Colonel Elias Dayton to George Washington, c.25 June 1781
From Colonel Elias Dayton
[Chatham, N.J., c.25 June 1781]
Sir,
On the morning of the 21st a body of the enemy, said to amount to fifteen or twenty hundred men landed at shoal harbour near Middletown point and on the evening of the same day, which was the latest intelligence I have had, they had taken a position within four miles of Monmouth court-house. By the accounts from New York of their having carried with them tents, baggage &c. I am inclined to believe that it is their intention to establish a post in that country in order to annoy and harass the inhabitants and to collect cattle of all kinds.1 Should this prove to be the case, I would wish to know as early as possible whether your Excellency would approve of my collecting the Brigade and marching them to that quarter.
I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 14th Instant and shall pay particular attention to the directions it contains, respecting Mr Adams’s tryal.2
The present appearances in New York seem rather to indicate a defence than an evacuation.3 I have received nothing very particular or material from there, since my last letter to your Excellency of the 15th.4 I have the honor to be with the highest respect your Excellencys Most Hbl. servant
Elias Dayton
P.S. I am just informed of Colo: Hazen’s promotion and that by a resolve of Congress passed at the request of General Washington, he may command the troops of this state.5 I wish such an innovation may not be attended with disagreable consequences—I have submitted to be commanded by Generals Guest and Morgan,6 who were Captains, when I was a Colonel. If your Excellency is of opinion that this innovation will contribute to the good of the service I shall be silent, wishing rather to alleviate than increase the troubles of my General.7
LS, DLC:GW. Dayton wrote the closing. GW’s secretary Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., wrote “without Date” on the docket. Dayton wrote this letter before 26 June, the date of his next letter to GW (sent from Chatham), but after 21 June, the date of the reported British landing (see n.1 below).
1. British major Frederick Mackenzie, stationed in New York City, wrote in his diary entry for 19 June: “An Expedition is preparing to go off toMorrow, for the purpose of carrying off a quantity of Cattle, Sheep, &c, from that part of Jersey between Middletown and Shrewsbury, but particularly from a place called Pleasant Valley, where all the Cattle belonging to the Neighbouring country are pastured at this Season.” A total of 1,100 men from two British regiments, two Loyalist regiments, and the jägers—along with 18 cavalry—formed the expedition “under the Command of Brigadier General Skinner.
“The troops destined for this service have received their orders, and are to be put in Motion at 6 o’Clock, tomorrow Morning; and in order to prevent any alarm by embarking troops without any apparent reason, the Signal for the Enemy having landed on Staten Island, is to be made at that hour on Staten Island, on which the troops are to embark at Paulus-hook, New [Jersey], and Denyces, and proceed immediately to Coles-ferry, where they are to remain until the Evening, and then push for Middletown point, where the landing is to be made. …
“All the Cattle that can be collected are to be driven down towards Sandy hook, where vessels will be ready to receive them on board” (, 2:548–49). In his diary entry for 20 June, Mackenzie reported some confusion in launching the expedition, but eventually “the whole assembled at Coles’ ferry.
“The troops took only two days provisions, and their blankets with them. Two days provisions more, and a quantity of spare ammunition was put on board a Sloop which attended them” (, 2:549). For the results of this expedition, see Dayton to GW, 26 June, and n.2 to that document.
2. See GW to Dayton, 14 June.
3. See GW to Dayton, 28 May.
4. Dayton’s letter to GW dated 15 June has not been found.
5. GW had admitted the force of Col. Moses Hazen’s claims for promotion without giving a recommendation (see Hazen to GW, 1 March, and GW’s first letter to Samuel Huntington, same date). Congress then followed a recommendation from the Board of War and gave Hazen a brevet commission as brigadier general on 29 June (see , 20:711–12; see also Hazen to GW, 18 June, and n.2 to that document). To comply with principles, GW had favored Hazen’s promotion before Dayton’s (see Remarks on a Congressional Committee Report, 3 April, and n.21).
6. Dayton refers to brigadier generals Mordecai Gist and Daniel Morgan.