George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Colonel Elias Dayton, 18 July 1780

From Colonel Elias Dayton

Eliz. Town [N.J.] July 18th 1780

Sir,

By a person from Staaten Island I am informed that a report prevails there, that the British fleet had sailed this morning, which from the number of signal guns I have heard, I am rather inclined to suspect as true.1

They have taken on board one Regiment to serve as marines and fifteen hundred volunteers have joined them from New York. It is said their object is the french fleet if so, they are most happily favoured with a very fair wind.

I am told there is in provost a John Scott, confined for serving as guide to the British army in their late excursion—thus much I can say, that I believe what he did in that respect was not done willingly, but through compulsion.2 I am Yr Excellency Hbe St

Elias Dayton

LS, DLC:GW. GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote Dayton on 21 July.

On this date, Dayton’s spy John Vanderhovan wrote an intelligence report that appears to answer a request for information by GW (see GW to Dayton, 16 July). The report reads: “your first Request was to Know what troops Came from the Sutherd with Sir Henry and the names of the Detachments: with him Came One Brigade of hessians[,] the forty second Ridgmt and a Detachment of the Guards and Simcoes Rangers in all five thousand those Joined to the Army then at Elizabethtown Under old Kniphowson which amounted to near Six thousand and the troops then Doing Duty in the City and Boath Islands which Did not amount to two thousand[.] the whole Added to Geather as near as Can Be assertaind will not amount to thirteen thowsand which is the preasent State of the army[,] the Second thing you mentioned to me—the third thing you mention’d is what number of Ships and what the Ennemy Really thinck of admiral Graves Comeing out[.] this is Easy answerd now he is hear as you Know By my Last note to you But has not half the fleet that it was Reported he had the Day he arrived[.] his fleet Consists of Six Sail of the Line the London his own Ship of ninety four[,] the Royal oak of Eighty[,] two Seventy fours and two Sixty fours all Copperbottemd[.] he has Rased Seven hindred men hear and got them all On Board[.] yesterday admiral arberthnot Joined him with all the fleet under his Command which Consist of the Uropia Sixty four Russel [Sixty four] Robust and Renown of fifty Romeles and Rainbow forty in all twelve Sail and Seven of them Copperd[.] the Amphrates Belongong to him Joined them Last night[.] an New Ship of thirty Six Guns and Copperd also with this fleet[.] they are Laying off and wating to hear of the french fleet which is Exspected Every hour[.] much is to Be Depend On the Sucksess of this fleet[.] I have Been Down my Self to See them and I never Saw Ships in Better order and men More healthy[.] the Spirits of the peopel Seem much Rased Since theire arrival[.] as I Exspect to Se you my Self and Can Give you more Satisfation I shall write no farther” (DLC:GW). The report is unsigned but is in Vanderhovan’s writing.

1British officer Archibald Robertson, then in New York City, reported in his diary entry for this date: “After The Fleet were watered Admiral Arbuthnot went to sea with all the Fleet consisting, of 9 Sail of the Line, 1 50, 2 40s, and a Number of frigates” (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 , 235; see also Henry Lee, Jr., to GW, this date).

2John Scott, along with two other accused spies, was soon acquitted and released (see General Orders, 20 July). For the British incursion into New Jersey, see the editorial notes Battle of Connecticut Farms, 7–8 June, and Battle of Springfield, 23–24 June.

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