Easthampton, March 22d, 1776.
Gent. ー This day, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, our guard stationed at Montauk saw twenty sail of square rigged vessels, (five of them appeared to be large) and two sloops, bearing about SSE from the point of Montauk, about nine or ten miles to sea; the wind SSE; the weather something thick and hazy; stearing about NE by N and sailed to the eastward of Block Island, and I suppose, by the course they steered, that they were going into Rhode Island. This, gentlemen, is all the information we can give you concerning them, as at about 1 o'clock they disappeared behind Block Island, and they saw them no more.
As we are a frontier at the east end of Long island, and are destitute of men to defend us, and have but little ammunition, should be very glad if the Hon. House would use their endeavous that we may have some assistance. We are, gent. [&c.]
Signed by order of com. of Easthampton.
John Chatfield, Chairman.