To George Washington from Major William Smith Livingston, 16 August 1776
From Major William Smith Livingston
Long Island Augt 16th [1776]
Sir
I am desired by General Green to inform your Excellency that Colo: Hand waited upon him this Morning and informed him that the Hessians were landing again Yesterday on the East End of Staten Island to a considerable Number—That there was nothing extraordinary happened—That by the Movements of the Enemy there did not appear any immediate Preparation for an Attack And that three Men of his Regiment last Night Deserted and took with them Six Rifles. I am Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Servt
Wm S. Livingston
ALS, DLC:GW.
Greene’s other aide-de-camp, William Blodget, wrote GW at 5:00 P.M. on this date: “I am desired to acquaint your Excelly by the General[’s] order, that Colonel Hand reports that Thirteen or Fourteen Vessells enterd the Narrows from the Fleet before in New Utrecht Bay—That the Officer of the Ferry Guard says they were all Transports, That their were some Red Coats on board—The Coll says he cou’d not discover many on board those now below—neither have they landed any there to day. That The Camps at the Flagg-staff and Ferry are pretty extensive—he likewise reports That two small vessells of Force went down the Narrows this afternoon” (ALS, DLC:GW).