To George Washington from Colonel David Forman, 17 June 1780
From Colonel David Forman
Saturday Night Elevin oClock 17th June, 80
Sir
Yesterday Afternoon three Frigates arrived within Sandy Hook—In the Evening a fourth Ship of War run in—The Tory Report of this Day is that Adml Arbuthnot was onboard.1
This Afternoon a Large Fleet appeard Standing for Sandy Hook—The air my Intilligencer says was too Foggy for good Observation But that before Sundown he Counted Sixty five Sail of Ships of War and Transports distinctly—and Saw a Number more in the offing—That Immediately they run within the Hook as they Arrive.2
From there runing Immediately into the Hook as they Arrive it will not I presum admit of a doubt of there not being British and I think it is very Likely from Carolina.
By Day Light I will my self be on the Highlands of Middle Town—from that place some time in the Day (as Early as possable) I will do my self the Honr to transmit to Yr Excely as exact an Acct of the Fleet as Can be got from observation or Information.3 I have the Honr to be Your Excelys Most Obdt Humble Servt
David Forman
ALS, DLC:GW; copy, Ct: Trumbull Papers; copy (partially burned), N-Ar: George Clinton Papers; copy, PHarH-Ar: RG 27.
1. William Smith, royal chief justice of New York, wrote in his memoir for 16 June: “Sunset[.] Admiral [Marriot] Arbuthnot’s Flagg[ship] appears within the Narrows and several Ships of War” (Sabine, Smith’s Historical Memoirs [1971], 278).
2. British officer Archibald Robertson, who was with the fleet returning from Charleston, S.C., wrote in his diary on this date: “Great part of the Fleet got into the hook but about ½ past 4 it became so thick we were obliged to come to an Anchor in 5 fathom water. A good many Ships still a Stern of us.” In his 18 June entry he wrote: “By Day Break fair. Join’d by a fleet from Jamaica. Got under way, a Brisk Gale, and got to an Anchor in the Narrows opposite Cole’s Ferry, Staten Island, about ½ past 7 Morning” (, 231).
Smith also described the fleet’s progress toward New York City in his memoir for the afternoon of 17 June. The same entry records that Gen. Henry Clinton “lodges in the Town” (Sabine, Smith’s Historical Memoirs [1971], 279).
3. See Forman to GW, 19 June.