[Extract]

...As to the battle at Nyork you have been Misinformd ー it is true we was oblidge[d] to Leave Nyork on Acct of being Surrounded by their Shipp[s] Ten of which Came into the East River, a Little below Hell gate, & on Sunday the 15th Landed a Large Number of troops under the Cover of their Cannon, Our Genl had Concluded on a retreat before, As it was impossible to Stand Against their Ships ー & had Movd their Cannon Ammunition, Provisions, & the Chief of their baggage, of Consequence, the week before, & Marchd the greatest Part of the troops back toward Kingsbridge for fear the Enemy would Come upon the back of us ー their was only 2 Brigades in the City when the Enemy Landed viz Genl Persons [Samuel Holden Parsons] & Genl [James] Wadsworth & Part of a Brigade at Horns Hook under Commd of Colo Sergant [Paul Dudley Sargent], the Enemy Landed between the two Brigades, & Colo Sergant, & Advancd So quick, that the two Brigades retreated back to the Main body of Our Army, without much Opposition, Colo [Samuel] Selden was taken on the retreat, Majr [James]. Chapman of New London Killd, of Co [John] Tyler['s] Regim ー Lieut [John] Wheatly wounded, & Taken Prisnr ー those brigades Cheifly Lost their Bagage ー Colo Sargent, Lost three men in the Cannonade, the week before, but did not Engage them on Sunday ー the next day being Monday, Our Army got Prepard for them & Engagd them with Spirit, & drove them two Miles, & you may depend on it Killd four hundred, of the Enemy, & met with but Little Loss on Our Side... we Are Pretty well Out of Reach of their Shipping now, & I believe Our Army will be Able to make a Stand, where they Now are, & give them a Nother Drubbing if they Attempt to Come out ー Our Army is in three divisions, One over on the Jersey Side, One at fort washington ten miles from Newyork ー & one this side of Kingsbridge ー Our troops on the Jersey side has retreated back out of reach of their Cannon...