Letter from John Chatfield to New-York Committee of Safety

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Easthampton, March 22, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: This day, about ten o' clock in the forenoon, our guard, stationed at Montauk, saw twenty sail of square-rigged vessels (five of them appeared to be large) and two sloops, bearing about south-southeast from the point of Montauk, about nine or ten miles to sea, (the wind south-southeast, the weather something thick and hazy.) steering about northeast by north, and sailed to the eastward of Block-Island; and suppose, by the course they steered, that they were going into Rhode-Island. This, gentlemen, is all the information we can give you concerning them, as at about one o' clock they disappeared behind Block-Island, and they saw them no more.

As we are a frontier at the east end of Long-Island, and are destitute of men to defend us, and have but little ammunition, should be very glad if the honourable House would use their endeavours that we may have some assistance.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants.

Signed by order of the Committee of Easthampton.

JOHN CHATFIELD, Chairman.

To the New-York Committee of Safety.