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General McDougall to General Heath

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GENERAL M' DOUGALL TO GENERAL HEATH,

Haverstraw, 9th December, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: The rheumatism has detained me here, but I am now in a fair way to get rid of it. I have taken the liberty to direct a letter to your care, for my son-in-law, Jno˙ Lawrence, which I beg you to take care of till he calls for it. Small parties of the enemy, with some Tories,

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have lately made incursions into Orange-Town, and plundered the friends of the country, and disarmed them. This practice will in all probability continue, to the great distress of the County, if some means of relief is not afforded to them. But the mischief will not end here; for the inhabitants, finding themselves stripped of their property, without any prospect of protection, will become discouraged, and yield themselves up to our common enemy for that protection which we don' t afford them; and its to be feared the southernmost part of this County will be reduced to take the same disagreeable relief. It is therefore of the utmost importance that a Field-Officer' s command should take post down there, to cover the country until the Congress of this State can devise some means to relieve them; and there is none what can give the necessary succour now but you.

I have taken the liberty to mention the state of this part of the County to you, from a regard to the service; and doubt not you will do every thing in your power for it. I hope you will excuse this liberty; and believe me to be, with great respect, dear General, your very humble servant,

ALEX˙ McDOUGALL.

To Major-General Heath, at Peekskill.

P˙ S. For particulars I refer you to the bearer.