1. The enclosed letter from Col. Israel Shreve to Dickinson, dated “fostertown,” N.J., 30 May 1778, reads: “this moment I Got the Intillegence I Expected yesterday, by the person I Sent in to the City. he informs he Saw them puting Every Kind of thing, on Board their Vessels, there is a Great Bustle and Confusion in the City, there is a Great Number of Waggons on this Side, he thinks about 250 without Horses the General Report in the City was they were Going through Jersey, all the Shops Shut up, Advertisement up at the Corner for all inhabitants that Chose to Go with the fleet to Give in their Names.

“If they Imbar[k] it is Likely they may want Live Stock which they Can ⟨mutilated⟩ by marching from the ferry to Elsinborough below Salem, about forty miles” (DLC:GW).

Dickinson wrote a note to GW at the bottom of Shreve’s letter: “As Col: Shreve does not mention Genl Howe’s return, am apprehensive ’tis not true—this letter came, just as I was going to seal mine to your Excellency, therefore inclosed it.”