To George Washington from Colonel Stephen Moylan, 23 July 1778
From Colonel Stephen Moylan
Topan [Tappan, N.Y.] 23d July 1778
Sir
your orders of the 16th reachd me the 19th instant, and agreeable thereto I have Marchd the three Regiments of horse to this place.1
I have seen your Excellencys instructions to Captain Hopkins, to which I will pay due attention,2 the English Neighborhood, woud be a good place for the Cavalry, if they are to stay any time on this Side the River, I shall expect further orders from your Excellency by the bearer3 and I am with truth Sir your most obligd H. St
Stephen Moylan
P.S. I am Engagd to Miss Vanhorne.4
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. On 16 July, GW’s secretary James McHenry wrote Moylan at Bound Brook, N.J.: “It is his Excellency’s desire that you proceed immediately with the horse under your command to Orange Town where you will find Captn Hopkins who has instructions for the Cavalry—You will be pleased to advise the General of your arrival and wait his further orders” (DLC:GW).
2. On 16 July, GW’s aide Tench Tilghman wrote Capt. David Hopkins: “It is His Excellency’s desire that you fall down with the detatchment of Horse under your command to Closter, which is about four Miles below Orange Town. You are to keep Scouts down towards the English Neighbourhood, with orders to watch the River, and if they perceive any Ships or Vessels moving up to give you immediate Notice. If these Vessels are of any considerable Number you are to send an Express to the commanding Officer at Kings Ferry, desiring him to forward the intelligence to His Excelly whereever he may be; but if only a single Vessel or a few Boats goes up, you are to take it for granted that they are after Supplies of some kind, and are there fore to send a party to keep pace with them and prevent their landing upon this Shore” (DLC:GW).
3. This letter was carried by Maj. William Washington.
4. Moylan married Mary Ricketts Van Horne (born c. 1754), daughter of Philip Van Horne, in the fall of 1778.