To George Washington from Benjamin Tallmadge, 27 April 1782
Greenfield April 27th 1782
Sir
I have this morning return’d from Long Island to which Place I have been on an appointed Interview with S.G. & others. Inclosed your Excellency will receive the purport of the general Intelligence I have collected. Tho’ C. Junr has not fully consented to continue his service in as ample a Manner as heretofore, yet he has engaged to pay as much attention to the matter as his business will admit of, & to write, or Communicate the purport of his Observations to a second Person. S.G. Senior & others will also assist. Indeed there are several Persons who will jointly assist in this way, & at certain appointed Periods a Person is engaged to call on them for the needful. We shall probably hear from them once in ten days, & oftener as occasion may require. All intelligence in future will be communicated with the Stain, as Examinations & searches are too severe at New York & down Long Island to risque it in any other way.
Your Excellency will perceive that the necessary Expences of a person to ride from Setauket to New York must be regularly paid, & for the distance & time which he must necessarily take, your Excellency can calculate what Supplies will be needed. I have furnished Stain enough for a few letters, & hope Your Excellency can spare a further Supply. I have the honor to be, with the greatest regard, Your Excellency’s most Obedt Servt
Benja. Tallmadge
P.S. I will thank your Excellency to Convey the Inclosed Letters to Genl Chatellaux by the first Express—I shall leave this place immediately to join the Regt. [ ] B.T.
Words in square brackets are translations of code.
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
April 24th 1782
Dear Sir
I have just Recd from N.Y. the most Authentic Acct: The Troops in and about these Lines are moving about the vicinity of N.Y. & the Ferry—There are 8 Hessian Regiments who do duty in & about N.Y. 4 others the 40 & 42d Cantoond from Byards mount to Kings Brigde. The 38 & 54 together with Robinsons Chore are about leaving Flushing for N.Y. Island. 2 Regts of Jagers Two days ago moved from [Hericks] to Flushing—Two Battalions of Granidiers have moved from Jamaica to Bedford together with the Queens Rangers—the 17th Dragoons Still remain at Hampstead. Arnoles Chore lie at New [Wheck] or New Town, with a Number of Vagabonds not to be particularised—Col. Ludlows regt Lie at Flatt Bush—Part of a Regt of Hessians formerly belonging to Burgoins Army do duty at Brook line In respect to Staten Island I, can only Inform you of the 57th Regt who lie there—The opinion of the best Judges is that the No. of Troops do not exceed Nine thousand men, some say only 8000.
The Gathering of the Troops about N.Y. & the preperations of the Flatt Bottomed Boats Indicate a Speedy expedition to some Part of the Continent, where I cannot Say.
The Enemy are very diligent with the Assistance of 500 Militia In drawing a Line of Fortifications across N.Y. Island just without [Bunker] Hill. It Consist of a Deep Broad Ditch Stockaded in the middle of the Ditch. And is said to be Abbitis’d when Completed.
As to the Navy there is but one Ship of the Line [ ] The Lion which makes the port of N.Y. [ ] Harbour & She is out with a No. of Frigates.
If you Intend to Attack N.Y. I pray you may be Sucsessfull, but the best opinion is, that who ever gets 12 Ship of the Line first with in the Harbour of N.Y. will be able to Defend the Harbour & reduce the Citty.
The Fleet from Charles Town brought no Troops except Invalids. we have no News from any quarter but Hourly expect the Packet from England from which we expect some favourable Accts—Sir James Jay is Lodged in the Provost and no person allowed to see [him.] As to the Contents of your Letter I have not time to decipher it at Present. I could wish to See you if you come over. I am &c. &c.
S.G.