Southold (New-York) Committee to the Provincial Congress

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Southold, Long-Island, August 7, 1775

SIR: Our situation is such that we are obliged to call upon the honourable Congress for their immediate assistance. Yesterday thirteen sail, eight of which are supposed to be ships-of-war, were seen to be cruising the whole day betwixt Montauk and Fisher' s Island, and are this morning riding at anchor betwixt the said island and the Oyster Ponds. We are in hourly expectation of their landing at Oyster-Ponds, or elsewhere, where our assistance will be absolutely necessary; but should that be the case, we are unable to defend ourselves, or others, being destitute of powder, as some of the honourable Congress well know. This being the true state of our case, we thought proper to send an express to inform you thereof, and humbly pray that the said honourable Congress would take our case into consideration, and provide ways and means for our immediate supply. Lieutenant Norton this minute appeared before the Committee, and informed them, that his Company are, many of them, entirely destitute of powder, and ten of them of arms; the part of the Company mentioned are from Brookhaven, and now present at Hubbard' s, and their arms now examined by the Colonel and Major.

By order of the Committee:

ROBERT HEMPSTED, Chairman.

Hon˙ P˙ V˙ B˙ Livingston, President New-York Congress.