To George Washington from Major General Alexander McDougall, 5 June 1779
From Major General Alexander McDougall
Buds [near West Point] 5th June 1779
sir
Yestarday Evening, I was honored with your Favor of the 3rd Instant.
The Enemy is on Verplank’s Point, without Tents or Marquees, and their Shipping are all at the Ferry1—It is doubtfull whether he has brought up any apparatus for a Seige—If he has not, he is waiting for it—A Deserter who came in last Night, says General Knyphausen is on the west side of the Ferry with Troops, and that some Corps were to day, to cross on the west Shore from Tarry Town: While the Enemy is master of the River, he can subject us to many Embarrassments—and it’s devoutly to be wish’d a junction of the Army was form’d. It will be of Importance, to have a Train for Intelligence, from the West Side of Kings Ferry—I think in the Enemy’s present Position, it will be attended with some Risque to your Army, if they march on the lower Roads to the North River—The Virginia Detachment is certainly here, for I have examined several Deserters from it2—The Express who brought your last Letter was fired upon in the Clove—I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s humble Servt
Alexr McDougall
LS, DLC:GW.
1. McDougall is referring to King’s Ferry, New York.
2. For the British, Loyalist, and Hessian units that participated in a raid on Virginia during May, see 193; see also William Maxwell to GW, 3 May, and n.2 to that document.
3. For British depredations in Westchester County, N.Y., see McDougall to GW, 11 June, n.9.
4. McDougall may be referring to the difficulty of supplying on-duty militia with flour and forage, both scarce commodities (see McDougall to GW, 25 Jan.; see also GW to McDougall, 9 Feb.).