Head Quarters Harlem Heights Octor 1st 1776
Sir
I have the honor of your favor of the 27th ulto and note the contents. The Row Galleys belonging to your State together with those the property of the United States and all other vessels, on the approach of the Men of War, ran up the North River under cover of the Battery on Mount Washington, from whence tis now impossible to remove them. As they are now posted they are serviceable to us, by preventing a communication with the Ships, and keeping out Row Guards by night, to give us timely notice of the approach, or any movement of the Enemy. To take from them their Crew would be rendering them entirely useless, and to rob them of their weapons would dispirit the men. However, if it should be thought advisable, after weighing the above circumstances, to have the Crew ordered to Connecticut or any of the Arms or other weapons on board to be sent there, your orders shall be attended to. The situation of the Enemy's Ships is very different at this time from what it was before the evacuation of New York. We then had the command of a narrow pass communicating from the Sound to the East River, commonly called Hell-Gate, which is now in their possession ー Two of their Ships came through yesterday, one I think a Transport, the other a Frigate mounting 24 Gunsー
1. Trumbull Papers, XXIX, Letter Book IV, 355, 356, ConnSL.