To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 25 September 1780
III
From Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton
[Verplanck Point, N.Y.] Sepr 25. 80
Dr Sir
You will see by the enclosed we are too late—Arnold went by water to the Vulture1—I shall write to General Greene advising him without making a bustle to be in readiness to march and even to detach a Brigade this way, for though I do not believe the project will go on, it is possible Arnold has made such dispositions with the Garrison as may tempt the enemy in its present weakness to make the stroke this night and it seems prudent to be providing against it2—I shall endeavour to find Meigs and request him to march to the Garrison—and shall make some arrangements here. I hope Your Excellency will approve these steps as there may be no time to be lost. I am Yr Most Obed. & hume St
A. Hamilton
The Vulture is gone down to N.Y.
ALS, DLC:GW. Hamilton wrote “Permit the dragoon to pass” on the cover.
1. For the enclosure, see Document I.
2. Hamilton wrote Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene from Verplanck Point on this date: “There has just been unfolded at this place a scene of the blackest tr[e]ason. Arnold has fled to the Enemy. André the British Adjt Genl is in our possession as a spy. His capture unravelled the mystery. West Point was to have been the sacrafice. All the dispositions have been made for the purpose and ’tis possible tho’ not probable to night may still see the execution. The wind is fair. I came here in pursuit of Arnold but was too late. I advise your putting the Army under marching orders, and detaching a brigade immediately this way” (, 6:312, brackets in source; see also Document V; Greene to Samuel Huntington, 25 Sept., in , 6:313, and Huntington to Greene, 27 Sept., in , 16:117–18).