He intrusted the execution of it to Wayne, who accepted the commission with the greatest alacrity, signifying his willingness to storm hell itself for General Washing1 The following (furnished to the editor by liest intelligence of any collection of vessels the late Dr. Plagg, of Yonkers, who possessed or boats or embarkation of troops on the oppointeresting letter site shore. The enemy are now manoeuvering to an of copy a is the original) the Eastward-it may be to divert a part of our written bv Washington in this interval: to make a rapid nioveHeadquarters [New Windsor]. July force that way-then 12th, 1779. nifiit back-- embark and push up to the forts. a certain degree of give to obliged We are Dr Sir. to the country protection and In mine to von of the 5th I requested you countenance of the enemy which will occasion a detachment of our force, to attend to the movements that we essential more the it makes this on the River below, and for this purpose to and be upon our watch this way. Your acengage the country people as lookouts alonK should and care I rely upon, the River-- I could wish you to have such per- tivity 1 am Dr Sir sons on whose fidelity and vigilance you can Your Obedt. Servant, far as points different at stationed depend Go: Washington. down as Fort Lee. that we may have the ear-

FROM

JANUARY,

1779,

SEPTEMBER,

ton. We borrow the following description of Stony Point, as it then was, from Irving: It was a rocky promontory advancing far into the Hudson, which washed three sides of it. A deep morass, covered at high water, separated it from the mainland, but at low tide might be traversed by a narrow causeway and bridge. The promontory was crowned by strong works furnished with heavy ordnance, commanding the morass and causeway.