1. This word appears as “imporpance” on the LS.

2. Huntington enclosed a copy of Col. David Forman’s letter to him written from Freehold, N.J., on Monday, 2 April: “By accounts I this day received from New York Two of the inhabitants near the Clove took and carried into Genl Sir Henry Clinton the Eastern mail. They received from Sir Henry a gratuity of eighty guineas for the service—The mail was carried in on Saturday last—Through the same channel I am informed a large imbarkation is now in forwardness for Deleware Bay—That Genl Clinton will take the command of it and take post at New Castle—My informant says confidence may be put in his information. In justice to his intelligence I must say I have hardly found him to err.

“The known disaffection of the lower parts of Deleware and Maryland States is also an inducement to me to give credit to the above accts—And the advantage to be drawn from early intelligence will I presume plead my excuse in thus forwarding unasked by your Excely the above accts” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 19:365). For post rider Benjamin Montanye’s capture, see Samuel Loudon to GW, 12 April, and Rochambeau to GW, 26 April, n.1; see also Elias Dayton to GW, 4 April, and n.2, and Huntington to GW, 5 April.

Huntington enclosed a copy of New Jersey governor William Livingston’s letter to him written from Trenton on 5 April at 8:00 P.M.: “I this Moment received a Letter from General Forman, accompanied with one for your Excellency which I presume is upon the same subject with mine. He informs me that he has Intelligence from New York that a large imbarkation is preparing, General Clinton to command in Person, their Destination for the Delaware, & that Clinton is to take post at New Castle. He adds that he has seldom been disappointed in his Intelligence thro’ the Channel by which he has received the present.

“I know that General Formans Intelligence has been generally found true, and I thought this Account of such Importance as immediately to apply to Colo. Neilson for an Express which he readily furnished” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 19:359). British forces embarked at New York City in late April and sailed for Virginia without Gen. Henry Clinton (see William Heath to GW, 1 May, n.1).