George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Recipient="Washington, George" AND Period="Revolutionary War"
sorted by: date (descending)
Stable but non-permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-08102

To George Washington from George Clinton, 7 April 1782

Poughkeepsie 7th April 1782

Sir

I do myself the Honor of transmitting to your Excellency, Copies of Dispatches taken upon a certain Beatie, who calls himself an Ensign in Roger’s Corps, lately captured at a Place called New Town about twelve Miles north of Albany. The Commissioners for Conspiracies there detained the originals to offer in evidence against him on his Trial. I was in hopes I should have been able to have discovered a Key for deciphering them, which prevented me from forwarding them earlier to your Excellency, this however I have not been happy enough to accomplish. From the attempts Beatie made to destroy these Papers and his offer of insuring 1000 Guineas to the Persons who captured him, if they would effect it and other Circumstances I am induced to believe they are of importance. Your Excellency will also receive enclosed the substance of Beaties Examination. I am informed by the Commissioners that he offers to make important Discoveries on assurances of Pardon. I have not however thought proper to give him any Encouragement and have ordered a Court Martial for his immediate Trial.

I take the Liberty of enclosing a Copy of my Letter of this Date to the President of Congress on the subject of paying clothing and subsisting the Troops raising in this State on Land Bounties and paying and subsisting the Levies destined for the defence of our Frontiers, that Your Excellency, if you should conceive the application conducive to the Public Service, may give it your Support.

General Schuyler was charged with the Act for completing the continental Regiments of this State for Your Excellency’s Information and I therefore omit sending a Copy of it. I have the Honor to be with great Respect Your Excellency’s most Obedient Servant

Geo: Clinton

DLC: Papers of George Washington.

Enclosure

Albany 1st April 1782

Substance of the Examination of Joseph Beatty who calls himself an Ensign in Roger’s Corps lately captured at Newtown near the City of Albany with Despatches in Cyphers taken before the Commissioners of Conspiracies in the City of Albany 1st April 1782.

He says he knew of Letters passing between Doctr Smith (appointed as a Commissioner on the Part of the British to treat with them) and Governor Chittendon, General Allen, Ira Allen, Major Fay and Doctr Fay—that he had himself carried Letters to Govr Chittendon from Smith and from Chittendon to Smith and that he was the Bearer of these Letters privately, not as a Flag—that he has also seen in Canada Ira Allen Major Fay and a Captain whose Name he forgot—Governor Chittendon (when he went to him) observing him to be a British officer said to him that his State would be ready to co-operate this Summer—that the People had not been united, but were growing more so—that if Congress should grant them their Demands they would continue in a peaceable Neutrality some time longer, but if they did not, they would then join openly with the British—that some Letters had past from Chittenden and Fay about the latter End of February last to the Enemy, that he knows of an Agreement between the Enemy and the Vermonteers—that the latter was to raise two Regts to be paid and made use of by the British on a proper Occasion—their State was to be free and Independent as a principal Condition of the Alliance, he also saw a Letter from General Allen to Doctor Smith informing him that the Articles proposed by him had all been agreed to except one—That an Expedition was intended last Fall, but laid aside on Pretence that the common People was not ripe enough to join them—they intended one in the Course of this year and are forming Magazines for the Purpose at St Johns, building and repairing Boats to the Number of four or five hundred and that Orders had been given to the Inhabitants to appear with their Sleds or Drags to transport the Provision from Sorell—That part of the 31st and the whole of the 34th British Regiment, the Green Yagers, Major Rogers’ and part of Major Jessops and Myers Independent Company, the whole amounting to about 18 or 19,00 Men are at St Johns & in the Neighbourhood, that General Haldiman, the other Generals and Engineers were lately at the Frontier Posts.

Index Entries