1To George Washington from Captain Ephraim Manning, 3 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
Last Night about 12 oClock I recd your Excellencies Orders to give my Assistance in taking the Stock of[f] Staten Island—beg leave to inform your Ex[c]ellency, that by the Advice of all my Officers, I left the Island Yesterday about 3 oClock P.M. the Inhabitants being unfreindly & the Enemy so near & my Party so small, had I staid any longer we must have fallen into their Hands, as they were...