1To George Washington from Cornet James Paton, 4 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to inform your Excellency, that this forenoon, I Observed three Sloops & 2 Schooners from Cow Bay the Schooners and Sloop Appeared to be Armed, Came to off City Island in Company with Several Vessels on that Station before the Other Sloops Stood for N. York, About the middle of the Afternoon Came one Brigg from the West, and Came too off City Island, About Sun ⟨Or⟩ Half an Hour high...