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“Fishkill, October 21, 1779.

“MY DEAR POLLY,

“I returned from Head-Quarters this forenoon.  We went down yesterday morning, and dined with General Heath, who was so good as to lend us his barge to carry us to Head-Quarters.  His Excellency received us as I could wish.  He invited us to dine with him this day.  Upon my excusing myself, as being in haste to finish my journey, he accepted the excuse, and invited us to breakfast with him, which we did.  We returned last night to Robinson’s house, and slept with our friend Eustis.  General Heath favored us again with his barge to carry us to Head-Quarters, and after breakfast his Excellency ordered his own to convey us to our horses, which we had ordered four or five miles up the river.  One principal reason of my declining the General’s invitation to dinner was my impatience to return to Fishkill, that I might receive a letter from you.  Judge, then, what was my disappointment to find the post arrived and no letter.  I shall cross the North River to-morrow morning to proceed on my journey to Philadelphia.  If the nature of the service will allow it, General Heath and his suit propose returning with me to spend the winter in Boston.  Eustis desires you would look out some suitable object of his attentions, while in Boston.  He pretends it is only with a view to keep him alert and properly attentive to the ladies in general; but I suspect he designs to become the domestic man.”

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“Morristown, Oct. 26th, 1779.

“MY DEAR POLLY,

“I wrote you from Fishkill the day before I left it, and shall put this into the office here for the post to take as he comes along.  On Friday, towards evening, we left Fishkill.  It was dark and squally when we got to the landing, and we had nine horses in the boat, which made us a little uneasy, as a few days before a boat had been overset and some people drowned; however, we got safe over, and lay that night at Colonel Hawsbrook’s, where you spent two or three days on your return from Bethlehem.  The next morning we breakfasted with Dr. Craik at Murderer’s Creek, and then proceeded through the Clove, a most disagreeable place, and horrid road.  In the evening we got to Ringwood.  Upon our arrival there, we were informed there was no public house in the place, and it was after dark.  Colonel Biddle had favored me with an order on all his magazines to supply me with forage; he has one in this place.  I waited on his deputy and presented the order; he went out of the room, and in a few minutes returned with a Mr. Erskine, who is surveyor-general of the roads; he gave me a polite invitation to spend the night at his house, where we were entertained in the most genteel, hospitable, and friendly manner.  A shower of rain yesterday morning prevented our proceeding, but, as it cleared up about noon, we came on thirty-four miles to this place.  I expect to reach Philadelphia the day after tomorrow.  I have been from home almost a month, and have received but one letter, but hope to find several waiting for me at Philadelphia, as I cannot think you would miss a post.  The enemy last Thursday left their posts at Stony Point and Verplanck’s Point, and retired to New York.”