Captain John Pray to George Washington, 27 June 1781
From Captain John Pray
Nyack [N.Y.] June 27th 1781.
Dear Sir.
The inclos’d are three York Papers which I got this day,1 The persons who furnish me with papers, are very desirous of haveing some of our papers, I have not got it in my power to furnish them with any, excep there could be some sent by the bearer, when I expect to get some more, which I shall forward to your Excellency with such inti[li]genc as lays in my Power to git, I have not been able to Collect any lately, have hither too Sent all papers & intiligenc to the Commanding Officer at West point agreable to their Orders,2 but in future shall forward all such to your Excellency.
If Your Excellency should think it Convenient at this time to Relieve the men in the block house at Dobbs Ferry, shall be very Glad, for they are very uneasy, as they are very much Confind, three of which has lately Deserted, one of which was a deserter (or Prisoner of war) from the Enemy.3 I have made repeated application to the Commanding Officer at West point for a Reliefe for them but none Yet came.4
There is but one ship in the North River as Yet which lays against Kings Bridge.5 Am with every Sentiment of Respect and Esteam Your Excellencys most Obedient and Very Humble Servant
Jno. Pray. Capt.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosed New York City newspapers have not been identified.
2. Maj. Gen. William Heath, then commander at West Point, had written Pray on 11 March with orders “to repair immediately to Nyack, and take the Command of the water Guard Block House and Garrison at Dobbs Ferry,” and to “take every step possible to discover the motions and intentions of the Enemy and to collect Intelligence news papers &c., which with every Occurrence you will communicate to me without delay” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath’s first letter to GW, 14 April, n.4).
3. British major Frederick Mackenzie, stationed at New York City, wrote in his diary entry for 23 June about “Two deserters who came in yesterday from Dobbs’s ferry” (, 2:552).
4. For directives to relieve troops under Pray’s command, see General Orders, 29 June.
5. The Warwick anchored in the Hudson River on 26 June and the Solebay on this date (see the entries in , 2:554).