George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 October 1776

From Major General Nathanael Greene

Fort Constitution [Fort Lee, N.J.]
Octo. 12th [1776] 5 OClock

Dear General

I am inform’d a large body of the Enemies Troop have landed at Froggs point. If so I suppose the Troops here will be wanted there. I have three Brigades in readiness to reinforce you; General Clintons Brigade will march first. General Nixons next and then the Troops under the command of General Roberdeau. I dont Apprehend any danger from this quarter at present[.] if the force on your side are insufficient I hope these three Brigades may be Ordered over and I with them and leave General Ewings Brigade to Guard the Post. If the Troops are wanted over your side or likely to be in the morning, they should be got over in the latter part of the Night as the Shiping may move up from below and impede if not totally stop the Troops from passing.1 I wait your Excellencys further commands. Should be glad to know where the Enemy has landed & their numbers. I am with great respect Your Excellencys Obedient Servant

N. Greene

N.B. The Tents upon Staten Island have been all Struck as far as discovery has been made.

ALS, DLC:GW.

1. Gen. John Nixon’s brigade crossed the Hudson River on the night of 13 Oct. to reinforce Heath’s division (see Greene’s orders to Nixon, 13 Oct., in Johnston, Campaign of 1776 description begins Henry P. Johnston. The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn. Including a New and Circumstantial Account of the Battle of Long Island and the Loss of New York, with a Review of Events to the Close of the Year. Brooklyn, 1878. In Memoirs of the Long Island Historical Society, vol. 3. description ends , pt. 2, 144). Much to Greene’s disappointment, he and the rest of his division remained in New Jersey (see Greene to Nicholas Cooke, 16 Oct., in Showman, Greene Papers description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends , 1:317–18).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 October 1776
    Author
    Greene, Nathanael
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    12 October 1776

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Major General Nathanael Greene, 12 October 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0415. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 6, 13 August 1776 – 20 October 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase and Frank E. Grizzard, Jr. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 547–548.]

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