Stuart, and brevets of Captain given to Lieutenants Gibbon and Knox, and that the value of the military stores taken, should be divided among the gallant troops who reduced Stony point, in such a manner as the Commander in Chief should prescribe.

The fortifications at Paulus hook, on the west side of North river, opposite New York city, was taken by Major Lee of the horse. The garrison made a faint resistance and surrendered. Major Southerland and about fifteen of his men, escaped to a small block house. The approach of day, and the vicinity of the main body of the enemy, made it impossible to bring off any stores. The continentals had possession of all the artillery and magazine; the prisoners were one hundred and thirty four rank and file, and seven officers; about forty were killed. Major Lee's loss is said to be very few in killed and wounded; four only is the number mentioned.

According to orders from General Gates, our regiment left Castle William on the 26th, and arrived at Providence on the 28th instant, and encamped at Fox's point. Sunday I rode with several officers to Pawtuxet, to attend the religious services of the celebrated Mr. Murray, whose professed doctrine is the universal salvation of mankind. Mr. Murray is not admitted into the pulpits of the orthodox clergy; his peculiar sentiments are revolting to the consciences, and repugnant to the belief of a large proportion of the people of New England. In this village the people are destitute of an ordained minister. The audience was numerous, and the preacher peculiarly eloquent; freely and solemnly declaring the sentiments which he has adopted, and quoting various portions of scripture, to enforce a belief in the opinion which his own conscience and judgment approve.

General Prescott, who was taken at Rhode Island by Colonel Barton, on his route through Connecticut, called at a tavern to dine; the landlady brought on

the table a dish of succatash, boiled corn and beans, the general, unaccustomed to such kind of food, with much warmth exclaimed, "what, do you treat us with the food of hogs?" and taking the dish from the table, emptied the contents over the floor. The landlord being informed of this, soon entered with his horsewhip, and gave the general a severe chastisement. After the general was exchanged, and he resumed his command on the island, the inhabitants of Nantucket deputed Dr. Gilston to negotiate some concerns with General Prescott, in behalf of the town. Prescott treated the Doctor very cavalierly, and gave as the cause, that the Doctor looked so like that d-d landlord, who horsewhipped him in Connecticut, that he could not treat him with civility.

When the Count D'Estaing's fleet appeared near the British batteries, in the harbor of Rhode Island, a severe cannonade was commenced, and several shot passed through the houses in town, and occasioned great consternation among the inhabitants. A shot passed through the door of Mrs. Mason's house, just above the floor. The family were alarmed, not knowing where to flee for safety. A negro man ran and sat himself down very composedly, with his back against the shot hole in the door, and being asked by young Mr. Mason why he chose that situation, he replied, "Massa, you never know two bullet go in one place."

October.-Information is received that the enemy are preparing to evacuate the town of Newport. They have burnt the light house, blown up some of their works, and embarked their heavy baggage.

16th. It is ascertained that the British have abandoned the town of Newport, and that some of our troops have taken possession of the town. It is but justice to remark, that the enemy left the town in good condition, and that they treated the inhabitants with civility. They left a large quantity of

hay, wood, and military stores. Our regiment is under marching orders.

November.-In obedience to orders, we marched from Providence on the 8th instant, passing through the towns of Coventry, Windham, Bolton, Hartford, Woodbury, and Newtown, and arrived at Danbury, Conn. on the 23d. Our regiment is united with General Stark's brigade, the whole of which is now billeted in private houses. Danbury was formerly a flourishing town, but the principal part of it has been destroyed by the enemy. A soldier having anointed himself for the itch, with mercurial ointment, last night, was found dead this morning,-and another suffered the same fate, in consequence of drinking six gills of rum. Our troops have suffered greatly by snow, and rain, and excessively bad travelling, since we left Providence.

December. Our brigade left Danbury on the 5th instant. It snowed all the afternoon, and we took shelter in the woods at Cortland's manor. Having no other shelter than bushes thrown together, we passed a very cold uncomfortable night. Marched the next day through a deep snow, and took lodgings at night in private houses at Crompond; marched again early, crossed the Hudson at King's ferry, and proceeded twenty miles, it being late at night before our men could all find accommodations, in the scattering houses and barns on the road. I visited my friend Doctor S. Findley, of General Glover's brigade, and being invited to breakfast, the only food he could furnish was coffee, without milk or sugar, and meagre beef steaks, without bread or even salt. Such has been for some time the unaccountable scarcity of provisions in the main army. We marched to Pompton on the 9th, and on the 14th reached this wilderness, about three miles from Morristown, where we are to build log huts for winter quarters. Our baggage is left in the rear, for want of wagons to transport it. The snow on the ground is about two feet deep, and

the weather extremely cold; the soldiers are destitute of both tents and blankets, and some of them are actually barefooted and almost naked. Our only defence against the inclemency of the weather, consists of brush wood thrown together. Our lodging the last night was on the frozen ground. Those officers who have the privilege of a horse, can always have a blanket at hand. Having removed the snow, we wrapped ourselves in great coats, spread our blankets on the ground, and lay down by the side of each other five or six together, with large fires at our feet, leaving orders with the waiters to keep it well supplied with fuel during the night. We could procure neither shelter nor forage for our horses, and the poor animals were tied to trees in the woods for twenty four hours without food, except the bark which they peeled from the trees. Lieutenant W. and myself, rode to Morristown, where we dined, and fed our starving horses at a tavern. General Washington has taken his head quarters at Morristown, and the whole army in this department are to be employed in building log huts for winter quarters. The ground is marked out, and the soldiers have commenced cutting down the timber of oak and walnut, of which we have a great abundance. Our baggage has at length arrived, the men find it very difficult to pitch their tents on the frozen ground, and notwithstanding large fires, we can scarcely keep from freezing. In addition to other sufferings, the whole army has been for seven or eight days entirely destitute of the staff of life; our only food is miserable fresh beef, without bread, salt, or vegetables.

It is a circumstance greatly to be deprecated, that the army, who are devoting their lives, and every thing dear, to the defence of our country's freedom, should be subjected to such unparalleled privations, while in the midst of a country abounding in every kind of provisions. The time has before occurred when the army was on the point of dissolu

tion for the want of provisions, and it is to be ascribed to their patriotism, and to a sense of honor and duty, that they have not long since abandoned the cause of their country. The heroic fortitude with which our officers and soldiers support their distresses, proclaims their fidelity, and intrinsic merit. Besides the evils abovementioned, we experience another, in the rapid depreciation of the continental money, which we receive for our pay; it is now estimated at about thirty for one. It is from this cause, according to report, that our Commissary General is unable to furnish the army with a proper supply of provisions. The people in the country are unwilling to sell the produce of their farms for this depreciated currency, and both the resources and the credit of our Congress, appear to be almost exhausted. The year is now closed, and with it expires the term of enlistment of a considerable number of our soldiers; new conditions are offered them to encourage their re-enlistment during the war; but such are the numerous evils which they have hitherto experienced, that it is feared but a small proportion of them will re-enlist. Should these apprehensions be realized, the fate of our country, and the destiny of its present rulers and friends, will soon be decided.

It has hitherto been our grievous misfortune, that the several states have attempted to supply their quota of the army, by short enlistments. No fact is more susceptible of demonstration, than that enlisting, or draughting men for nine months, or one year, never fails of being attended with disappointment, and a train of pernicious consequences. General Washington has, from the beginning of the contest, most pointedly protested against it, and labored with unwearied assiduity, to induce the states to adopt a more just and permanent system. By the present mode, the strength of the army is continually precarious and fluctuating; the recruits have scarcely time to learn the discipline and police of a camp,