General George Clinton to New-York Convention

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Ramapough, December 27th, 1776.

SIR: Since I wrote you yesterday, Colonel Hay has been with me, and has taken proper measures for supplying the troops under my command in this quarter with provisions. And I doubt not but it will be regularly done in future. He tells me that he never had the least intimation from Convention that such a body of men were ordered to this quarter, and had not made any provision for them, and that he never received my last letter; which I believe to be true.

In a former letter to the honourable Convention, I mentioned the propriety of dismissing part of the Militia, retaining only in the service about one thousand of them. I am convinced, unless this is done, their minds will be much soured and the cause thereby greatly injured. And I flatter myself that number will be sufficient to guard the passes on this side the river, and protect the well-disposed inhabitants. For though we have had frequent reports of large bodies of the enemy coming this way by different routes, and confirmed by letters from pretended friends in the city, and common reports and other circumstances among the Tories, I am convinced it was no more than an artful contrivance to retard the recruiting service, and unnecessarily harass the country by drawing out the Militia; and this you will find to be the case with the dreaded expedition on your side the river.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEO˙ CLINTON.

To Abraham Ten Broeck, Esq˙, President of the honourable the Convention of the State of New-York, at Fishkill.