The next day came another surprise move when Lord Howe sent a picked officer from the Eagle, Lieutenant Philip Brown, across the bay to New York under a flag of truce carrying a letter addressed to “George Washington, Esq.” Brown was met by Joseph Reed, who on Washington’s orders had hurried to the waterfront accompanied by Henry Knox and Samuel Webb. “I have a letter, sir, from Lord Howe to Mr. Washington,” Lieutenant Brown began. “Sir,” replied Reed, “we have no person in our army with that address.”
