"_Note_.--Take care not to touch upon the ground which is agreed
to be neutral--viz., from Raway to Newark, and four miles back."

Before relating the particulars of this plan, it may be expedient to
state, that the city of New York is situated on the point of an island
which advances into the centre of a capacious bay. A narrow arm of the
sea, vulgarly called the East River, separates it on the left from Long
or Nassau Island; and the Hudson, commonly called the North River,
separates it from the state of New Jersey. The British army was in
possession of the city, and was strengthened by a fleet; but the
opposite bank of the Hudson, which is about two miles wide, was under
the power of Congress, and the revolutionary army was stationed at no
great distance in New Jersey, in a winter encampment of wooden huts.

The party that should undertake this enterprise would have to embark in
boats from the Jersey shore: and it was essential that the whole affair
should be accomplished between sun and sun.

The following is the plan intended to be observed, copied literally from
the original, in the handwriting of Col. Ogden:--

"It will be necessary to have four whale-boats (which can be
procured without cause for suspicion); they must be well manned
by their respective crews, including guides, etc.; beside these,
one captain, one subaltern, three sergeants, and thirty-six
men, with whom the boats can row with ease.--N.B. It is known
where the boats are, and that they can be collected without
suspicion, with their oars-men; and it is taken for granted, the
owners will not object, though, for fear of giving the least