Sir,

In my Opinion the only Way of effecting it was by a Coup de Main in the un­guarded State they then were. The Commodore and I having made our Arrange­ments, and every proper Jealousy having been given for every Object but the real one, the little Army, consisting of about 3,000 Men, arrived off Verplancks Point, pre­ceded by the Gallies under the Command of Sir James Wallace.² On our Appearance the Enemy retired without firing a Shot, leaving a Twelve Pounder behind them, and Sir James moved up to Peaks Kill Neck to mask the only Communication they had across the River on this Side of the Highlands.

At Daybreak on the 6^th. the Troops disembarked at Stoney Point.³ The Avant. Garde of 500 Regulars & 400 Provincials commanded by Lieu^t. Colonel Campbell,⁴ with Colonel Robinson⁵ of the Provincials under him, began its March to occupy the Pass of Thunder Hill;⁶ this Avant Garde. after it had passed that Mountain, was to proceed by a detour of seven Miles round the Hill, and Debauchée in the Rear of Fort Montgomery, while General Vaughan, with 1200 Men,⁷ was to continue his March towards Fort Clinton, covering the Corps under Lieut^t. Colonel Campbell, and ap­portée to cooperate by attacking Fort Clinton, or in case of Misfortune to favor the Retreat. Major General Tryon with the Remainder, being the Rear Guard,⁸ to leave a Battalion at the Pass of Thunder Hill to open our Communication with the Fleet.

Your Excellency recollecting the many, and I may say extraordinary Difficulties of this March over the Mountains, every natural Obstruction, and all that Art could invent to add to them, will not be surprized that the Corps intended to attack Fort Montgomery in the Rear, could not get to its Ground before five oClock, about which Time I ordered General Vaughans Corps, (apportee to begin the Attack on Fort Clin­ton) to push if possible and dislodge the Enemy from their advanced Station behind a Stone Breast Work, having in Front for half a Mile a most impenetrable Abbatis, this the General by his good Disposition obliged the Enemy to quit, though sup­ported by Cannon, got Possession of the Wall, and there waited the Motion of the cooperating Troops, when I joined him, and soon afterwards heard Lieut^t. Colonel Campbell begin his Attack. I chose to wait a favorable Moment before I ordered the Attack on the Side of Fort Clinton; which was a circular Height, defended by a Line for Musquetry with a Barbet Battery in the Centre of three Guns, and flanked by two Redoubts: The Approaches to it, through a continued Abbatis of 400 Yards, defen­sive every Inch, and exposed to the Fire of Ten Pieces of Cannon. As the Night was approaching, I determined to seize the first favorable Instant. A brisk Attack on the Montgomery Side; the Gallies with their Oars approaching, firing, and even striking the Fort; the Men of War that Moment appearing,⁹ crouding all Sail to support us; the extreme Ardor of the Troops; in short all determined me to order the Attack; General Vaughans spirited Behaviour and good Conduct did the rest. Having no Time to lose, I particularly ordered that not a Shot should be fired, in this I was strictly obeyed, and both Redoubts &c were Stormed. General Tryon advanced with one Bat­talion to support General Vaughan in case it might be necessary and he arrived in Time to join in the Cry of Victory

Trumbach's Regiment was posted at the Stone Wall to cover our Retreat in case of Misfortune. The Night being dark it was near eight o'Clock before we could be certain of the Success of the Attack against Fort Montgomery, which we found af­terwards had succeeded at the same Instant that of Fort Clinton did, and that by the excellent Disposition of Lieu^t. Col^o. Campbell, who was unfortunately killed on the first Attack, but seconded by Colonel Robinson of the Loyal American Regiment, by whose Knowledge of the Country I was much aided in forming my Plan, and to whose spirited Conduct in the Execution of it I impute in a great Measure the Success of the Enterprize.

Our Loss was not very considerable excepting in some respectable Officers who were killed in the Attack.

About 10 oClock at Night the Rebels set fire to their two Ships, Montgomery and Congress, some Gallies and other armed Vessels with  their Cannon Stores &ca in them.¹⁰

I have the Honor to send to your Excellency a Return of the Cannon, Stores &c taken. That of Stores is very considerable, this being I believe their principal Magazine. 

The Commodore has assisted me with his Advice, and every Effort. We sent a joint Summons to Fort Constitution, but our Flag meeting with an insolent Recep­tion unknown in any War, we determined to chastize, & therefore an Embarkation under Major General Tryon, and Sir James Wallace with the Gallies was ordered. They found the Fort evacuated in the greatest Confusion, the Store Houses burnt, but their Cannon were left unspiked. The Commodore immediately  ordered Sir James Wallace up the River, and if it should be possible to find a Passage through the Chevaux de Frize, between Polypus Island¹¹ and the Main, he may probably do most essential Service

In Justice to Captain Pownal,¹² who commanded the Flat Boats, and the Officers under him, I must mention to your Excellency that that Service could not have been more zealously or punctually attended to. I have the Honor to be [&c.]

October 9^th. Ten o'Clock at Night

Major General Tryon whom I detached this Morning with Emericks Chasseurs, 50 Yagers, the Royal Fuzileers & Regiment of Trumbach, with two three Pounders, to destroy the Rebel Settlement called the Continental Village, has just returned and reported to me that he has burned Barracks for 1500 Men, several Storehouses, and loaded Waggons. The extreme Badness of the Weather making it necessary to be as expeditious as possible no Account could be taken of the Stores, but  I believe them to have been considerable. I need not point out to your Excellency the Consequence of destroying this Post, as it was the only Establishment of the Rebels in that Part of the Highlands and the Place from whence any neighbouring Body of Troops drew their Supplies. Fannings and Byards Corps marched from Verplancks Point to co­operate with General Tryon, but finding he met with no Opposition, they were or­dered back to their Post.¹³

(Signed) H. C