It is clear that the British believe that they can squelch our fervor and sow doubt among the populace with the extravagant show of naval force that has just arrived on the north shore of Richmond, where they were sure of safe landing due to local support, as the Richmond militia switched allegiance to the crown as soon as they saw the fleet headed for the narrows. Many of our men have been neglecting their post, walking to the banks of the East River to look out at the forest of masts. The British understand that the spectacle would cause consternation and sent an envoy with a letter addressed to ‘Mister Washington’ seeking surrender before bloodshed, which was duly rebuffed by General Washington. Too much ardor has fomented among the troops, many of whom are veterans of the Siege of Boston have tasted glory, for us to give up without a fight. After the General publicly read the recently signed Declaration of Independence, a group of soldiers and sons of freedom toppled and beheaded the equestrian statue of King George and then sent the lead to a blacksmith to be processed for bullets, and now the great news of the successful defense of Charleston has lifted our spirits for our own chances, even if their southern fleet is now on its way here.

The central island of New York must be their ultimate goal, and thus the majority of our fortifications are on the southern end of the island. The question is whether they will sail straight for the island or consolidate gains and take the slower route up western Long Island, where I am stationed now. If they intend the incremental approach, I believe that General Greene is well suited to turn the densely wooded heights of Guan into a hundred Bunker Hills. He knows well the lay of the land, keeps his sentries vigilant, and seems capable to exploit any positional weakness of the British, who are more accustomed to fighting in the open and cultivated meadows of Europe. There are only a few passes where a standing army could march without threat of ambush to the hamlet of Brookland, made up of less than a dozen houses and an old church, which we have fortified with trenches in order to protect the bluff known as Columbia Heights where we have a battery positioned at high elevation overlooking the East River to prevent their gunboats from freely advancing and laying siege to the south of New York, and which we must hold if we are to have any chance of retaining this city that is so vulnerable to naval submission. We have been digging fortifications here for the past four months, and though more time to train, organize, and entrench is better for this young army, I must say I am feeling anxious in this calm before the storm and feel a restlessness simmering among our camp.