[New Windsor Oct. 8, 1777.]
Gentlemen,
I wrote to the Legislature yesterday giving them as particular an Account of the loss of Forts Montgomery & Clinton as I was then Able Since which I have the Pleasure to inform you that Genl. Clinton1 is got in & his Wound does not appear to be any ways Dangerous many other of our Officers have also arived who we had Reason to believe were made Prisoners, not more that 11 Officers of Colo. Du Bois's Regim't2 are Missing two hundred of his Men including Non Commissioned have already Joined me at this Place & many more of them may be expected as we have heard of their Escape, many also of the two Companies of Artillery who were at those Posts have escaped & joined us & more of them Hourly expected.
The Night I left Fort Montgomery as my Escape was effected by crossing the River I waited upon Genl. Putnam at Continental Village in Order to concert the proper Measures to be pursued after this unfortunate Event. The Genl. Officers there agreed in Oppinion with me that the Intention of the Enemy under Sir Henry Clinton was to Relief Burgoine's Army by effecting a Junction with him; That as they had carried the Forts his next Business was to pass the Cheveaux Defrize & so proceed by Water up the River.
Our Posts at Peeks Kill & Sydnam's by the Loss of those which commanded the Navigation have losst their Importance. It was therefore agreed that Genl. Putnam should Retreat with his Army to very defensible pass in the Mountains about 3 Miles from Fishkill where he is in the most Speedy Manner to get in the Eastern Militia—I, to rally my Forces near this Place, to call on all Militia of Orange & this end of Ulster, to be furnished with a Continental Regt. from Genl. Putnam's Army to defend the Cheveaux Defrize in the best Manner I can & as long. That as soon as we find the Enemy can raise or pass it both Armies to move Northward so to keep pace with them covering the Posts of the Country which woud be the greatest Object till they shall think proper to Land. As soon as ever I find the Shipping likely to pass the Cheveaux Defrize I will by forced March endeavour to gain Kingston & cover that Town. I shall have 1 Brass twenty four Pounder & Six Smaller Brass Pieces which will make a formidable Train. I am perswaded if the Militia will join me which I have Reason to hope I can save the Country a few Scattering Houses excepted along the River from Destruction & defeat the Enemy's Design in assisting their Northern Army.
A Deserter who had been taken & forced to enlist in Fanning's Regt. came into us yesterday from the Enemy at Fort Montgomery immediatly after it was taken, informs me that the Enemy's Loss was very great, That Genl. Sir Henry Clinton commanded in Person had three other Genl. Officers with him their Force was 5000 three thousand British Troops & Hessian Yaagers the Remainder New Levies, Commanded by Brig'r Genl. Beverly Robinson & Colo. Fanning.3 he says their Loss was great. I have only to add that tho the Country Esteem the Posts Lost of the greatest moment yet the manner in which they were defended has given such Gen. Sattisfaction as to elate & not depress their Spirits.
[To Council of Safety.]
N.B. I am this moment informed by Genl. Putnam, that the eastern militia come in very fast; that he is confident that he will soon have ten thousand men with him; in which case he will keep posts up as far as Poughkeepsie and Rynbeck to head the enemy, should they push up the river. We shall save considerable of the stores at Fort Constitution, and perhaps some of the artillery, as the enemy had not got up that high yesterday.
