Sir: I have been duly honored with your favor of the 10th. with the Resolution of Congress which accompanied it, and thank them for the confidence they repose in my Judgment, respecting the evacuation of the City. I could wish to maintain it, Because It is known to be of importance, But I am fully convinced that it cannot be done, and that an attempt for that purpose, if persevered in, might and most certainly would be attended with consequences the most fatal and alarming in their nature.

    Sensible of this, several of the General Officers since the determination of the Council mentioned in my last, petitioned that a second Council might be called to reconsider the propositions which had been before them upon the Subject. Accordingly I called one on the 12th.; when a large Majority not only determined a removal of the Army, prudent but absolutely necessary, declaring, they were entirely convinced from a full and minute inquiry into our situation, that it was extremely perilous and from every movement of the Enemy and the Intelligence received, their plan of Operations was to get in our Rear, and by cutting of the Communication with the Main, Oblige us to force a passage thro' them, on the Terms they wish, or to become prisoners in some short time for want of necessary Supplies of Provisions.⁶¹ We are now taking every Method in our Power to remove the Stores &ca. in which we find almost insuperable difficulties; They are so great and so numerous, that I fear we shall not effect the whole before we meet with some Interruption. I fully expected that an Attack some where, would have been made last night.

[Note:The council was attended by the Commander in Chief, four major and eight brigadier generals. A question as to the post to be taken by the Army at or near Kings Bridge, in event of the evacuation of New York City, was debated. but the record of this is crossed out. Joseph Reed's record of the proceedings shows that it was decided by a vote of 10 to 3 to reconsider the decision (September 7) not to evacuate New York, but notes no action beyond this point other than that 8,000 men should be left to defend Mount Washington. The three dissenters in the vote to reconsider the decision to evacuate New York were Joseph Spencer, George Clinton, and William Heath. Ford notes that McDougall (Jan. 7, 1782) wrote that none were opposed to retreating from New York "but fool, a knave and an obstinate, honest man ." The record of this council of way (held September 12), in Joseph Reed's writing, is in the Washington Papers . ]

    In that I was disappointed and happy shall I be, If my apprehension of one to Night or in a day or two, are not confirmed by the event. If it is deferred a while longer, I flatter myself all will be got away and our Force be more concentred and of course more likely to resist them with success.

    Yesterday Afternoon Four Ships of War two of 40 and 2 of 28 Guns, went up the East River, passing between Governor's and Long Island and Anchored about a Mile above the City opposite Mr. Stivansents and where the Rose Man of War was laying before. The design of their going not being certainly known, gives rise to various conjectures; some supposing they are to cover the Landing of a part of the Enemy above the City: others that they are to assist in destroying our Battery on Horn's Hook, that they may have a free and uninterrupted navigation in the Sound. It is an object of great Importance to them, and what they are industriously trying to effect, by a pretty constant Cannonade and Bombardment.

    Before I conclude, I would beg leave to mention to Congress, that the pay now allowed to nurses for their attendance on the Sick, is by no means adequate to their services. The consequences of which is, that they are extremely difficult to procure, indeed they are not to be got, and we are under the necessity of substituting in their places, a Number of Men from the respective Regiments, whose service by that means is entirely lost in the proper line of their duty and but little benefit rendered to the Sick. The Officers I have talked with upon the Subject, all agree that they should be allowed a Dollar pr. Week and that for less they cannot be had.

    Our Sick are extremely numerous and we find their removal attended with the greatest difficulty: It is a Matter that employs much of our time and care, and what makes it more distressing, is the want of proper and convenient places for their reception; -- I fear their sufferings will be great and many, However nothing on my part that Humanity or policy can require shall be wanting to make them comfortable, so far as the State of things will admit of. I have &ca.⁶²

[Note:In the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison. ]