Head Quarters, West Point, November 2, 1779.
Sir: After my letter of yesterday was dispatched, I received your favor of the 27th. Ulto. from Major Armstrong19 by Express, from Peekskill. The Major said he had been detained by a want of horses and bad roads, and being charged with dispatches more immediately for Congress, he was prevented from calling on me as he wished. I regret the disappointment, as it possibly may have deprived me of information of some particulars not mentioned in your letter.
[Note:Maj. John Armstrong. He was aide-de-camp to General Gates. ]
Altho your letter is silent upon the subject, I cannot doubt but you are on your march before this for Hartford with the Continental Troops at least, agreeable to the determination expressed in your letter of the 15th. Ulto. and to mine of the 22d in answer. Indeed I hoped the instant the Enemy had Embarked that you would have pushed the Troops on, and did not expect that they would have gone to the Island at all. Possibly you might have thought their going there for a day or two necessary for collecting and removing the Stores. If however by any means you should have deferred your march I am to request that you will begin it according to the plan settled between us in the course of our correspondence without a moments delay.
I gave you before, in consequence of what you said about Garrisoning the Island with Militia, my private opinion of the most, I thought, the State should do upon the occasion. I am
Ps. If by any possibility the Troops should not have left the Island when this comes to hand, perhaps the route thro Norwich will be more convenient for 'em to pursue and from thence along the Sound than that through Hartford. This however must be with you to determine from circumstances. Which ever way you proceed you will be pleased to inform me by the earliest opportunity, that I may meet you with farther directions. 20
[Note:In the writing of Richard Kidder Meade. ]
[N.Y.H.S.]