Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution
" This City is in Terror and confusion : One half of its inhabitants " have withdrawn with their effects, hundreds without the means to "support their families, 1 ' (Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, "Ship Dutchess or Gordon off New York 8 th Feby 1776.")
See, also, the Order of the Provincial Congress to the male Refugees, to return to the City-- Journal of the Provincial Congress, "Die Veneris, 10 "ho., A.M., May 10, 1776 ;" Memorial of the Vestry of the City to the Provincial Congress, May 30, 1776 ; etc.
1 William Smith, Chairman, to the Committee of Safety, "Suffolk- " county, Jany 24, 1776 ;"
* Governor Tryon to the Earl of Dartmouth, No. 22, "On Board the 'JShip Dutchess of Gordon New York Harbour, 6th Deer. 1775 ;" tlie same, No. 25, " On Board the Ship Dutchess of Gordon New York "Harbour, 3d Janryl776;" etc.
in what was circulated as money, 9 were led to enlist in the short-term levies which then constituted the Continental Army, carrying into that service no greater sympathy for the Rebellion than they had previously possessed, and discharging the duties which were thus imposed on them, with perfect unconcern and with no greater animus than was produced by the expectation of receiving the stipulated payment for the services which were promised. Indeed, the extent and character of the sympathy with the Rebellion, as a matter of principle, which prevailed among the Colonists, generally, may be seen, very clearly defined, in their hesitation ti take the field in support of it, even where no enemy was and where none was expected, 10 and in their precision of movements, homeward, when the terms of service of those who had been induced to enlist had expired. There appears to have been a foundation in fact for what Governor Tryon wrote to the Home Government, that " was it not from the awe of the inhabit- " ants of the neighboring Colonies and the controul- " ing influence of the Continental Congress I am per- " suaded there would be an immediate End, in this ''province, to all Committees and Congresses.""