From George Washington to Major General Robert Howe, 15 May 1780
To Major General Robert Howe
Head Quarters Morris Town 15th May 1780
Dear Sir
I have been favd with yours of the 11th1 and 13th. the intelligence contained in the first is interesting and is confirmed, so far as it respects the preparations of the enemy for defence, by accounts from other Quarters—The late demonstration, of a movement in New York, seems to have resolved itself into a Forage in Bergen County, as several small Vessels have gone up Hackensack River—some have also, I am informed, gone up the North River;2 This will naturally put you upon your guard, tho’ I do not conceive they have intentions against you. Be pleased to send Colo. Gouvion immediately down, as I have occasion for his presence,3 and direct Major Mournon, if he has recovered, to go over to the sound, and see whether the Platform plank—Pickets, Gabions and Fascines, which were cut under his inspection last fall, are still there, and to make report of the quantity and what condition they are in.4
Be kind enough to write to the Officer commanding the Militia upon the Sound, if any are now embodied, and request him to set his men to work to make a further quantity.5 I am &c.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The recipient’s copy of this letter may have been dated 16 May (see Howe’s second letter to GW of 22 May).
1. In his letter to GW of 11 May, Howe relayed intelligence on British plans to “fortify New York” and its surrounding area as well as British knowledge of the expected French expeditionary force.
3. For previous requests for Lieutenant Colonel Gouvion to join the main army and for efforts to retain him in the Highlands of New York to complete fortifications, see GW to Howe, 28 April and 5 May, and Howe to GW, 1 May (third letter).
On 25 May, Howe wrote GW from the Highlands: “In obedience to your Excellency’s orders, Colonel Gouvion will set out either to day, or tomorrow for Head Quarters—It is but Justice to him to say that if a strict attention to, and knowledge of Duty, with a method to Facilitate Service have merit, that his Character as an Engineer has a strong Claim to approbation, and attention, and his whole Conduct since I have Commanded him, such as has done him Honor, I part with him with Reluctance, and shall be happy in the Course of Service to have the Benefit of his assistance again” (LS, DLC:GW).
4. Maj. Jean Murnan, recently wounded in a duel, had been assigned in fall 1779 to oversee and inspect construction of siege materials in areas near Long Island Sound in anticipation of combined operations with the French fleet under Vice Admiral d’Estaing. Murnan subsequently sent an estimate of completed work (see GW to Matthew Mead, 12 Oct. 1779, and the source note to that document; see also Howe’s third letter to GW of 1 May 1780). He proceeded to Long Island Sound in late May (see Howe’s second letter to GW of 22 May, and his second letter to GW of 31 May). No later estimate of siege materials by Murnan has been identified.
5. No letter has been identified from Howe to the officer commanding the militia along Long Island Sound. GW probably is referring to Col. John Mead of the Connecticut militia, who informed the Connecticut legislature that “in the year 1780 he had the superintendency of the sea coast guards in Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich” (, 3:408). In May 1780, the legislature ordered Lt. Col. Levi Wells to march his state regiment to Greenwich “for the defence of that place and parts adjacent” (, 3:31).
GW desired more siege materials for a prospective allied offensive against New York City (see GW to Udny Hay, this date, and n.2 to that document; see also Nathanael Greene to GW, 23 May, GW to William Greene, same date, and GW’s first letter to Howe, 25 May).