Many histories also inaccurately state that Crawford led the 7th Virginia at the Battle of Long Island and the following retreat across New Jersey. Crawford’s own words contradict this viewpoint in a letter written to George Washington from Williamsburg, VA on September 20, 1776: “"I Should have com to new York with those Reget ordred their but the Regt I belong to is Ordred to this place."” Regimental histories of the 7th Virginia along with other historical references also reveal that the 7th Virginia did not participate in the battle of Long Island. Similar uncertainty surrounds narratives that state Crawford was with Washington at the crossing of the Delaware and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. Contemporary historians have sought to correct these inaccuracies, such as H. Ward in his biography of Revolutionary soldiers from Virginia: “"It is disputed whether Crawford served in any part of the New York-New Jersey campaigns of 1776-1777…"”