The Virginia Gazette

Extract from Major General Greene's report, dated Springfield, June 24, 1780.

The enemy continued at Elizabethtown point until twelve o'clock at night, and then began to cross their troops to Staten Island, by six this morning they had totally evacuated the point and removed their bridge. Major Lee fell in with their rear guard, but they were so covered by their works, that little or no injury could be done them. He made some refugees prisoners, and took some tories which they abandoned to expedite their retreat.

I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency, that the troops who were engaged, behaved with great coolness and intrepidity, and the whole of them discovered an impatience to be brought into action. The good order and discipline which they exhibited in all their movements do them the highest honour.

The artillery under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Forrest was well served. I have only to regret that Lieutenant Colonel Mason was killed at the side of his piece by a cannon ball.

It is impossible to fix with certainty the enemy's loss, but as there was much close firing, and our troops advantageously posted, they must have suffered very considerably.

I herewith enclose your Excellency a return of our killed wounded and missing, which I am happy to find is much less than I had reason to expect from the heavy fire they sustained.

I am at a loss to determine what was the object of the enemy's expedition: If it was to injure the troops under my command, or to penetrate further into the country, they were frustrated. If the destruction of this place, it was a disgraceful one. I lament that our force was too small to save the town from ruin. I wish every American could have been a spectator, they would have felt for the sufferers, and joined to revenge the injury.

I cannot close this letter without acknowledging the particular services of Lieutenant Colonel Barber, who acted as Deputy Adjutant General, and distinguished himself by his activity in assisting to make the necessary dispositions.

There was a number of prisoners made, but as they went on to Morristown I had no return of them.

Return of the killed, wounded, and missing, in the action of the 23d of June, 1780. Springfield.

Artillery. Killed: 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants. Wounded: 2 Matrosses. Angell's regiment. Killed: 1 Sergeant, 5 rank and file. Wounded: 1 Captain, 3 Subalterns, 3 Sergeants, 25 rank and file. Missing: 3 rank and file. Shreve's regiment. Killed: 1 rank and file. Wounded: 1 Sergeant, 2 rank and file. Missing: 2 rank and file. Dayton's regiment. Killed: 2 rank and file. Wounded: 1 Subaltern, 6 rank and file. Missing: 4 rank and file. Spencer's regiment. Wounded: 1 Sergeant. Lee's detachment. Killed: 1 rank and file. Wounded: 1 rank and file.

Total. Killed: 1 Captain, 5 Sergeants, 9 rank and file. Wounded: 1 Captain, 4 Subalterns, 5 Sergeants, 37 rank and file, 2 Matrosses. Missing: 9 rank and file.

The return of Davis's detachment I could not get, he having marched off the next morning after the action. The return of the militia I cannot get: They had none killed, about 12 wounded.