This however should not relax our unremitting endeavours to serve our country to the extent of our abilities in every possible way.

The desire you express for active service is very commendable. I beg you will be persuaded, that I have not the least inclination to restrain so laudable a

passion. You will therefore be at liberty to attempt to rouse the spirit of the country, and put yourself at the head of the cavalry, in the manner you propose. I sincerely wish your efforts may be crowned with success. If the State has not already appointed a general officer to command the State troops, destined for the southern service, I could wish these troops might also be put under your orders. Possibly it might be well to present an offer of your services, and to intimate that you have my consent to accept this command, if the State should think proper to confer it upon you. I am, &c.

SIR,

TO COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU.

New Windsor, 24 June, 1781.

I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 20th instant, from which I have the pleasure to observe the progress you make in the march of the troops under your command, and your intentions to come to my camp in person from Hartford. Be assured, Sir, I shall be very happy to see you whenever you arrive. You do not mention the route by which you intend to come. You will find me at Peekskill. My intelligence from the southward is too vague and uncertain to communicate to your Excellency. By the time of your arrival, I

hope to be able to give you some certain information of our situation in that quarter. I am, &c.*

TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL STARK.

DEAR SIR,

New Windsor, 25 June, 1781.

Upon finding it necessary, for the operations of the campaign, to recall the Continental troops from the northward, I have ordered six hundred militia from the counties of Berkshire and Hampshire to that quarter, in addition to the militia and State troops of New York; and I have now to request that you will take the general command of all the troops in that department,

*One half of Count de Rochambeau's army embarked on the 10th of June for Providence. The other half followed soon afterwards. They proceeded from Providence by way of Windham to Hartford. The French officers complained of the tardy movement of the ox-teams, which did not bring forward the tents till late at night, long after the troops had arrived at the end of their day's march. But the soldiers bore every inconvenience patiently and with perfect good humor. To encourage the troops, many of the officers marched on foot, and submitted to the same hardships and privations as the soldiers. The Abbé Robin tells us, that the Viscount de Noailles performed the whole march from Providence to the North River on foot. -Nouveau Voyage dans l'Amérique, &c. p. 36. Count de Rochambeau wrote from Providence; -"Of my recruits, that have been landed to-day at Boston, there are four hundred in a good condition to do duty, and two hundred and sixty attacked by the scurvy. The four hundred will arrive here on Saturday. They will be incorporated on Sunday, and on Monday the 18th I shall set off with the regiment of Bourbonnois. The horses, the artillery, and the wagons are arriving from different places, and I hope that the movement of every regiment will go on very regularly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I shall leave here two companies of artillery, with my siege artillery, that will be ready to be embarked." -MS. Letter, June 15th. The siege artillery was to go by sea when wanted, and was brought up to Providence for greater security. Gordon says that fifteen hundred recruits arrived at Boston. History, Vol. IV. p. 123. This is not probable, as all the French accounts represent this reinforcement to have been between six and seven hundred men.

as soon as may conveniently be done. I am induced to appoint you to this command from your knowledge of, and influence amongst, the inhabitants of that country.

You will be pleased, therefore, to repair to Saratoga, and establish your head-quarters at that place, detaining with you four hundred of the troops from Massachusetts, and sending the other two hundred to Colonel Willett, who will remain in command on the Mohawk River, as his popularity in that country will enable him to render essential service there.

In case of an incursion of the enemy, you will make such dispositions as you shall judge most advantageous for opposing them, and protecting the frontier, (not withdrawing the troops from the Mohawk River.) I rely upon it, that you will use your utmost exertions to draw forth the force of the country from the Green Mountains, and all the contiguous territory; and I doubt not your requisitions will be attended with success, as your personal influence must be unlimited amongst those people, at whose head you have formerly fought and conquered with so much reputation and glory.

I request that you will be very particular in keeping up proper discipline, and preventing the troops from committing depredations upon the inhabitants. Believe me to be, dear Sir, &c.*

*The following extract from General Stark's reply is characteristic. "I shall set out for Saratoga the beginning of next week, and on my passage shall hold a treaty with the Green Mountain Boys; but, not having seen or been acquainted with those turbulent sons of freedom for several years, I am at a loss to determine my reception. I hope it will be such as shall tend to the general good. I shall endeavour to give you a more particular account on my arrival at Saratoga. My health is not fully restored, but perhaps competent to my new command." - Derryfield, July 15th. After arriving at Saratoga, he gave a favorable account of the Green Mountain Boys, and stated as a proof of their fidelity and zeal, that a short time before, when there was an alarm from an inroad of the enemy on Hudson's River, more than five hundred of them came out immediately on horseback to repel the invaders.

SIR,

TO COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU.

Camp, near Peekskill, 27 June, 1781.

I have had the honor of receiving your Excellency's favor of the 23d instant from Hartford. It would have given me the greatest pleasure could I have made it convenient to meet you at Newtown; but independently of many arrangements, which are necessary at the first taking of the field, I am detained by the hourly expectation of the Chevalier de la Luzerne. I am pleased to find, that your idea of the position, which will be proper for the troops under your command, coincides exactly with my own; and I shall be happy in giving your quartermaster-general every assistance in reconnoitring and marking out your camp.

Lieutenant-Colonel Cobb, one of my aids-de-camp, will have the honor of delivering to you this letter, and will return to me with any despatch or message, which your Excellency may wish to communicate; or, should you rather incline to come forward from Newtown before the army, Colonel Cobb will be proud to attend. you. I shall be much obliged if your Excellency will present to the Count de Barras, by the next occasion, my sincere thanks for the readiness with which he was pleased to accept the proposition I had the honor to make to him through your Excellency. I am, &c.*

*Extract from Count de Rochambeau's Letter. "I arrived here yesterday with the first regiment, which has been followed this day by the second, and will be so to-morrow by the third, and the day after by the fourth. I shall stay here this day and to-morrow to give time for our broken carriages to be mended, and our young artillery-horses and oxen to refresh themselves. I shall set off the day after to-morrow with the first regiment for Newtown, the army to march in four divisions as before; and I shall probably arrive there on the 28th, and stay the 29th and 30th, to assemble the brigades and march in two divisions to the North River. The corps of Lauzun will march as far advanced as my first division

DEAR SIR,

TO ROBERT MORRIS.

Head-Quarters, near Peekskill, 28 June, 1781.

Your opinion of the absolute necessity of a repeal of all tender laws, before a new species of paper, though upon ever so good an establishment, will gain credit with the public, is certainly founded upon reason and justified by experience. I am extremely obliged to you for the assistance you have already afforded us in the article of flour. Without that aid, we should have been already distressed; and I must confess to you, that I see no prospect of being supplied, but through your means, as, by the last letters from the President and Council of Pennsylvania, I could expect little or nothing from that quarter. Whether the Assembly, in their present session, have adopted any more vigorous measures to obtain supplies, I have not yet been informed.

General Schuyler a few days ago acquainted you, that there were more considerable quantities of flour upon the North River, than he had expected. The ease and cheapness of transporting any in that situation will undoubtedly induce you to secure what may be in that quarter, should you find yourself enabled to extend your purchases. I have the honor to be, with perfect respect and esteem, &c.

through Middletown, Wallingford, North Haven, Ripton, and North Stratford, in which last place it will be on the 28th.”— MS. Letter, Hartford, June 23d.

VOL. VIII.

H