To George Washington from Brigadier General William Irvine, 12 January 1780
From Brigadier General William Irvine
Cranes Mills [N.J.] Janry 12th 1780 11 oClock P.M.1
Sir
I received your Excellencys favour of this date, I have given out that the Detachment coming down is for my relief, and when I do Order in my out Guards—shall inform them that the relief will take other Routs but that they are not to wait for them—as I mean to assem[b]le the whole in order to March to Camp next morning—Captain S[t]evenson went over yesterday with a Flag & returned this day2—his account is, that he saw a Lieutt Buskirk who Commanded at an out Post3—in conversation with him, he learned that the 57th Regiment was stationed on the Island—with Lord Rodens & Buskirks Corps—about 200 at Cuckoldstown,4 in Hutts—some at Split Rock5—about 80 or 100 at Deckers House—from the general tenor of his discourse they were apprehensive of an attack—Captain Stevenson Marched about one Mile & a half on shore, found the snow deep & much drifted—Roads very litle broke—he met a Patrole of Militia—a Serjeant & 12—who he heard converse with a Mr DeHart—complained of hard duty—particularly as the paths were not broke—The Pilot who went over with Captain Stevenson—Quartered out with the Inhabitants—his observations were nearly the same with Stevensons—could not learn any thing about the watering place—Colonel Humpton has been at the Blazing Star this Evening—he says the sound is quite firm in that Quarter—Col: Crane of the Militia has been at Trembleys Point since dark6—is Just returned He says the Ice is firm enough there—but it is very difficult getting on it, occasioned by large quantitys of Ice drove on the Marsh.
I have sent to examin Raway River, as I think it probable on it, would be an easy pass onto the Sound.
Inclosed is an extract of a letter from Major Byles.7
I almost forgot to mention that Capt. Stevenson saw a number of holes cut in the Ice—near the farther Shore—about 12 or 14 feet long—& about a Rod apart—Colonel Hazen has informed me of his arrival at Connecticut farms at 5 oClock this Evening—I wish he had not advanced quite so far, this day as I fear the Idea of a relief can not be so well held up—however I will see him in the morning and put some plausible coulouring on the matter. I am with the greatest Respect Your Excellencys Most Obedient Humble Servant
Wm Irvine
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Irvine wrote the time beneath his signature.
2. Stephen Stevenson (d. 1798) of York County, Pa., received a commission as a second lieutenant in the 9th Pennsylvania Regiment in November 1776. He became a first lieutenant in March 1778 and was made captain lieutenant of the regiment in October 1779. Stevenson transferred to the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment in January 1781 and became a captain the following July. In January 1783, he transferred to the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment, and he left the army in June of that year.
3. Two lieutenants by the name of Van Buskirk were officers in the 4th Battalion of the New Jersey Volunteers, which was at this time stationed on Staten Island. The officer mentioned by Irvine most likely was John Van Buskirk (born c.1755), who had received his commission as a lieutenant in December 1776. The battalion was redesignated the regiment’s 3d battalion in July 1781. After the war, John Van Buskirk remained on the British officer rolls as a provincial lieutenant on half pay until December 1789. Jacob Van Buskirk (1760–1834), also an officer in the battalion, was the son of Abraham Van Buskirk, lieutenant colonel commandant of the battalion. At this time Jacob held a warrant commission as captain. He had been commissioned a lieutenant in the regiment in January 1777 and received a regular commission as captain in May 1780. Detached to the Provincial Light Infantry from September 1780 to January 1782, he was wounded at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in South Carolina in September 1781. After the war, Jacob Van Buskirk remained on the British officer rolls as a provincial captain on half pay until December 1789. He died in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
4. Richmond, N.Y., on Staten Island was also known as Cuckold’s Town.
5. Irvine is referring to the troops garrisoned at the Watering Place on the northeast tip of Staten Island (see Map 4). At very low tide, a large split rock could be seen offshore from that vicinity.
6. Jacob Crane (died c.1794) of Elizabeth, N.J., was lieutenant colonel of Col. Asher Holmes’s regiment of New Jersey state troops.
7. The enclosed extract of Maj. Thomas Lambert Byles’s letter to Irvine, dated this date at Woodbridge, N.J., reads: “I Could not procure any Intelligence Yesterday Morning worth Communicating from the Island, but last night a man was Over and brought the Following Intelligence That there was no Passing from Long Island to staten Island, nor from New York to staten Island. the Man who brings this Intelligence says he had it from two of our Friends who are Inhabitants and were at the Narrows themselves the 10th Instant—Coll Simcoes Quarters are at John Bedells, one Picquet at Cuckolds Town but cannot learn the Strength—Most of the Officers Quarters at [John] Wilsons and [Dr. Thomas] Frosts Near the Works—the Advanced Centry Stands at Giffords Lane—the Garrison is only Simcoes Corps—that the Fortification is very Trifling that there are two four Pounders two three Pounders and one unmounted Nine Pounder—he also informs that they are killing the Inhabitants Cattle for their Troops.” A note follows the extract: “young ⟨Tirat⟩ is the Person—much recommended for integrity by Col: Ogden” (DLC:GW).