Dear Sir,

I am this Moment favoured with yours of this Morning. There is nothing New happened in this Quarter since I wrote you yesterday. The Enemy is 8 or 10 Miles above this burning away but as there are no Capital Settlements there on this Side the River & the Situation of the Country such as with my present Force I cant ad­vance opposite to them with safety to my Artillery, I mean at present to continue where I now am in Front of the most valuable Settlements & where the Stores & Ef­fects from Kingston are removed.

I imagine the Enemy will not proceed much higher up the River & that on their Return they will attempt to lay Waste the Places they have passed going up after our Troops are drawn from them. This induces me to think some more Troops ought to be left at Poughkeepsie & Fishkill but of this you can best Judge. Adieu you shall hear of me frequently. Your most Obed't Serv't