Brigadier General John Paterson to George Washington, 17 May 1781
From Brigadier General John Paterson
West Point May 17th 1781
Dear General
I have just received the inclosed.1 The Detatchments on the lines are very uneasy in their present Situation, the Croton being very low and consequently fordable in many places, The[y] conceive it highly inexpedient to remain in their present Situation, and from my own knowledge of that Country, think it very unsafe to lay more than twenty four hours in any one place. Some instructions relative to them will be very acceptable.2 I am, Your Excellency’s Most obt Servant
John Paterson.
P.S. It appears by the best information the Enemy are Erecting works between Croton-Landing3 and Fort Lee. Their numbers Consist of between two and three hundred, Said to be refugees.4 beg leave to hint that an opportunity presents to retaliate Col. Greens unhappy fate.5 It is also reported that the Garrison at Fort Washington is ordered to hold themselves in perfect readiness to assist them Should they be attacked.
Transcript, DLC: Peter Force Collection. The purported LS was advertised for sale and transcribed in Stan V. Henkels, 21 March 1893, catalog no. 698, item 97.
1. The enclosure has not been identified.
2. Adj. Gen. Edward Hand apparently replied for GW when he concluded a letter to Paterson from New Windsor dated 18 May: “Yesterday the Genl has orderd the Detatcht on the Lines to be relieved by Genl detail—he wishes you to inform the Officer who will command that the principal objects are to cover the inhabitants and check the Enemies small parties, as far as possible, to effect which his movements must be guided by circumstances, & consequently discretional at the same time carefully avoiding any fixed or permanent station” (DNA: RG 93, Edward Hand’s Letterbook; see also General Orders, 17 May).
3. “Closter landing”—likely the accurate rendering because it was approximately six miles from Fort Lee, N.J.—appears in the transcription of the purported LS.
4. For Loyalist operations near Fort Lee, see Jonathan Lawrence, Jr., to GW, 16 May, and n.1 to that document; see also GW to Alexander Scammell, 17 May.
5. For Col. Christopher Greene’s death, see Paterson’s first letter to GW, 14 May, n.2.