1From George Washington to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 6 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letter of the 3d—and the papers which it mentioned. It would be a very desirable thing as we are circumstanced at present, could a channel of communication be opened across the North river—or by way of Staten Island. If C—— can fall upon a line which he thinks he may safely trust, I wish it to be adopted: but if this cannot be accomplished, he will continue his...