Head-Quarters, 1778.
Sir:
His Excellency has received your two last favors to-day. In the first
you hint the want of a reinforcement, but as the intention of your body
is chiefly for observation and skirmishing, and not to make any serious
stands, it is the less necessary it should be powerful in numbers. It
will, however, depend upon circumstances how far it will be expedient
to reinforce you; and as soon as any thing can be determined from them,
you shall have whatever addition of strength you may stand in need of.
The information contained in your last, of the enemy’s being encamped
on the road leading from New Brunswick to Princeton, about the Third
Mile Run, is not well founded. We have had parties and officers
reconnoitring as far as the Mile Run, and there is no sign of an
encampment. They seem to be taking their old position with their right
at Amboy, their left at Brunswick; but how long they will remain
so it is hard to tell. His Excellency desires you will engage some
trusty person at South Amboy, on whom you can depend for faithful and
early intelligence of the appearance of shipping in the river, or any
preparations for a movement by water, that we may be in time prepared
to counteract them.
I am, with regard, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
A. Hamilton.