During the morning of that day, [^■Talij 1(5, 1776,] before the intbrmation of the dejjarture of the ships from Tarrytown had reached the Convention, that body had provided for the removal of " all Provisions and " other Stores, as well private as public i)roperty, which "were stored in i)laccs within the district of Peekskill " and so situated as to be in danger of being taken by " the enemy," " to such places of safety as the Sub- " committee of Peekskill shall think i)roper ;" and when the information of the departure of the ships was received from Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, the Convention very j)romptly despatched Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt and Zephaniah Piatt, the former a Deputy from Westchcstcr-county and the latter one from Duchess-county, " to the Highlands, in order to " call out such Militia as they may think necessary for "the defence and security of this State; to direct " their stations ; to reinfcux'e the garrisons of Forts "Montgomery and Constitution, if expedient; and to "supply such forces as may be called out or to ap- " point proper persons for that purpose;" at the same time, promising Continental pay and rations to the Militia who should be thus employed; and advancing five hundred dollars, to be disposed of in procuring Provisions for the forces who should thus be called into active service." The Convention fnrther signified, at the same Session, its determination to protect the State, as far as it could do so, by ordering into immediate service, one-fourth of the entire body of Militia of the Counties of Westchester, Duchess, Orange -- which then included what is now known as Rockland --and Ulster-counties, " for the defence of the liber- " ties, proi)erty, wives, and children of the good peo- '' pie of this State ; and as, at this busy season of the " year, the service may be inconvenient to many of " them, each man be allowed twenty dollars, as a " Bounty, with Continental pay and subsistence, and " be continued in the service until the last day of " December next, unless sooner discharged." At the same time, the men to be raised in AVestchester and Duchess-counties were ordered to repair, immediately, to Peekskill ; General Wiishington was reiiuested to appoint an officer to take command of all the levies to be raised, on both sides the river ; to designate what stations they should occupy ; and to nominate two Deputy Commissaries for the troops, on each side