To George Washington from Brigadier General John Neilson, 3 June 1779
From Brigadier General John Neilson
Eliz. Town [N.J.] 3 June 1779
sir
I am this moment Informed that the waggons & horses together with drivers were the day before yesterday sent over to New York, that some of the Troops the numbers not exactly assertain’d that were on Staten Island were Allso taken over to New York, that the Fleet from Virginia return’d to Sandy Hook on Monday,1 a few of them got up to New York, most of the Troops if not all on Board the said Fleet with some negroes & a considerable deal of Plunder2—Your Excellency will be inform’d of the Above Circumstances more particular by a Young Man who I sent over last night from Woodbridge, and who I am told is gone to head Quarters this Morning by direction of Mr John Mercereau, This Evening I shall send others over for more particular Information which shall be communicated Imediately After it is received3—I am most respectfully your Excellencys most Obedt H. Servt
John Neilson
P.S. Besides the Boats mentioned to your Excellency in my last4 there’s one lays at second River, one at New Ark, & another in a Creek between this & New ark, those three are Scows that will carry About fifty Men each and at New Ark Six small Craft will carry About Eight men each, the Scows want oars ⟨illegible⟩.
ALS, ViMtV.
1. The previous Monday was 31 May.
2. Neilson is responding to questions posed in GW’s letter to him of 2 June.
3. Neilson first wrote “early in the Morning.” He then struck out those words and wrote “Imediately After it is received” above the line.
4. Neilson is referring to his unfound letter to GW of 2 June.