George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Major John Van Emburg, 12 June 1777

From Major John Van Emburg

½ after 10 Oclock Cranberry [N.J.] June 12th 1777

Sir.

By intelligence this instant received from a Capn of our Scout at South Amboy the enemy was yesterday Afternoon, untill night taking their troops across from Statenisland to Amboy & encamping in the streets: That the shipping was Almost all out from Amboy & lay in Princess Bay; which is under Statenisland About 8 miles from Amboy & that a considerable body of Troops marchd yesterday from Amboy to Brunswyck Shall forward intelligence as fast as it arrives.1 yr Obt Humle Servt

John Vn Emburg Majr

ALS, DLC:GW.

1Van Emburg enclosed an undated intelligence report that was sent to him by one of the captains of the 2d Regiment of Middlesex County militia: “Was on Staten Island on Monday Afternoon last [9 June], conversed with some of the Staten Island People of good Character & friendly to us, They informed him that 13 Vessels from Europe had arrived there with 1500 Troops said to be Hanerans & Hannoverians—very sickly & had been 3 Months & better on their Passage—while he was on the Island, he see an Encampment struck on Firt Hill, but afterwards (next morning) he see guards on the Island as usual—The Inhabitants informed him that it was said these Troops were to keep possession of the Island in the room of those taken away. But a Lady on the Island (Mrs Banker) recd a Letter from an Officer who lodged at her House, desiring her to get all her Effects removed to New York, for that after that, no Troops would be kept on the Island” (DLC:GW). On 9 June British general William Howe left New York for Perth Amboy, and on 12 June he arrived at New Brunswick (see Lydenberg, Robertson Diaries description begins Harry Miller Lydenberg, ed. Archibald Robertson, Lieutenant-General Royal Engineers: His Diaries and Sketches in America, 1762–1780. New York, 1930. description ends , 135, and Ewald, Diary description begins Johann Ewald. Diary of the American War: A Hessian Journal. Translated and edited by Joseph P. Tustin. New Haven and London, 1979. description ends , 64; see also Kemble Papers description begins [Stephen Kemble]. The Kemble Papers. 2 vols. New York, 1884-85. In Collections of the New-York Historical Society, vols. 16–17. description ends , 1:119.

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