TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.

Head-Quarters, near Peekskill, 29 June, 1781.

MY DEAR MARQUIS,

The last letter that I have had the pleasure of receiving from you is dated the 3d instant.* I have since that heard a thousand vague reports of your situation, and that of the enemy, but none of them satisfactory. I fear some of your letters have miscarried, as, from your usual punctuality, I am certain you must have written in that time. I hope your next will confirm the accounts, which I have this day received from General St. Clair, that Lord Cornwallis had retreated to the south side of James River.

The army moved out of their quarters a few days ago, and have taken their first position on this ground. Count de Rochambeau, with the van of the French army, will be at Newtown, forty-two miles from hence, this night. You are acquainted with our general plan. Particulars I dare not enter into, before I am assured

Your pres

* That letter was written while Lafayette was retreating before Lord Cornwallis, and just as he was about to cross the Rapidan to form a junction with Wayne.-"I heartily wish, my dear General," said he, "that my conduct may be approved, particularly by you. My circumstances have been peculiar, and in this state I have sometimes experienced strange disappointments. Two of these, the stores at Charlottesville and the delay of the northern detachment, have given me much uneasiness and may be attended with bad consequences. There is great slowness and great carelessness in this part of the world. But the intentions are good, and the people want to be awakened. ence, my dear General, would do a great deal. Should these detachments be increased to three or four thousand, and the French army come this way, leaving one of our generals at Rhode Island, and two or three about New York and in the Jerseys, you might be on the of fensive in this quarter, and there would be a southern army in Carolina. Your presence would do immense good, but I should wish you to have a large force. General Washington, before he personally appears, should be strong enough to hope success." — Camp, between the Rappahannoc and North Anna, June 3d.

from yourself, that there is no danger of any letters falling among those clouds of light troops, which you tell me surrounded Lord Cornwallis's army. I enclose a paper, containing some very agreeable accounts from India. I hope, from the circumstance of a part of them being published by the East India House in London, that they are well founded. Be assured, my dear Marquis, that my anxiety to hear from you is increased by my sincere regard for you, and by the interest I take in every thing which concerns you. Believe me to be, most affectionately, &c.

Count, which you will see. It will be for you to impress the gentlemen with the importance of their motions to support our operations, as it will be to little purpose for us to obtain advantages, which we may not be able to maintain.

As the Count, with his troops, is now in a very disaffected part of the country, and the Tories will be desirous to give every information in their power, the most profound secrecy will be necessary. Secrecy and despatch must prove the soul of success to the enterprise. This idea you will impress with energy, using your best discretion in the mode. I am, &c.*

TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WATERBURY.†

Head-Quarters, near Peekskill, 30 June, 1781.

SIR, You will immediately on the receipt of this be pleased to collect as many men of your command as you possibly can, and march them from the place of rendezvous, so as to form a junction, without fail, with Colonel Sheldon at Clapp's in King Street on the 2d of July by sunset. You must not exceed that time on any account. You will bring four days' provision ready cooked. You will receive further orders at Clapp's. Carry no baggage; the movement is to be as light as possible. I must enjoin it, and I shall depend upon your keeping your movement a profound secret from every officer under your command. You

* The letter, of which Colonel Cobb was the bearer to Count de Rochambeau, contained a detailed plan of an attack on the north part of New York Island, the particulars of which are fully explained in the letters here following. Another letter of a similar import was at the

same time sent to the Duke de Lauzun.

† At this time an officer of the Connecticut militia.

will be pleased to inform me, by return of Captain Bulkley, of the number of men which you think you shall probably collect. I am, Sir, &c.

DEAR SIR,

TO GOVERNOR CLINTON.

Head-Quarters, near Peekskill, 30 June, 1781.

In the fullest confidence I inform you, that I intend to make an attempt by surprise upon the enemy's posts on the north end of York Island, on Monday night. Should we be happy enough to succeed, and be able to hold our conquest, the advantages will be greater than can be well imagined. But I cannot flatter myself, that the enemy will permit the latter, unless I am suddenly and considerably reinforced. I shall march down the remainder of this army, and I have hopes that the French force will be near at hand by that time. But I shall, notwithstanding, direct the alarm-guns and beacons to be fired in case of success; and I have to request, that your Excellency will, upon such signals, communicate the meaning of them to the militia, and put yourself at the head of them, and march with the utmost expedition towards Kingsbridge, bringing with you three or four days' provision at least. In that time I think we shall have so arranged matters as to have little need of the militia suddenly called out. I have, upon a hope that we shall succeed, ordered BrigadierGeneral Clinton to send down the regular troops immediately. Should circumstances make it necessary, I can countermand the order. I am, &c.

VOL. VIII.

12

H*

SIR,

TO MAJOR-GENERAL LINCOLN.

Instructions.

The object of your present command, — consisting of two regiments, formed into four battalions, under the command of Colonel Scammell and Lieutenant-Colonel Sprout, of a detachment of artillery under the command of Captain Burbeck, of the corps of watermen under the command of Major Darby, and the waterguard under the command of Captain Pray,—is to attempt the surprise of the enemy's posts upon the north end of York Island.

My ideas, as to the most probable mode of attaining this object, have been minutely detailed in the several conversations which we have had upon the subject, and you have been furnished with such papers as I have been able to collect, and upon which my judgment has been formed. But it is not my wish, or desire, that these should be any restraint upon you. Your own observation and the circumstances of the moment must in a great degree govern you.

The success of your enterprise depending absolutely upon secrecy and surprise, it will be wrong to prosecute it a moment after you are discovered, unless the discovery is made so near the works, that you may, by a rapid movement, gain them before the enemy have time to recollect and put themselves in a posture of defence. Fort George, upon Laurel Hill, ought to be your primary object, because success at that place will open a communication with the main, afford an asylum to the troops, who may be disappointed in other attacks, and secure a retreat in case of necessity to the main body of the army.

Should you carry Fort Knyphausen and Fort Tryon