destined for a southern expedition; and having such
information as I can rely on, that the inhabitants, or a
great part of them, on Long Island in the colony of New
York, are not only inimical to the rights and liberties of
America, but by their conduct and public professions have
discovered a disposition to aid and assist in the reduction
of that colony to ministerial tyranny; and as it is a matter
of the utmost importance to prevent the enemy from taking
possession of the City of New York and the North River, as
they will thereby command the country, and the communication
with Canada--it is of too much consequence to hazard such a
post at so alarming a crisis....

"You will therefore, with such volunteers as are willing to
join you, and can be expeditiously raised, repair to the
City of New York, and calling upon the commanding officer of
the forces of New Jersey for such assistance as he can
afford, and you shall require, you are to put that city into
the best posture of defence which the season and
circumstances will admit, disarming all such persons upon
Long Island and elsewhere (and if necessary otherwise
securing them), whose conduct and declarations have rendered
them justly suspected of designs unfriendly to the views of
Congress.... I am persuaded I need not recommend dispatch in
the prosecution of this business. The importance of it alone
is a sufficient incitement."[19]

[Footnote 19: Washington had some misgivings as to his authority to
assume military control of New York, and he sought the advice of John
Adams, who was then at Watertown. The latter replied without
hesitation that under his commission as commander-in-chief he had full
authority. To President Hancock, Washington wrote: "I hope the
Congress will approve of my conduct in sending General Lee upon this
expedition. I am sure I mean it well, as experience teaches us that it
is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves, than it is
to dislodge them after they have got possession."]

Washington wrote at the same time to Governor Trumbull, of
Connecticut, Colonel Lord Stirling, of New Jersey, and the New York
Committee of Safety, urging them to give Gen. Lee all the assistance
in their power.

Lee, who had been an officer in the British army, serving at one time
under Burgoyne in Portugal, had already established