Morris
Heights
Camp, N.Y. Gov'ment
Sep.
18th 1776
Dear Brother:
     I embrace the opportunity to write to you by Ser'gt Burd of my Company,
whose place John Adams has taken.  My epistle will be incorhent, scarcely
to be understood but your partiality in my favor I know will make any thing
from me pleasing, where the news it contains is not too bad.  I have nothing
but the news of the Camp to give you and that which I have myself seen,
there being so many Generals and Feild officers here That a Cap't is only
of consequence in his own Company or Reg'mt at post.
I will endeavor to state plain matters of fact, as they have appeared to me.
On Tuesday last the enemy's cannon played the greater part of the day
from their forts and shipping.  Friday night we discovered a body of the
enemy were landing on a small island in the East River.  Our Reg'mt was
ordered to march at 5 o'clock in the morning.  After marching and counter
marching till about 7 we returned to our camps.  Saturday about midnight
we were ordered out and paraded as the day before.  Returning to Camp
Sunday we had scarcely time to get our breakfast (after returning) being
informed of the enemy's having taken possession of N.York and our Troops,
who were chiefly from Conneticut, having shamefully abandoned their posts
below us without having exchanged a fire.
Our soldiers were greatly exasporeted and being drawn up for battle it
was very discoverable that they were determined to fight to the last for
their Country, every soldier encouraging and animating his fellow.  This
night our Reg'mt was on guard posted on an eminence over against the
enemy.
Monday morning we marched down toward them and posted ourselves
near a meadow having that in our front, North River, to our right and a
body of woods in our rear and on our left.  We discovered the enemy
peepomg from their Heights over their fencing and rocks running back
wards and forwards.  We did not alter our positions.  I believe they
expected we should have accorded the hill to them, but finding us still
they imputed it to fear and came down skipping towards us in small
parties, at the distance of 250 or 300 yards they began their fire.
Our orders were not to fire till they came near but a young officer (of
whom we have too many) on the right fired and it was taken up from right
to left; we made about 4 fires, I had fired twice and loaded again
determined to keep for a better chance but Col. Deedon calling to keep
up our fire (he meant for us to reserve it but we misunderstood him)
I fired once more; we then all wiped and loaded, sat down in our ranks
and let the enemy fire on us nearly an hour.
Our men observed the best order not quitting their rank though exposed
to a constant, warm fire.  I can't say enough in their favor.  They  behaved
like soldiers who fought for principle alone, during this, 3 companies of
Riflemen from our Reg'mt, West, Ashby and Thorton's with other companies
of Riflemen were flanking the enemy and began a brisk  fire on the right of
them.  On this they began a retreat up the hill carrying off their dead and
wounded, for we had galled them a little.  And then let me not forget the
brave Marylanders who were below us sustained the hottest of the fight and
must have done the greatest execution as they kept a constant fire after we
were ordered to reserve ours.  The enemy retreated above a quarter and a
half when they were re-inforced by men and cannon.  We had but one field
piece in the battle and they had several.  The Battle began between 8 and
9 in the morning and lasted until 2; it was rather a skirmish than a battle.
However, it has taught our enemy that we are not all Conneticut men, they
seem more peaceably inclined than before, their task was to have marched
through our camp to King's Bridge 4 miles above us, the day of the Battle
but they are decived for once and I hope will ever be so when they design
themselves such tasks.  We had 3 killed and wounded in our Reg'mt, you
don't know any of them; Major Leitch was also wounded badly, he received
3 balls, one just above the groin, the other 2 just at the groin in the side of
his belly.  He is a man of spirit and bears it as such.  It is very dangerous
but I hope not fatal.  There were about as many more in other regiments
killed and wounded - we lost a Colonel - I don't know his name, and Wolser
a fine man, one of the New England men.  It is said that we killed a Field
officer of theirs and about 50 privates.  From the blood and the bustle they
made in carrying off their killed and wounded they certainly had more killed
than we had.  You will see a better acct. in the papers.  Tell the old Planters
in Haifax their sons are fine fellows and good soldiers.
Joseph and David joins me in our sincerest wishes for your family
and all friends, we are yours and each of yours most aff. and humble
serve.
(Signed)
Daniel Huddleston
Addressed to Capt. John Huddleston, by favor of Sergt. Burd.