[Extract]

Having intelligence that administration in[ten]ded to send 2000 men to this City and expecting [they] would arrive soon, our Congress sent to General Woocester² and desired him to march with the troops under his command, within five miles of this place subject to the command of our board. The day after we sent, the packet arrived, we sent for the Capt. who informed us, that he had spoken with the Spy man of War now a transport 30 leagues from the hook with three hundred men on board, who had informed him, that the Mercury frigate had ordered hi[m to Bos]ton That he (the Capt of the packet) afterw[ards] came up with the Mercury who gave him the same informa[tion] and that General [Thomas] Gage had ordered him to remain off the hook [a]waiting the arrival of the remaining transports whom he had ordered to send to Boston without delay.

Coll. Washington a good Soldier and a Man of sence (as fame reports him) is appointed Capt General & Commander in Chief of the American forcesー³

New York June 21, 1775