Letter 3:
SPIES IN STATEN ISLAND
This, the third George Washington letter to be displayed, is dated the same day that
another Mercereau agent produced a report (the second Washington letter)
containing extensive order of battle details on the British force commanders, troop
numbers, ships (to include state-of-the-art copper-bottom boats) and cannons.
Elizabethtown July 18, 1780
Sir,
By a person from Staten Island I am Informed that a report prevails there, that
the
British Fleet had sailed this morning, which from the number of signal guns I have
heard, I am rather Inclined to suspect as true.
They have taken on board one Regiment to Serve as marines and fifteen hundred
volunteers have joined them from New York. It is said their object is the french fleet if
so, they are most happily favoured with
a very fair wind.
I am told there is in provost a John Scott, confined for serving as guide to the
British Army in their late excursion – thus much I can say, that I believe what he did in
that respect was not done willingly, but through compulsion.
I am Yr. Excellency
Hbe St
Elias Dayton
*John Scott was an American who was forced to guide British forces, but was
acquitted and released soon after this report by Continental Army review board that
found him and an associate innocent of charges of collaboration.
A letter from Col. Elias Dayton to Gen. George Washington, July 18, 1780. -- Multiple
spy networks supported the American Revolution. In 1777, Dayton of the New Jersey
Militia served as case officer to the first spy ring, the Mersereau Family Spy Ring.
Intelligence on enemy order of battle and disposition of military forces was highly
sought after then, just as it is today.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE LETTER
