To George Washington from Colonel David Forman, 19 June 1780
From Colonel David Forman
Monmouth C. House [N.J.] 19th June 1780
Sir
On Saturday Night Elevin OClock I had the Honr to Inform your Excly of the Arrival of a Fleet within Sandy Hook from the Southward, that there remained no doubt of there being British and probably Sr Harry Clinton1—As I proposed to Your Excly, As soone as I had dispatched the Express I rode down to the High Lands of Middle Town2—The Day was rainey and dull—so as to prevent any particular observation.
I found that all the Ships that had Arrive before Sun down on Saturday had Stood Immediately up to New York—That on Saturday Night 35 Vessells Generally Large had Come too out side of the Hook and as Soone as it was Light on Sunday Morning Stood in and run up to the Narrowes—the Enclosed Acct did not Come to my hands untill the Express had set off3—I think it is the Best that was Taken—Last Night I was Informed from Sandy Hook that it was reported There that Sir Harry Clinton was gone up the North river without Stoping at New York4—But it appears to be Only report—Yet there Mannor of going up was Very Uncommon—Not a Gun from any Ship or fort On there Arrival or Going up. I have the Honr to be yr Excly Most Obdt Humble Servt
David Forman
ALS, DLC:GW.
2. Middletown, N.J., was about thirteen miles northeast of Monmouth Court House.
3. Forman enclosed a letter to him from John Stillwell begun at “Garrats Hill Fry day Aftr Noon” on 16 June: “2 Ships Standing from the Southard … Went up to New York. Sun Set Came A Large Ship Supposed to be the Admils of 64 or 70 Guns and Came to Anchor North of Sandy-Hook.
“Saterday … the 17 … 4 OClock Apeared A fleet of 31 Ships Standing from the Southard Directly Along Shore all Top Sail Vessels 3 or 4 Seemed to be Double Deckers. … 5 OClock Came in 19 Sail More all Topsail Vessels … two [transports] Came to Anchor the Rest Stood Up for New York. … Sunday Morning 18th. Observed thirty fieve Sail More Had Come too out Side of the Hook ⟨at⟩ day Light Stood in and run up to the Narrowes—Total No. of Ships Fryday 4 Saturday 50 Sunday 35 [Total:] 89 Besides Sloops &c.” (DLC:GW).
4. Neither Gen. Henry Clinton nor any troops he brought from South Carolina moved up the Hudson River before 23 June.