Richard Henry Lee to John Page

I am concerned to find that the Governors health does not yet permit his attention to public business. Your anxiety no doubt is great to hear how things go on at N. York. I will give you the best account that Congress has been able to collect. Of our Troops about 6000 were stationed on Long Island under Command of Generals Putnam, Sullivan and Lord Sterling. Of these, three guards of 800 men each were posted at the edge of a wood opposite the enemy who with about 18,000 men were encamped on a plain below & directly opposite these Guards. At 10 o'Clock in the night of the 25th [i.e. 26th] of Augt. Gen. Howe marched with 6000 men and unperceived turned the left of our Guards and halted. Sometime before day three large Columns under command of the Hessian General, Lord Cornwallis, and Brigadier Gen. Grant marched to the front and Right of our Guards with a view to attack and surround them at the same time. In the meantime Gen. Putnam received intelligence that the enemy were in motion and about break of day ordered Gen. Sullivan & Lord Sterling to reenforce the Guard with two Batallions and annoy the enemy in their march. Our Officers having no knowledge of Gen. Howes march proceeded to meet and engage the Corps under Cornwallis &c. These last by their superior numbers had very soon outflanked, and in great degree surrounded our people. Thus they fought for some time, without advantage on either side, except that some of Cornwallis s Troops & others had given way but were supported by reenforcements, when they discovered Howe with a large body directly between them and their Lines. Environed on all sides with such superiority of numbers they determined to fight their way throw and more than two thirds of them reached the Lines, three thousand having been engaged and our loss in killed, wounded, and missing not exceeding 7 or 800. The enemies loss in killed is certainly greater than ours, but they have more prisoners, and on the whole our loss of men is greater than theirs. Gen. Howe conceiving that our lines were either abandoned or too much weakened marched boldly up to them with his Corps, but they received so heavy and well directed a fire that they retreated with great pricipitation. Generals Sullivan and Lord Sterling are prisoners. We do not know of any Officer among the enemy being killed of greater rank than Colo. Grant, who is certainly among the Slain.

A Council of War having determined to evacuate Long Island as no longer tenable, this dangerous service was effected on Friday night last without loss, except two heavy Cannon which could not be brought away and were spiked. Our Army, all now on the New York side, and consisting when together of about 26,000 men are in high spirits. The flying Camp increases daily. 'Twill presently be 10,000 strong. Our enemies force, by the best accounts is about 23,000. We have so respectable a Marine force on Lake Champlain, and so good an army on its borders that we are under no apprehentions from that quarter. In the W. Indies, every thing promises a speedy rupture between France & G. Britain. They have certainly offered us their Ports to carry our Prizes into, and when Capt. Weeks in a Continental Ship of 16 six pounders lately drubbed Capt. Chapman in the Shark of 18 guns in sight of the people of Martinique and to their great joy, the Captain of our Vessel (suspecting Chapman was gone to Antigua for help) was offered by the Governor a Convoy of Frigates to see him on his way as far as he chose to take them.¹ All this looks well. It is amazing what fortunes are made here by Prizes. small Privateers returning with large Sugar Ships &c. We all agree that it will be very wise and proper to order Lilly and Cocke at least to go Cruize in the way of the homeward bound West India Men.² A few of them will pay our Marine expences already incurred, and help us to build 10 or 12 large Sea Gallies to keep open the trade of our Bay. If you approve this plan, pray push it into immediate execution. The French harbors may receive them, or Chingotigue in the Eastern Shore, if our Bay should be shut up. Farewell dear Sir and believe me affectionately yours,

Richard Henry Lee