To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 28 November 1780
From Gouverneur Morris
Philadelphia 28 Novr 1780.
Dear General—
I ⟨mutilated⟩ to write a Letter which I ⟨mutilated⟩ you to excuse. If I am rightly inform’d of the Situation of the Enemy the Next E⟨m⟩barkation will not leave above 6.000 Men in New York. Supposing this to be the Case I will go on to suppose that the french Troops with 2.000 Militia are throw⟨n⟩ upon Long Island and march Westward. That you move down with 10.000 Men to the Neighbourhood of Kingsbridge and at a proper Moment throw a Bridge over Ha⟨erlem⟩ River at Haerlem and cross to the Island with 8.000 Men leaving 2.000 above King⟨’s⟩ Bridge. That 1500 Militia are assembled at Elizabeth Town Point and ⟨3⟩00 artillery⟨.⟩ In this Situation it appears almost certain that the Enemy would abandon Forts Washington and the adjacent Heights. If so We might take Possession of them, thr⟨ow up⟩ Intrenchments, by Lumber from Albany build Huts, and thus keep Possession of ⟨th⟩at Ground. In this Case The Enemy would probably quit New York and then we ⟨m⟩ight make such powerful Diversions next Year agt Canada and Nova Scotia as ⟨e⟩asily to recover the Southern States almost by their own internal Strength but es⟨p⟩ecially if Spain should send three thousand Men to operate in that Quarter. If ⟨the⟩ Enemy should persist in keeping fort Washington &ca they would loose Staten ⟨I⟩sland & their Fort at Brooklyn. If they abandon Staten Island, ⟨s⟩trengthen themselves at Brooklyn then they would necessarily loose New York. ⟨W⟩hat would be the Effects of a brilliant Stroke at the close of the Campaign I need not ⟨hi⟩nt1—believe me yours
Gouvr Morri⟨s⟩
ALS (frayed along folds and both sides), DLC:GW.