Sir,

You are to proceed forthwith into the State of New Jersey, and apply to Capt Alexander¹ of the navy who is hereby directed to deliver you the pieces of heavy artillery at present under his care; with which you are to give all the annoyance, in your power, by means of red hot shot or any other that may appear to you effectual to the enemy's shipping near the city of Philadelphia. The most eligible mode of proceeding to effect this, as to the choice of position, the construction of any necessary work, or other matter whatever, I must leave to your own discretion, to be governed by circumstances.

But I must observe to you the necessity of guarding against a surprise or the loss of your cannon and party, in case of any attempt for that purpose being made by the enemy: in order to which I have written to the commanding officer of the Jersey Militia at Haddon field to afford you all the aid he can, from the militia under his command as a security for your cannon and to assist in raising any little work you may find requisite.² You will apply to him accordingly, and enter upon the purposes for which you are sent as speedily as possible.—One thing you will have particularly to attend to is that as you will have to act on a point of land, or kind of peninsula; there will be great danger of the Enemy throwing parties above and below you and getting into your rear in which case your retreat would be intercepted. This will require a good look out pretty far on both your flanks.