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the fituation ours were. We brought off all our cannon and ftores, except a few heavy pieces, which, in the condition the earth was by a long-continued rain, we found, upon trial, impracticable. The wheels of the carriages finking up to the hobs rendered it impoffible for our whole force to drag them. We left but little provifions on the island, except fome cattle which had been driven within our lines, and which, after many attempts to force across the water, we found impoffible to effect, circumstanced as we were.

I have inclosed a copy of the council of war held previous to the retreat, to which I beg leave to refer Congress for the reasons, or many of them, that led to the adoption of that measure.

Yesterday evening and last night, a party of our men were employed in bringing our ftores, cannon, tents, &c, from Governor's-Ifland, which they nearly completed. Some of the heavy cannon remain there still, but (I expect) will be got away to-day.

In the engagement on the twenty-feventh, generals Sullivan and Stirling were made prisoners. The former has been permitted, on his parole, to return for a little time. From my lord Stirling I had a letter by general Sullivan (a copy of which I have the honor to tranfmit) that contains his information of the engagement with his brigade. It is not fo full and certain as I could wifh :-he was hurried most probably, as his letter was unfinished:-nor have I been yet able to obtain an exact account of our lofs :-we fuppofe it from feven hundred to a thousand killed and taken.

General Sullivan fays lord Howe is extremely defirous of feeing some of the members of Congress; for which purpose he was allowed to come out, and to communicate to them what has paffed between him and his lordship. I have confented to his going to Philadelphia, as I do not mean, or conceive it right, to withhold, or prevent him from giving, fuch information as he poffeffes in this inftance.

I am much hurried and engaged in arranging and making

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new difpofitions of our forces; the movements of the enemy requiring them to be immediately had and therefore have only time to add, that I am, with my beft regards to Con grefs, their and your moft obedient, &c. G. W.

SIR,

New-York, September 2, 1776.

AS my intelligence of late has been rather unfavorable, and would be received with anxiety and concern, peculiarly happy fhould I efteem myself, were it in my power at this time to tranfmit fuch information to Congress, as would be more pleasing and agreeable to their wishes :-but, unfortunately for me,-unfortunately for them,--it is not.

Our fituation is truly diftreffing. The check our detachment fuftained on the twenty-feventh ultimo has difpirited too great a proportion of our troops, and filled their minds with apprehenfion and defpair. The militia, inftead of calling forth their utmost efforts to a brave and manly opposition in order to repair our loffes, are difmayed, intractable, and impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off,-in fome inftances, almost by whole regiments, by half ones, and by companies at a time. This circumstance, of itself, independent of others, when fronted by a well-appointed enemy fuperior in number to our whole collected force, would be fufficiently disagreeable :—but, when their example has infected another part of the army,-when their want of difcipline, and refufal of almost every kind of reftraint and government, have produced a like conduct but too common to the whole, and an entire difregard of that order and fubordination neceflary to the well doing of an army, and which had been inculcated before, as well as the nature of our military establishment would admit of,-our condition is still more alarming: and with the deepest concern I am obliged to confefs my want of confidence in the generality of the troops.

All thefe circumftances fully confirm the opinion I ever entertained,

entertained, and which I more than once in my letters took the liberty of mentioning to Congress, that no dependence could be put in a militia, or other troops than thofe enlisted and embodied for a longer period than our regulations heretofore have prescribed. I am persuaded, and as fully convinced as I am of any one fact that has happened, that our liberties must of neceffity be greatly hazarded if not entirely loft, if their defence is left to any but a permanent standing army,-I mean, one to exift during the war. Nor would the expenfe, incident to the fupport of fuch a body of troops as would be competent to almost every exigency, far exceed that which is daily incurred by calling in fuccour, and new enlistments, which, when effected, are not attended with any good confequences. Men who have been free, and fubject to no control, cannot be reduced to order in an instant: and the privileges and exemptions, they claim and will have, influence the conduct of others; and the aid derived from them is nearly counterbalanced by the disorder, irregularity, and confufion they occafion.

I cannot find that the bounty of ten dollars is likely to produce the defired effect. When men can get double that fum to engage for a month or two in the militia, and that militia frequently called out, it is hardly to be expected.~ The addition of land might have a confiderable influence on a permanent enlistment.

Our number of men at present fit for duty is under twenty thousand they were fo by the last returns and beft accounts I could get after the engagement on LongIfland; fince which, numbers have deferted. I have ordered general Mercer to fend the men intended for the flying camp to this place, about a thousand in number, and to try with the militia, if practicable, to make a diverfion upon Staten-Ifland.

Till of late, I had no doubt in my own mind, of defending this place: nor fhould I have yet, if the men would do their duty but this I defpair of. It is painful, and extremely

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grating to me, to give fuch unfavorable accounts: but it would be criminal to conceal the truth at fo critical a juncture. Every power I poffefs fhall be exerted to ferve the caufe; and my firft with is, that, whatever may be the event, the Congrefs will do me the justice to think so.

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If we should be obliged to abandon the town, ought it to ftand as winter-quarters for the enemy?-They would derive great conveniences from it on the one hand ; and much property would be deftroyed on the other.-It is an important question, but will admit of but little time for deliberation. At present I dare fay the enemy mean to preserve it if they can. If Congrefs therefore should refolve upon the deftruction of it, the refolution fhould be a profound fecret, as the knowledge of it will make a capital change in their plans. I have the honor to be, &c. G. W.

SIR,

New-York, September 4, 1776.

SINCE I had the honor of addreffing you on the fecond, our affairs have not undergone a change for the better, nor affumed a more agreeable aspect than what they then wore. The militia, under various pretences, of ficknefs, &c, are daily diminishing; and in a little time, I am perfuaded, their number will be very inconfiderable.

On monday night a forty-gun fhip paffed up the Sound between Governor's and Long-Ifland, and anchored in Turtlebay. In her paffage fhe received a discharge of cannon from our batteries, but without any damage; and, having a favorable wind and tide, foon got out of their reach. Yesterday morn ing I dispatched major Crane of the artillery, with two twelve-pounders and a howitzer, to annoy her; who, hulling her feveral times, forced her from that station, and to take fhelter behind an island, where she ftill continues. There are feveral other fhips of war in the Sound, with a good many tranfports or ftore-fhips which came round Long-Iland, fo that that communication is entirely cut

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off. The admiral, with the main body of the fleet, is close in with Governor's-Ifland.

Judging it expedient to guard against every contingency as far as our peculiar fituation will admit, and that we may have resources left if obliged to abandon this place, I have fent away and am removing above Kingbridge all our ftores that are unneceffary, and that will not be immediately wanted.

I have inclosed several original letters from fome of our officers prifoners at Quebec, which fell into general Gates's hands, and were tranfmitted by him to general Schuyler who fent them to me. Generai Gates adds, that the perfons who brought them faid general Burgoyne had fent meflages to the inhabitants upon the lakes, inviting their continuance on their farms, and affuring them that they fhould remain in fecurity.

The poft-mafter having removed his office from the city to Dobbs's-ferry, as it is faid, makes it extremely inconvenient, and will be the means of my not giving fuch conftant and regular intelligence as I could wifh.-Cannot fome mode be devised, by which we may have a pretty conftant and certain intercourfe and communication kept up? It is an interesting matter, and of great importance; and, as such, I am perfuaded, will meet with due attention from Congrefs.

I have transmitted the copy of general Gates's letter as fent me by general Schuyler, from which Congrefs will difcover all the information i have refpecting general Burgoyne's meflage, and my lateft intelligence from Ticonderoga, with the returns of the army there.-Those of the army here it is impoffible to obtain, till the hurry and buftle we are now in are a little over.

I have the honor to be, &c.

G. W.

P. S. Congrefs will perceive, by general Gates's letter, his want of musket-cartridge-paper. It is impoffible to supply him from hence. They will therefore be pleafed to order what

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