Dear General

I have been hon^rd. with the recep^t: of your two Favours of the 15^th & 19^th Ins^t: 1— and have the pleasure to acquaint you that after a Tedious march we are returned to this place, The Fleet passed down by here yesterday, & did but little dammage on their return

Some heavy Artillery & a reinforcement of Continental troops, I am Informed by Gen^l Gates, are on their way to Join me—by a deserter & two of our people, who es­caped from the Enimy, at Verplanks point, day before yesterday I am Informed, that four Regiments are gone from N york to reinforce Gen^l How which Caused Gen^l Vaughns hasty return down the river, probably to increase the reinforcement as fifteen hundred of the york militia are ordered to be draughted to Supply their place at N york—I Trust & hope the succour they are Sending will arrive too late to relieve Gen^l How

we have Collected Twenty three Boats that escaped the Enimy, Some of which want repairing—besides the boats Supposed to be left up Esopus creek² and the Row Galley,³ which have not been reconnoitured—

I Shall order the boats that want repairing to be repaired & Some new Ones to be built immediatly With esteem & respect I am [&c.]