Nature of
Guns.
Pounders |
Total |
Where placed on the
different Batteries |
The Form of
the Batteries. |
| 32 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
|
|
|
| 2 |
" |
4 |
" |
6 |
Behind the Governors House near the old Church, facing the North River |
E Half Moon |
| |
|
|
|
6 |
Above Black Sams Hill on Greenwich road facing the North River |
E Half Moon |
| |
|
|
|
6 |
Behind Mr Harris's Brew house by the Forge facing Do Do |
E Cock Pitt |
| |
|
|
|
3 |
In broad way facing the Fort |
E across the street |
| 4 |
" |
" |
" |
4 |
On the Dock opposite the Albany Pier, facing the East river |
E Square |
| 4 |
2 |
" |
" |
6 |
At the Ship Yards, facing Do |
E In Squares |
| |
|
|
|
|
By the Jews burying ground, behind the Ship Yards |
|
| |
|
|
|
8 |
Mr Byards Hill near the Bowery road |
E |
| |
|
|
|
|
Round the New Hospital, by the New road |
S Breast Works |
| |
" |
" |
4 |
4 |
Behind Mr Waltons House at Horns Hook facing the East River |
E Angles. |
| 4 |
2 |
2 |
" |
8 |
On the Height, So of Long Island Ferry, facing the East River |
E Angular |
| |
|
|
|
6 |
Fort George |
E |
| |
|
|
|
57 |
|
|
[April 9, 1776]2
The above where the Letter E stands are Batteries with Guns mounted as stands in the Columns. The Letter S is Breast Works for small Arms only. That Breast work on the Hill by the Jews Burying Ground will contain near 400 Men, it is made in an Angular form, with a large Trench all round; The Entrance into it on the back part facing Mr John's House on the Hill going to Corleys Hook. The Breast work round the New Hospital is in Squares with a Trench all round, 10 feet wide at the Top, and at Botton one foot and half, this Breast Work will contain about 300 Men, and as they intend to Line the Hospital with Men to Fire over the Breast Works I know not how many Men it will contain.
There is one thing I shall remark that their Embrazures are so narrow and confined, that should any Ship pass, there is no one Gun can bear more than once to do any Damage to any Ship. That Battery on Long Island is so narrow and confined that it will not contain about 300 Men.
I need not give the Names of the Streets in the Town that is Blockaded, as every Street facing both North and East Rivers has wooden Trunks made across 10 feet thick filled with Earth, in Order to intercept any Troops that may attempt landing. I cannot see any Cover for the Rear, only Mr Byards Hill, it will contain near 300 Men, One Gun points across to Greenwich and one over Mr Delaney's House, Two directly up the Road to Kings Bridge, and four Guns over the Town, but I never saw any Works worse Plan'd on such a Spot of Advantageous Ground. The numbers placed in the Total Columns has not yet their Guns placed, but are to mount the Number as above Mark'd. In the Total Column, the half moon Battery on Black Sams Hill will contain about 400 Men; This Battery is Open on the Side next to the New Hospital as the Hospital Covers it.
The Cock Pitt Battery behind Mr Harris's Brew House will contain about 250 Men. The Battery behind the Governor's House, it may contain about 200 Men or more. The Battery at the Ship Yard may contain 500 Men; they have began a Redoubt about a quarter of a Mile behind the Battery on Long Island, which appears to be pretty large, but as they have not done any work at it for this two Days, I immagine they are going to alter the Plan of it. As to Fort George, they have pulled down all the Square, fronting Broadway and the Embrazures on the Ramparts not finished I shall leave that 'til another opportunity.
[Endorsed] State of the Fortifications at New York &ca
