To George Washington from Colonel Israel Shreve, 28 May 1779
From Colonel Israel Shreve
Elizabeth town [N.J.] May 28th 1779
Sir
Yesterday I Receivd your order of the 26th to march, Last Evening one of the 27th1 encludeing Furmans Core—which will be Punctually Obeyed, Except Hard Rain &c. Your Excellency mentioned the Artillery, that went with Gen. Maxwell, there has been none here Since, there is an officer and twelve men here Provost Dragoons, which I Shall march with me to Camp. If I have no Orders to the Contrary, As General Maxwell Gave me Such orders when he went off.
the Day before yesterday the Enemy Come out in parties from Poulus hook & Hobuck, and took from the Inhabitants Every horse fit for Service from the English Neighbourhood to Bergan point, And took them to Poulus Hook, and Staton Island, this I had from a man Sent over for Intillegence the Night before Last.
the best Accounts I Can Git of the Situation of the Enemy is, that they are Collected near kings Bridge Some transports and flat Boats in the North River.
I beg Leave to march my Regt to the forks of Rariton Instead of halting at Bound Brook, on account of that place being So very dirty, and Such a Number of Dram Shops; assoon as we halt the men are to Receive forty Dollars ⅌ Man, which will make it very Difficult to keep them in Order At Such a place.
Shall Send my Quarter Master forward to Know If this Indulgence will be Granted.
As I have not been Informed who is to Come to this place when I Leave, I have Wrote to Col. Nelson of the Malitia, Desireing him to Send a Guard If it is only Sufficient to Receive flaggs &c. I am your Excellencys Most Obedient and Most Humble Servent
I. Shreve Colo.
ALS, DLC:GW. The letter was sent “⅌ Express.”
An apparent ADfS of this letter, dated 27 May, reads: “Just now I Receivd your Excys Order to March on Saterday which will be Complyed with Chearfully. by a trusty person from bergan Last night, we have Certain Intillegence that the Enemy At Bergan Yesterday, took from the Inhabitants Every horse fit for any Sort of business, from the English Neighbourhood to the point, which they Sent to Powlus Hook, the officers that was out with the partys told the Owners they were Necesseated for them to Draw their Artillery upon an Expedition, their Army Are Collected upon York Island Several Vessels and flat Boats Laying in the North River.
“I beg Leave to march my Regt to the forks of Raritan Instead of Stoping at Bound brook, Assoon as we halt, the men are to Receive forty Dollars ⅌ man, If they Git Such a Sum of money where Setlers are plenty, it will be Difficult to keep them in any Sort of Order.
“I Shall Send my Quarter Master forward to know If this Indulgence will be Granted” (TxHU).