Hubbard Brown to Philip Van Rensselaer. "Sir, "Ticonderoga March 5th 1776. "I have this Instant received yours of the 24th of February, shall take the first opportunity to Send all the arms both at this and Crown Point with the Casks and barrels of Rum according to your Order. "I am Sir, your Humble Servt, "To Mr. Philip Van Rensselaer. "Dear Sir, HUBBARD BROWN." Hubbard Brown to Philip Van Renesselaer. Ticonderoga March 5th 1776. "I happened to be at Mr. Adam's when I received your letter. Made Immediate inquiry for your Rum, found it safe, hired Mr. Adams to Put it on his Slay and Carry it to My Store, think myself happy that it lays in my Power to oblige you. "Sir: "I am dear Sir, at any Time, Yours to Command, "New York March 7, 1776. "Whereas I have Partly Agreed to Supply the Army here, Shall be in want of a Quantity of Peas. Which you will Pleas to Purchas about five or six hundred bussells, on my Act. Lett them be good boyling peas, and Send two hundred bussell by the first Oppertunity. Lett the Capt: Land them at the North River. What Teas you have on hand of mine you Will not Sell Less then 5s. pr lb. as it Sells here for that Prise by the Chest. Mrs. Lott, Miss Phelu is Well & Desire to be Remembred to your Wife & Aunt Egberts family, they are in the Garyes [Jerseys] Sir, I Remain your friend to Serve, "ABM. P. LOTT." "Mr. Philip Van Rensselaer, Merchant in Albany. "Sir: Richard Varick to Philip Van Rensselaer. "Head Quarters Albany March 28. 1776. "You will be pleased to deliver to the Bearer hereof Mr William McGea of Capt Peter's Company of Batteauxmen, three Hogsheads of Oakham, twenty Barrels of Pitch and all the Rope you have on Board belonging to the Public to be carried up to this Place Immediately. I am sir Your Humble Servant "By Order of General Schuyler." Brich Naruh This Order was sent by Philip Van Rensselaer To the officer on Board of the Vessel in which the Public Stores are laden who has the same in Charge from New York to Albany." Received From on 'Board of the Sloop Peggy & Betsey. Daniel Furgerson Master. March 29, 1776, 20 Barrels Pitch. "Richard Varick was a colonel at the battle of Stillwater in 1777 and a sterling patriot. He admired Arnold as a soldier; and when that officer's defection became known, Varick was almost insane for a day or two. Varick became one of Washington's military family near the close of the war, as his recording secretary. On the death of John Jay, he was elected president of the American Bible Society. He died on the 30th of July, 1831." "The British army under General Gage in Boston, consisted of twenty regiments, not less than 10,000 men. Some of these valiant British officers, soon after they arrived, while walking on Beacon hill in the evening, were frightened by the buzzing of beetles in the air, which they took for the whizzing of bullets." "Crown point April 25th 1776. "Deliver'd to Coll. Bewel to Be forwarded to Canada 36 Hundered weight of Ledd. 13 Hundered weight of Ledd and 19 Hundered weight of Balls, one anvil, one vice, one Buckhorn, one pair of Belluws, one Sledge, one pair of tongs, one Hammer for the use of the United Colonys. "Reed the above. "NATH BUELL Asst. D.Q. M. General. Dear Sir: Daniel Hale to Philip Van Rensselaer. "Saratoga 20 May 1776 "By General Schuylers orders I inclose you a draft on Doctor Stringer for £387. 2. which Cash you will please to receive & remitt immediately to Messes Ludlow & Shaw of New York with the £ 20 of Capt Dow for account of General Schuyler; when Capt. Varick comes up again I purpose sending you three or four hundred more for the same purpose. You will much oblige me by inquiring at the Post house for Letters for me. "I am with respect Sir. "Your very Hble Servt. DAN: HALE. "Mr. Philip Van Rensselaer. Invoice of 22 barrels & 4 half bls. Gun Powder shipd on Board the schooner Resolution at New Windsor on May 23d 1776 by Henry Wisner Esq on Acct, the Continental Congress and adress'd to Philip V. Rensselaer Robert Boyd to Philip Van Rensselaer. "Sir, In consequence of direction from Henry Wisner, Esqr I now send you Continental Powder as Received from him agreeable the Above Invoice which wish safe to hand and in good Order. I am Sir, your most Obedt. Hum. Servt., P.S. This will be handed you by Lieut Peter Elsworth who commands, the guard was thought necessary to attend whom you'll please send me a Receipt by, also the freight if agreeable which think at least must be ten Pounds. Henry Wisner, Esq. was one of the delegates to the first Continental Congress in 1774. Crown Point 26 May 1776 — Received of Lieut. Job Cook, Late Commanding officer of this Place one half Barrel Pork, one Barrel Condemd Pork, Eleven Muskets, Two Blunderbushes, one forth of a Barrel of Oat Henry Glen to Philip Van Rensselaer. "Dear Sir." "I am in haste Dear Sir, Your most Hum Servt. Philip Van Rensselaer, Esq." In New York, the leaden statue of George III was taken down and converted into bullets for the use of the Continental Troops. On the 4th of July, 1776, upon the report of the Committee, the 13 confederate colonies dissolved their allegiance to the British crown, and boldly declared themselves Free and Independent under the name of the Thirteen United States of America. The declaration of independence Was signed by 56 brave men. Christopher Yates to Philip Van Rensselaer. "Wood Creek, July 15th, 1776. "Sir, "I Just now Receivd the Iron works for the Inglish saw-Mill having reced that of the Duch some time ago. I am in want for four Duch Mills saw-files and four Inglish &c. which you may Probably have a Chance of sending with the Iron work for the Barracks and the Store House. "I am Sir, your Hum. Serv "CHRIS YATES. "Mr. Philip Van Rensselaer." The mills were situated near the cascade on Wood creek. The mouth of the creek is a cascade and difficult for canoes to enter. Wood creek rises in Warren county, and flowing by Fort Ann in a deep and sluggish stream, receives the waters of the Pawlet, and falls into Lake Champlain at Whitehall or Skenesborough. "The Independant States of New York to Abm Bogert & Cors Douw Dr. 1776, Aug. 2. To 1 Anchor Weighs 3qt 26 with Stock & Puding @ 9... £13: 11: 6 To 1 Runner & Tackle Weighs 1064 Lb......1061⁄2 } To 1 Cable in Length 50 Fathom & 24 Foot 300 4061 @ 6d 10: 3: 3 £23: 14: 9 Received Albany 234 Nov1 of P. Van Rensselaer Public Store keeper the Sum of Twenty three pounds, 14s. 9d. in full. CORNELIUS Douw. "Mr. John James Bleecker is in want of 3 Guns. "To Mr. P. Schuyler." "Sir. JOHN N. BLEECKER. "Please to furnish John James Bleecker with three Guns he giving his Rect for the same. "C. ROBT: YATES Secy WM. THORN, Lieut. The Officers of the PROVINCIAL CONGRESS were Peter van Brugh Livingston as president; Volkert P. Douw, vice-president; John McKisson and Robert Benson, secretaries. Capt. Wm. Hull to Andrew Adams. "Dear Sir: Trenton, Jany 1st, 1777. "Have but a moment which shall embrace with Pleasure to inform you of the present State of our Army and our late Success. After we had recruited a few days of a fatiguing March of more than 250 Miles (thro' all our Windings) Genl. Washington gave orders for us to be every way equiped for Action. On the Evening of the 25th Ult (Dec. 25, 1776) we were Ordered to March to a ferry [McConkey's Ferry] about twelve Miles from Trenton, where was stationed near two Thousand Hessians. As violent a Storm ensued of Hail & Snow as I ever felt. The Artillery and Infantry all were across the Ferry about twelve O'clock, consisting of only twenty one hundred principally New England Troops. In this Violent Storm we marched on for Trenton. Before Light in the Morning we gained all the Roads leading from Trenton. The Genl. gave Orders that every Officer's Watch should be set by his, and the Moment of Attack was fixed. Just after Light, we came to their out Guard, which fired upon us and retreated. The first sound of the Musquetry and Retreat of the Guards animated the Men and they pushed on with Resolution and Firmness. Happily the fire begun on every Side at the same instant, their Main Body had just Time to form when there ensued a heavy Cannonade from our Field Pieces and a fine brisk and lively fire from our Infantry. This continued but a Short Time before the Enemy finding themselves flanked on every Side laid down their Arms. Resolution and Bravery of our Men, their Order and Regulariety gave me the highest Sensation of Pleasure. Genl. Washington highly congratulated the Men on next day in Genl. Orders, and with Pleasure observed, that he had been in Many Actions before, but always perceived The some Misbehaviour in some individuals, but in that Action he saw none. Pennsylvania itself is obliged to acknowledge the Bravery of New Eng'd Troops. I have a List from Head Quarters of the killed and taken, which was taken the day after the Action, since which many more have been brought in 1 Col. wounded since dead, 2 Lieut. Cols. taken, 3 Majors, 4 Capts., 8 Lieuts., 12 Ens'ns, 92 Serj'ts, 9 Musicians, 12 Drums, 25 Servants, 842 Privates, 2 Capt's killed, 2 Lieuts. killed 50 privates Six Brass Field Pieces, One Mortar, and about 1500 Stands of Arms. A large Number of Horses and a vast Quantity of Plunder of every kind. And this, Sir, I will assure you with only the Loss of Six or seven on our Side, this is no Exaggeration but simple fact, 'tis impossible to discribe the Scene to you as it appeared. We immediately retreated across the River [Delaware] and did not get to our Tents 'till next Morning-two Nights and one day in as violent a Storm as I ever felt. do when engaged in so noble a Cause. Our Mens Time expired Yesterday, they have generally engaged to tarry six weeks longer. My Company almost to a man. Orders have now come for us to march for Princetown. We have a Rumor that it was burned last night by the Enemy, who we suppose are about retreating. Compliments to Miss Adams & Children. Adieu and believe me to be sincerely yours, What can't Men Mon Shell "ANDREW ADAMS, Litchfield Connecticut." Captain Hull, the writer of this letter, was the Maj. Gen. William Hull who subsequently, August 16, 1812, surrendered the American army at Detroit to the British General Brock. "General Washington, far from being discouraged by the loss of General Lee, had taken a stand on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware. He collected his scattered forces and on the night of the 25th of December (1776) when the enemy were lulled into security by the idea of his weakness, and the inclemency of the night, which was remarkably boisterous, as well as by the fumes of a Christmas eve, he crossed the river, and at breaking of day, marched down to Trenton, and so completely surprised them, that the greater part of the detachment which were stationed at this place, surrendered after a short resistance. Gen. Washington was equally successful in his attack on Princeton and pursued Gen. Cornwallis for some distance. CHAPTER III. SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE. My paternal grandfather, General HENDRICK OR HENRY K., the eldest son of Col. Kiliaen Van Rensselaer and Ariaantie Schuyler, was born July 25, 1744. "He was a brave officer, who fought with great ardor and distinction in the revolutionary war. He was in several engagements during which he uniformly displayed great coolness and courage in |