The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

4 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [2ET.49.
account of the enemy's strength on York, Long, and
Staten Islands,'specifying the several corps and their
distributions. This, I think, from the enemy's present
weak state, may be procured with more facility and
accuracy than at any former period. I wish to know,
also, the strength of the last detachment from New
York, and of what troops it was composed.
I need scarcely suggest, if you should go eastward,
that it will be expedient to do it in such a manner as
not to create suspicion. Indeed, secrecy is absolutely
necessary in the whole affair. As Count de Rochambeau does not understand English, it may be well to
communicate your business to the Chevalier de Chastellux in the first instance, and through him to the
Count, lest it should accidentally get abroad in the
communication.'I am, &c.*
* In the letter to which the above was a reply, Major Tallmadge had
written as follows.
" Since the establishment of the Board at New York for the direction
of the./ssociated Loyalists, there appears to have been a regular system
adopted to open a more effectual communication with the disaffected in
Connecticdt. Chains of intelligence, which are daily growing more
dangerous, and the more injurious traffic, which is constantly increasing,
are but too fatal consequences of this system. My informer has requested me to propose to your Excellency a plan to break up the whole
body of these marauders. At Lloyd's Neck, on Long Island, it is supposed there are assembled about eight hundred men, chiefly refugees
and deserters from our army. Of this number there may be about four
hundred and fifty or five hundred propeAy armed. Their naval guard
consists of one vessel of sixteen guns, two small privateers, and a galley. About eight miles east of Lloyd's Neck, they have a post at
Treadwell's Bank, of about one hundred and forty men, chiefly woodcutters armed. I have seen an accurate draft of this post and works."
Hartford,.Rpril 6th.
Major Tallmadge believed, that, if two frigates should enter the Sound,
in the absence of the British fleet, and at the same time a suitable body
of troops were embarked in boats, the posts might be cut off. He offered fo aid or direct an enterprise for such an object.
On receiving General Washington's letter, Major Tallmadge passed
over in person to Long Island, and obtained exact knowledge of the