To George Washington from Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 18 July 1780
From Major Benjamin Tallmadge
Bedford [N.Y.] July 18th 1780
Sir
When I acknowledged your Excellency’s favour of the 11th inst. I informed that I should immediately ride Eastward on the business therein contained1—I have accordingly given Directions for a Boat to cross as heretofore, & wrote to the C——s on the Subject.2 I expect to hear from them in a few days.
I am informed (via L. Island) that an Express-Boat arrived at N.Y. on the 13th inst. from the W. Indies, announcing a compleat Victory obtained over the English fleet by the French in those Seas; in which action, it was said, the former lost 7 or 8 capital Ships.3
The Enemy are very busy collecting wood, forage &c. on L. Island. A Fleet of about 40 Sail are constantly passing & repassing the Sound transporting those Supplies. Within a week past not less than 100 Vessels have been loaded at Lloyd’s neck & Huntington with Wood, forage &c., & Sent to N.Y. I cannot but observe that great advantages might be derived to us, if a few Ships were immediately sent into the Sound. Large Quantities of forage, wood &c., now lying at the abovementioned places, might be saved, or destroyed. A Body of Troops are every day expected into Suffolk County from N.Y. to sweep off their Cattle, Provisions &c. Indeed the disaffected are constantly forwarding them to N.Y. from all Parts of the Island. It has been hinted to me, & as such I mention it to your Excellency, that a small body of Troops flung over upon L. Island, as soon as any of our Shipping appear in the Sound, would be of very great Service, as they would prevent the disaffected, & small Parties from driving Cattle &c. from Suffolk County to NY.—and in Case it should be thot proper to drive the Cattle Eastward, our Friends would have some shew for putting their Cattle out of the way of the Enemy—Suffolk County, Your Excellency knows, is in our Interest, & would willingly assist us; but must have some more Colour for their Conduct like Compulsion, so long as we are not in force on the Island sufficient to protect them—If any plan of this kind should be tho’t on, I could mention sundry things, respecting the place of Landing on L. Island—Where it might be prudent to post small Detachments—or if it should be tho’t best to drive the Island, how far westward it would do to undertake it—Indeed I should be happy to serve in this or any other Expedition f⟨or which⟩ your Excellency should think me best qualif⟨ied⟩.
The arrival of a Cork Fleet is hourly expected at N.Y.4 Indeed it is said one ship with Provision has arrived within a few days.5 I have the Honor to be, With the greatest Regard, Your Excellency’s most Obedt Hble Servt
Benja. Tallmadge
ALS, DLC:GW; ALS (retained copy), CtLHi. Tallmadge wrote “Private” on the cover of the ALS at DLC:GW. He also wrote: “To the Care of Genl [Robert] Howe.”
1. See GW to Tallmadge, 11 July, source note.
2. Tallmadge’s letters to the Culper-ring spies Abraham Woodhull and Robert Townsend have not been identified.
3. This may have been an exaggerated account of the information New York printer Hugh Gaine recorded in his journal entry of 12 July: “The Savage Sloop from the West Indies, brings an account of the Arrival at Martinico of 12 sail of Spanish Men of War, and 12000 Land Forces, that Admiral Rodney had fell in with them, and had captured two of the Transports but that the rest had got in. The Cornwall of 74 guns sunk in the Harbour of St. Lucia, but the Men and guns were saved” (, 2:92).
4. The provision fleet from Cork, Ireland, did not arrive until 10 Nov. (see , 393–94).
5. Gaine recorded the arrival of two ships from England on 15 July (see , 2:93).