To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 1 October 1778
From Major General Israel Putnam
Highlands [N.Y.] 1st Octor 1778.
Dear Sir
Mr Putnam has this moment return’d—he saw Lord stirling at Judge Coes, who inform’d him that he had wrote your Excellency the particulars of the Enemy and his own situation.1 Mr Putnam also saw Col. Hay, <who> lays with his Regt of Militia at Clarks-Town.
Col. Hay informs him, that the Enemy have drew in their Picquet from towards Tappan, to a small distance from their main Body, and that by every appearance he thinks they do not intend to advance further in the Country.
The Inclos’d Letter from Lord stirling I took the Liberty to open, as I had a desire to see what was the situation of Col. Baylor. Inclos’d is also a Letter from Genl Woodford.2 I have the Honor to be with great respect Dr sir your most Obedt Servt
Israel Putnam
P:S: There is no shipping in the River higher than F. Washington.
I am inform’d a party from Genl Scotts Brigade have Ambuscaded a party of the Enemy and taken & kill’d 25 & taken 15 Horse.3
LS, DLC:GW.
1. See Stirling to GW, 30 Sept., and this date. John Coe, who was an Orange County, N.Y., judge from 1775 to 1778, lived at Kakiat, New York.
2. Putnam is referring to Stirling’s letter to GW of either 30 Sept. or this date. The enclosed letter from William Woodford has not been identified.
3. For an account of Col. Richard Butler’s successful surprise attack on 30 Sept., see Butler to Charles Scott, 30 Sept., in Scott to GW, 30 Sept. (second letter), n.1.