Gentlemen—

The extreme fatigue I have undergone the three days past, and the want of rest for an equal number of nights, renders me unfit to write you on matters of so serious consequences to this State, as I have to communicate.

I am able only briefly to inform you, that yesterday about 10 o'clock A.M. our advanced party was attacked by the enemy at Doodle Town, about 2½ miles from Fort Montgomery; they consisted of but 30 men; the enemy by appearance and accounts, so far received, of 5,000.

They received the enemy's fire and returned it, and retreated to Fort Clinton; soon after, we received intelligence that the enemy were advancing on the west side of the mountain, with design to attack us in rear.

Upon this I ordered out Lieut. Colos. Bruyn¹ and McClaghry,² with upwards of 100 men, towards Doodle Town, and a brass field piece, with a detachment of 60 men, on every advantageous post on the road to the furnace.

They were not long out, before they were both attacked by the enemy with their whole force; our people behaved with spirit, and must have made great slaughter of the enemy.

I strengthened the party on the furnace road to upwards of 100, but they were obliged to give way to so superior a force as the enemy brought against them.

They kept their field piece in full play at them, till the men who worked it were drove off with fixed bayonets, then spiked it, and retreated with great good order to a 12 pounder, which I had ordered to cover them, and from thence in the fort.

I immediately posted my men in the most advantageous manner for the defence of the post, and it was not many minutes before, as well our post as Fort Clinton was invested on all sides, and a most incessant fire kept up till night; and soon after dusk, when the enemy forced our lines and redoubts at both posts, and the garrisons were obliged to fight their way out, as many as could, as we were determined not to sur­render, and many have escaped.

I was summoned, sun an hour high, to surrender in five minutes, and thereby prevent the effusion of blood.

I sent Lieut. Colo. Livingston³ to receive the flag, who informed them that he had no orders to treat with them, except to receive their proposals, if they meant to surrender themselves prisoners of war, in which case he was empowered to assure them good usage.

About 10 minutes after, they made a general and desperate attack on both posts, which was resisted with great spirit, but we were at length overpowered by numbers, and they gained the possession of both posts.

Officers and men behaved with great spirit, as well Continental troops as militia. Our loss in slain can not be great, considering the length of the action.

My brother, Genl. Clinton,⁴ is wounded, and I believe made prisoner.

This is the case with Major Logan.⁵

The number of missing I can not ascertain.

The ships⁶ are both burnt and Fort Constitution demolished, by our people, without my orders; but I can not, as yet, condemn the measure.

The officers all say it was right.

I am clear it was as to the fort, after removing artillery and stores, which has not been done.

The ships I hoped might have been saved.

Genl. Putnam will retreat to near Capt. Haight's,⁷ about three miles from Mrs. Van Wyck's, and I mean to rally my broken but brave forces, and advance to-morrow on Butter hill.

Genl. Putnam is to send Colo. Webb's⁸ regiment to join me.

I beg you will give the substance of this account to Genl. Gates, in answer to his letter to me.

I have only to add that I greatly regret the loss of those posts; but I am consoled with the full persuasion that they have bought them dear, and that I have done the most in my power to save them.

I beg you to excuse incorrectness, And am [&c.]

P.S. Major Lush⁹ is, I believe, their prisoner.