present state of the army, given my sentiments on the first of your queries, which likewise involves the answer to the second. With regard to the third, I am of opinion, that the recruits ought if possible to be engaged for the war, or three years; but, if this cannot be done, that the community, district, or class, furnishing a man for a shorter term of service, ought to be compellable to have him replaced by the period when his time of service expires; and that funds ought to be established, if practicable, for recruiting the men engaged for short services, while they continue with the army, as it is found by experience that they may be enlisted with more facility and less expense, than under any other circumstances. With respect to the fourth, fifth, and sixth queries, I am in doubt whether any alteration can be made on those subjects, which shall tend essentially, all things considered, to the public good. I have the honor to be, &c. TO THE OFFICER COMMANDING HIS BRITANIC SIR, Head-Quarters, 21 August, 1781. The almost daily complaints of the severities exercised towards the American marine prisoners in New York, have induced the Honorable the Congress of the United States to direct me to remonstrate to the commanding officer of his Britanic Majesty's ships of war in that harbour upon the subject, and to report to them his answer. The principal complaint now is, the inadequacy of the room in the prison-ships to the number of prisoners confined on board of them, which causes the death of many, and is the occasion of most intolerable inconveniences and distresses to those who survive. This line of conduct is the more aggravating, as the want of a greater number of prisonships, or of sufficient room on shore, cannot be pleaded in excuse. As a bare denial of what has been asserted by so many individuals, who have unfortunately experienced the miseries I have mentioned, will not be satisfactory, I have to propose, that our commissarygeneral of prisoners, or any other officer, who shall be agreed upon, shall have liberty to visit the ships, inspect the situation of the prisoners, and make a report, from an exact survey of the situation in which they may be found, whether, in his opinion, there has been any just cause of complaint. I shall be glad to be favored with an answer as venient. I have the honor to be, &c.* soon as con SIR, TO COUNT DE GRASSE. Head-Quarters, King's Ferry, 24 August, 1781. I take the earliest opportunity to inform your Excellency, that, by a letter which the Count de Rochambeau has received from Newport, the Count de Barras has taken a resolution to join your fleet in the Chesapeake; for which purpose he intended, if the winds should prove favorable, to depart from Newport on the 21st instant. This information is communicated to your Excellency, that you may take such measures as you shall think proper to facilitate the intended junction. * See the answer in the APPENDIX, No. V. From the progress already made in our march towards the Chesapeake, it is estimated that the troops may arrive at the Head of Elk by the 8th of September. That no delay may retard our embarkation, I take the liberty again to urge the necessity of your Excellency's sending up all your frigates and transports to the Head of Elk, in such time, that they may be sure of being there by the 8th of next month. I have the honor to be, &c. TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE. Chatham, 27 August, 1781. DEAR SIR, Accounts brought by several vessels to Philadelphia and to the eastward leave little doubt, that the Count de Grasse must have already arrived in the Chesapeake, or that he must be very soon there. The Count de Rochambeau and myself have therefore determined that no time ought to be lost in making preparations for our transportation from Trenton to Christiana, and from the Head of Elk down the Chesapeake. I have written by this opportunity to Colonel Miles, and have directed him immediately to engage all the proper kind of craft for the navigation of the Delaware, which can be found in Philadelphia or in the creeks above and below it; and, as your advice may be useful to him, more especially so far as respects procuring the vessels at a distance from Philadelphia, I have desired him to wait upon you for that purpose. I shall also be obliged to you for using your influence with the gentlemen of Baltimore, to permit any vessels that may be in that port to come up to Elk and assist us in transportation. I have little doubt, from the cheerfulness with which they furnished the Marquis last winter, that they will comply with your requisition on the present occasion. But, lest there should be a necessity for the interference of the executive of the State, I have written to Governor Lee upon that and other matters. I enclose the letter under a flying seal for your information, and you will be good enough to forward it by a chain of expresses which is established. Any vessels, which may be procured in the Chesapeake, should rendezvous as soon as possible in Elk River. You will be pleased to make the deposit of flour, rum, and salt meat at the Head of Elk, which I requested in a former letter. I am very fearful that about fifteen hundred barrels of salt provisions, and thirty hogsheads of rum, which I directed to be sent from Connecticut and Rhode Island under convoy of the Count de Barras, would not have been ready when the fleet sailed from Newport. Should that have been the case, the disappointment will be great. I would wish you to see whether a like quantity of those articles can be procured in Philadelphia or in Maryland, if we should find that they have not gone round from the eastward. I must entreat you, if possible, to procure one month's pay in specie for the detachment, which I have under my command. Part of those troops have not been paid any thing for a long time past, and have upon several occasions shown marks of great discontent. The service they are going upon is disagreeable to the northern regiments; but I make no doubt that a douceur of a little hard money would put them in proper temper. If the whole sum cannot be obtained, a part of it will be better than none, as it may be distributed in proportion to the respective wants and M* claims of the men. The American detachment will assemble in this neighbourhood to-day; the French army to-morrow. I have the honor to be, &c.* TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. MY DEAR MARQUIS, Philadelphia, 2 September, 1781. Nothing could have afforded me more satisfaction than the information, communicated in your two letters of the 21st and 24th ultimo, of the measures you had taken, and the arrangements you were making, in consequence of the intelligence I had given you. Calculating upon the regular force under your immediate orders, the militia who have already been called for, and may be expected in the field, the French army, and the American corps now marching with Major-General Lincoln from the northward, in addition to the land forces expected on board of the fleet, I flatter myself we shall not experience any considerable difficulties from the want of men to carry our most favorite projects into execution. The means for prosecuting a siege with rapidity, energy, and success, and for supplying the troops while they are engaged in that service, as they are most precarious, have been and still continue to be the great objects of my concern and attention. * The pressure for money to pay the troops was in part relieved by a loan of twenty thousand hard dollars from Count de Rochambeau, which Mr. Morris engaged to replace by the 1st of October.- Diplomatic Correspondence, Vol. XI. p. 463. Colonel Laurens arrived in Boston from his mission to France on the 25th of August, bringing with him in cash two millions and a half of livres, being part of the donation of six millions, which had recently been given to the United States by the King of France. This was a seasonable supply, and enabled the superintendent of finance to fulfil his engagement. See APPENDIX, No. VI. |