Secret Committee to George Washington, 18 [20] July 1776
Secret Committee to George Washington
Fort Montgomery 18th: [20] July 1776
Sir
We informed your Excellency of our appointment in consequence of which we took a Survey of the Fortresses in the Highlands—1 we are extreamly sorry to say that notwithstanding their importance & advantageous situation they are by no means in a proper posture of Defence, part of the few Cannon at Fort Constitution were sent away—and the whole Number now there, and at Fort Montgomery are not sufficient, this want we suppose your Excellency will be unable to supply, we have therefore sent for those that were designed for the Ships that are building at Poughkeepsie. But if we should Obtain them they will be of little use unless some Mattrosses can be spared from New York since there are only 14. at both Forts—If your Excellency could spare a few Howitzers they might be of singular use at this place. A skilful Engineer could be at no place more serviceable than here, as many small Posts which command this ought to be Fortified—We cannot think the Garrisons by any means proportioned to the Extent of the Works or the Importance of the Places We know the Difficultys that your Excellency will find in supplying these wants yet we cannot but suggest them, since we are satisfied that even if the Enemy sho’d be defeated at New-York they might take such Posts here as we sho’d find it impossible to disposses them of. We remain with the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedt Humbl. Servants
| Robert Yeates | Christr. Tappen |
| John Jay | Gilbert Livingston |
| Robt R Livingston |
Since writing the above we have been informed that the Salisbury Furnace at which place the Cannon are Cast is under the Direction of the Government of Connecticut so that we have some doubt whether we can procure those for which we wrote, unless your Excellency will be pleased to lend us your Assistance by writing to Governor Trumbull on the Subject.
LS, DLC: Washington Papers, series 4. Addressed: “On the Public Service To His Excellency George Washington Esqr. at New York.” Misdated “18th” July; date of 20 July supplied from entry in the Minutes of the Secret Committee, 19–20 July 1776, above.
1. The committee announced their appointment to Washington in a letter dated White Plains, 17 July. DLC: Washington Papers, series 4.