1. The enclosed copy of a letter Henry Wisner, Sr., wrote Clinton from Goshen, N.Y., on 27 April reads: “We are at this time in the greatest distress on the approach of the Indians and tories at Minisinck—day before Yesterday early in the Morning the house of one Westbrook was beset by 15 Indians killed Westbrook & his Brother and one Jobe, plundered the house and abused the families and after they had done went of[f] they ware persued but without success.

“Yesterday morning Major [Moses] Hetfield [Hatfield] with his Regiment set of[f] for their relief, he has this Evening returned left part of his Men at Minisinck under the Command of Captn Westfall—The Major say that it is beyond every doubt they are now lurking in the Neighbourhood & in the Woods—Day before Yesterday they took three Prisoners—Yesterday they burnt two houses and two barns, this day they took two Prisoners—the Major would not have returned yet; but having received the inclosed Copy of an intercepted Letter which induced him to think it unsafe to leave this place intirely ungarded and more especially as Cole and Huff have lately broak Gaol, and this place much threatned—The nine Months men from this Regiment are all raised but one and sent to Minisinck but without Ammunition or Meat, and no Officer to take care of them, but Westfall who was recommended to your Excellency and to which no Answer has been received—No Men had arrived from any other Regiment this Afternoon—I am told the Officers in the Regiments dont know what to do with their men when raised as they have received no orders for that purpose—The Tories in that part of the Country are so bold & insulting that the Whigs are in the greatest fear—the inclosed Copy was taken by a Man in Jersey State with who[m] I am not acquainted, and how the Letter was intercepted I have not heard, but am apt to think there is truth in it—this Morning a bark Canoe was found near Major Decker’s which was made last Night by Cole and his party, who took the two Prisoners this day as is immagined—It has been thought proper to keep the inclosed a secreet, least the People should leave their Habitations” (DLC:GW). The intercepted letter has not been identified.

Samuel Westbrook (Westbroek; 1746–1833) was a justice of the peace in Sussex County, N.J., in 1776 and that same year became a New Jersey militia major. He also became a purchasing agent for the Continental army in 1777 and continued in both roles for the rest of the war. He moved his family and three slaves to Tioga County, N.Y., in 1792.

2. Clinton wrote Col. Albert Pawling from Poughkeepsie on this date at 6:00 P.M.: “Th[is] Moment I received accounts of the Appearance of a Party of the Enemy at Minissink on the Frontiers of Sussex and Orange Counties, and of Depredations committed by them in that Quarter. For the particular I refer you to the inclosed Copy of a Letter from Henry Wisner, Esquire, and of an intercepted Letter attested by Samuel West Broeck, Esqr. in what manner o[r] where the latter was acquired, I am ignorant, & therefore, not able to form a proper Judgment of the Credit the information it contains merrits. It is, however, sufficient to put us on our Guard & to exert every Exertion in our Power for the Security of the Frontier Settlements. I have, accordingly, issued orders to the several Militia Regiments of the Counties of Ulster & Orange, a Copy of which [I] Inclose you. You will observe that the Levies of Orange County are to be marched to Minissinck & put under the Command of Capt. Westfael; those of Ulster to be collected by the officers appointed to receive them & moved out to the Frontier, and it is my Desire that you so dispose of the whole as at the same with the aid of the Militia, to give the most perfect & general security to the exposed Settlements and the most effectual opposition to the Enemy. It is of the first Importance to procure authentic & early Intelligence & for this Purpose you must send small Parties composed of such Persons as are well acquainted with the back Country & who can be relied on which I request you to do, without the least Delay; any extra Expence attending it will be paid by the Public; make the earliest Report to me & the officers commanding Militia Regts. of the Result. The arrangement of your officers is this Day compleated & will with the Proportion of Levies from this County intended to join you, be forwarded with the utmost Dispatch” (Hastings and Holden, Clinton Paper, 6:810–11). “An Act to raise Troops for the immediate Defence of the State” had passed the New York legislature on 10 March to provide troops to serve on the state’s frontier until 1 Jan. 1782 as levies attached to the Continental army (N.Y. Laws description begins Laws of the State of New-York, Commencing with the first Session of the Senate and Assembly, after the Declaration of Independency, and the Organization of the New Government of the State, Anno 1777. Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1782. description ends , 172–73; see also John Jay to GW, 4 April 1779, n.1, and GW to Clinton, 28 Aug. 1780, n.3).

Abraham Westfall (1755–1829) of Port Jervis, N.Y., served in several regiments of New York levies in Continental service, first as a lieutenant in spring 1779 and then as a captain in May 1780, April 1781, and April 1782. Westfall moved with his family to Pennsylvania in 1797 and later to Ohio.

3. GW replied to Clinton on 29 April.