Mercer, Hugh, Continental General

Autograph letter signed ("Hugh Mercer"), one page (8 x 6 1/2 in.; 203 x 163 mm), Perth Amboy, New Jersey, 22 July 1776, to George Washington, enclosing copies (not present) of an intercepted letter from New Jersey Loyalist Cortlandt Skinner to a Captain Morgan, and "a declaration" of Lord Howe and General Howe; pressed. Green linen folding case, green morocco spine, red morocco lettering pieces.

Not in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series (W. W. Abbot, ed.), vol. 5

Writing as commander of the "Flying Camp," Mercer acknowledges receipt of Washington's general orders of 21 July 1776. He also encloses copies (not present) of an intercepted letter from New Jersey loyalist Cortlandt Skinner to a Captain Morgan as well as a  "declaration of Lord Howe & Genl Howe  which were found yesterday at the fork of the Road a Mile from So Amboy ferry house ... Morgan is Captain of the Militia in that Neighborhood—intimate with Skinner—but not so far has appeard tainted with his principles. He is ready, he told me on perusing the letter, to go over to Staten Island whenever I please to convince Skinner that he has mistaken his man."