[Extract]
Sir: My last of Friday evening which I had the Honor of addressing you, advised that two of the Enemy's Ships of War and three Tenders had run above our Batteries here and the Works at the upper end of the Island.
I am now to Inform you, that Yesterday forenoon, receiving Intelligence from General Mifflin that they had past the Tappan Sea [Tappan Zee] and were trying to proceed higher up; by advice of R. R. Livingston Esqr. and other Gentlemen, I dispatched expresses to General [George] Clinton, of Ulster and the Committee of Safety for Dutchess County, to take Measures for securing the passes in the Highlands, least they might have designs of seizing them and have a force concealed for that purpose.
...The information given General Mifflin was rather premature as to their having gone past the Sea. A Letter from the Committee of Orange County, which came to hand this Morning says they were there Yesterday, and that a Regiment of their Militia was under Arms, to prevent their Landing and making an Incursion.
The Messenger who brought it, and to whom it refers for particulars, adds "that a party of them in two or three boats, had approached the Shore, but were forced back by our People firing at them." Since the manuvre of Friday, there have been no other movements in the Fleet.
A Letter from the Eastward by last night's post, to Mr. [Ebenezer] Hazard Post Master in this City, advises that two Ships has been taken and carried into Cape Ann; one from Antigua, consigned to General Howe with 439 Puncheons of Rum. The other a Jamaicaman with 400 Hogsheads of Sugar, 200 puncheons of Rum, 30 Bales of Cotton, Pimento, Fustick, etc.etc. Each mounted 2 Guns; Six Pounders.
