Revolutionary War A Heart-Broken British Adjutant Asks a Loyalist Militia Major for Assistance during the Revolutionary War In this poignant letter, British Adjutant Robert Morrell asks Major John Kissam’s aid in gathering necessary reports from the Loyalist militia on Long Island less than a week after Morrell lost his youngest child. ROBERT MORRELL, Autograph Letter Signed, to John Kissam, December 17, 1779, Flushing, [New York]. 2 pp., 8\" x 12.75\". Expected folds; tear on one fold partially repaired. Complete Transcript Flushing 17th December 1779Major Kissam Sir You Please to send these Orders to the Captns of Oyster bay & Hempstead Immediatly. I should Not a Trobled the Major with the Hole of them Had Not A been for the Unhappy Misfortune that happen Last Sunday In my family by Looseing My youngest Child by a Scold therefore I Humbly beg the Major Assistance at this Present time Whilst under Affliction I Could a Wish to Wrote More Perticular to yo sir but having a Heart full Troble that I am Not Able to Express myself so fully to the Major as I could wish to Due therefore I hope the Major Will Excuse me at This Present time Dear sir by Complying With my Request you Will for Ever Oblige your sincere Friend & Well Wisher Sir I have one think More to mention to you sir that Is to Order the Captns of the Militia in Hempstead & Osterbey to send In a Return Agreeable to the Proposal When We Met at Jamaica Last about the Number Horses Waggons & ox Teams some off the Captns Have sent In there Return & some have Not I am sir With Great Regard Sir Remain your Most obedient Humble Servent Robert Morrell AdjtMajor Kissam of Queens County Militia [Postscript:]Major Kissam SirYou Need Not send any Orders to the Captns at Oyster bey for the Captns of the Militia was at My House about half hour after I Wrote this Letter to you sir & they Promise to send the Orders to the Captns of Oyster bey Townships but the Orders Please send soon Posible to the Captns In Hempsted an one Order to Captn Hewlett who Commands the Troop of Horse Robert Morrell Adjt Historical BackgroundIn Queens County, New York, in 1776, only 12 percent of the adult males supported the patriot cause by publicly renouncing their allegiance to the crown. After the British victory in the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, the western end of Long Island remained under British military rule until the end of 1783. The Loyalist Queens County Militia primarily guarded the northern coast of Long Island against whaleboat raiders from the Connecticut shore. They also served as guards for parties of foragers from New York City, who were sent to acquire wood, grain, and hay from Long Island for use by British forces in the city. Robert Morrell was born in America and lived in Flushing, New York, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He was a Loyalist and served as an adjutant until 1780 to Col. Archibald Hamilton (1735-1795), who was the commandant of the Queens County Militia. Hamilton’s son Alexander Hamilton (1767-1842) then took over the adjutant duties at age 12. Morrell also served as captain of the associated Loyalists and commandant of Clinton Redoubt with a commission from Major General James Robertson. After the war, Morrell remained in Flushing and received an annual military allowance from the British of £40. In 1789, Morrell traveled to London to file a claim against the British government for losses during the war, including livestock and “77 days duty under Genl Arnold’s orders” in 1780-1781. The claims commissioners rejected most of Morrell’s claims but recommended he be given £10, 7 shillings for his service in commanding three whale boats under Arnold. John Kissam (1748-1828) was born in New York, the son of lawyer Daniel Kissam III (1726-1782). In October 1776, he proclaimed his allegiance to the British crown, and he served as a major in the Loyalist Queens County militia, under the command of Colonel Archibald Hamilton. In June 1781, privateers captured Kissam and took him to Connecticut. He was released in an exchange of prisoners in October 1781. In 1782, he married Phebe Allen (1755-1823) in Hempstead, New York. He remained in New York after the war and died in North Hempstead.