Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III

A NARRATIVE OF CAPT. JOHN MANNING.

To the Ptight IIon''''e the Gouernof and Councell, Sheweth unto yor Hon^ that before tlie Enemies ffleete [came] hesrewe had Intelligence by one who was a pnior Capt" Deiiincoiirt and one M^ Hopkins gaue mformacon that tlieir was a tlleete

90 RESTORATION OF NEW-YORK TO THE ENGLISH.

of Sliipps comeing from the West Indies intending to make Spoile at Verginia and -- thence to New Yorke as they was certainely iiiformed aboard the said Capt' Shippe at that Instant Coll. Louela.ce was at M^ Pells to whome imediately an express was sent & his Hon^ returned the day following [and with all] expedicon sent a dispatch to Capt" Salisbury and men from Albany and alsoe Issued out a Warr* to Cap^ Chambers of Sopus for 20 Men who was Ordered to returne soone after their comeing and likewise 9 men and a CorporaU came from Delia ware w^h completed 130 Men of Officers and Soldiers in the Muster [roll] (in the pt of May 1673) and upon the 29th of [May] w«i VoUunteers that came out of the Country promised to be ready upon all occasions [to the] number of 300 or their aboutes. Soone after the Garrison soe decreased some being discharged [some] dismist and in July Cap^ Salsburyand [his men] by order returned to All^any Then the whole [number] was reduced to 15 or 16 w*fa a Sergeant to every & of that Number

their was 12 Effectiue Souldiers [with] the Gouernor and absent upon ye approach of y*' Enemie (in Soldiers besides Officers there was not aboue 50 And not one halfe of them [euer had] their heads ouer the Workes Avliile we [were there] They stiU crying out wheres the Country [people] What shall we do for mem & at the Losse of the s^ ffort it was soe plim-dered that if M"" Munueale had not Supplied him wth Shirts he had none to his back.