[New York] Die Martis, 9 ho, A.M., June 13th, 1775
Colo. [James] Clinton and Mr. [Christopher] Tappen, a committee for that purpose, reported a draft of a letter to the New-York Delegates, which was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:
In Provincial Congress, New York, June 13th, 1775.
Gentlemen: In consequence of one of your Resolves, we appointed a Committee to view the Post in the Highlands, whose report, with a map thereto annexed, you have inclosed, which is all as yet we have been able to do respecting that matter. As soon as the proper measures on that head are concluded we will transmit them to you.
We are, Gentlemen [&c.]
To the New-York Delegates in the Continental Congress
The Report mentioned in the above letter, is in the words following, to wit:
Your committee in obedience to your order of the 10th ultimo, do most humbly report, that taking to their assistance Capt, Samuel Bayard and Captain Erasmus Williams, they proceeded to the Highlands, and made a survey of the ground adjoining to Hudson River, for the purposes mentioned in the said order, and do report it as their opinion, that a post (capable of containing three hundred men) erected on the east bank of Hudson's river, marked A, and another on the west side of the said river, to contain 200 men, marked B in the annexed map, will answer the purpose proposed and directed by the Continental Congress. As it is not only the narrowest part of the said river, but best situated on account of the high hills contiguous it, as well on the west as east side of the river, which cover those parts, so that without a strong easterly wind, or the tide no vessel can pass it; and the tide in said part of the river is generally so reverse, that a vessel is usually thrown on one side of the river or the other, by means whereof such vessels lay fair and exposed to the places your committee have fixed on. Your committee are further of opinion, that the cheapest and best materials to face these works, would be stone and lime, as there are plenty of stone on the same, and adjoining to it, and lime can be had from a little distance up the river.
Your committee beg leave to observe, that they are informed that by means of four or five booms chained together on one side of the river ready to be drawn across, the passage can be closed up to prevent any vessel passing or repassing. Your committee are further of opinion, that if the last measure should be adopted, it would be requisite and highly prudent to place one or two cannon at the mouth of the Highlands, under the care and inspection of a faithful man, to alarm the troops to be embodied at the places proposed, in time of danger. Your committee are also further informed, and are of opinion that there is on the east side of the said river, near the place fixed on in the said annexed map, marked A, a good and convenient place to build a magazine for the lodgment of gunpowder and other stores. We believe that though there is no fresh water on the spot proposed for the east post, yet a good spring is near it, so that it can be conveyed thereto with a very small expense. We think it would be also necessary to build a number of small boats for maintaining a communication between the two posts.
Your committee are unable to make a true estimate of the expense that will attend the erecting the said fortifications, but from the best computation they are able to make, it will at least amount to £ 1500.
All of which is most humbly submitted by your committee
James Clinton
Christr Tappen
Ordered, That the foregoing letter to the New-York Delegates be engrossed, signed by the President, and (together, with a copy of the above report) transmitted by the first opportunity.
