To George Washington from Benjamin Tallmadge, 29 May 1781
Hartford May 29th 1781
Sir
I have the Honor to enclose Your Excellency two letters which have just come to hand. The one signed S.G. is from a Person heretofore unknown in my private Correspondence, but from whom I should expect important services if he could be engaged in this way. I have the Honor to be, most respectfully, Your Excellency’s most obedt Servt
Benja. Tallmadge
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
c.27 May 1781
| [Lusboke] | } | Hessian Regts be from Kings bridge about [4] miles on the Road to NY. And several Companies detachd from British Regts with them |
| [Crauhause] |
57th British Regt: lie Just above fort Washington at Fort Niphausin
38th do lie at Harlem at a Place called Laurel Hill
42d &22d Do duty at Horns Hook and in and about Town
Two Hessian Regts do duty in town
| 43d British went with the Fleet for the Delaware or Chesepeak | } | Abt 2000 |
| [42] Regts Anspakers went with the Fleet | ||
| Part of the 86th & part of the 46th British went with [ ] | ||
| 150 Hessian Jagers went with the Fleet |
1st Regt British Grandadiers lie at New Town on Long Island
2d Do at Jamaica
Colonal [Wodnis] Hessian Jagers about 600 or 700 lie at [Heriks] on the North Side the Plains
17th Light Horse Commanded by lye at Heampstead
At Loyds Neck Detachments from Several New raisd Regts to the Amount of 600 perhaps Seven hundred
On Staten Island 2 Regts amount on the Island 1200
2 Frigates only in New York Harbour except the Confederacy
Whole troops in & about NY not to exceed 4500
S.G.
N.B. Governor Robinson is Going to the Southwart to take Genl Phillips’s place who it is said died of Sickness. Arnold cannot it Seems be trusted alone.
An Expedition from K. bridge may soon be expected perhaps after Foriage. Last Tuesday 22 May all the Troops on the Island were marching for N. York at 11 oClock at night they were ordered to Return to their quondam Quarters. They had got as far down as Howards on wednesday they marched back.
Enclosure
May 27th 1781
Sir
Your favour of the 13th Instant hath come to hand—And note the contents—I have proposed the affair to the person mentiond in your last but can only Send him down at times, he cannot reside there at present—And cannot procure any person at yet to do it—Austin Roe hath Just returned from New York but brings nothing material Pensacola is taken by the Spaniards and then a Fleet prepairing to sail for Urope, probably will be ready in about ten days, their said to be Conveyd by five Ships of War—The Troops were all orderd to leave Long Island a few days past but before they got to Brooklin were orderd to return to their quarters—again what this menover was for cannot Say—It is reportd that the Second division of French have arrived at Boston—You desired to know the State of the enemy at Kingsbridge—I have directd an enquire there most certainly very [ ] there. But I think you cannot Surprise them and were you to make any movement there You may depend they could move their Whole force then in twelve Hours: Their regular Troops certainly doth not much exceed four Thousand. And I am assured that the Militia and others that they could muster in an emergency would amount to five Thousand more Some Say Six—I have forwarded the papers regular—And have expended the ten Gines. A few days past Several Men from New Haven were at Setauket. Two of them were named Thompson and Brothers further cannot describe. They Brought on Shoes and Flower and other necessairies of life. Then a person came to New York this week I Suppose you are not unacquainted with his errand—hope he hath renderd a good account—I am in hast and remain your very Humble Servant
Saml Culper
General Phillips is dead and General Robinson Commonly Called Old Jemmy goes to take the Command in Virginia.
Words in Square brackets are translations of code.