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." 9 At the same time, orders were given by the Committee of Safety, "that if any person shall refuse 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, they 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 Westches- " ter which lay upon the Sound or the Hudson's-river, " and which are any way 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- " pensation be allowed them, for their trouble ; " "that the farmers in the County 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 Eesolu- "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 upon the delivery, Provided, always, that " so much shall be left in the hands of the owners as " will be sufficient to support their families for nine " months, and to perfect the fattening of such Hogs " as may, now, be actually put up, for that purpose ; '' " that His Excellency General Washington, in case " that the Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Horses, or Hay, in the " County of Westchester, should be in danger of fall-