To George Washington from Brigadier General William Maxwell, 2 April 1779
From Brigadier General William Maxwell
Elizth Town [N.J.] 2d April 1779
Sir,
I have now inclosed to Your Excellency Yesterdays New York paper.1 There has been much firing to day by the Shiping in the narrows supposed to be discharging the old loaded Canon of the Fleet, lately come in.2 Admiral Gambier’s own ship is come into the narrows.3 I believe there is not the least doubt, that the whole of the Vessels, and Troops, on the Expedition to the Eastward, is returned again.4 and before the Troops was all landed, or the Vessels all returned; they immediately give it out, that there was an other expedition on foot; so that they think to keep them selves secure by alarming us. A letter from General Clinton acompanys this.5 You may depend on it, that I shall take good care of the light Horse6 and am Your Excellency Most Humble Sert
Wm Maxwell
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The Royal American Gazette was the only one of the three current New York City newspapers that published an issue on 1 April 1779.
2. A nine-ship British provision fleet that had left Cork, Ireland, on 13 Jan. arrived at New York City on 2 April (see New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury, 5 April).
3. The Royal Gazette (New York) for Wednesday, 7 April, reported: “On Sunday last embarked on board his Majesty’s ship Ardent, of 64 guns, Rear Admiral Gambier, late Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy in North-America; the Admiral is succeeded in that department by Sir George Collier, who lately arrived here from his Command at Halifax. The Ardent sailed yesterday with a fair wind for England.”
4. For the aborted British expedition against New London, Conn., see Maxwell to GW, 25 March, n.2, and 28 March, n.1.
6. Maxwell already had acknowledged the arrival of a subaltern and ten light dragoons from the Maréchaussée Corps (see Maxwell to GW, 29 March-1 April and 31 March).