To George Washington from Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 22 October 1779
From Brigadier General Anthony Wayne
Light Infantry Camp heights of Haverstraw [N.Y.]
22nd Octr 1779
Dear General
I recd your two favors of the 21st by Doctr Johnston—& the express—the first at 4. in the afternoon the latter at 11. OClock last Evening.1
I did myself the honor to Inform your Excellency of the Evacuation of Stoney & Verplanks points, in mine of yesterday, dated ½ after 3 OClock P.M.2 in which I met your Idea of caution in taking possession of that post, as I apprehended more danger from the Enemy after the Evacuation, than from any Enterprize whilst they held their works.
at present all is quiet & their Shiping out of View.3
Colo. Johnston will Inform Your Excellency of the State of the Works—all the Block houses are Destroyed, with some of the fraizing & parapets, but the far greater part is perfect, & very little of the Abbatis Injured.
I only keep a Captains Guard at Stoney Point in the day time—& withdraw him to Springsteels at Night.4
as the Object which drew us to this Position is now Removed, & the forage chiefly Consumed—I shall expect your Excellency’s Orders to take some Other post, perhaps the Vicinity of Hackinsack—or Acquakenunk bridge may be the most proper at present, for unless we forage in that Quarter the Enemy Certainly will. I am your Excellency’s Most Obt & very Hume Sert
Anty Wayne
ADfS, PHi: Wayne Papers.
1. Robert Johnston, deputy director of hospitals for the northern department, apparently delivered GW’s first letter to Wayne dated 21 October.
2. This letter of 21 Oct. from Wayne to GW has not been found.
3. This observation suggests that Wayne wrote this letter in the late afternoon or evening of this date (see Wayne to William Woodford, and Woodford to Wayne, both this date, in 2:1097–99).
4. Wayne probably is referring to a house owned by a member of the Springsteel family and located due west of Stony Point (see Wayne to GW, 17 July, and n.2 to that document).