1. Ballard presumably intended “by” for this word.

2. Likely enclosures were an extract of a letter from Brig. Gen. John Stark to Ballard written at Albany on 4 July 1778, and a copy of a letter from Col. Ichabod Alden to Ballard written at Cherry Valley, N.Y., on 7 Aug. 1778. The extract from Stark’s letter reads: “I Received yours of the first Instant and Concerning those Disafected persons if they Will not Come Within the lines and Swallow the oaths of Allegiance with a good Stomach you must take the trouble to Bring them in & use your utmost Endavours (by Usage becoming Such Villins) to make them (after a Season) Valuable Subjects” (DLC:GW). For more of this letter from Stark to Ballard, see Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 5:413; see also Stark to Ballard, 23 June 1778, in Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 5:413.

Alden’s letter reads: “You Will proceed With the Party Under Your Command Taking Directions for Your rout of those persons that are With You as Pilots You Will Indeavour to make Discoveries and Git all the Intilligence Possable of Brant and his Party if You Discover Any Party of the Ennamy and Judge them To be to[o] Strong for You to Ingage you Will Return and Report to me.

“You Will Take all precaution on Your march to prevent the Enemy from Taking Advantage By ambushing Your rout if You Find any of the Effects of Tories or Persons Gon to the Enemy You Will Secure the Same by bringing Them into this Gareson also Tories or any of the people Which You have Good Evidence have or are Desp[o]sed to assist and Saport the Enemy Likwise Such Persons With their Effects as You think are Greatly Exposd to the Enemy” (DLC:GW). For other probable enclosures, including testimony from captured Tories, see Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 5:414–18.

3. Ballard’s orders may be implied from Stark’s letter to Alden written at Albany on 15 Aug. 1778: “I Received yours of the 12th Inst. and am Glad to hear of the Success of your Scout; a few Such strokes will make the enemy watch their frontiers and give us Peace; those Tories you sent I Shall take Care that they shall be Properly treated; and as for the Plunder that Capt. Ballard’s scout has taken that did Belong to the Enemy, you will Order to Be Divided amongst the People that took it; If any has fallen into their hands Belonging to the honest Inhabitants you will Pleased to Deliver it up to Proper Owners.

“That Capt. Ballard and his Party Chuse Such Persons to Divide the Plunder as they think will do the most Justice to the Party; that you Order a Court of inquiry to Examine into the matter and see what Part ought to be Condemned and what ought to be Returned to the Owners; and make Report of your Proceedings to me” (Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 5:414). The court of inquiry held at Cherry Valley on 10 Sept. 1778 decided to sell the captured goods at public auction (see Hastings and Holden, Clinton Papers, description begins Hugh Hastings and J. A. Holden, eds. Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777–1795, 1801–1804. 10 vols. 1899–1914. Reprint. New York, 1973. description ends 5:417).

4. See GW to Ballard and to George Clinton, both 13 Dec. 1779.