War, obliges me to give your Excellency early Intelligence of it, and of our Proceedings in Opposition to them. That Party having ordered Capt. James Clay, Lieut. Benjamin Wilson & one M". Cummins (all acknowledged subjects of New York in Putney) to provide a man to go into service for a short space of time to guard the frontiers; the week before last foreibly took a cow from Capt. Clay and another from Mr. Wilson to pay a person they had hired for them & the Expences. Last Wednesday was the Day appointed for selling the Cattle; at which time myself and field Officers & a considerable part of my Regiment met all unarmed to prevent the sale. After vainly endeavoring with calmness to convince them of the Impropriety of this Proceeding & to persuade them to give up the Cattle, we took possession of them, the owners drove them off & every man returned to his home.
In Fulham some Persons subjects of New York, have lately had their property taken from them by direction of the Vermont Officers & have acquiesced in it rather than to contend; One other was also threatened with the like usage, but since our retaking the Cattle in Putney they have been quiet about it.
In Guilford a sum of money was assessed upon those who were supposed to have done least inthe War. The Persons who were to colleet it were upon a Trial frightened from it by those who oppose Vermont. In Westminster & Rockingham they