Note (109) — GENERAL WASHINGTON’S SPIES

Robert Townsend now becomes chief.

Sir. No. 14. 20 June 20 1779.

Your No. 8 on the 16 found me at 20 anxiously concerned for our interest, and unwilling it should be neglected, and some reason to fear that by delay the door might be shut and out of my power to perform what I proposed in my No. 13, which I have concluded would be your desire. I thought proper to detain 40 until I went to 10 to endeavour to gain the best intelligence I could, and settle the plan proposed. I returned on the 19th, and my success hath exceeded my most sanguine expectations.—There hath been no arrival of any fleet from any quarter since my last—and the enemy hath not been strengthened. On the 18 Gen. Clinton went out of 10 in person to go to his camp. You may depend their whole force is up the river, and that can’t exceed 8000 men. I expect they are evacuating Rhode Island, if not all part of their troops are coming to 10, it is said four Regiments, this I have from good authority, likewise that it is certainly Gen. Clinton’s positive order and determination to burn all the fields of wheat as soon as they are dry, and intends to exert himself in that to the utmost. They have brought in many cattle. If you don’t exert yourself the country will greatly suffer. A considerable force to march towards the Bridge would make them quit the River and country, for they are very fearful of your getting New York and have frequently said they have in all but just a garrison, it is the admiration of all friends that they can hold their ground up the river. Their strength by sea is trifling. Much the same as mentioned in my last only it is said you have taken the Delaware of 28 guns. It is currently reported in New York that the enemy are entirely defeated near Charles Town, and is believed by some, and the enemy in general trembles for fear if it should be true they acknowledge that it will ruin them. In answer to yours concerning the strength of the enemy at Lloyd’s Neck and what saw mills were sawing for the use of the enemy I cannot give so satisfactory an account about the above questions as I could wish. The former shall endeavour to refer you to Capt. Cornelius Conklin, Major Brush, Capt. Rojers and some others mostly residing at Norwalk that frequently cross near there, the latter shall advise—Coll. Ludlow’s Regiment is very small, don’t exceed 150 men. The Refugees that are there are all armed and take their turn as guards with the regiment, how many I cannot tell but readily conclude they exceed the number in the regiment. I cannot tell whether there’s any cannon in the fort nor how it is situated. Coll. Hulet that commands is a brave officer. Many deserters and refugees that know they will be hanged and think they will make a desperate resistance, and think if it is done at all it must be by surprise.

Tillotson hath a Saw mill at the County House, Havens one at Moriches, Seth Worth one at Fire Place, Humphry Avery one at West Neck, Nichols and one Willets each one at Islip, Edmond Smith at Stony Brook, Samuel Phillips, Caleb Smith, Botts at Smith Town. All alike in serving the King and all professed friends to the country except Havens and Nicols. And it is the nature of the people here, they will do any thing to get money. The navigation of South Bay is now entirely stopped by Whale Boats. I am entirely against destroying property if can be avoided. Saw mills are built with little expense and if torn down no great loss to build again. If people are a mind to be obstinate the following I do not doubt will answer the desired effect. Print in hand bills, let them be conveyed over in all quarters if possible and be posted up, entirely forbidding every saw mill on the Island from stricking a stroke under penalty of destruction of their property, it will most certainly be adhered to, they never will saw no more.

They are determined to raise 400 men out out of the Militia of Long Island. The people in general much against it, and certainly will quit their homes before they will comply.

I have communicated my business to an intimate friend and disclosed every secret and laid before him every instruction that hath been handed to me; it was with great difficulty I gained his complyance, checked by fear. He is a person that hath the interest of our country at heart and of good reputation, character and family as any of my acquaintance. I am under the most solemn obligation never to disclose his name to any but the Post who unavoidably must know it. I have reason to think his advantages for serving you and abilities are far superior to mine.

I must call on you for ten Guineas which will about defray my charges with what I have received. If what I have done is disaproved of it can be dropped, but if mine was worth attention this will not certainly be of less value. You will receive a letter from him in a short time beginning at No. 1. He will expect an ample support, at the same time he will be frugal. As long as I am here shall be an assistant and do all that I can. In the interim I remain Your Most Obt. Huml. Servt. Samuel Culper.