David Forman to George Washington, 29 May 1781
From David Forman
Freehold [N.J.] 29th May 81
Sir
I mentioned in my Last Letter to your Excly That I presumed Admiral Arbuthnot was gone with the Transports to The Southward1—But The Day following all The Heavy Ships were seene Plying to The Eastward and Supposed to be gone to Gardners Bay, Since Which I have heard Nothing of Them untill The 27th Vizt Sunday Evening last When Admls Arbuthnot and Graves Returned to Sandy Hook2—a Conveyance Offering to Elizabeth have made a request to The Comanding Officer There to take The first Conveyance to forward this to you Excly, supposing it not of Importance to request an Express. I have The Honr to be your Exclys Most Obdt Humble Servt
David Forman
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See Forman to GW, 14 May, and notes 2–3 to that document.
2. British major Frederick Mackenzie, stationed in New York City, wrote in his diary entry for 27 May: “Signals for a Fleet of Men of war. Admiral Arbuthnot’s fleet came to anchor without Sandy hook this afternoon” (, 2:531).