Letter from General Greene to General Washington

v1:727

Camp on Long Island, August 2, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Colonel Hand reports nothing worthy your Excellency' s notice this morning.

I was at the Narrows last evening, and find the fleet that came in yesterday consisted of thirty-six ships, four brigs, and five sloops: one ship and a sloop still at the Hook. I could not learn with any degree of certainty who they are; but I believe, from their uniforms, they must be the Guards and Artillery. If your Excellency has leisure, perhaps it may be worth while to pay a visit to the Narrows, to reconnoitre and view the fleet.

With respect to the tents I wrote about yesterday, I can easily dispense with them, if there are barracks to be got for the regiment. I wrote to the Quartermaster-General to send over his Barrackmaster, to look up quarters for the regiment this morning. Shall notify your Excellency the result of the Barrackmaster' s inquiry.

I have the honour to be, your Excellency' s obedient servant,
NATHANAEL GREENE.

To His Excellency General Washington, New York.