Fishkill, November 29, 1778
Dear Sir:
I just now received a Letter from His Excellency the Governor of this State, transmitting a general complaint from Major Strang and Mr. Hyat1 against your Corps, and a particular one against Lieutt. Carries 2 for an irregular seizure of forage, and against yourself for refusing to suffer the sheriff to arrest him for it, and demanding him to be delivered to the Civil Magistrate, as you will perceive by the Inclosed.
This complaint I confess gives me extreme pain, as there is nothing I wish so much as a perfect good understanding and Harmony between the Inhabitants and every part of the Army. Mr. Carnes must be amenable to the civil authority, and the Sheriff or other Officer must be permitted to execute the process against him without interruption, that the matter may undergo legal inquiry and decision.
I am, etc.3
1 Maj. Joseph Strang, of the Westchester County (N.Y.) Militia, and Nathaniel Hyatt, Jr. Their complaint, dated Nov. 25, 1778, is in the Washington Papers, along with Governor Clinton's forwarding letter of November 26.
"I have written to Major Strang and Mr. Hyatt, inclosing a Letter to Major Lee. . . . I have also advised them that the Corps is under marching Orders for Jersey, that they may not defer the arrest, if they think proper to make it." - Washington to Gov. George Clinton, Nov. 29, 1778. The draft of this letter is in the Washington Papers. The letter sent is in the possession (1934) of Mrs. Emory Clapp, of New Orleans.
Washington's letter to Strang and Hyatt, which is also in the Washington Papers, is practically a recital of what he wrote to Governor Clinton: "I have informed Major Lee . . . that Lt. Carnes must be amenable to the civil authority, and that he is not to prevent the Sheriff from executing the process he may have against him."
2 Lieut. Patrick Carnes, of Lee's Dragoons. He was a captain in Pulaski's Legion in 1780.
3 The draft is in the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison.