I have exerted myself to muster the "Militia, but have liot been able to raise a guard of "more than thirty- eight men of my Regiment, at one "time, at Nyack.^ The wood-cutters employed by "order of General Heath have been with me, but "have received orders to proceed in cutting wood for "the Army; and I have not, at present, but eleven "men to guard the shore between Verdudigo Hook "and Stony Point.* In this situation, I leave the "Committee of Safety to determine what can be ex- "pected from me, in a way of opposition.
" My whole Regiment consi.sts of but three hundred "men : most of them are without arms, they having "been taken for the Continental troops. Most of my "men refuse to attend the service, though repeatedly
^Journal of the Committee of Safety, " Tliursday afternoon, Octor. 10, "1776."
* Robert It. Licingston to General Washington, "Fishkill, 12 October, "1776."
5 As the ships were anchored off Nyack as well as off Tarrytown, those Tillages being exactly opposite, the former on the western and the latter on the eastern bank of the river, and as two boats" crews had made an attempt to go ashore, at Nyack, on the preceding Sunday, it will be seen why the Colonel mentioned Nyack, especially, in his despatch to the Committee of Safety.
I' The shore-line thus described includes the entire western bank of that portion of the Hudson-river which is known as Haverstraw Bay, extending from a short distance above Nyack to within a short distance from the southernmost entrance into tlie Highlands.