after the action ; but we have good evidence of their having upwards of sixty killed, and violent presumption of one hundred. The action, in the whole, lasted about four hours.
I consider our success in this small affair, at this time, almost equal to a victory. It has animated our troops, gave them new spirits, and erased every bad impression the retreat from Long-Island, &c., had left on their minds. They find they are able, with inferiour numbers, to drive their enemy, and think of nothing now but conquest.
Since the above affair, nothing material has happened. The enemy keep close to their lines. Our advance parties continue at their former station. We are daily throwing up works to prevent the enemy's advancing. Great attention is paid to Fort Washington, the posts opposite to it on the Jersey shore, and the obstructions in the river, which, I have reason to believe, are already effectual, so as to prevent their shipping passing ; however, it is intended still to add to them, as it is of the ut most consequence to keep the enemy below us.
Peter Force, American Archives, Fifth Series (Washington, 1851), II, 383-384 passim.
194. The Foundation of the Navy (1776)
BY ROBERT MORRIS
Morris was a Philadelphia merchant and banker, considered the richest colonist of his time. He was a member of Congress; from 1781 to 1784 superintendent of finance; later senator from Pennsylvania. This piece is from a letter written to the commissioners in France. — Bibliography of the navy : Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VI, 589; Maclay, United States Navy, I, pt. i, chs. iii-vi ; Channing and Hart, Guide, §§ 139, 140. — See Nos. 177 above and 204 below.
[Philadelphia, December 21, 1776.]
YOU will doubtless be surprised that we have not made better progress with our Navy, because you are unacquainted with the many difficulties and causes of delay that have encountered us. The want of sea-coal for our anchor-smiths has been a great bar to our progress, the disappointment in our first attempts to cast cannon has been another, but above all, we have been hindered by the constant calling out of our Militia, in a manner that did not admit of the necessary tradesmen being exempted. You will wonder at this ; it would be a long story to unfold the reasons, therefore suffice that it is so. Doctor Franklin can inform you of many particulars respecting the Flying-Camp ; therefore, I shall
