George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Captain Charles Craig, 28 November 1777

From Captain Charles Craig

[Frankford, Pa.] 28th Novr [1777]

Sir

I receiv’d some intillegence this morning from the City and have thought my duty to forward to Yr Excellency.

Yesterday a Number of the enemy Cross’d over Schoolkell it is said the intend to March Towards Wilmington, The whole of British Army are under Marchg orders, a Number of Boats are prepared to go up the river.1 I am with Great Respect Yr Excellencys Most Obt Servt

C. Craig

ALS, DLC:GW. The cover indicates that Craig sent this letter “⅌ Dragoon.”

1Craig’s intelligence about a British force crossing the Schuylkill River has not been confirmed and probably was a British deception (see Allen McLane to GW, 28 Nov.), and his information concerning an early advance toward Wilmington, Del., was inaccurate. There was some evidence, however, of heightened activity within the British lines. British officer Archibald Robertson says in his journal entry for 27 Nov.: “From this day by the Preparations that were made it was easily seen that a move was intended accordingly” (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 , 158).

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