“G.  WASHINGTON.

    “Note.—­Take care not to touch upon the ground which is agreed
    to be neutral—­viz., from Raway to Newark, and four miles back.”

Before relating the particulars of this plan, it may be expedient to state, that the city of New York is situated on the point of an island which advances into the centre of a capacious bay.  A narrow arm of the sea, vulgarly called the East River, separates it on the left from Long or Nassau Island; and the Hudson, commonly called the North River, separates it from the state of New Jersey.  The British army was in possession of the city, and was strengthened by a fleet; but the opposite bank of the Hudson, which is about two miles wide, was under the power of Congress, and the revolutionary army was stationed at no great distance in New Jersey, in a winter encampment of wooden huts.

The party that should undertake this enterprise would have to embark in boats from the Jersey shore:  and it was essential that the whole affair should be accomplished between sun and sun.

The following is the plan intended to be observed, copied literally from the original, in the handwriting of Col.  Ogden:—­

“It will be necessary to have four whale-boats (which can be procured without cause for suspicion); they must be well manned by their respective crews, including guides, etc.; beside these, one captain, one subaltern, three sergeants, and thirty-six men, with whom the boats can row with ease.—­N.B.  It is known where the boats are, and that they can be collected without suspicion, with their oars-men; and it is taken for granted, the owners will not object, though, for fear of giving the least cause of alarm, nothing has as yet been said to them.

“The time of embarkation must be the first wet night after we are prepared.  The place is not yet agreed on, as it will be necessary to consult those skilled in the tides previous to determining, which must be put off until we are as nearly prepared as possible, for fear of inferences being drawn from our inquiries.  We must, however, set off from such part of the Jersey shore, as will give us time to be in the city by half past nine.  The men must be embarked in the order of debarkation.

“The Prince quarters in Hanover Square, and has two sentinels from the 40th British regiment, that are quartered in Lord Stirling’s old quarters in Broad Street, 200 yards from the scene of action.  The main guard, consisting of a captain and forty men, is posted at the City Hall—­a sergeant and twelve, at the head of the old slip—­a sergeant and twelve, opposite the coffee-house—­these are the troops we may be in danger from, and must be guarded against.  The place of landing at Coenties Market, between the two sergeants’ guards, at the head of the old slip and opposite the coffee-house.

    “The order of debarkation to agree with the mode of attack, as
    follows:—­