I would beg leave to remark on the two last, that the exchange of our full colonels can never be obtained but by composition, and that it is better to effect this by a composition for inferior officers than for men, because the enemy gain no reinforcement by such a mode. To relieve the full colonels in this quarter only, who, all but one, have been prisoners since 1777, would take seven hundred privates. Should the security for the convention debt still be urged, I would answer, that we may perhaps deceive ourselves in supposing that the balance upon a general settlement, for the subsistence. of all prisoners since the commencement of the war, will be much in our favor. I am inclined to think we shall find it the contrary, and owing to this, namely, that the British have constantly kept their accounts with accuracy and have vouchers ready to support them. We, on the other hand, shall be found very deficient on that score; indeed, I fear almost totally so, except in the instance of the convention troops and prisoners of war latterly.

Congress will judge of the expediency of repealing their act respecting the convention of the Cedars upon the present occasion. Mr. Skinner, the commissarygeneral of prisoners, will have the honor of delivering this to your Excellency. I shall be obliged by an answer to the several points contained in it, at his return, that I may instruct him accordingly.

I have the honor to be, &c.*

* There had been some difficulty in regard to the exchange of private individuals, who were taken when not acting in any military or public capacity. The following extract from a letter to Mr. Skinner will show upon what principles General Washington regarded this description of prisoners.

"You are to insist upon the release of inhabitants taken out of arms, without any compensation. You may inform Mr. Loring, that I would not wish to be obliged to seize private persons to obtain the relief of

TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.

Head-Quarters, Dobbs's Ferry, 15 August, 1781.

MY DEAR MARQUIS,

I have received your letters of the 26th and 30th ultimo and 1st instant. I cannot learn that any troops have yet arrived at New York from Virginia. A fleet of twenty sail came in last Saturday with troops, but they are said to be Hessian recruits from Europe. The Concorde frigate has arrived at Newport from Count de Grasse. He was to leave St. Domingo the 3d of this month, with a fleet of between twenty-five and twentynine sail of the line, and a considerable body of land forces. His destination is immediately for the Chesapeake; so that he will either be there by the time this reaches you, or you may look for him every moment. Under these circumstances, whether the enemy remain in full force, or whether they have only a detachment left, you will immediately take such a position as will best enable you to prevent their sudden retreat through North Carolina, which I presume they will attempt the instant they perceive so formidable an armament. Should General Wayne, with the troops destined for

those who are now in New York. I have it at this time in my power to secure every loyalist in the western part of Connecticut, in the county of Westchester, and in great part of Bergen; but I have not encouraged a practice, which I have reprobated in the enemy, and which nothing shall induce me to put in execution, but seeing no other mode of procuring the release of our citizens."— August 8th.

On receiving General Washington's letter, Congress resolved, that he should be authorized to go into a full exchange of General Burgoyne and all the remaining officers of the convention of Saratoga; and, also, that the prisoners taken at the Cedars should be considered as subjects of exchange, on condition that allowance should be made for several Canadian officers taken by the Americans at St. John's and Chamblee, and sent into the British lines on parole in 1776, concerning whose exchange there had been a dispute. — Journals, August 21st.

South Carolina, still remain in the neighbourhood of James River, and should the enemy have made no detachment to the southward, you will detain those troops until you hear from me again, and inform General Greene of the cause of their delay. If Wayne should have marched, and should have gained any considerable distance, I would not have him halted.

You shall hear further from me as soon as I have concerted plans and formed dispositions for sending a reinforcement from hence. In the mean time, I have only to recommend a continuation of that prudence and good conduct, which you have manifested through the whole of your campaign. You will be particularly careful to conceal the expected arrival of the Count; because, if the enemy are not apprized of it, they will stay on board their transports in the Bay, which will be the luckiest circumstance in the world. You will take measures for opening a communication with Count de Grasse the moment he arrives, and will concert measures with him for making the best use of your joint forces until you receive aid from this quarter. I would not wish you to call out a large body of militia upon this occasion, but rather keep those you have compact and ready for service. I am, &c.*

* Lafayette to General Washington. "A correspondent of mine, a servant to Lord Cornwallis, writes on the 26th of July at Portsmouth, and says his master, Tarleton, and Simcoe are still in town, but expect to move. The greater part of the army is embarked. There are in Hampton Road one fifty-gun ship, two thirty-six-gun frigates, and eighteen sloops loaded with horses. There remain but nine vessels in Portsmouth, which appear to be getting ready. My Lord's baggage is yet in town. His Lordship is so shy of his papers, that my honest friend says he cannot get at them. There is a large quantity of negroes, very valuable indeed, but no vessels it seems to take them off. What garrison they have, I do not know. I shall take care, at least, to keep them within bounds. General Muhlenberg, with a corps of light infantry and horse, is moving towards Portsmouth; but, although I do not think they are going up the

TO PHILIP SCHUYLER.

DEAR SIR,

Head-Quarters, Dobbs's Ferry, 16 August, 1781.

I have only time to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 8th instant and to congratulate you on your fortunate escape; which is attended with the more flattering circumstances, from its being effected entirely by your own presence of mind.* As the remaining part of Colonel Cortlandt's regiment is now ordered to join the main army, I have given directions to General Clinton to leave with you a small guard of men, who are the least capable of active service. The commissary will have orders to replace the rum, which you have borrowed for the public service, as soon as our circumstances will conveniently admit. At present

river or the bay, the less so as they have made a parade of taking pilots on board, I had rather act on the cautious side, and by keeping a supporting position leave no chance to his Lordship to out-manœuvre us. Should a French fleet now come into Hampton Road, the British army would, I think, be ours.

"I am going to send a flag to Lord Cornwallis. I owe him the justice to say, that his conduct to me has been peculiarly polite; and many differences between commissaries have been very graciously adjusted by him to my satisfaction." — Malvern Hill, July 31st.

Cornwallis took possession of York and Gloucester on the 1st and 2d of August, and, having removed with as much expedition as possible all his army from Portsmouth, commenced fortifying those posts.

There had been intimations communicated to General Schuyler at different times, that the enemy were laying plans to seize his person. He gave little heed to these rumors at first, but they were pressed upon him so confidently, that he thought prudence required some precaution. In this he went no farther, however, than to avoid exposing himself unnecessarily, and to be prepared for any sudden assault upon his house. "The enemy, finding it impossible," said he in his letter, "to surprise me out of my house, attempted last night about nine o'clock to take me in it. They forced the gate of a close court-yard, and entered through the kitchen. Four white men, whom I had in the house, having flown to their arms, very gallantly disputed the passage into my hall, where I was at supper, and gave me time to gain my hed-chamber, where my arms VOL. VIII. 17

there is not enough to satisfy the most pressing necessities of the service. With great respect and esteem, I have the honor to be, &c.

SIR,

TO COUNT DE GRASSE.

Camp, at Phillipsburg, 17 August, 1781.

In consequence of the despatches received from your Excellency by the frigate Concorde, it has been judged expedient to give up for the present the enterprise against New York, and turn our attention towards the south, with a view, if we should not be able to attempt Charleston itself, to recover and secure the States of Virginia, North Carolina, and the country of South Carolina and Georgia. We may add a further inducement for giving up the first-mentioned enterprise, which is the arrival of a reinforcement of near three thousand

Hessian recruits. For this purpose we have determined to remove the whole of the French army, and as large a detachment of the American as can be spared, to the Chesapeake, to meet your Excellency there.

The following appear to us the principle cases, which

were deposited. The enemy's numbers prevailed. They secured two of my men, wounded a third, and obliged the other to fly out of the house for safety. Some then entered, whilst others surrounded the house. Those in the quarter exposed to my fire retired, on the first discharges. Those, that had got into the saloon leading to my bed-room, retreated with great precipitation, on hearing me call, 'Come on, my lads; surround the house, and secure the villains, who are plundering.' I believe this little incident saved me; for, although the townsmen ran with all possible celerity to my assistance as soon as they heard the firing, yet they came too late to overtake the enemy, who carried off the two men and part of my plate. Myers, who was wounded, headed the party, which consisted of about twenty. General Clinton has ordered me a sergeant's guard." — MS. Letter, Albany, August 8th.