which have been sent on have been so bad as to have as great a number rejected as you mention; there has been greater neglect in some of the mustering officers. I suspect that in myself.-Since I have introduced the subject of musters I would wish to suggest one thing which the assembly did before they adjourned, which was this, that in all instances where any Recruits have been mustered out by the Mustering officer sent from Camp for that purpose for want of size, they shall be re-mustered by the Colo. of Militia Regs., & if they shall appear to them to be fit for the duties of a soldier except wanting size, they are to be sent into the State Reg❜ts or to one of the State Guards, & the class shall be exempt from all fines or other penalties arising from such mustering out-the Consequence will be this, they will not be sent to and on any Requisition to this State for them, that Reg't will be ordered to join the Line, in lieu of other men, that in fact they will answer every purpose to the State, as if they joined the line. * * Had directions been sent to the Military officer to be more particular in their musters, and broke one or two of us who had been neglectful in our duty, better purposes would have been answered, as the assembly would not then have taken it up with such spirit as to have nearly a vote for enabling the Colonels of Militia in all Instances to Muster the Recruits and to prohibit any Musters by us in any Instance whatever. Since receiving those Instructions I have mustered out those who have served two Campaigns in the Connecticut Line, & one of them, a very good lad who was five feet five inches high, and well made & in my opinion a good soldier. By a letter from Capt. Williams to Mr. Burnham I am informed that you gave him some encouragement for all. If you intend he shall have it, the sooner the better, by an agreement among the Commanding Officers of Reg'ts last Winter it will be necessary that a majority of them be limited in Such Recommendation, will it not be best to recommend Sarg.-Maj. while at the same time, I only suggest the matter to you to think of, you will but judge whether your Reg't stands in need of any more officers.-The Government & Council has filled the vacancies recommended last Winter by Gen'l Parsons, have given Grosvenor the command of Durkee's Reg't, and promoted Capt. Warner to be Major of the same. The other vacancies are not filled, as Gen'l Huntington did not know who were entitled to promotion among the subalterns. I think in the same recommendation for filling of vacancies, that if new appointed officers ought to be subjoined, I hear that Col. Greaton, Swift and three other Col.'s are promoted to be Brigadiers and so it will make a Reg't vacant for Lt. Col. Johnson and another Capt. to be promoted. Your Brother Jos. and Lady, Sister Hetty, Mr. Merrils and Mr. S. Chester set out for Boston last Saturday by the way of Norwich, where they proposed keeping the day of our Lord. I expect to get time to be at Norwich a day or two before I go to Camp, but at present it is uncertain. The wafers you mention I will endeavour to procure to bring to Camp with me, which will not be long hence. From the best information I can obtain from the different Military Officers & from my knowledge of this County I think you may not expect more than 500 men from the State, as the Assembly have affixed a penalty of non-compliance to the act of filling up the line, of 50 dollars only, which is less than has been given in many instances for bounties and whenever the penalty is less than the bounty to be given, you may rely on it they will spare the purse if they Damn the Country, besides, they save themselves the trouble of looking for soldiers. As the women appear to be more zealous for recruiting and keeping up the army than the men, I have proposed to some of my friends that the lasses should have the liberty to hire women, and that I will not be so strict as to their measure, as I am sure in the present distress'd situation of the army a Court Martial could not be convened who would censure me, tho' at the same time I would recommend that tall girls be procured that the offspring may be five feet six inches high. I have tried your Patience and Will close with Compliments to my friends with you. COLO. WEBB. Yours, EBEN HUNTINGTON. Lt. Col. Huntington's Letter. DEAR WEBB-Your favor dated Weth'd with enclosed by a line dated from Gen. Greene, was handed me by Richard. It was highly acceptable but instead of the cover I wish you had delivered it yourself and spent a few hours with me in my solitary Hutt. As to hay, my horses are fasting as well as yours. out but can purchase no hay-neither hard nor soft. fetch it. I have sent Being on duty to-morrow prevents my waiting on my friend Moylan. The paymaster will attend on him agreeable to the time mentioned. I much wish a few hours with yon. I wish to say many things to you, & must before you go to Amboy. If you will be at headquarters I will Call on you at 2 o'clock to-morrow (perhaps dine,) on my Return from Head Quarters, where I must attend at 1 o'clock. Yours sincerely, Sunday-6 o'clock, P. M. COLO. WEBB. EBEN HUNTINGTON. Elisha Hopkins' Letter. FLATBUSH, 1st March, 1778. DEAR COLONEL :-Desirous to hear from my friends and relations, likewise to receive any support they might have sent by you, I have desired the bearer to wait upon you with this (as I understood by Colo. Bull that it was uncertain whether you would be permitted to come to the Island) to receive either money or letters you cannot come. if When Mr. Jos. Webb was in New York with the flag I received neither money nor letters, which if should now be the case I am certainly to be pitied. I received from Mr. Munford a small sum to procure a few things that I was necessitated for, but at present am destitute and am indebted for making a few shirts. Mr. Riley lives four miles from me but I saw him last Thursday. He was well and very desirous of seeing or hearing from his Colonel which also is the ardent wish of your Adj't. I am, dear Colonel, with esteem still, Your Adj't., COLO. S. B. WEBB. ELISHA HOPKINS. Letter of Elisha Hopkins, Adj't. FLATBUSH, 19 June, 1779. DEAR COLONEL :-I enclose this as I shall every opportunity that offers to write the person whom most I sincerely esteem and respect. The Colo. must not expect from his Adjutant's letters, the ease and elegance of a Chesterfield, or the eloquence of a Chatham, but that he means to inform the Colo. (as far as his situation will permit) of many things that have transpired in Limbshire since his absence. A list of Characters has made its appearance. A, is suspected for the A-th-r, On Gilded Chariot wheels, &c., &c., &c., &c.It's whispered near L-ve L--n that a great personage who lately left Limbobush has broke off all connections with a noted house in Amsterdam. A certain young Noble-n who sometime since made his appearance in this city has withdrawn from the corner of L-ve, L-n, in consequence of its not being allowed that he'd an elegant head of hair. Last Tuesday Capt. Bulkey, Mr. Riley and myself had several gentlemen to dine with us of the Colo.'s acquaintance, in the fields near my quarter. Believe me I may say with propriety that a table more elegently furnished has not made its appearance in Limbobush for this century past. There was fifteen invited but only ten came which made the glorious number of thirteen. By desire of the president I here enclose a copy of our proceedings copied by the secretary to the president. Mr. B, & both of the Mr. C's were invited but for reasons very obvious did not come. Mr. Fitzhugh & Randolph present their most respectfull compliments. They would have wrote, but they say its customary for gentlemen who leaves this, to first inform their friends they leave behind where to direct to them. Major Giles, Capts. Goodale, Fauntleroy, Willis, Willing, with Mr. Robins, Hall, Bender, Lloyd & Bradford present their compliments to the Colonel. Dear Colonel, 'I Still Remain your ELISHA HOPKINS. (P. S.)-My best compliments to Mr. Webb and Family, also to Capt. Jack. Adj't. Hopkins' Letter. FLAT BUSH, 7th March, 1780. DEAR COLONEL :-We wrote you by Colo. Fowler requesting that some necessary supplies might be sent to enable us (in case of an exchange) to discharge such private debts as we have been necessitated to contract; on the other hand to render our situation more agreeable if we must remain, for which purpose we shall endeavour to procure permission for such articles to come in as you may think proper to send. Mr. & Mrs. F. desire to be particularly remembered to their old friend. We have received every mark of kindness and politeness from the Gen'l & Lady and should be happy to have it in our power to let them taste a little salmon. Major Giles will be able to inform you respecting the halfway house and the manoeuvres in Limboshires. Mr. Fitzhugh & Blower are present and desire their particular compliments. Dear Colonel I have the honor to Subscribe on behalf of the Officers of your Corps with the Highest Respect and Esteem, COL. SAM'L B. WEBB. ELISHA HOPKINS. Maj. Edward Haskell's Letter. BOSTON, November 14th, '86. DEAR SIR-I have to acknowledge your last favor of date unknown; but it was strongly mark'd. You may remember ink was used for sand. Mr. Fitch Hall the bearer of this sets off for New York tomorrow where he expects to continue for a short time. It will be in your power to make that place agreeable to him, & as he is a very particular friend of mine, & I know you to have a disposition to please, every attention shewn will be considered as fresh marks of esteem conferred on your sincere friend, GENERAL WEBB. And obd't serv't, E. HASKELL. |
