To George Washington from Captain Epaphras Bull, 29 August 1778
From Captain Epaphras Bull
Motts Mills [N.Y.]
6 OClock Saturday morning [29 August 1778]1
Sir
I have to Inform your Excellency that the Fleet which came to Sail Last Night have got as far Etward as Oyster Bay where they now lie at Anchor the wind being Rather a head, there appears to be between 60 & 70 Sail of them, (30 of them Ships) the distance is so great that I am not able to give a Particular Acct of them—I shou’d think that a Person at Horse Neck2 or Stanford, with a good Glass might discover, If they had Troops on board.
there is no Shiping that I can desern at the Wtward of me this morning If any further movement shall Acquaint your Excellency. I am your Excellencys Mot Obt servant
Epaps Bull
P.S. some of the Smaller Vessels appear to be Runing in to Oyster Bay.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The cover of this letter is docketed in part “28 Augt 1778,” but Saturday was 29 August.
2. Horse Neck, now Field Point, in Connecticut is the peninsula extending into Long Island Sound from Greenwich, Conn., which town was sometimes called Horseneck.