Lewis Nicola A.L.S., December 4, 1779 : to His Excellency Joseph Reed, President of State

Lewis Nicola A.L.S., December 4, 1779 : to His Excellency Joseph Reed, President of State

Philadelphia 1777

[4] p. ; 33 cm. (fol.)

MSS L1989.1.151 M

"Two men of the 17th Lt. Dragoons left Staten Island last Sunday & brought off their arms and accoutrements. On Staten Island there are a detachment of the 17th dragoons, the 7th & 63d Brittish [sic] on Hessian reg.t; the Irish volunteers, Col. Buskirk's & Colo. Bartens, the Queens rangers, Bucks County Dragoons, a troop of Jersey volunteers about 18 in number & some of artillery."|No colonels named Buskirk or Barten/Barton appear in the British Army list for 1779; however, a Lieut. Col. Joseph Barton served in the 5th battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers and was captured by the patriots at Staten Island. -- W. Stryker. The New Jersey Volunteers (Loyalists) in the Revolutionary War (1887), p. 28. Abraham Van Bushkin was commissioned lieutenant-col. of the 4th battalion in 1778. After the war, he moved to Nova Scotia and became mayor of Shelburne. -- Stryker, p. 30-31.|In May 1779, the regiment of Irish volunteers became known as the 2nd American Regiment of Foot.|"A short time after the evacuation of Stoney Point about 8000 men were embarked and sailed as far as the Hook but were countermanded & are now in winter quarters."|"At present there is no appearance of an embarkation neither is there any talk of an engagement in Europe."|"There is plenty of forage laid in & firewood is collecting, no fleet lately arrived."|Informants complain that the militia at Trimbley's point took a ... canoe from them & that a Capt. Clunn ... asked them what brought them over is such weather ...." Two captains Clunn served in the N.J. militia: John and Joseph. -- W. Stryker, comp. Official register of the officers of New Jersey in the Revoluionary War (1872), p. 385.|"[M]ore would desert but are discouraged by the little assistance they receive from the militia, that lately 7 men of the 7th regt. got on Burnt island & called to the people on this side to bring them over but were only laughed at & detained till they were taken and punished."|In 5 pieces, apparently at the folds; some portions lacking.|Page [3] is blank, as is another separated piece.|On a 5th piece: 1779 Rec.d Dec.r 14th from Colonel Lewis Nichola [sic].

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