[On board H.M.S. Eagle]
Friday 30th. August.
[John] Sullivan was allowed to go up to the Town this morning under a Flag of Truce, to confer with Washington & to procure himself some Necessaries.
Soon afterwards, we were most agreeably surprized to find, that the Rebels had entirely abandoned Long Island, and left every thing of Bulk and Weight behind them; soon after which our People began to fire from Red Hook upon Nutting Island. This hasty Evacuation surprized us the more, as they had constructed Forts, Redoubts and Intrenchments without End. Not a Foot of Ground was unfortified.... Before Night they also abandoned Nutting Island, upon which likewise they had spent a great Deal of Labor. Our People harrassed them in this last Retreat by their great Guns from Brookland Ferry, Red Hook, and other Places. In the Evening some of our People, who were sent up to the Town with a Letter, by a Flag of Truce, directed to Sullivan (who is to set out to-morrow morning for the Congress at Philadelphia), observed a great Firing of Musquetry & much noise in the Town, from which they concluded, as our Troops could not possibly be there, that they were all in Confusion among themselves. The Ships of War had weighed Anchor in the Evening, and sailed up towards the Town, which, together with the rapid Progress of the Troops, 'tis imagined has occasioned a Panic.... The Ships cast anchor off Nutting Island, the Night coming on apace, and the army and other arrangements not being immediately ready for a great Operation.
...Sullivan promised me to mention Mr. Stanhope's Situation, and to do what he could for his Release from Captivity