedition and that a brigade of Hessians have moved up to King's bridge.

If the eastern militia should arrive agreable to your Excellency's expectation I shall without loss of time move forward with them to joyn your Excellency, being determined while I continue in the army instantly to yield a chearfull obedience to your Excellency's commands.

The Committee from the State of Massachusetts Bay when they left this place committed to my care the com

missions, beating orders, &c., for their officers, desiring that I would issue them agreable to the directions given to them, and that I would transmit to them a list of the staff for the regiments in the Southern Department belonging to that State, for their confirmation and appointment.

My excursion into the Jersies immediately afterwards put it out of my power to pay attention to it. The present scattered state of the field officers of the several regiments still continues it out of my power to answer their expectations.

The recruiting service is an object of the highest importance, for upon the speedy raising and disciplining a new army is suspended the fate of America and of unborn millions. It is vain to trust to a militia. Many of those belonging to this State who have been lately called out under General Clinton have returned home in three or four days' time.

As I think the enemy are now going into winter quarters, or will in a few days, I sollicit your Excellency for leave to ride to New England for a short time, as I am confident that the publick service may be promoted thereby, and as there are but few Continental troops now in the field, and a great number of general officers present; and at the same time the militia which are coming from Massachusetts Bay fully officered and commanded by a gentleman of whose "judgment and ability" your Excellency has expressed "a very high opinion," I think I cannot better serve the publick cause than by paying a particular attention to the forming of the new regiments of that State, of which not only myself but also the officers are very desirous. The number of regiments which are to be raised by Massachusetts Bay, I think affords me grounds for a better plea than can be made by any other officer. I ask not for, nither do I desire, any particular station and it is my highest ambition

to obey your Excellency's orders; but shall I be thought immodest if I express a desire to command the troops raised by the State to which I belong. This they are anxious of, this I most ardently sollicit; to your

Excellency's wise determination I submit it.

This moment the express from Providence calls in on his way to your Excellency with the agreable news of the arrival of the Alfred's prize; on which I most heartily congratulate your Excellency. I have also just received a letter from Brigadier Gen' Warner informing that one regiment of the Massachusetts militia are on the march from Danbury to this place, and others soon expected there. General Lincoln is still behind; he was some time since at Providence, but now on his march. General Pomroy is coming Colonel of a regiment from the County of Hampshire. I shall invariably pursue your Excellency's orders, but request your indulgence of my desire so far as is consistant with the publick good, for which I am determined to sacrifice every consideration.

I have the honor to be, with great respect and esteein, Your Excellency's most humble servt.

W. HEATH.

His Excellency Gen' WASHINGTON.

RECRUITING CERTIFICATE OF ROBERT ROGERS.*

VALENTINE'S HILL, December 30th 1776.

Whereas his Majesty's service makes it absolutely necessary that recruits should be raised, this is to certify that Mr Daniel Strang or any other gentleman who may

* Robert Rogers, a noted partisan leader, whose name is perpetuated in the remarkable precipice at Lake George known to all tourists as Rogers's Slide, was born in New Hampshire in 1727 and died in England in 1800. He had a very chequered career, serving with distinction during the French War from 1758 to 1760 at the head of a corps raised and commanded by himself, afterward filling the post of governor of Michilimackinac, espousing the cause of the mother country in the War of the Revolution, and again raising a corps for predatory service. See Sabine's American Loyalists, vol. ii. pp. 233-236; Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, vol. v. pp. 309, 310. — Eds.

bring in recruits shall have commissions according to the number he or they shall bring in for the Queen's American Rangers, -no more than forty shillings bounty to be given to any man, which is to be apply'd towards purchasing necessarys, to serve during the present rebellion, and no longer. They will have their proportion of all rebel lands, and all privaledges equal to any of his Majesty's troops. The officers are to be the best judges in what manner they are to get their men in, either by partys, detatchments, or other wise, as may seem most advantageous, which men are to be attested before the first majestrate within the Brittish lines.

ROBERT ROGERS,

Lt. Col, Commandant of the Queen's Rangers.

WILLIAM HEATH TO JAMES BOWDOIN.*

PEEKS-KILL, Decr 30th, 1776.

SIR, By Colonel Chester this moment arrived from his Excellency General Washington, who is at Newtown, I have the pleasure to acquaint you that early in the morning of Thursday last his Excellency in person at the head of about three thousand of our troops crossed the Delaware and attacked the enemy at Trenton, consisting of about 1,600 men; and after a brisk action of 35 minutes entirly routed them. 1 Colonel, 2 Lieut Colonels, 3 Majors, 4 Captains, 7 Lieut, 12 Ensigns, one Judge Advocate, 2 Surgeons' Mates, 92 Sarjeants, 20 Drummers, 9 Musicians, 25 Officers' Servants, and 740 Rank and File were taken prisoners, besides killed and wounded; also taken 6 peices of brass cannon, two of which were 12pdrs, 12 drums, 4 standards, 1,200 small arms, 6 waggons, a number of swords, caps, &c., besides

* For a notice of James Bowdoin, see 7 Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. iii. p. 186 n. — Eds.

horses, &c. We had not more than four killed and eight wounded.

All the persons except one were Hessians. Our troops behaved with the greatest bravery. This signal victory at this time will be productive of the best consequences; ardor glows in every face; and I hope we shall soon retreive all our losses.

I am, Sir, with respect and esteem,

Your obedient humble servt.

Honble JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq'.

W. HEATH.

CONVENTION OF NEW YORK TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

FISHKILL, 1st Jan3, 1777.

SIR, We have been informed of your Excellency's order to Gen. Heath to march towards the grand army on the banks of the Delaware with the troops under his command, excepting only about twelve hundred of the eastern militia. On this occasion we beg leave to lay before your Excellency the true situation of this State. It formerly consisted of fourteen counties of which five and a part of the sixth are in possession of the enemy. And a considerable part of the inhabitants of the counties of Gloucester, Cumberland, and Charlotte appear determined to shake off their dependance upon us, so that above one half is lost. Of the remainder a considerable proportion is disaffected and ready upon a favorable opportunity to join the enemy.

We lately applied to Gen' Schuyler for some of the northern troops to defend the passes in the Highlands and protect the inhabitants of West Chester, who were notwithstanding Gen. Spenser's and Wooster's troops cruelly harrassed by seven hundred Rangers under the command of Col° Rogers. He then informed us that no