Sir

General Green [Nathanael Greene] has informed your Excellency that a party pass'd over last night to Staten Island with a view to attack the Enemy, at the east end near the Watering Place ー as we advanced towards Richmond Town information was given, that some Companies of British & Hessian Troops were stationed there ー surprising them was therefore the first object, which was effected this morning at break of day ー Well disciplined Troops would have taken the whole without the loss of a man ー but we only took about twenty prisoners, partly Hessians & English ー eight Hessians & nine British, one of those wounded, & besides these two mortally wounded left at Richmond Town ー We lost two men in the Action ー² What we have collected of intelligence from the Prisoners, is enclosedー

Your Instructions of October the 15th I shall immediately set about, observing with the utmost diligence and Punctuallity ー Col Griffin received a Wound in the Heel in the Action of this Morning & Lt Col Smith of the flying Camp slightly wounded in the Arm ー I shall send the Prisoners on to Philadelphia. I have the honour to be Sir [&c.]

[Enclosure]

Head Quarters 16 October 1776 So Amboy

The Examination of two Regular Soldiers & one Hessian taken Prisoners on Staten Island this Morning at the Churchー

Robt Holbrook ー says he belongs to the 14th Regiment ー Commanded by Colnl Dalrimple ー 20 Re, gulars & 45 Hessians were at the Church, ー & there were about 1500 on the Island at first ー about 10 days ago ー the greatest part of the Hessians embarked ー Capt Stanton Commanded this Morning ー & fled ー Genl How has 22000 including Hessians & all other Troops ー Some new Troops landed last Monday ー the Army in good Health & plenty of Provisions ー all Salt on the Island ー they expect 15000 Hessians every day ー but no English Troops ー the only reinforcement is the 6th Regiment about 150 ー Hessians in the Army supposed to be 15000ー

Peter Gee of the 6th Rt Colr Boothby says ー 150 of them landed on Staten Island last Monday from the Chambury, Transport ー left England the 3d July 20 Sail Came out with them 2 Men of War & 18 Provision Vessels ー they were making great preparations at England recruited very fast ー but expected the Press to breakout ー about 700 Hanoverians came out, as many more expected ー some of them lay at Plymouth ー the greatest part of the Hessians left the Island ー a great many Sick in the Island ー the number in the Fort not known ー supposd about 600 ー only two pieces of cannon in the Fort ー expected a reinforcement of the regularsー

Christian Guiler a Hessian Private ー says tis 8 Years since he left his own Country allmost all their Troops is with Genl How ー 12000 of them have come, expect more ー expected if taken Prisoner to have Mercy shewn him if we were a Christian People ー that he was brought from his Country by force, that detachments were sent through thier Country & if thier Parents interferd were put into Jail ー were told they were to be Garrisond in England ー but after 3 days arrival in England were orderd to embark for America to their great disappointment, & against thier Will were guarded to thier Ships ー they saw no papers of any kind among them from us ー if they knew that they would be well treated by us, would if all lay down thier Arms ー have no desire to Return to thier Ridgment again ー are much pleasd & happy with the treatment they have receivd ー and are very thankful for the sameー