doc_id n="S5-V3-P03-sp03-D0012">

Colonel Moylan to General Heath

v3:1233

Morristown, 15th December, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I had hopes of meeting you or Gates at this place, but am informed that you are at or about Topan; that General Gates is passed across the country higher up. My business was to push on Lee' s and Gates' s armies to join with General Washington. I have hopes that they will both effect it, though I must own I have my apprehensions of those under Sullivan being intercepted, except he puts in execution what I recommended to him, which was to make a forced march yesterday, to get to the ferry last evening; if he did, the troops could be got across in the night. As it was but eighteen miles from the place he was at, it might have been executed, and he could have sent his baggage higher up the river, to the place where Gates will cross. I had no orders for you. What the General gave me in command was, to proceed to General Lee, to push him forward. The day I came up with his Army was the day when he was so unfortunately taken prisoner. I was to proceed from him to push on Greaton' s, Bond' s, Porter' s, Patterson' s, Start' s, Poor' s, and Reed' s, which, I suppose, are with Gates and Arnold. I will follow this day, if I can find out their route, which is a very difficult matter. Should you come this way with your troops, it will be necessary to send some person two days before you, to provide bread and other provisions for you; without this, you will find this place very destitute of all sorts of necessaries. There is neither hay or grain for your horses.

God bless you, my dear General; believe me your assured, humble servant,

STEPHEN MOYLAN.