X. To George Washington from Major Samuel Darby, 22 November 1780
X
From Major Samuel Darby
Two Bridges [N.J.]1 Novr 22d 1780
Dear Sir
In the Estimates, I mad the other Day, of the Number of men, the Boats would Carry, I included the five water Men in that Number, the Number of men I estimatd to carry the boats—Could carry them on level Ground about 200 yards—with handspiks fixt for that purpos—to carry them in ruf & Difficult Ground it will require about five or 6 more Men to carry them—I found by Experienc I could not carry them on Oars without Braking them—the Oars for Each boat I carry in the boat Stopt to the thawarts, that the moment the boats are Lanchd into the water the men Step in, the oars, are ready.2
I hav not recd any more Boats Since my report—I Just recd a letter from Colo. Pickering that ten More Boats would be here to Day3—I Shall be Very punctual in Sending the officers to Aquakianack bridg at the time mentiond, & in obeying all other Orders your Excellency Shall Sea fitt to Order.4 I am with respect Yours &C.
Saml Darby Major
ALS, DLC:GW.
Darby also wrote GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman from Two Bridges on this date: “this moment recd yours—I have handspikes Sufficent to take up Seven Boats at a time—Shall immediately have a Sufficent Number to take up the whole of the Boats, that I have at present” (DLC:GW; Tilghman’s letter to Darby has not been identified).
2. See Document I.
3. This letter from Q.M. Gen. Timothy Pickering to Darby has not been identified, but Pickering was active in managing boats. GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton had written Pickering from headquarters on 20 Nov.: “There are five boats ordered from Kings ferry to Dobbes ferry, which The General Directs you will immediately send a proper number of carriages for, and bring them to where the other boats are—Let no Delay attend it, if you please.
“Have you had the four which were already there brought on?” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 26395). Pickering replied to Hamilton from “Camp” on the same date: “The moment teams could be provided the boats at Dobbs ferry were sent for. I expect them up to-morrow—five at least & six if so many were there. I will immediately dispatch an express to Major Cogswell to send teams for the five additional boats ordered from Kings ferry” (DLC:GW).
Hamilton again wrote Pickering on the same date (Monday): “Be so good as to urge the bringing forward the boats; there is no time to be lost. They ought to be with the others by Wednesday evening, if possible. … I think I mentioned to you in my first note, that the boats would be by this time at Dobbes ferry. ’Tis there the teams must go” (, 2:502). Pickering replied on the same date: “I instantly sent off an Express on the Receipt of your first Note to Major Cogswell with Orders requiring him immediately to dispatch five Teams with Carriages for five additional Boats at Dobbs Ferry which had arrived there since the others were sent for!
“I will send again to know if the first Order was executing, and directing that the Boats be at the two Bridges by Wednesday-night” (, 2:502).
Hamilton subsequently wrote Pickering on 22 Nov.: “There are five more boats will be at Dobbes ferry say the Slote thursday night—Endeavour if possible to have teams there for them by that time.
“You will receive further instructions in the mean time. Let us hear from you on this article” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 26394; Hamilton wrote “private” on the cover, which was marked “recd 22d half past 10. A.M.”). Pickering replied to Hamilton from “Camp” on the same date: “The five boats I had collected at Dobbs’ ferry arrived at Colo. Baldwin’s last evening. They want some repairs which are making.
“The five which came from King’s ferry to the slote, were at paramus last Evening” (, 2:508).
Pickering again wrote Hamilton on 22 Nov.: “I believe it possible tho’ difficult to have Teams at the slote by Thursday night to take up five more Boats. I will endeavor to effect it. I presume they will come provided with oars. Must they too be muffled? what Route are they to take? I shall be glad of further Instructions. It will doubtless be necessary to impress Horses on this Occasion” (, 2:508). Hamilton replied to Pickering on the same date: “The additional boats must take the same route with the others; when they arrive they must be muffled. … The impress if possible ought to be deferred ’till after the point of execution. But if you pass by to day and will call in, we can best speak of this” (, 2:507). Hamilton again wrote Pickering on this date: “The Boats are not under present circumstances to go to the Notch till tomorrow as you will see by the letter herewith” (, 2:507; see Document XIV below for the enclosure).
4. See Document IX.