[Extract]

...we Expect a general battle here within a few days, As the Enemy have been Landing on frogs Point Ever Since Last Saturday from Long Island, & from the s[h]ipping which came through hell gate on Sunday, Supposed to be About 40 Sail, Part of which has Since returnd ー on Monday a Number of boats with cannon & other warlike Stores, on board, were Lost in hell gate ー tis supposed the Enemy's Plan is to Strike Across from the Sound, to the North river, & Shut our Army in ー they have Advanced up frogs [Throg] Neck About 3 miles from where they first Landed, toward Eastchester ー this frogs Neck is An Island at high water, & at Low water they can Cross the marsh in Severall Places ー it is about five Miles from the Point where they Landd to Eastchester, where tis Supposed they will come across on to the Main, & it is Eight Miles from Eastchester to the North river, where tis Supposed they Mean to strike Across, & it is about 6 miles from Eastchester to the Bridge ー Since they began to Land there, Our troops have been continually marching out, toward the Enemy, 3 Brigades under Command of the Honle Majr Genl [Charles] Lee, 3 under, Majr Genl [John] Sullivan, 3 under command of Majr Genl [William] Heath, & 3 under Genl [Joseph] Spencer, have Already came this Side the bridge, Exclusive of twelve regiments of New draughted men from the Massachusets, & Genl Saltanstalls [Gurdon Saltonstall] brigade of Militia from Connecticut ー Genl Lee says we Shall work them if they came out; As the Land is very uneven & commodeous for forts, which our People Are very buisy in building ー by Severall deserters we Learnd, that the Enemy have about 16000 men, on frogs Neck, & that Genl Howe, is on their himself, & is determined to carry his Point I believe it will be the greatest battle that has been yet, & tis most Likely a desisive one for this Season....