To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 1 June 1779
From Major General Alexander McDougall
Continental Village [N.Y.] June 1st 1779 2 P.M.
I am this moment favored with your Excellenies Letter of Yesterday. The Enemies remain, where they debarked yesterday, from Tallars point towards Kings-Ferry. The wind is unfavorable to day for him to Sail up the River. He has opened Batteries on the west side of Kings Ferry, against our work but without effect.1 The Brigades mentioned to you in a former Letter are at west Point,2 Pattens & Clarks were ordered to fall back into West Point.3 The first is arrived. I am in hopes this force with the aid of the ulster County militia will defend the works to the last extremity. obvious reasons prevent my sending any more of the Troops there General Parsons will join me to morrow.4 The Stores near the Landing were embarked, the rest were Sent to the Eastward as the process of Transportation would delay. From the present State of the Enemy it was difficult to determine on the best route for the Stores.5 I have the Honor to be your Excellency Humble Servt
ADf, NHi: McDougall Papers; copy (extract), enclosed in GW to John Jay, 3 June 1779 (first letter), DNA:PCC, item 152; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 169. The extracts in items 152 and 169 both include the entire letter through the word “Eastward” in the second-to-last sentence before the closing.
1. For British artillery posted on Stony Point that bombarded Fort Lafayette on Verplanck Point, see General Orders, this date, n.1. The garrison defending Fort Lafayette surrendered later this day (see McDougall to GW, 4 June, and n.16 to that document).
2. In his letter to GW of 25 May, McDougall explained that he would collect Brig. Gen. John Paterson’s brigade at West Point and position Brig. Gen. John Nixon’s brigade where it could “fall back to succour” that post.
3. Col. John Patten commanded the 2d North Carolina Regiment. Col. Thomas Clark commanded the 1st North Carolina Regiment. These regiments together formed the North Carolina brigade.
4. McDougall reported the arrival of Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons on 2 June in his letter to GW of 4 June.
5. For the lack of transportation that imperiled stores at Fishkill Landing, N.Y., see Udny Hay to George Clinton, 31 May (three letters), and Clinton to Hay, same date (two letters), in 4:867–70. In a letter of this date, 12:30 P.M., New York governor George Clinton, then at Fishkill, N.Y., wrote McDougall: “The Stores are principally removed & before night, I doubt not we shall have Teems enough to remove the whole & a Surplus” ( 5:6).