3d. We crossed the river Schuylkill, over a floating bridge, and encamped four miles from Philadelphia, where we continued through the day, to give the men time to rest and wash their clothes. 4th. Marched through Wilmington, eighteen miles. This is a handsome flourishing village, situated on the Delaware river, on a small branch of which are erected eight very large and valuable stone mills, where an immense quantity of wheat is ground and bolted. The wheat is brought in vessels to the very door, and the flour taken off in return. The Rev. Mr. Smith, minister of this place, and Dr. Smith, his brother, politely introduced themselves to me, and I took tea and spent the evening at Dr. Smith's in social friendship. Marched again on the 5th, and on the 6th arrived at the head of Elk river, Maryland, in the morning, having completed a march of two hundred miles in fifteen days.

An express has now arrived from Virginia, with the pleasing intelligence that the Count de Grasse has actually arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake bay, with a fleet of thirty-six ships of the line, and three thousand land forces, which are landed and have joined our troops under the Marquis de la Fayette, in Virginia.

after the review, invited all the officers to dine with him. Hardly were we seated
at the table, when an express arrived; a disquieting silence immediately seized
every guest our eyes were fixed on the Chevalier de la Luzerne, every one en-
deavoring to guess what the message would turn out to be" Thirty-six ships of
the line," said he, "commanded by Monsieur le Comte de Grasse, are arrived in
Chesapeake bay, and three thousand men have landed and opened a communication
with the Marquis de la Fayette." Joy and good humor, immediately resumed their
place on every countenance. Our impatient leaders began to count the days, and
reckon how long it would be before they could have it in their power to face the
enemy, and their heated imaginations made the time much shorter than it afterwards
proved to be. Healths were next drank; and that of the minister of the marine of
France was not forgotten, whose activity and great abilities have paved the way to
the most brilliant successes of our fleet; the presence of his son, M. le Comte de
Chartre, second colonel of the regiment of Saintonge, added still more to our pleas-
ure and satisfaction.

"Among others, Charles Thompson, the Secretary of Congress, the soul of that
political body, came also to receive and present his compliments, His meagre
figure, furrowed countenance, his hollow sparkling eyes, his white strait hair, that
did not hang quite so low as his ears, fixed our thorough attention, and filled us with
surprise and admiration.

The important news of the arrival of Count de Grasse, was soon spread throughout the city, and echoes of joy were heard from every quarter; some merry fellows mounted on scaffolds and stages, pronounced funeral orations for Cornwallis, and uttered lamentations on the grief and distress of the tories. The people ran in crowds to the residence of the minister of France; and Long live Louis the Sixteenth, was the general cry.

"Thus you see the people are universally persuaded of the success of this expedition. Could these flattering hopes be realized, they would hasten a peace, which in our situation, and under the wise and benevolent prince that governs us, would place France in a point of view that has been wholly unknown since the exist ence of her monarchy."

The royal army, under Lord Cornwallis, has taken post in Yorktown, situated on York river, in Virginia, where he has constructed strong fortifications for his defence; but his com munication by water is now entirely cut off by several French ships stationed at the mouth of the river. Preparation is con stantly making for our troops and our allies who have arrived here, to embark at the head of Elk river, whence, we shall proceed down the Chesapeake bay to Yorktown, in pursuit of the object of our expedition. About eighty vessels are in readiness, great activity prevails, embarkation has commenced, and our horses are sent round to Virginia by land. It falls to my lot to take passage on board a small schooner, with four other officers and sixty men. She is so deeply laden with cannon, mortars and other ordnance, that our situation will be attended with considerable danger, if rough weather should overtake us.

Annapolis, September 11th.-Sailed at four o'clock, P. M. on board the schooner Glasco, beat against contrary wind down the Elk river, and at sun rise next morning, entered the head of the great Chesapeake bay, eighteen miles from the place of embarkation. The bay at its entrance, is six or seven miles wide, and has two rivers which empty into it on the west sidethe Northeast river and the great Susquehannah, which takes its origin at lake Otsego, six hundred miles from this bay. Another river called Sassafras, which empties into the bay on the east side, is navigable to Georgetown, twelve miles. Pool's Island affords a romantic prospect, being about two miles long, and three quarters of a mile wide, supporting two families. About twelve miles further down, the bay widens to about ten miles, and on the west side is the river Patapsco, at the head of which, twelve miles from its mouth, stands the town of Baltimore, which admits large ships into its capacious and convenient harbour. Nearly opposite to this, Chester river empties. into the bay on the castern shore, and is navigable fifty miles.

The town of Annapolis, the metropolis of Maryland, is situated on the western shore at the mouth of the river Severn, where it falls into the bay. We came to anchor in the harbor at sun setting, and I accompanied several officers to the coffee house, and partook of a handsome supper. A very severe shower of rain, with high winds and extreme darkness, obliged us to spend the night on shore. On the 13th, we returned on board at seven o'clock, and proceeded on our voyage before a fresh gale, but had not sailed more than four miles, when we were recalled by express to the harbor of Annapolis. This is in consequence of intelligence of a naval action between the British

and French fleets near the mouth of the Chesapeake bay. Our safety requires that we should remain in port till the event of the battle is known. Should the British have obtained the victory, and should they get possession of the Chesapeake bay, we shall be unable to proceed on our voyage, and our expedition will be entirely defeated. Annapolis is a very inconsiderable city, but the buildings are chiefly of brick and many of them are in a style of elegance and grandeur. The state house, in the centre of the city, is a most splendid and magnificent piece of architecture; it is topped with a handsome dome; the several apartments are finished in a style surpassing every thing which I have before witnessed. The archives for the security of the public records are fire proof. It is remarkable that there is not a church in the city, though they have an ordinary building which they occupy for a theatre. We were treated with much politeness and hospitality, and received an invitation to dine at the house of a respectable gentleman. In the evening we attended the theatre, and were entertained by a Mr. Wall, who exhibited Steevens' lecture on heads, greatly to the amusement of the audience, after which Mrs. Wall exhibited a variety of amusing scenes, and her little daughter of seven years of age, spoke an epilogue, and sung several songs to the admiration of all present.

Information has just reached us that after General Arnold had returned from his depredating expedition to Virginia, he was despatched on a new incursion to Connecticut, his native state. His force consisted of two thousand infantry and three hundred cavalry, accompanied by forty sail of ships and transports. He landed his troops at the mouth of New London harbor, and proceeded to the town. Fort Trumbull not being tenable, was soon evacuated by our people, but fort Griswold on the other side of the river was courageously defended by Colonel Ledyard and a few militia men hastily collected. The assault on this fort was made by Colonel Eyre, who was three or four times repulsed, and finally received himself a mortal wound, and Major Montgomery being killed, the command devolved on Major Bromfield, who by a superior force and much resolution, carried the place at the point of the bayonet. On entering the fort, the British officer inquiring who commanded? Colonel Ledyard answered, "I did, Sir, but you do now," and presented him his sword as a prisoner, when the British officer plunged his sword into the body of Colonel Ledyard, and several soldiers assisted with their bayonets in despatching him. An indiscriminate slaughter by the bayonet

of those who had surrendered immediately ensued, and seventythree men were left dead in the fort, about forty wounded, and the same number taken prisoners. Arnold continued on the New London side, suffering the town to be plundered, and by a conflagration, sixty dwelling houses and eighty-four stores were entirely destroyed. The loss which we sustained was very considerable, consisting of vessels, naval stores, European goods, provisions, &c. and not less than one hundred inhabitants were deprived of their habitations and all their property. The mili tia collected and conducted with great spirit and alacrity in avenging the murder of their friends, and they hastened the retreat of the enemy, after the loss of two officers and forty-six rank and file killed and eight officers and one hundred and thirty-five rank and file wounded. It is reported that a wagon loaded with their wounded soldiers, was put in motion from the top of a long and steep hill, which in its rapid course struck an apple tree with such force that the faint and bleeding men received a shock which killed a part of them instantly. It is highly probable that Sir Henry Clinton projected this expedi tion to Connecticut, in the hope of diverting General Washington from his enterprize against Earl Cornwallis; but this manœuvre will not effect his object.

15th. The gratifying intelligence is announced that the naval engagement between the two fleets, has resulted in the defeat of the British with considerable loss, and the French have now the sole command of the Chesapeake bay. This event is of infinite importance, and fills our hearts with joy, as we can now proceed on our expedition.

--

passed Sharp's
bay, two miles
Sent our boat
18th. Passed
Maryland and

16th. We obeyed the signal for sailing, and Island, which is situated in the middle of the long and one wide; it supports four families. on shore and procured some poultry and fruit. the great Potomac, which divides the states of Virginia. At its mouth it is about fifteen miles wide, it is navigable for large ships, up to Georgetown, which is one hundred and seventy miles distant, on the Maryland shore, while the city of Alexandria is situated a few miles below it on the Virginia shore. The bay at this place is about thirty miles wide. The wind this afternoon has blown with all the violence of a gale, the bow of our vessel, in ploughing through the billows, is frequently brought under water, which keeps us in perpetual alarm. We passed York river on the western or Virginia shore, fifteen miles from the mouth of which stands Yorktown, where the royal army under Lord Cornwallis is posted, and which it

ed, and

rts. T:

is the object of our expedition to capture. He is completely blockaded by three French ships of the line and several smaller armed vessels lying at the mouth of York river. 20th. Passed Hampton road, and entered James river, which is at its entrance about five miles wide. We enjoyed a distant view of the grand French fleet riding at anchor at the mouth of the Chesapeake, consisting of thirty-six ships of war, besides frigates and other armed vessels. This was the most noble and majestic spectacle I ever witnessed, and we viewed it with inexpressible pleasure, and the warmest gratitude was excited in every breast towards our great ally.

Camp, near Jamestown, September 22d.-Reached the harbor between Jamestown and Williamsburg, where the greater part of our transports arrived in the course of the day, and the troops disembarked and encamped on the banks of the river, within twelve miles of Yorktown. We now congratulated ourselves on having completed our voyage of three hundred and fifty miles, which, on account of contrary winds and detention at Annapolis, has occupied twelve days; vessels with troops are arriving every day. Jamestown is the place where the English first established themselves in Virginia, in 1607. Though the most ancient settlement in America, it cannot now be called a town, there being but two houses standing on the banks of the river. 25th. Marched from the landing place through the city of Williamsburg. This is the capital of Virginia, but in other respects is of little importance. It is situated on a level piece of land, at an equal distance between two small rivers, one of which falls into York, the other into James river. The city is one mile and a quarter in length, and contains about two hundred and fifty houses. The main street is more than one hundred feet in width, and exactly one mile in length-at one of the extremities, and fronting the street, is the capitol, or state house, a handsome edifice, and at the other end is the college, capable of accommodating three hundred students, but the tumult of war has broken up the institution. The college is about one hundred and thirty feet in length and forty in breadth, with two handsome wings fifty by thirty. Their library is said to consist of about three thousand volumes. Near the centre of the city is a large church, and not far from it the palace, the usual residence of the governor, which is a splendid building. The water in this vicinity is extremely brackish and disagreeable. This part of the state of Virginia is celebrated for the ex