[Haverstraw] 18 Do [August]
The Phoenix and Rose shot by all the Forts & got down to Staten Island thro' the Delays in obstructing the Channel. They have created some Expence to the Continent in the Land Carriage of Provisions from Philadelphia to New York ー Had they brought up a 1000 spare Hands, they might have spread Fire all along the Shores up to the Highland Forts. It is difficult to say who is most to blame the British General for sending them up so weak or the American one for suffering them to escape when the Feet of the neighbouring Cliffs on the West Side of Hudson's River furnished moveable Stone & the River Sloops for shutting them in ー A Deserter who had assisted in sinking the Vessels was their Pilot thro' the Gut left unfinished.
1. Sabine, ed., Memoirs of William Smith, II, 3.