To George Washington from Colonel Christopher Greene, 17 November 1777
From Colonel Christopher Greene
[Fort Mercer, N.J., [17 November 1777]
Sir
Your Excellency I dare say has been informd of the evacuation of Fort Miflin, and the Gallant defence there made by Major Thayr. The evacuation of that Fort The removal of Our Navy. The movements of the British Fleet, and our own situation at present has put it wholly out of my Power to answer those important purposes for which your Excellency was pleased to order me to this Command.1
Our Fleet here are now moving as fast as possible to Timber Creek—The River is so open to the Enemys Shiping that Topsail & other Vessels are now passing between Mud Island, and Province Island to Schuylkill unmolested—Fort Mercer is tolarable secure against a Storm only. A Bomproof Magazine is nearly finish’d, no other security in the Fort against Shells. A strong Brest work partly finish’d on the Bank which takes up a considerable part of the Floor of the Fort, & the Magazine takes up so much, that the remainder of the Floor is insufficient to spring Tents on for more than One Third of the Garrison—The proposel for building a Bomproof under the Bank is now at an end, since Fort Miflin is lost2—The communication to Red Bank by Water is nearly interupted, And should a party of the Enemy invest this Fort by Land our whole supply, would be cut off, and should they erect Bombatterre on the Land side would be able to throw shells to us on all sides—from all of which I conclude that an Army investing us sufficient to keep the Field will reduce the Garrison, and make the survivers Prisoners as we could have no retreat. Thus having given you Excellency what appears to me with the unanimul Voice of all the Field officers of the Garrison a true State of Our Sircumstances, and Observation thereon I wait you Excellencys particular Commands and directions for an unvariable Rule for me to pursue for which purpose Major Ward will wait on your Excellency to whom I refer for a more particular Account of Mattears here.3 With every Sentiment of Respect and Esteem I am your Excellencys Hume Servt
Chrtr Greene
ALS, DLC:GW. Although this letter is undated, Greene wrote beneath his signature on the cover: “Red Bank Nov⟨embe⟩r 17: 1777 4 oClock P.M.”
1. For these orders, see GW’s instructions to Greene of 8 October.
2. GW had made this suggestion to Greene in his letter of 4 November.
3. Greene apparently enclosed an undated “Return of the Number of men present fit for duty belonging to the Garrison @ Red Bank, Commanded by Col. Greene,” located in DLC:GW, which shows a total of 565 men: 60 commissioned officers, 50 sergeants, 29 drummers and fifes, 64 matrosses, 3 adjutants, 3 quartermasters, 2 paymasters, 2 surgeons, 1 surgeon’s mate, 1 chaplain, and 350 rank and file. Also in DLC:GW, and possibly enclosed with this letter, is “A Return of Commissary Stores in and about the Garrison of Fort Mercer Novr 17th 1777—now in Possession of the Commissary,” made by Commissary Cornelius Comegys, who reports “60 Barrals Biscuit & 235 Barrals Flower[,] 2 Beaves killed & dressed, & 8 head of Cattle Received Last Night—1½ Hdds Rum Come from Fort Mifflin[,] 1 Tinn Salt Contg 5½ Bushels[,] 2 Boxes Soap, & 1½ Boxes Candles Come from fort Mifflin. As to the Stores in the Fort I know not What they are As I never received any Invoice of them.” For GW’s instructions concerning the defense of Fort Mercer, see his two letters to James Mitchell Varnum of 19 November.