Letter to the Committee of Suffolk County

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The Committee to take into consideration the state of the Stock on Gardiner' s Island and Montauk Point, delivered in their Report, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

Your Committee do report that a Letter of the following contents be sent to the General Committee of the County of Suffolk;

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 25, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We are fully sensible of the necessity of providing against the future depredations of the Ministerial Army, and we see the danger of your defenceless condition, after the removal of the Companies raised in your County. We do therefore earnestly recommend that you immediately form the Militia of your County into Companies, agreeable to the late regulations of the Continental and this Congress, and that you place two Companies of Minute-Men, or any less number, which you may think sufficient, at or near the pass by the little pond near Montauk, and one other Company, if you think so many necessary, at or near Shelter-Island, with directions to them, upon the discovery of any vessels which may be suspected to have a design against you, immediately to drive the cattle from Montauk-Point and Shelter-Island into the interiour part of your island. The disposition of guards, signals, the manner of driving off the cattle, and to what place of security, we must leave entirely to your directions and care.

The Minute-Men, while in actual service, are entitled to the same pay with the Continental Troops, which will be an inducement to them to undertake this necessary service. The repeated orders from General Schuyler, for the march of the Troops raised in this Colony, makes it absolutely necessary that the Companies raised in your County should immediately march. We will, however, venture to recommend their stay ten days from the date hereof, at the most, to give you an opportunity in the mean while to complete the Companies of Minute-Men.

We do also recommend to you that you remove from Gardiner' s Island the English hay.

By order:

To William Smith, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Suffolk County.

Ordered, That a copy of the said Letter be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

Letter to the Committee of Suffolk County, recommending to them measures for their defence and the protection of their property. [1775-08-25] New-York, Congress. [S4-V3-p0554] [Document Details][Complete Volume]