Washington, George, as Commander-in-Chief

Letter signed ("G:^{o Washington") in the hand of Tench Tilghman, one page (13 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.; 335 x 210 mm), Headquarters [?Passaic Falls, New Jersey], 23 November 1780, to Captain Judah Alden, ordering him to take a scout party down to Closter, New Jersey, and destroy any enemy boats they find there; browned, verso backed with Japanese tissue.}

Frederick S. Peck (sale, Freeman Galleries, 13 May 1947, lot 192)

Letter signed ("G:o Washington") in the hand of Tench Tilghman, one page (13 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.; 335 x 210 mm), Headquarters [?Passaic Falls, New Jersey], 23 November 1780, to Captain Judah Alden, ordering him to take a scout party down to Closter, New Jersey, and destroy any enemy boats they find there; browned, verso backed with Japanese tissue.
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Washington resurrects his plan to besiege New York. To Captain Judah Alden of the Second Massachusetts, Washington confides: "I impart to you in confidence that I intend to execute an Enterprise tomorrow Night upon Staten Island, for which I am desirous of cutting off all intercourse with the enemy upon the East side of the River." The mention of Staten Island was subterfuge, the real target in fact was New York City.

"You will therefore tomorrow at Retreat beating set a guard upon any boats which be at the Slot or Niack, and not suffer any to go out on any pretence whatever. Towards evening you will send a small party down to the Closter landings and if they find any Boats there, you will give orders to have them scuttled in such a manner that they cannot be immediately used; but to prevent a possibility of it, the party may remain there till towards day light but are not to make fire, or discover themselves and then return to your post." The Closter Dock landings are located approximately ten miles north of New York City on the west side of the Hudson River; Alden was stationed at Dobbs Ferry on the opposite side. Faced with the loss of half of his troops in early January upon the expiration of their conscriptions, Washington aborted his plan, and New York remained in British hands until November 1783.