noon
Here and there a man-of-war might be seen in the far distance , like a sheep-dog on the heels of the flock , firing a gun now , on this side now on that , to hint to any laggers along the transports to make more sail , but generally the fleet kept well together . On the 13th the Greyhound , with General Howe on board , parted company , to hasten on , it was supposed , to make arrangements with Governor Tryon and other royalists in the neighbourhood of New York about the landing the troops , and did not return to the fleet . It was not till the 2nd , after a prosperous voyage , that we reached Sandy Hook , at the mouth of Baritan Day , to the southward of the narrow entrance of New York harbour , where we found at anchor his Majesty 's ship Phoenix and several sail of merchantmen . At noon on the 4th the signal was given for the whole fleet to weigh . It was a beautiful sight . The sky was blue , the sun bright , and the water calm and clear . To the southward , across the yellow glittering shore of Sandy Hook , arose the bold highlands of Neversink ; on the larboard bow was Staten Island , with green fields , feathery woods , and sloping hills , sprinkled with numerous country houses and villas , built mostly by the old Dutch settlers , peeping from among the trees .