Note 76 — Chapter XXIV · DESIGNS OF THE ENEMY AGAINST NEW YORK AND THE HUDSON—PLOT OF TRYON AND THE TORIES—ARRIVAL OF A FLEET—ALARM POSTS—TREACHERY UP THE HUDSON—FRESH ARRIVALS—GENERAL HOWE AT STATEN ISLAND—WASHINGTON’S PREPARATIONS.
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Governor Tryon, in a letter dated about this time from on board of the Duchess of Gordon, off Staten Island, writes: “The testimony given by the inhabitants of the island, of loyalty to his majesty, and attachment to his government, I flatter myself will be general throughout the province, as soon as the army gets the main body of the rebels between them and the sea; which will leave all the back country open to the command of the king’s friends, and yield a plentiful resource of provisions for the army, and place them in a better situation to cut off the rebels’ retreat when forced from their strong hold.”—Am. Arch. 5th S. i. 122.