Sir

I suppose you have heard of the Retreat from Long Island and the Evacuation of New york. The Retreats were both Judicious and necessary our numbers being very insufficient to hold such an extent of ground. His Excellency had proposd to Evacuate the City & Subburbs of New York sometime before the Enemy madestheir last landing, and had the Quarter Master General been able to furnish the necessary Waggons to remove the Stores and Baggage, the Retreat would have been effected in good Order, had the Enimy delay'd their landing twenty four hours longer. Almost all the Old standing Regiment was drawn out of the City in order to oppose the Enimy at Hell Gate where they made an appearance of a very large body of Troops, and movements as if they intended a landing. We made a miserable disorderly Retreat from New york, owing to the disorderly conduct of the Militia who run at the Appearance of the Enemies Advance Guard, this was General [John] Fellows Brigade, they struck a pannick into the Troops in the Rear and Fellows, and [Samuel Holden] Parsons whole Brigade run away from about fifty men and left his Excellency on the Ground within Eighty Yards of the Enemy, So vext at the infamous conduct of the Troops that he sought Death rather than life The Retreat was on the fourteenth of this instant frcm New york, most of the Troops got off but we lost a prodigious deal of Baggage & Stores On the 15th [sic 16th] we had a skirmish at Harlam Heiths a party of about a thousand came and Attackt our Advance post they met with a very different kind of a Reception from what they did the day before the fire continued about an hour and the Enemy Retreated our people pursued them and by the spirited conduct of General Putnam and Col [Joseph] Read the Adjutant General our people advanced upon the plain ground without cover and Attackt them and drove them back. His Excellency sent and order'd a timely retreat to our Advancd Post for he discovered or concluded the Enemy would send a large reenforcement, as their main body lay near bye. I was sick when the Army retreated from Long Island, which by the bye was the best Effected Retreat I ever read or heard off, consedering the difficulty of the Retreat. The Army now remain quiet but expect an Attack every Day Col [James Mitchell] Varnum[s] & Col [Daniel] Hitchcocks Regiments were in the last Action and behaved Nobly, but neither of the Cols was with them both being Absent one Sick the other taking care of the Sick. Time wont Permit me to say much more as I am wanted to go into the Jerseysー

I had the honnor of seeing & conversing with your Committee. I think and so does his Excellency, That the Opperations of the Campaign will have no Effect upon you as it will be impossible for the Enemy to detach any part of the Army while our Army is able to make any stand. I would not Evacuate one foot of ground, as it will tend to encourage the Enemy and disperit our People I am sure the Government is safe and will remain so unless the Enemy can ruin this Army, this is their grand Object and every nerve will be exerted to effect it, that they will not have opportunity and strength sufficient to molest you. I have not time to add one word more. I am with all due respect [&c.]