During the morning of that day, [July 16, 1776,] before the information of the departure 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 property, which " were stored in places 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 proper ;" and when the information of the departure of the ships was received from Lieutenant-colonel Hammond, the Convention very promptly despatched Colonel Pierre Van Cortlandt and Zephaniah Piatt, the former a Deputy from Westchester-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 reinforce 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. 6 The Convention further 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, property, 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 Westchester and Duchess-counties were ordered to repair, immediately, to Peekskill ; General Washington was requested 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