tlemen who shall be appointed Field-Officers, to supply the consequential vacancies occasioned by the alterations expected to happen in two regiments, which have no Colonel.

Your Memorialist would not presume to solicit employment to the prejudice of the officers in any regiment; but he is assured that it will give no disgust to the worthy gentlemen of two corps on this station, who, having honourably served in them, might with propriety claim such preferments.

Now that this country is threatened with a most formidable invasion, to assist in defending, at the risk of his life, those sacred rights which, as a citizen, he has asserted on every opportunity that his humble station offered him, is the most fervent wish of your memorialist, who will strive to render himself worthy of the confidence that may be reposed in him by your honourable House, and to demonstrate that he is ever ready to sacrifice his own advantage to the publick

WILLIAM GODDARD.

New-York, June 21, 1776.

GENERAL MERCER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Elizabethtown, July 19, 1776.

SIR: After making such preparations as our circumstances would admit of, I marched, about eight o'clock yesterday evening, to the mouth of Thompson's Creek, with the Continental troops under the command of Major Knowlton; the Rifle battalions were to follow. The wind and tide being against them, the boats could not be so soon brought to us as we expected. In the mean time the weather became too tempestuous to venture over the Sound in scows. We remained on the shore, in hopes of calmer weather, till near eleven o'clock, but finding no probability of getting over in time to reach the enemy's quarters before day, were under the necessity of relinquishing the enterprise. It cannot be renewed till we have more forces here; nor would it be prudent to attempt any surprise for some days, as our motions are probably communicated to the enemy.

I have the honour to be, sir, your Excellency's most obedient servant,

HUGH MERCER.

A PLAN FOR ATTACKING STATEN-ISLAND.

First. A party to attack the southeast, part of the Island, at a landing called Pullion's, about two miles westward from the Narrows, where are several scattered farm-houses, where it is said troops are quartered; this party to consist of four hundred, and to go from Long-Island.

Second. A party to embark at Piscataway Landing, on Raritan River, about six miles above Amboy, to make their descent on the southwest side of the Island, about two miles east of Billows Point; to consist of five hundred men, to endeavour to surprise the rear of the camp, opposite to Amboy.

Third. A party to embark from the Old Blazing-Star, near Woodbridge, and to make their descent on the best landing opposite, and to endeavour to surprise the town of Richmond, or Cuckold's Town; to consist of five hundred men.

Fourth. A party to embark at a place about three miles south from Elizabethtown Point, where there is a wood that will cover them to the place of embarkation; to make their descent on the Island on the opposite shore, where there is a good landing on the upland, covered with woods not far off. The object here is uncertain, but there are a number of good, large farm-houses in the neighbourhood, where it is probable troops are lodged without much caution; to consist of four hundred men.

Fifth. A party to embark in Newark Bay, from a place about a mile below Brown's Ferry, to make the descent at a place opposite the east end of Shutter's Island, marked Mushereau; this party to consist of eight hundred men, two hundred of which are immediately to march westward, in order to cut off the guard opposite to Elizabcthtown-Point; the remaining six hundred to march slowly, firmly, and carefully, eastward, towards the church at Decker's, with small parties ahead to surprise and break up the parties lodged in the houses along the shore.

Sixth. A party to attempt to surprise the enemy's guard on' Buskirk's Point, which is the southeast corner of Bergen Point; this party, or guard, does not seem to be large, but it is said they are possessed of two six-pounders. The party that makes the attack must not attempt to go over the cause-way or road over the meadow, the cannon being in all probability pointed to command that pass, but should be provided with some boards, and proceed in two or three columns over the meadow, where they will meet with no other obstruction than a small creek or ditch, which they will easily pass with the help of the boards. If this place is carried, a cannonade and bombardment should, as soon as possible, commence on the ships, a great number of which now lie within reach of the place. A cannonade should also commence on Bergen Point, opposite the church and Decker's, where it is said about six hundred men are posted; this cannonade, with round and grape shot, would confuse the troops in forming, and prevent their succouring the guard at Elizabethtown-Point' or opposing our party who make their descent near Shutter's Island. The cannonade should also be kept up on such parts of the shore of Staten-Island where any boats are collected or may assemble. The party for these several matters on Bergen-Neck should be about seven hundred men, besides the Riflemen.

About the time the troops make the descent, which should be at the beginning of the ebb, as great a number of fire-rafts and fire-ships as can be provided, should be towed down, so as to fall in with the head of the fleet.

The commanding officer of each party to reconnoitre the ground where he is to embark, and where he is to make his descent, in the best manner he can, by the help of glasses or otherwise; and also to get the best information he can of the roads and country in general in the way to the place of his destination; they should also be provided with faithful, good guides: plenty of them are to be had in New-Jersey.

All the boats in New-Jersey, from Raritan River to Powles Hook, should immediately be collected and secured under proper guards, as well to prevent intelligence going to the enemy as to serve for these embarkations. The commanding officer, before he sets out, to determine whether the boats are to remain at the place of descent, or to meet him at some other place, and to direct the guards of boats accordingly. A number of spare boats should be collected in Elizabethtown-Creek, Newark-Bay, and towards Blazing-Star, to be ready to serve on any emergency.

As the success of the attempt will depend on a proper timing of the different attacks, the commanding officers of all the parties should regulate their watches by one standard, and be punctually at the place of their destination at the time agreed on.

Suspected persons on Bergen should be immediately removed: there are several gone from New-York.

As the safety of the troops in these enterprises will entirely depend on securing a safe retreat, the utmost caution arid attention must be paid to the having the boats ready at the proper places, to take off the respective parties.

Instead of the fourth article, it is proposed to adopt a plan of Major Knowlton's, which is, to march a body of about one thousand men to the point X, and there to embark and proceed to the place A, and to march up the Neck into the country by the pricked line to the place B, and there to send off a party toward C, to fall upon the rear of the troops posted in the houses along the north side of the Island; the rest to proceed to D, and there to divide and proceed to the several places E, F, G, and in their way to sweep the whole country before them, and then to embark again at the two last mentioned places', where the boats must be ready to receive them; but the guard of the boats should be cautious of going to those places before they are sure of our people being in possession of them.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 20, and referred to the Board of War.]

New-York, July 19, 1776.

SIR: I have been duly honoured with your favours of the 16th and 17th, with the several resolves they contained, to the execution of which, so far as shall be in any power, I will pay proper attention.

In my letter of the 17th instant, I transmitted you a copy of one from General Schuyler, and of its several enclosures. I confess the determination of the council of General Officers on the 7th, to retreat from Crown-Point, surprised me much; and the more I consider it the more striking does the impro-