From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper, 25 June 1776
To Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper
New York June 25th 1776.
Sir
I this morning Received Information that One or more Boats have pass’d thro: the Narrows in defiance of the fire from the Rifle Men, who had no Boats to pursue them, this passage I had reason to suppose was properly guarded by the Whale Boats under your Command—and am not a little surprized on hearing the Contrary—I do expect you will for the future have them rowing across the Narrows from Dusk of the Evening to day light in the morning, giveing Orders to each Boat to keep the strictest look out, as there is no doubt our Inveterate Enemies who have had a hand in the late horrid Plot will try every method in their power to escape from the hands of Justice.1 I am sir. Yours &c.
G.W.
LB, in Samuel Blachley Webb’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. The Narrows between Staten and Long islands connects the upper and lower New York bays. For a discussion of the alleged Loyalist conspiracy to which GW refers, see the notes to the Arrest Warrant from a Secret Committee of the New York Provincial Congress, 21 June. GW also had received a recent report that riflemen on Staten Island were taking bribes to let Loyalists go to the British warships anchored near Sandy Hook (see GW to the Essex County Committee of Safety, 21 June). For a similar accusation involving riflemen on Long Island, see William Burnet to GW, this date.