THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 381 
with their bayonets to such effect, that only three of their corps escaped. 
Sixty including five officers were killed, with a number as yet unknown 
of the militia. ..The prisoners consist of 50 Virginians, many of whom 
are wounded. Colonel Baylor, their commander, is mortally wounded 
and left on his parole. He wrote to General Washington, “that he 
was very much mortified in being obliged to acquaint him that his 
whole regiment was killed or taken by the British.” All their horses, 
accoutrements, etc. are brought in, with 300 head of cattle, a great 
number of sheep, etc.. The action happened near Tappan. The 
British did not lose a single man. Rebel officers prisoners. 
MtoTMSd;} MOTtall y wounded - . 
Captains Swan and Crane, Lieutenant Randolph, Cornet Fitzhugh, 
Ensign Gilchrist, Messrs Dale, Evans, Vanbrugh, Shutliff, and Kitty. 
The following correspondence has passed between Sir Henry 
Clinton and the American Congress. 
New York, September 19th, 1778. 
To His Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq., President, and other 
members of the American Congress at Philadelphia. 
Sir,— 
Nothing but His Majesty’s positive instructions, of which 
I send you an extract, would have induced me to trouble you or the 
American Congress again on the subject of the troops detained in 
New England, in direct contravention of the treaty entered into at 
Saratoga. The neglect of the requisition already made on the sub¬ 
ject is altogether unprecedented among parties at war. I now, how¬ 
ever repeat the demand that the convention of Saratoga be fulfilled, 
and offer by express and recent authority from the King, received 
since the date of the late requisition made by His Majesty’s com¬ 
missioners, to renew in His Majesty’s name all the conditions stipu¬ 
lated by Lieut.-General Burgoyne in respect to the troops serving in 
America. 
In this I mean to discharge my duty not only to my King whose 
orders I obey, but to the unhappy people likewise whose affairs are 
committed to you, and who I hope will have the candour to acquit me 
of the consequences that must follow from the new system of war you 
are pleased to introduce. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
Your most obedient and most humble servant, 
H. Clinton. 
Please to observe the answer from these insolent scoundrels. 
To his Excellency General Sir Henry Clinton, k.b., etc., etc.. New 
York. 
Philadelphia , September 28th , 1778. 
Your letter of the 19fch was laid before Congress, and 
Sir,— 
