To George Washington from Captain Charles Craig, 2 December 1777
From Captain Charles Craig
2nd Decemr 1777.
Sir
I have thought it my duty to inform Your Excellency that about five Hundred of the enemy Crossed over Schoolkill Last night.
The enemy intend to make a push out—and endeavour to drive Your Excellency from the present encampment, Destroy our Fleet Burn German Town & Frankford shou’d the not Succeed in this expedition the will return to the City and prepare for a retreat, Genl How gave orders for not one of the Vessels to be unloaded before the return.1 I am With great Respect your Excellencys Most Obt Servt
C. Craig
ALS, DLC:GW. The cover indicates that Craig sent this letter “⅌ Dragoon.”
1. Although Craig was reasonably accurate about British intentions regarding the Continental army at this time, he was mistaken about how Gen. William Howe would react to the failure of his attempt to draw GW into a full-scale battle. The British army did not evacuate Philadelphia until mid-June 1778.