[Extract]

...should have wrote you before this had the Enemy continued in our Front at Hearlam, but a sudden manoeuver of theirs, has Occationd us a deal of Trouble, Fateigue, & expence, ー The 12th several ships, sloops &c, pass'd Hellsgate and proceeded up the sound to Frogs point where they landed, we had Armies at that time a bove Kings Bridge sufficient to repell the Force then sent, but on the 14th a second Devision follow'd still larger when a reinforcement from our lines at Hearlam became Necessary. Genl Lee arrived just in time to have his hands full, after staying about half an hour at Head Quarters he went up to take the Commd of the Troops on that Quarter, ー A few days after a Third Devision passed, and from that time, more or less every day, for several days together till it plainly appeared their intentions was to establish posts in our rear, and cut of[f] a retreat, They previous to this had sent ships up north river, which I at first thought was only intended to cut of[f] our Supplies by water from the back Country, but am now Convinced it was to Facilitate a junction a cross the Neck which at this place is a bout 16 Miles from North River to the sound, we have for these ten days been Constantly in Motion in order to keep the Flank and have now got so situated that they must come to our own ground to do any thing Desicive....

[Endorsement by Page] There are some sentences in this Letter which I think are so much to the credit of G. Lee, Majr Green & Captn Thor[nton] that I think they ought to be published J: Pー

To M. Page Junr Esqr of Mannsfield