The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from a very intelligent and useful officer at camp, dated July 6, 1779, to his friend in this city.

Friendship, and a persuasion that you will still love military matters, induce me to furnish you with a general, though succinct account of the present state of the two armies. The main body of the army lies in the Clove, near Smith's tavern. The light infantry at the forest of Dean, 12 miles from Stony point to the westward of the highlands. A detachment of infantry, annexed to Major Lee's corps, lie at Haverstraw, chiefly with a view to protect the country from the depredations of light horse parties. General Heath, it is said, commands on the east side of Hudson's river, General McDougal superintends the works at West Point, and will command the fort in case of an attack. A detachment of the British army possesses King's ferry. Stony point, which you must recollect is their strong hold, Col. Johnston commands in it, and has under him the 17th British, one company of Robinson's corps of refugees, and 100 Highlanders. The 33d, the remainder of Robinson's corps and 200 Highlanders compose the garrison at Verplank's point, under the command of Col. Webster.

A detachment of troops ordered from Rhode Island, was countermanded on their passage down the Sound. The main body of the royal army is (or perhaps I should say was) encamped in the vicinity of Kingsbridge. On the 28th of June Sir Henry Clinton left New York; his baggage was sent out the preceding evening to Phillips's. The same morning a number of cruisers sailed for the capes of Delaware; and the whole body of transports stood up the Sound. It is presumable that their design is to receive the main army or a detachment for some eastern expedition. General Clinton by his movements is in full possession of Westchester county, and has taken a situation in which he may refresh his army. The principal on which Sir Henry seems to conduct his movements, is to render the supply of our army as difficult as possible. He has nothing offensive at present in his composition, and the attack on West Point was ideal. The strength of the army forbade it, had he been certain of success, the sure loss of men would not have been compensated by victory. He might have gained possession of the river, but his army would have been so reduced, as to have obliged him to a state of inactivity during the remainder of the campaign. Had he been baffled in the attempt he would have been totally ruined. The Cork fleet had not arrived on the 28th, nor had the April packet. The army under the immediate command of General Clinton is computed by the best judges to be about 10,000. No official dispatches had been received by the British commander since February. It is certain that a British Captain had several packages for members of Congress; he persists in an obstinate denial, but a Mr. Wallace merchant, deposes, that he saw the packets. The Captain is now confined in provost.

A vessel in 5 weeks from Liverpool mentions the sailing of 3000 troops from Britain for Barbadoes. An equal number of the forces under General Grant are to be detached to the grand army; they are hourly expected.