also shows how wholly he was leaving the ultimate
issue to a higher power.

===============NEW YORK, August 20, 1776 (??missed)=====
=====DEAR BROTHER,===============

I have only time for a hasty letter. Our situation this
fortnight or more has been such as scarce to admit of
writing. We have daily expected an action--by which
means, if any one was going and we had letters written,
orders were so strict for our tarrying in camp that we could
rarely get leave to go and deliver them. For about 6 or 8
days the enemy have been expected hourly, whenever the
wind and tide in the least favored. We keep a particular
lookout for them this morning. The place and manner of
our attack time must determine. The event we leave to
Heaven. Thanks to God! We have had time for completing
our works and receiving our reinforcements. The
Militia of Connecticut ordered this way are mostly arrived.
Col. Ward's Regiment has got in. Troops from the southward
are daily coming. We hope under God to give account
of the enemy whenever they choose to make the last appeal.

Last Friday night, two of our fire vessels (a Sloop and
Schooner) made an attempt upon the shipping up the river.
The night was too dark, the wind too slack for the attempt.
The Schooner which was intended for one of the Ships had
got by before she discovered them; but as Providence
would have it, she run athwart a bomb-catch, which she
quickly burned. The Sloop by the light of the former discovered
the Phoenix--but rather too late--however she
made shift to grapple her, but the wind not proving sufficient
to bring her close alongside, or drive the flames immediately
on board, the Phoenix after much difficulty got her clear by

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v?