Sir: Yours with the plan for the attack upon Bergen is this moment come to hand.⁴⁰ I see many difficulties to prevent the matter's being carried effectually into execution. The first and principal one, is, the known disaffection of the Country, which is such, that the instant such a Body as one thousand men began to assemble, the Enemy would have notice of it, and the consequence would be, that were they strong enough, they would prepare themselves to give you a reception, and were they not, they would retreat from Bergen to Powles Hook, and after they got beyond the Mills, it would be impossible for you to follow them. These have ever been my Sentiments upon this matter. The thing must be effected by Surprise or not at all, and I have no conception that Boats sufficient for the purpose could be

[Note:Stephen had been written to a few hours before by Tench Tilghlnan to the effect that Washington needed to know how many men would he required for the Bergen enterprise, Stephen having merely asked "if so many men as are necessary for the attack upon Bergen, can be spared from the lines." Stephen then forwarded his plan, and this letter settled tile matter. ]