Sir/

I have the Honor to inform your Excellency of the proceedings of the detachment, under my Command from their leaving the Hook—¹ 

The 5^th. about 3 O'Clock in the morning, we weighed, and at 8 O'Clock, we anchored off Squam Inlet, after reconoitring the place from the Vessells, we landed at about one hundred yards distance from a Saltwork, on the left of the Inlet, which we immediately destroyed.— 

We then proceeded, and most compleately demolished, a very considerable work on the right of the Inlet, which belonged to the Congress, and is said to have cost Six thousand pounds; likewise some others contiguous, but of less conse quence.—after compleating the above, we reembarked without opposition.—

The same day in the afternoon, we weighed and anchored off Shark. We landed a reconoitring party to examine the Country, but the Wind coming to the Eastward occasioned a very high Surf, and made it necessary in the opinion of Cap^t. Collins,² to reembark, as he apprehended it would encrease, and render it impracticable to get the Boats off;—We immediately & with some difficulty re-embarked & proceeded to the Hook— 

The dispatch that was necessary in destroying the Works, prevented our taking an exact account of everything;—but there was at least one hundred houses, each containing from 8 to 10 Kettles and Boilers, (a great part of which were copper) for the purpose of making salt.—

We also destroyed a large quantity of Beef and Bacon, mostly dried, & a great deal of ready made salt. 

We likewise destroyed a Sloop partly loaded with flour belonging to Boston &a quantity of Grain, which we found on the Beach³

For particulars I refer your Excellency to Capt. Robertson, of the 35^th. Reg^t— I have the Honour to be [&c.] 

Staaten Island [N.Y.] 

7^th. April 1778—