Washington troops had died. The survivors were sent out and receipted
for by General Washington, and we the officers were sent to Long
Island on parole, and billetted, two in a house, on the families
residing in the little townships of Flatbush, New Utrecht, Newlots,
and Gravesend, who were compelled to board and lodge us at the rate of
two dollars per week, a small compensation indeed in the exhausted
state of that section of country. The people were kind, being mostly
conquered Whigs, but sometimes hard run to provide sustenance for
their own families, with the addition, generally, of two men who must
have a share of what could be obtained. These people could not have
furnished us but for the advantage of the fisheries, and access at all
times to the water. Fish, oysters, clams, Eels, and wild fowl could
always be obtained in their season.

"We were thus fixed on the inhabitants, but without money, or
clothing. Sometimes a companion would receive a few hard dollars from
a friend through a flag of truce, which was often shared by others to
purchase a pair of shoes or a shirt.

"While in New York Major Williams received from a friend about forty
silver dollars. He was still down with his wound, but requested
Captain Shepherd, your Father and myself to come to his room, and
there lent each of us ten Dollars, which enabled each of us to
purchase a pair shoes, a shirt, and some other small matters: this
liberality however, gave some offence. Major Williams was a
Marylander, and to assist a Virginian, in preference to a Marylander,
was a Crime almost unpardonable. It however passed off, as it so
happened there were some refugees in New York from Maryland who had
generosity enough to relieve the pressing wants of a few of their
former acquaintances.