speedier transmission. Major Lee mentions twenty men lost on
our side. Captain Rudolph informs me that, since the report was
concluded, several of the missing had returned, which will lessen
the supposed loss near one half.

_____

_Major Henry Lee to General Washington._

To His Excellency Paramus, August 22, 1779.
General WASHINGTON.

Sir: Lord Stirling was pleased to communicate to Your Excellency
my verbal report to his Lordship of the 19th instant. I now do
myself the honour to present a particular relation of the
enterprize Your Excellency was pleased to commit to my direction.

I took command of the troops employed on this occasion on the
18th. They amounted to four hundred infantry, composed of
detachments from the Virginia and Maryland divisions, and one
troop of dismounted dragoons.

The troops moved from the vicinity of the New Bridge about four
o'clock P.M. Patrols of horse being detached to watch the
communication with the North River, and parties of infantry
stationed at the different avenues leading to Powles Hook. My
anxiety to render the march as easy as possible, induced me to
pursue the Bergen road lower than intended. After filing into the
mountains, the timidity or treachery of the principal guide
prolonged a short march into a march of three hours; by this
means the troops were exceedingly harassed, and being obliged,
through deep mountainous woods, to regain our route, some parties
of the rear were unfortunately separated. This affected me most
sensibly, as it not only diminished the number of men destined
for the assault, but deprived me of the aid of several officers
of distinguished merit.

On reaching the point of separation, I found my first disposition
impracticable, both from the near approach of day and the rising
of the tide. Not a moment being to spare, I paid no attention to
the punctilios of honour or rank, but ordered the troops to
advance in their then disposition. Lieutenant Rudolph, whom I had
previously detached to reconnoitre the passages of the canal,
returned to me at this point of time and reported that all was
silence within the works, that he had fathomed the canal and
found the passage on the centre route still admissible. This
interv