quently, when the purpose of the enemy to occupy Westchester-county had become more evident, Stephen Ward was appointed a Commissary " to purchase "all the Cattle fit for the use of the Army, within " that County, and to drive them down to the Army, " at King's Bridge, as fast as they may be wanted ; " Provided, that so much shall be left as is abso- " lutely necessary for the support of the families from "whom the same shall be taken."' At the same time, orders were given by the Committee of Safety, "that if any person shall refu.se to part with his "Cattle, at a reasonable price, the Commissary be " directed to drive them down to the Army, and re- " turn to the owner the money for which they were " sold, after deducting the contingent charge ; " " that " all the Hides of the Cattle so driven and killed, be " carefully preserved and sent to some safe place, on " the North side of the Highlands, where, being ap- " praised by persons hereafter to be named for that " purpose, ihey shall be paid for, by the State ; " " that Gil. Budd Horton, Alexander Hunt, James "Varian, and Joseph Youngs be appointed Commis- " sioners to drive all the Horses, Hogs, Sheep, and " Cattle, from those parts of the County of Wcstches- " ter which lay upon the Sound or the Hudson 's-river, " and which are any waj' exposed to the enemy, and " to billet them out upon the farms that lay in the " interior part of the County, till the same can be " otherwise disposed of ; and that a reasonable com- " peusation be allowed them, for their trouble ; " "that the farmers in the Countj' of Westchester im- " mediately thresh out all their Grain, as the Straw " will be absolutely necessary for the use of the Army, "and as those who do not comply with this Resolu- "tion will be in danger of having their Straw taken " for the use of the Army, even though the same " should not be threshed ; " " that His Excellency " General Washington be empowered to order any " Straw in the County of Westchester to be taken for " the use of the Army, paying to the owners a reason- " able compensation therefor ; " " that the Chairman " or Deputy Chairman of the County of Westchester, " for the time being, on application from the Commis- "sary-general, be empowered to take so much of the " Grain, in the County of Westchester, as shall be " necessary for the use of the Army, allowing to the " owners thereof the now current price, and paying "them ujion the delivery.