At the beating of
Tattoo a boat was hailed by our sentries, going down Raritan river. This
alarmed us all and occasioned us to stand by our arms and go to our alarm
posts. On being brought to shore we found the crew had deserted her, and only a
few swivel balls on board.
SOURCE: “Diary of
Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania
Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the
Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 196
