This Day in History: February 3

I cannot say but I was a good deal surprised and disappointed at the contents. I never was very sanguine, as to any thing more being effected than to oblige the Garrison either to Surrender or evacuate Fort Independence and retire within the Island; as neither has been done, I wish your summons had never been sent, as I am fearful it will expose us to the ridicule of our Enemies. By falling back as far as you have done, one valuable purpose of your going down, is lost, and that is, depriving the Enemy of the forage of which they are in extreme want, and collecting it for our own use.