Sir

The fogginess of the Mornings is so very great, that I think it probable, that the Enemy will attempt a surprise upon Fort Mifflin at such time, or at Night if they mean it at all. To prevent this, I would recommend it to you to keep Boats rowing guard as near the shore of province Island as they possibly can with safety—

I am so fully sensible of the importance of your Station that I have sent you rather more men than were demanded for its defence, and as many, of the two Rhode Island Regiments,¹ are sea Men, they will afford you very considerable assistance. The Enemy last night evacuated Germantown and fell down to Philad^a. Our Army will advance towards them in the morning, and as we shall be near them, I hope we shall prevent them from detaching any considerable force to reduce Fort Mifflin. I rec­ommended it to Col^o. Smith, to endeavour by all means to keep the Breaches in the Banks of province Island open, as I am certain it wiJI incommode them vastly in car­ rying on their Works. I am [&c.]