George Washington Papers

To George Washington from David Forman, 16 August 1781

Freehold Augt 16th 1781 Two OClock P.M.

Sir

I am This Minute Informed That at Ten OClock this Morning Some Large Ships made There Appearance in the Offing Standing from the Southward—at Eleven There was Ten in Open View at Half past Elevin There was No appearance of any More Ships Allthough the Wind Was fresh and perfectly fare to Run up With Sandy Hook—At half past Elevin my Intelligencer left The Sea Shoar to prepare for Sending Accts to me—He observes that its Admiral Graves—The London being The foremost Ship and so near him When he Came off that he appears positively to know him—I am allso led to believe it is Graves from this Circumstance, Graves Fleets from my best Accts was made up of The Following Ships Six of the Line, Two of 50 and Two of 44 Guns in all Ten in Number—That is The Exact Number of the Fleets Now off—Should it prove Not to be Graves Your Excly Shall have the Earliest Information, if it should be Graves I will put off Sending untill New Matters Offers. I have The Honr to be Yr Exclys Obdt Humble Servt

David Forman

DLC: Papers of George Washington.

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