1To George Washington from Nathaniel Shaw, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The British Fleet consisting of Sixteen Sail, came to sail from Gardiners Island Yesterday & stood for Rhode Island with a fair Wind & must have got their by the next morning—at the Same time Six Ships got under way & stood up Sound, and have returned & anchored again of[f] Plumb Island. We have sent a boat over to the Island to gain Intilligenc & shall expect her return to morrow morning. I...