Letter from Elihu Marvin, Chairman of the Committee for Orange County

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"Oxford, February 9, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: In consequence of your letter of the 26th ultimo, I convened our County Committee on Tuesday, the 6th instant, and laid the matter before them relative to the raising of men for the defence of this Colony. The same being taken into consideration, the Committee are unanimously of opinion that there can be three companies raised in this County, viz. two on the north, and one on the south side of the Mountains; and have nominated the following persons for officers to raise the two companies on the north side, to wit: In Goshen Regiment, Daniel Denton, Captain; Balthazer Dehart, First Lieutenant; George H˙ Jackson, Second Lieutenant, and Samuel Carpenter, Ensign. In Cornwall Regiment, Seth Marvin, Captain; James Little, First Lieutenant; Nathan Strong, Second Lieutenant, and Stephen Halsey, Ensign. But, at the same time, the Committee think it will be out of their power to arm any considerable part of the men they raise, on account of the quantity they furnished last year, none of which have been returned, and must therefore leave that matter with the Congress. They are also of opinion that it would be of bad consequence to nominate more than one set of officers to each company, and have therefore declined it.

The Ensign of Captain Raymond' s Company having moved out of this County, the company have regularly elected Vincent Helme to that office, for whom a commission is requested to be made out, and sent up as soon as possible.

If the Congress could furnish each recruiting Captain with the terms upon which men are to inlist, with regard to time, pay, and clothing, the Committee are of opinion that it would tend to facilitate the raising the companies now to be filled. I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

"ELIHU MARVIN, Chairman.

"To Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esq˙, Chairman of the Committee of Safety now sitting in New-York, or, in his absence, to the Chairman pro tempore."