TO MAJOR-GENERAL LINCOLN. DEAR SIR, Williamsburg, 15 September, 1781. Upon information of the sailing of the fleet from the Chesapeake Bay, I gave orders for the troops, who were embarked, to be stopped. Since my arrival at this place, I am informed that Count de Grasse has been joined by Count de Barras, and, having captured two English frigates, has returned to his former station at the Capes. On this pleasing information. I have sent forward Count Fersen to hurry on the troops with all possible despatch. Every day we now lose is comparatively an age. As soon as it is in our power with safety, we ought to take our position near the enemy. Hurry on then, my dear Sir, with your troops on the wings of speed. The want of our men and stores is now all that retards our immediate operations. Lord Cornwallis is improving every moment to the best advantage; and every day that is given him to make his preparations may cost us many lives to encounter them. I am very sensible of your vigilance and activity. My impatience, however, to commence our operations impels me to write as I have done. You will come with your troops to the College Landing in James River, where, unless you receive other orders, you will debark. I am, &c. TO COUNT DE GRASSE. Williamsburg, 15 September, 1781. SIR, I had the honor to receive your Excellency's letter of the 4th of this month soon after my arrival at this place. I am at a loss to express the pleasure, which I have in congratulating your Excellency on your return to your former station in the bay, and the happy circumstance of forming a junction with the squadron of the Count de Barras. I take particular satisfaction in felicitating your Excellency on the glory of having driven the British fleet from the coast, and taking two of their frigates. These happy events, and the decided superiority of your fleet, give us the happiest presages of the most complete success in our combined operations in this bay. It is with much regret, that I find the want of transports in the bay has retarded the progress of the troops expected from the northward. If it is possible for your Excellency to give us any assistance in this distress, it will be attended with inexpressible advantage to the prosecution of our measures, and will be acknowledged with the highest gratitude. Such of our troops, as could not be embarked at the Head of Elk, are marching to Baltimore, where they are to be put on board such transports as may be collected at that place. It is very much the wish of the Count de Rochambeau, as well as of myself, to have the honor of an interview with your Excellency; but our particular circumstances render us dependent on your goodness for the means of conveyance. If your Excellency could despatch some fast-sailing cutter to receive us on board, and inform us as to the time and place, we shall be very happy to attend on you, at the earliest moment you shall fix. Count Fersen, an aid to Count de Rochambeau, is sent on to hurry down the troops that are embarking. If your Excellency can furnish him the means of proceeding up the bay, it will be very agreeable. I am, &c. P. S. Since writing the above, I am informed with much pleasure, that your Excellency has anticipated my wishes in sending transports up the bay.* TO MAJOR-GENERAL ST. CLAIR. DEAR SIR, Williamsburg, 15 September, 1781. I have to request you, in the most earnest manner, to send forward all the recruits that are furnished by the State of Pennsylvania for their line. Let it not be said, that those troops are kept from service for want of a few articles, which they could wish to be furnished with, when other troops doing duty in the field are combating almost every distress imaginable in the want of almost every necessary. If any thing in the power of the State can be instantly done towards their equipment, I wish the authorities to be called upon, and hope they will furnish what they can without delay. It is the highest absurdity in the world to keep those troops in a state of idleness at great expense, and at the same time for want of them to put the public to the same or much greater charge, by calling in the aid of militia, which we are now obliged to do. I beg you, therefore, to hurry on those troops, with all the expedition in your power, by water down the Chesapeake, embarking at Baltimore, *On the 10th of August, Count de Barras arrived in the Chesapeake, with the squadron from Rhode Island, the French siege artillery, and the land forces under M. de Choisy. Ten transports from this squadron, two frigates lately captured from the enemy, and other prizevessels, were immediately despatched up the bay to receive on board the French troops, who could not find means of transportation from the Head of Elk and Baltimore, and had pursued their route by land. They embarked at Annapolis, and proceeded by water to James River. VOL. VIII. 21 N* where craft can doubtless be found by taking the proper precaution, and their transportation will be perfectly secure, so long as the fleet maintains its present station. The place of debarkation will be in James River, probably at the College Landing, unless further orders shall be given to carry them to some other place nearer the point of our operations. I am, &c.* SIR, TO COUNT DE GRASSE. Williamsburg, 22 September, 1781. The enclosed letter for your Excellency, and the copies of others to Count de Rochambeau and myself, have this moment come to my hands. I deem the intelligence they contain of so much importance, that I have thought it proper to transmit them immediately to you by the Baron Closen, one of the aids-de-camp to Count de Rochambeau.† I am, dear Sir, &c. From the Diary, September 17th.-"In company with Count de Rochambeau, the Chevalier de Chastellux, General Knox, and General Duportail, I set out for an interview with the admiral, and arrived on board the Ville de Paris (off Cape Henry) the next day about noon; and, having settled most points with him to my satisfaction, except not obtaining an assurance of sending ships above York, I embarked on board the Queen Charlotte, the vessel I went down in; but, by reason of hard blowing and contrary winds, I did not reach Williamsburg again till the 22d." Count de Grasse also gave notice, that his fleet could not continue on this station beyond the 1st of November. The intelligence contained in the letters was, that Admiral Digby had just arrived at New York with a reinforcement of six ships of the line. SIR, TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Williamsburg, 23 September, 1781. On my arrival at this place I found it would be attended with good consequences for me to see Admiral de Grasse in person. This visit I have performed, and met the Count on board the Ville de Paris at Cape Henry, from whence I have just returned. I am happy to inform Congress, that I found the French admiral disposed in the best manner to give us all the assistance in his power, and perfectly to coöperate with me in our present attempt. The vessels from the Head of Elk are now debarking their stores and troops, except some few which are not yet arrived. This is accounted for from their being dull sailers. They are expected soon. I still find myself embarrassed for want of provisions, and sufficient means of transportation; but by superior exertions I hope to surmount these difficulties, and to find myself soon before the enemy's works at York and Gloucester. I have the honor to be, &c. SIR, TO COUNT DE GRASSE. Williamsburg, 25 September, 1781. I cannot conceal from your Excellency the painful anxiety under which I have labored since the receipt of the letter, with which you honored me on the 23d instant.* The naval movements, which your Excellency states there as possible, considering the intelligence communicated to you by Baron de Closen, * See this letter in the APPENDIX, No. VII. |