George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-27-02-0117

To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 16 July 1780

From Colonel Elias Dayton

Elizabeth Town [N.J.] July 16th 1780

Sir

I am very well convinced from many different accounts, that the force under Admiral Greaves, consists of six ships of the line only and that no troops came with him. They are very industriously impressing seamen, to mann their ships; upon which, they declare, that they intend to find and fight the french fleet—tho’ suspected by some, that they rather intend to sail for the West Indies.

I enclose to your excellency a letter received from New York yesterday ev’ning—the intelligence it conveys is important.1

I have sent on with the bearer of this, three horsemen deserters from the enemy viz. Edmund Bambridge, E⟨d⟩wd Richardson2 and Mordecai McKinney, the latter of whom says ⟨that⟩ he has been a waggon master in our service, under Colos. Forman & Mitchell, your excellency can best determine whether they are what they appear or whether they are impostors. One of the above mentioned deserters rides a horse which was taken some time since by the British from Isaac Woodruff Esqr., of this town. Mr Woodruff demands the horse, the deserter expects that he is his property—I think it exceedingly hard that an honest whig should be deprived of his own by such a fellow. I wish to have your excellency’s determination on this head by return of the bearer.3 I am your Excellencys most Humbl. Servant

Elias Dayton

LS, DLC:GW.

1Dayton enclosed an intelligence report signed by “poor Littel D.” (John Vanderhovan) dated 13 July and addressed to “Jack,” probably Dayton’s spy John Hendricks: “we have ⟨recei⟩ved news on Our Side from the west indies Our own accompt’s Say that they Spanyards have Joineed the french In those Sease and that they Amount in all to thirty seven Sail of the Line Be Side Sixteen Sail of Second Rate Ships Such as fifties and forties But those thirty seven are all first rates that they have Been Ingaged twice that we Came of[f] the worst in Boath Ingagements that in the Last we had three first rates Intirely Distroyd that the Cornwal a ninety Gun Ship Sunck in the Ingagement and two more ware oblidged to Be towed in to port and that they Boath was Run On Shoar and Lost in the harbour this hapned of Santlu[ci]a and the Ships Got into that port this is a fact you may Depend on the accompts of the french fleet So much talked of Last week and who the Gardeloop Braught us the accompt of is Said to Be a fleet of yours from philedelphia to Martineeck under convoy of the Con⟨illegible⟩rica and Captn Roberson Damd Laughed at for his fritefull Story and not Staying to See who they was he Run away from them and Lost his Guns and Boats Spars and they Say his hair was frighted of his head” (DLC:GW). For John Hendricks as Vanderhovan’s probable contact, see Bakeless, Turncoats, Traitors and Heroes description begins John Bakeless. Turncoats, Traitors and Heroes. Philadelphia, 1959. description ends , 179–81.

2Edward Richardson, a Loyalist, served with the second troop of the royal provincial Philadelphia Light Dragoons as a quartermaster in 1778, before joining the British Legion in September of the same year. He resigned the following December (see Dornfest, Military Loyalists description begins Walter T. Dornfest. Military Loyalists of the American Revolution: Officers and Regiments, 1775-1783. Jefferson, N.C., 2011. description ends , 288).

3GW replied to Dayton from headquarters on 17 July: “I have recd yours of yesterday with the intelligence it inclosed—That the French and Spanish Fleets have formed a junction at Martinico is true, but we have had no accounts of any engagement since the junction.

“Having no reason to suppose that the Deserters are imposters, I have permitted them to go back with the Guard to g⟨et⟩ their Cloaths which they say were left at y⟨our⟩ Quarters—Mr Woodruff is to have his Horse delivered to him—You may then give them papers and let them go to their former places of abode—I have not yet recd any further advices from Rhode Island” (LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CU; GW signed the cover).

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