Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The docket of the draft, which Humphreys wrote, gave Hunt’s location as Fredericksburg, New York. For an earlier call upon Hunt for his expertise, see GW to Hunt, 5 Oct. 1779; see also GW to Alexander McDougall, 2 July 1780.

GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman wrote an undated document, presumably in later June 1781, headed “Questions proposed to Mr. Hunt—with his Answers.

“Q. What is the draft of Water through the Sound to Hunts point, and from thence thro’ Hell Gate?

“A. Vessels of any draft of Water may be brought as far as Hunts Point. from thence thro’ Hell Gate Vessels of greater draft than 18 feet cannot be carried with any degree of safety—There is a possibility, in case of emergency, of carrying 20 feet—These are only practicable at the Height of the Water and with a leading Wind.

“Q. Could Flat Boats pass Hell Gate in the Night without danger from the irregularity and rapidity of the Current?

“A. They could without danger from the Current, but they would, if discovered, be much exposed to the fire of Batteries from Horns Hook and the opposite shore—The passage does not exceed a quarter of a Mile.

“Q. Where are the most suitable places for opening a communication from the Main to Long Island to the Eastward of Hell Gate?

“A. From Willetts Point to Lawrences [Point]—1 Mile across From Fearis’s Point to White Stone, 1 Mile, and from Frogs [Throg’s] Point to White Stone about ¾ of a Mile: But should the Enemy have Frigates in the sound, and lay them under the Long Island shore, they will be without the Range of our Shot and will therefore interrupt the passage.

“There is a mode of opening a communication from Morrisania to Long Island, by possessing Montresors, and Bohannans [Buchanan’s] Islands. From the latter to Long Island is not more than half Musket shots, and consequently no Vessel can lay there to interrupt your passage: But such is the rapidity of the Current, that heavy Boats could not pass with safety, but at slack Water. By which is to be understood the first and last of each tide. The shores being hard and bold—landing is easy and safe at low Water.

“Mr Hunt will supply Pilots for Hell Gate—Write to Nathanl Shaw Esq: of New London to procure sound Pilots—Mr Shaw should be requested to engage the best and trustiest, and engage them to hold themselves in readiness to obey the shortest call.

“Pilots for North River are—Mr Martin—Capt. William Redfeild (who was at the sinking of the Frize’s at Fort Washington) at Middletown in Connecticut—Capt. [Robert] North of Poughkepsie.”

GW’s secretary Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., then added: “N.B.—from Froggs Point to Ferriss Point on Frog [Throg’s] Neck—is about two Miles—From Ferriss Point to Willets Point crossing the Bay—is about One Mile—From Willets to Hunts, across the Bay, is One Mile—round the Bay by De Lanceys Mill, Seven Miles—From Hunts Point to Doctr Willets, across the Bay—¾ of a Mile—round the Bay One Mile & half—From Doctr Willets to Morrissenia, by the Water—two Miles—by Land two Miles & half—From Doctr Willets, to the Island—a half Mile” (DLC:GW, under July 1780; Tilghman wrote an undated docket: “Questions to Mr Hunt respecting the Navigation of the sound and Hell Gate—and the most suitable places of passing the sound—with his Answers—Pilots for North River and Sound”). Nathaniel Shaw previously had been asked to provide pilots to guide ships sailing on Long Island Sound (see GW to Shaw, 10 July 1780).

Probably about the same time in later June 1781, GW wrote an undated memorandum: “Information given by John Flood who formerly lived at Maroneck [Mamaroneck] & followed the water.

“The harbour between City Island & Frog’s Neck is very good for large Transports and 5 fathom water may be carried into—the Anchorage good—the harbour sufft to contain any number of Transports. A good Harbour also between City Island & Harts Isld of 3 fathom water sufft for 50 Vessels—both these Islands are dry—City Island level—the other has one eminence on it—the first is about a Mile in length the average width more than a quarter—No Trees on it. Hart Isld is abt ¾ of a Mile in length & narrower than the other this also is stript of its Wood. Transports can get within 4 Miles of the Town of Eastchester which will be about 3 Miles from the point of Frogs Neck. The landing on the East side of Frogs neck is good—on the West side it is still better as the shore is bolder. The distance from City Island to frogs neck (nearest part) is about 2 Miles—but from the So. end of the Isld to the point of Frogs neck is 4 Miles—Transports (he believes) can be with in half a Mile of the Neck & within half that dist[anc]e of the Island—between the Islands the dist[anc]e is abt ¾ of a Mile & in many places the Transports may lie within 20 rods of either shore—there is no getting into either of these harb⟨ou⟩rs from the Eastward, with out passing between the south point of Hart Island & the Long Island shore, at great Neck, & Transports must pass within ¾ of a Mile of the said neck the distance across being less than a mile. the Water is bold at the point of the Island—Vessels may go within 30 rod of the shore. There is no good harbour Eastward of these for large Vessels—or any number of them the shores are rocky & much exposed to the So. Et Winds. From the South point of Hart Isld to the So. point of City Isld is not more than ¾ of a Mile. there is no getting into this Harbour—or that between City Island and Frogs neck with Vessels which draw more than 8. feet water” (AD, DLC:GW, under 6 May 1781; GW wrote an undated docket: “Information of Jno. Flood. respectg the Navigatn of the Sound & the Harbors therein”). John Flood had participated in espionage activities (see GW to Benjamin Lincoln, 21 April 1781, n.3).