George Washington to Henry Lee

This morning your letter dated at Paramus, came to hand. I thank you for the intelligence it contained. I have received similar accounts from the other side of the river transmitted by different persons.

In the present situation of affairs it is important to discover if possible the views as well as movements of the enemy; for this purpose I should think you might fix on some inhabitant of Hackensack or Bergen whose duplicity of conduct would with proper instructions from you enable him to obtain very satisfactory information by getting into the enemys Camp or perhaps New York. If such an one is to be met with the sooner he is sent on the business the better.

Yours, &c.