The long continuance of Knyphausen at Elizabethtown, strengthened a suspicion that Sir Henry Clinton was about to return from South Carolina, and intended, without disembarking his troops, to proceed up the Hudson to West Point; and that the movement into Jersey was a feint designed to cover the real object.

The letters of the Commander-in-chief, addressed about this period, to those who might be supposed to possess influence in the government of the Union, or in those of the states, exhibit his conjectures respecting the designs of his adversary, as well as his apprehensions from the condition of his own army.  To the committee of congress, in camp, he observed, “General Knyphausen still continues in the Jerseys with all the force which can be spared from New York, a force greatly superior to ours.  Should Sir Henry join him, their superiority will be decided, and equal to almost any thing they may think proper to attempt.  The enemy, it is true, are at this time inactive; but their continuance in their present position proves that they have some project of importance in contemplation.  Perhaps they are only waiting until the militia grow tired and return home, (which they are doing every hour,) to prosecute their designs with the less opposition.  This would be a critical moment for us.  Perhaps they are waiting the arrival of Sir Henry Clinton, either to push up the North River against the Highland posts, or to bend their whole force against this army.  In either case, the most disastrous consequences are to be apprehended.  You, who are well acquainted with our situation, need no arguments to evince the danger.

“The militia of this state have run to arms, and behaved with an ardour and spirit of which there are few examples.  But perseverance, in enduring the rigours of military service, is not to be expected from those who are not by profession obliged to it.  The reverse of this opinion has been a great misfortune in our affairs, and it is high time we should recover from an error of so pernicious a nature.  We must absolutely have a force of a different composition, or we must relinquish the contest.  In a few days, we may expect to rely almost entirely on our continental force, and this, from your own observation, is totally inadequate to our safety.  The exigency calls loudly on the states to carry all the recommendations of the committee into the most vigorous and immediate execution; but more particularly that for completing our batteries by a draught with all possible expedition.”

[Sidenote:  June 18.]

[Sidenote:  Sir Henry Clinton returns to New York.]

In this precise state of things, he received intelligence of the return of Sir Henry Clinton from the conquest of South Carolina.

The regular force in New York and its dependencies was now estimated at twelve thousand men, great part of whom might be drawn into the field for any particular purpose, because Sir Henry Clinton could command about four thousand militia and refugees for garrison duty.