July 1, 1776

As the Continental Congress prepared to vote on independence, “a most barbarous and infernal plot” was “discovered amongst the tories” in New York. This plot against the Continental Army was planned to coincide with the arrival of British ships in New York harbor. This initial report in a letter from New York described how, “upon the arrival of the troops, they were to murder all the Staff Officers, blow up the magazines, and secure the passes of the town.” 

The Continental Congress was horrified by this plot. John Rogers, one of Maryland’s delegates, recounted the foiled attempt to sabotage the army in a letter and wrote, “What with External and internal Enemies we fancy we Shall very Shortly have our hands full of business.”

Postscript to Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser
Printed by John Dunlap

Extract of a letter from New-York, dated June 24, 1776.

“Since my letter on Friday last, a most barbarous and infernal plot has been discovered amongst the tories. The particulars I cannot give you, as the Committee of examination consists of but three, who are sworn to secrecy, two of Washington’s guards are concerned, and a third, who they tempted to join them, made the first discovery. The general report of their design is as follows: Upon the arrival of the troops, they were to murder all the Staff Officers, blow up the magazines, and secure the passes of the town. Gilbert Forbes, gunsmith, in the Broadway, was taken between two and three o’clock Saturday morning, and carried before our Congress, who were then sitting. He refused to make any discovery, upon which he was sent to jail, and put in irons. Young Livingston went to see him early in the morning, told him he was sorry to find he had been concerned, and, as his time was very short, not having above three days to live, advised him to prepare himself. This had the desired effect. He asked to be carried before the Congress again, and he would discover all he knew; several have been since taken, between twenty and thirty, among them our Mayor, who are all now under confinement. It is said their party consisted of about five hundred.

“On Saturday afternoon our men returned from the Hook, without being able to effect their design; not having heavy cannon sufficient to make any breach in the light-house, they made the attack Friday morning twenty minutes after three and continued firing till about six; no lives are lost on our side, only two men slightly wounded.

“I have just heard the Mayor has confessed bringing money from Governor Tryon, to pay for rifle guns that Forbes had made. A large party goes off this morning to the Hook again with heavy cannon, &c. the men of war there I am afraid will hurt them, as they can command the pass.—Burgoyne is arrived at Quebec with his fleet. No account of ours. I expect to go to Long Island this day, in a party of about two hundred, in quest of tories.”