9 ‘-A '• ■ • \ ^ 4 M. THE ETHEL CARR PEACOCK MEMORIAL COLLECTION Matris amort monumentum TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY DURHAM, N. C. 1903 Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Dred Peacock “EACOCK fntum. 'OOM a f . - - Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Duke University Libraries https://archive.org/details/answertosirheriry01corn .jff'i T9l|p* "Til ^ 1 ANSWER TO Sir henry CLINTON’S NARRATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN IN 1781 IN NORTH AMERICA. Earl CORNWALLIS. 2 ^ 6 2 . PHILADELPHIA; JOHN CAMPBELL^ MDCCCLXVI. I ^ No. Edition of 250 Copies, Of which 75 copies are in quarto, and 25 copies in folio. PRINTED BY HENRY B. ASHMEAD, No. 1102 Sansom Street. A N ANSWER TO THAT PART OF THE NARRATIVE O F LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR HENRY CLINTON, K. B. Which relates to the Conduft of LIEUTENANT-GENERAL EARL CORNWALLIS, DURING THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH- AMERICA, IN THE YEAR I781. By earl CORNWALLIS. LONDON: Printed for J. D E B R E T T, (Succelfor to Mr. A L m on,) oppofite Burlington-House, Piccadilly. M.DCC.LXXXIII. CONTENTS. % PART 1. CORRESPONDENCE Between General Sir HENRY CLINTON, K. B. Com- mander in Chief, and Earl CORNWALLIS, RELATIVE TO THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH-CAROLINA. No. II. ARL Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. - - - - No. II. Sir Henry Clinton’s Anfwer to Earl Corn- wallis, ------------- No. HI. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - No. IV. Sir Henry Clinton’s Anfwer to Earl Corn- wallis, ------------- Duplicate of Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, (inclofed,) - -- -- -- - No. V. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, Inclofed Copies of Earl Cornwallis’s Dil- patch. No. 6, to Lord George Germain, Earl Cornwallis’s Difpatch, No. 7, to Lord George Germain, - -- -- -- -- - A Proclamation of - -- -- -- Earl Cornwallis’s Difpatch, No. 8, to Lord George Germain, ---------- A. 1781. P. Jan. 18, I Mar. 5, 5 Ap. 10, 9 Ap. 30, 13 Ap. 13, 18 Ap. 23, 20 Ma. 17, 22 Ma. 17, 23 Fe. 20, 34 Ma. 17, 33 No. V.— CONTENTS. 1781. P. Earl Cornwallis’s Dil'patch, No. 9, to Lord George Germain, --------- - Ap. 18, 44 A Proclamation of - -- -- -- Mar. 18, 47 Earl Cornwallis’s Dil'patch, No. 10, to Lord George Germain, - -- -- -- - Ap. 18, 48 Earl Cornwallis’s Dil'patch, No. ii, to Lord George Germain, ------ Ap. 23, 50 No. VI. State of the Troops that marched with the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis at different Periods of Time, 53 PART II. RELATIVE TO EARL C O R N "W A L L I S ’ s MARCH INTO VIRGINIA. No. 1 . Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - - Ap. 24, 55 Inclofed a Copy of Earl Cornwallis’s Letter to Major General Phillips, -- - Ap. 24, 56 No. II. Sir Henry Clinton, to Earl Cornwallis, - Ma. 2,8, 58 No. III. Sir Henry Clinton’s Inllruftions to Major General Phillips, - -- -- -- -- - Ma. 10, 61 No. IV. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - May 20, 64 No. V. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - May 29, 67 Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - June i, 67 No. VI. Earl Cornwallis’s Anfwer to Sir Henry Clinton, - July 24, 74 No. VII. State of the Troops, that marched with the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis, - ---. May 1, 77 PART CONTENTS. PART III. RELATIVE TO THE OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA. 1781. P. No. I. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - May 26, 79 No. II. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - May 26, 80 No. III. Sir Henry Clinton to Maj. Gen. Phillips, Mar. 14, 85 No. IV. Sir Henry Clinton to Maj. Gen. Phillips, Mar. 24, 87 No. V. Sir Henry Clinton to Maj. Gen. Phillips, Ap. ii, 90 No. VI. Sir Henry Clinton to Maj. Gen. Phillips, Ap. 26, 95 Inclofing the Subftance of feveral Conver- fations between Sir Henry Clinton and Maj. Gen. Phillips, before his Departure for the Chefapeak, 100 No. VII. Sir Henry Clinton to Maj. Gen. Phillips, Ap. 30, 105 No. VIII. Sir Henry Clinton to Maj. Gen. Phillips, Ma. 1 1, 111 Duplicate inclofed in No. IX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, ------- June 11, 11^ No. IX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - June 15, 112 No. X. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - June 30, i 16 No. XI. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - June 28, 126 No. XII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - July 8, 129 No. XIII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - July i 2, 132 No. XIV. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - June 8, 133 No. XV. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - June 19. 137 No. XVI. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - July i, 141 No. XVII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, July 17, 142 No. XVIII. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, July 1 1, 145 No. XIX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - July 15, 146 No. XX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - July 26, 152 No. XXI. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Au. 20, 153 PART CONTENTS. PART IV. RELATIVE TO OCCUPYING AN HARBOUR FOR LINE OF BATTLE SHIPS. 1781. P. No. I. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - - July 8, 161 No. II. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - July ii, 167 No. HI. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - July 26, 170 Inclofed Extrafts of Sir Henry Clinton’s Letters to General Phillips, - -- -- -- -- 175 The Report of the Engineer and Copies of the Opinions of the Commanders of his Majelly’s Ships in Chefapeak relative to Point Comfort, - - - - 180 No. IV. Admiral Graves to Earl Cornwallis, - - July iz, 180 No. V. Earl Cornwallis to Admiral Graves, - - July 26, 182 No. VI. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Au. 12, 183 No. VII. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - Au. ii, 184 No. VIII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Au. 16, 185 No. IX. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Au. 22, 186 PART V. RELATIVE TO THE DEFENCE OF YORK, IN VIRGINIA. No. I. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - - Au. 31, 189 No. II. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Sep. 1, 190 No. HI. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Sep. 2, ibid. No. IV. Earl CONTENTS. 178 I . P. No. IV. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, Sep. 191 No. V. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, Sep. 8 , i ibid. No. VI. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - Sep. 2, 193 No. VII. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - Sep. 6, 195 No. VIH. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Sep. 16, 196 No. IX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, Sep. 24, 197 No. X. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, Sep. 29, 199 No. XL Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, Sep. 25. 200 No. XII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Oft. 3 > 201 No. XIII. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - Sep. 3 o> 202 No. XIV. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Oft. ID 204 No. XV. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Oft. GL 205 No. XVI. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, - Oft. 20, 206 Inclofed Earl Cornwallis to General Wafh- ington, - -- -- -- -- -- -- Oft. 17. 217 General Wafhington to Earl Cornwallis, - Oft. I 7 > 215 Earl Cornwallis to General Walhington, - Oft. 17. ib. General Wafhington to Earl Cornwallis, - Oft. 18, 2 1 7 Earl Cornwallis to General Wafhington, - Oft. 18, 218 Copy of the Articles of Capitulation, - - - 220 No. XVII. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, Nov. ,30, 227 No. XVIII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, Dec. z. 228 No. XIX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, - Dec. 2, 230 No. XX. State of the Troops under the Command of Lieutenant-general Earl Cornwallis in Virginia at different periods of Time, No. XXI. State of the Army in Virginia under the Command of Lieutenant-general Earl Cornwallis, Oft. i 8, PART CONTENTS. PART VI. LETTERS FROM SIR HENRY CLINTON, K.B. TO EARL CORNWALLIS. DELIVERED AT NE W-Y ORK A MONTH AFTER EARL Cornwallis’s surrender. No. I. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, No. II. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, No. III. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, No. IV. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, CO P. Aug. 2, 237 Aug. 27, 251 Aug. 30, 253 Oa.14,15, 1 and 18. 257 C O R R E- THE INTRODUCTION. HE feelings, which dictate this publica- tion, have originated from the contents of a Narrative, ligned by Sir Henry Clinton, late Commander in Chief in America. In which Narrative, events are attributed to my condudt during the campaign of 1781, which, I truft, it will appear, were by no means the unavoidable confequences of any part of it. The materials, hitherto produced, cannot be deemed complete, either in form or fubftance. There were many deficiencies in the papers laid before the Houfe of Lords; in particular, four letters, dated July the 24th, Augufi: the ifith, 20th, and 2 2d, from me to Sir Henry Clinton, were wanting; one of which con- tained my reafons at large for undertaking the A march ii INTRODUCTION, march into Virginia: This omiffion, as the Secretary of State informed the Houfe, was owing to their not having been tranfmitted by the Commander in Chief. Four other letters (three of them dated the 2d, 27th, and 30th of Auguft, and one the 14th, 15th, and i8th of Odtober) from Sir Henry Clinton to me, were read to the Lords, according to the order of their dates; although they were only deli- vered to me, by the Secretary to the Comman- der in Chief, in the latter end of November, at New- York, above a month after my furren- der; and confequently, their contents could not influence my condudl in any manner. I own I am perfedtly aware of the impro- priety of publifhing official letters for private reafons; but, fince the meafures with refpedt to America have now undergone a total change, I hope, I ffiall in fome degree ftand excufed for producing the whole correfpondence, in my pofl'effion, relative to the principal tranfadtions of that campaign ; as it is the mofl; candid and complete mode, in my power, of fubmitting them to the public confideration. The perufal of this Correfpondence will, I think, render not only the military, but every other reader a competent judge of the pro- priety Ill INTRODUCTION, priety of my condud:, either when I aded under pohtive orders, preffing contingencies, or difcretionary powers. It is foreign to the prefent purpofe, and I lhall therefore not endeavour to enumerate the many difficulties, which I had to ftruggle with, in my command of the Southern dif- trid, previous to the march into North Caro- lina, in the beginning of the year 1781. This meafure was thought expedient not only by me, but by the Commander in Chief: I was principally induced to decide in favour of its expediency from a clear convidion, that the men and treafures of Britain would be laviffied in vain upon the American war, without the moft adive exertions of the troops allotted for that fervice; and, that, while the enemy could draw their fupplies from North Carolina and Virginia, the defence of the frontier of South Carolina, even againft an inferior army, would be from its extent, the nature of the climate, and the difpofition of the inhabitants, utterly impradicable. The many untoward circum- ftances, which occurred during the four months fucceeding the complete vidory of Camden, had entirely confirmed me in this opinion. Our hopes of fuccefs, in offenfive operations, were IV INTRODUCTION, were not founded only upon the efforts of the corps under my immediate command, which did not much exceed three thoufand men; but principally, upon the moft pofitive affurances, given by apparently credible depu- ties and emiffaries, that, upon the appearance of a Britiili army in North Carolina, a great body of the inhabitants were ready to join and co-operate with it, in endeavouring to reftore his Majeffy’s Government. The difafter of the 17th of January can- not be imputed to any defedl in my condudl, as the detachment was certainly fuperior to the force againft which it was fent, and put under the command of an officer of experience and tried abilities. This misfortune, however, did not appear irretrievable ; and to have aban- doned, without abfolute neceffity, the plan of the campaign, would have been ruinous and difgraceful ; ruinous, by engaging us in a de- fenlive fyffem, the impracticability of which I have already ftated ; and difgraceful, becaufe the reafons for the undertaking ftill exiffed in their full ftrength, the public faith was pledged to our friends in North Carolina, and I believed my remaining force to be fuperior to that under the command of General Greene. That V INTRODUCTION. That this opinion was well founded, the pre- cipitate retreat of that General from North Carolina, and our victory at Guildford, after his return with Virginia reinforcements, are fufficient proofs. The unexpected failure of our friends ren- dered the victory of Guildford of little value. I know that it has been aiferted or inhnuated that they were not fufficiently tried upon this occahon : But can any difpaffionate person be- lieve, that I did not give every encouragement to people of all defcriptions to join and affift us, when my own reputation, the fafety of the army, and the interefts of my country, were fo deeply concerned in that junction and affiftance ? All inducements in my power were made ufe of without material effeCt ; and every man in the army mult have been convinced, that the accounts of our emilfaries had greatly exaggerated the number of thofe who profelfed friendlhip for us, as they mult have obferved, that a very inconliderable part of them could be prevailed upon to remain with us, or to exert themfelves in any form whatever. This difappointment, and the wants and diltrelfes of the army, compelled me to move to Crofs-creek ; but meeting there with no ma- terial VI INTRODUCTION. terial part of the promifed affiftance and fup- plies, I was obliged to continue my march to Wilmington, where hofpitals and ftores were ready for us. Of this move I fent information by feveral exprelfes to Lord Rawdon, but un- fortunately they all failed. My intention then was, as foon as I Ihould have equipped my own corps, and received a part of the expected rein- forcement from Ireland, to return to the upper country; in hopes of giving fome protection to South Carolina, and of preferving the health of the troops, until new meafures could be concerted with the Commander in Chief. The march of General Greene into South Carolina, and Lord Rawdon’s danger, made my lituation very critical. Having heard of the arrival of a pacquet from Europe, without any certain accounts of the failing of the reinforce- ment, I thought it too hazardous to remain inactive ; and, as it was impoffible to receive in time any orders or opinions from Sir Henry Clinton to diredt me, it became my duty to aft from my own judgment and experience; I therefore upon mature deliberation, decided to march into Virginia, as the fafeft and molf effeftual means of employing the fmall corps, under my command, in contributing towards the INTRODUCTION. vii the general fuccefs of the war. I came to this refolution principally for the following reafons, — I could not remain at Wilmington, left General Greene ftiould fucceed againft Lord Rawdon, and, by returning to North Carolina, have it in his power to cut off every means of faving my fmall corps, except that difgraceful one of an embarkation, with the lofs of the cavalry, and every horfe in the army : From the Ihortnefs of Lord Rawdon’s ftock of provilions, and the great diftance from Wil- mington to Camden, it appeared impoffible, that any diredt move of mine could aftbrd him the leaft profpedt of relief; in the attempt, in cafe of a misfortune to him, the fafety of my own corps might have been endangered; or it he extricated himfelf, the force in South Caro- lina, when alfembled, was, in my opinion, fufficient to fecure what was valuable to us, and capable of defence in that province. I was likewife influenced by having juft received an account from Charles-town of the arrival ot a frigate with difpatches from the Commander in Chief, the fubftance of which, then tranl- mitted to me, was, that General Phillips had been detached to the Chefapeak, and put under my orders; which induced me to hope, that folid viii INTRODUCTION. Iblid operations might be adopted in that quarter: and I was moft firmly perfuaded, that, until Virginia was reduced, we could not hold the more fouthern provinces; and that, after its reduction, they would fall without much refiftance, and be retained without much difficulty. With these fentiments, I joined General Phillips’s corps at Peterfburgh on the 20th ot May, a few days after his death ; but from his papers, and difpatches from the Commander in Chief, directed to him, which I received at that place on the 24th of May, I found there were other projects in contemplation, which to me were entirely new. The Commander in Chief having desired General Phillips to give his opinion concerning the scheme of opera- tions in the Upper Chefapeak, and the defign upon Philadelphia, I thought it my duty, as I was then in his place to offer mine : which was, that I could not fee fufficient grounds for ap- proving of either of thefe fchemes ; nor indeed could I bring myfelf to think any other plan, but the attempt to reduce Virginia, at that time either expedient or important. But I informed Sir Henry Clinton that I fhould repair to Williamfburgh about the time when I fhould IX INTRODUCTION. I fhould probably receive his answer, in order to be in readinefs to execute his commands; and that I Ihould employ the intermediate fpace in deftroying fuch of the enemy’s ftores and magazines, as might be within my reach. Whoever reads the Correfpondence will fee, that, lince Sir Henry Clinton had declared po- litively in his firft, and in feveral fubfequent difpatches, againft the plan of reducing Vir- ginia, no explicit alternative was left to me, between complying with the requifition (con- tained in his letters of the nth and 15th of June) of fuch troops as I could fpare from a healthy detenlive ftation, or engaging in ope- rations in the Upper Chefapeak : The choice of an healthy iituation was controlled by other material conliderations ; for, whilft he Rated in fuch Rrong terms the imminent danger of New York, or the important effects, which he expedted from the expedition againft Philadel- phia, I did not think myself authorized to de- tain any part of the troops he fo earneftly re- quired; merely upon my opinion of the dif- ference of the quality of the air at Williamf- burgh, York, or Portfmouth; from the latter of which only, as it was already fortified, I could afford an immediate detachment. And with B X INTRODUCTION, with relpe£t to the operations in the Upper Chefapeak, it will be remarked, that, although that plan had been for fome time under the con- fideration of the Commander in Chief, he did not feem inclined to take more lhare in the refponlibility than barely to recommend it : and many reafons, but particularly miy recent failure in a limilar attempt, deterred me from undertaking it, without an explicit inftrudtion. Accordingly, that I might be enabled to com- ply with thofe orders of the i ith and 15th of June, I palfed James-river, (my remaining force being infufficient to fortify and maintain a poft on the Williamfburgh Neck) and em- barked the troops required with all pollible difpatch. And it will be feen by the Corref- pondence, that the Commander in Chief’s opinion of the indifpenfable necessity of an harbour for line of battle fhips only appears in his letter of the i ith of July, after he had been acquainted, that the troops, intended for the expedition againft Philadelphia, would be foon ready to fail. Hampton-road was recommended by that order ; but, as it was, upon examination, found totally unfit for the purpofe defired, every per- fon can judge, whether the order did not then, in XI INTRODUCTION. in its fpirit, become pofitive to occupy York and Gloucefter ; the only harbour in the Che- lapeak, that I knew of then, or indeed that I have heard of fince, in which line of battle Ihips can be received, and protected againft a fuperior naval force ; and, as the harbour was the indifpenfable objedt, I thought it unnecef- fary to enter into a defcription of the difad- vantage of the ground, againft a land attack, fince there remained no other choice. When the arrival of the French fleet, and the approach of General Walhington, were known to Sir Henry Clinton, it will appear by the Correfpondence, that his promifes of relief in perfon were uniform : without giving me the fmallefl: particle of difcretionary power, different from holding the pofts that I occupied. Every reader will therefore be competent to judge, whether, under these circumftances, and as I could not but fuppofe that the Commander in Chief fpoke from a perfedt knowledge of his own refources, and of the force of the enemy, it would have been juftifiable in me either to abandon, by the evacuation of York, a confiderable quantity of artillery, the fliips of war, tranfports, provifions, ftores, and hof- pitals, or, by venturing an adtion, without the most xii INTRODUCTION. moft manifeft advantage, to run the rifk of precipitating the lofs of them. Although the Marquis de la Fayette ad- vanced his light troops early in September to Williamfburgh, he did not take poft there with his army till reinforced with the French troops from the Weft Indies, under the com- mand of Brigadier de St. Simon. I could, at that time, after leaving fome flight guards in the works, have marched out a little more than four thoufand men, partly composed of troops unaccuftomed to adtion. The enemy were in a ftrong polition, and conhderably fuperior in number, but I fhould have attacked them without hefitation, if I had thought myself at liberty, after a vidlory, to efcape into the Carolinas, with the troops that were able to march. No other objed: appeared fufficient to juftify this meafure ; for our labour would have been materially interrupted by an adion, and even a vidory, unlefs it had extended to the annihilation of the Marquis de la Fayette’s corps, without confiderable lofs on our fide (two events not to be expeded) would not have enabled us to make a fuccefsful defence againfl the army then approaching, under the com- mand of General Wafliington: But a defeat would INTRODUCTION. xiii would probably have been followed with the immediate lofs of our poft, which, until the end of September, was a in most defencelefs ftate : and as I could never have proved, that I ihould not have been relieved, I Ihould have been ex- pofed to public execration, as a man, who> having reafon to expeft the early arrival of the Commander in Chief to fuperfede him in his command, had, in hopes of perfonal reputation from a vidlory, facrificed the elfential intereft of his country. Far lefs could I have ventured an adtion without the moft evident advantage, after the jundtion of General Walhington; a dechion, which nothing could have juftified, but a certainty that I could not be relieved: in that case, I fhould have fought before I was hemmed in by the enemy’s works, believing a vidtory, over great difparity of numbers in the open field, to be poffible ; but a fuccefstul defence, without relief, in fuch a poft, and againft fuch an attack, to be impollible. My refolution at last, of attempting to efcape with part of the army, could only have been didtated by defpair. The enemy’s immenfe train of battering artillery had now nearly re- duced our fredi earthen works to ruins: The attacks were condudted with fo much caution, that XIV INTRODUCTION. that we had no opportunity of making any material impreffion upon them : The batteries of the fecond parallel, which I knew in a few hours would compel us to furrender at difcre- tion, were nearly completed; and I had then loft all hopes of relief. If the hidden gale of wind had not prevented our paftage of the river, Brigadier de Choify, who lay with a fmall corps a few miles from Gloucefter, would have been attacked at day-break by the greateft part of our force ; after which, being without bag- gage, I ftiould have gained the upper country by rapid marches, mounting my infantry, by colledting horfes on the way, and leaving my intended route doubtful, until I was oppofite to the fords of the great rivers; I then in- tended to have turned off to the northward, expecting that the enemy would principally take their meafures to prevent my efcape to the fouthward. The fuccefs of this attempt would, no doubt, have been precarious; and I cannot fay that it would have been pradticable to have reached New York ; but, in our defperate litu- ation, I thought it well deferved a trial. I fhall make no other remark upon the enu- meration that is made of the troops under my orders, than that a great part of them were difperfed XV INTRODUCTION. difperfed in garrifons, totally out of my reach, and that fome regiments had hardly any ex- iftence, but in name, I am not in polTeffion of the general returns of the fouthern diftridt for the year 1781, but thofe of the corps under my immediate command, at different periods, are annexed to the Correfpondence, During that campaign, I reckoned among the many other embarralffnents which I had to encounter, that, on fome important occa- lions, it was impoffible to communicate with, or to receive inftrudlions from the Commander in Chief, in time to enable me to adt according to his wishes : But, I trust, it will appear from the Correfpondence now laid before the public, — that our failure in North Carolina was not occaiioned by our want of force to protedt the rifmg of our friends, but by their timidity, and unwillingnefs to take an adtive and ufeful part, — that the move to Wilmington was rendered neceffary from the dilfreffes of the troops, and the fufferings of the numerous sick and wounded, — that the march into Virginia was undertaken for urgent reafons, which could not admit of my waiting for the approbation of the Commander in Chief — that I did not eftabliff the ftation in Virginia, but only re- inforce XVI INTRODUCTION, inforce it, — that I occupied the pofts of York and Gloucefter hy order, and was induced to remain in them by the profpedt of relief, uni- formly held out to me by the Commander in Chief, — and, that, during the confiderable interval between my arrival at Peterfburgh, and that of the French fleet in the Chefapeak, my corps was completely at the difpofal of Sir Henry Clinton, either to be withdrawn, or employed in the Upper Chefapeak, or fent back to the Carolinas, — and confequently, that my condudt and opinions were not the caufes of the cataftrophe, which terminated the un- fortunate campaign of 1781. CORNWALLIS. M ansfield-Street, Feb. 10, 1783. C O R R E- CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K. B. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS. PART I. RELATIVE TO THE CAMPAIGN IN- NORTH CAROLINA. NUMBER I. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. dated Camp on Turkey-Creek, Broad River, Jan. i8, 1781. S I R, I N my letter of the 6th of this month, I had the honour to inform your Excellency, that I was ready to begin my march for North Carolina, having been delayed fome days by a diverfion made by the enemy towards Ninety-fix. General Morgan ftill remained on the Pacolet; his corps, by the befi: ac- c counts 2 Correjpondence relative to the counts I could get, confifted of about five hundred men, continental and Virginia ftate troops, and one hundred cavalry under Colonel Wafhington, and fix or feven hundred militia: but that body is fo fludlu- ating, that it is impoflible to afcertain its number, within fome hundreds, for three days following. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, with the legion and corps annexed to it, confifting of about three hun- dred cavalry and as many infantry, and the firft bat- talion of the feventy-firfi: regiment, and one three- pounder, had already pafled the Broad River for the relief of Ninety-fix. I therefore diredted Lieutenant- Colonel Tarleton to march on the Weft of Broad River, to endeavour to ftrike a blow at General Mor- gan, and at all events to oblige him to repafs the Broad River; I likewife ordered that he fhould take with him the feventh regiment and one three-pounder, which were marching to reinforce the garrifon or Ninety-fix, as long as he fhould think their fervices could be useful to him. The remainder of the army marched between the Broad River and Catawba. As General Greene had quitted Mecklenburgh- county, and crolTed the Pedee, I made not the leaft doubt that General Morgan would retire on our ad- vancing. The progrefs of the army was greatly im- peded by heavy rains, which fwelled the rivers and creeks; yet Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton conduced his march fo well, and got fo near to General Mor- gan who was retreating before him, as to make it dangerous Campaign in North Carolina. 3 dangerous for him to pafs Broad River, and came up with him at eight o’clock of the morning of the 17th inftant. Every thing now bore the moll promifing afpedl: the enemy were drawn up in an open wood, and, having been lately joined by fome militia, were more numerous ; but the different quality of the corps under Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton’s command, and his great fuperiority in cavalry, left him no room to doubt of the moft brilliant fuccefs. The attack was begun by the firft line of infantry, confifting of the feventh regiment, the infantry of the legion and corps of light-infantry annexed to it; a troop of cavalry was placed on each flank; the firft battalion of the feventy- firft, and the remainder of the cavalry, formed the referve. The enemy’s line foon gave way, and their militia quitted the field; but our troops having been thrown into fome diforder by the purfuit. General Morgan’s corps faced about and gave them an hearty fire; this unexpecfted event occafioned the utmoft con- fufion in the firft line; the firft battalion of the feventy- firft and the cavalry were fucceftively ordered up; but neither the exertions, intreaties, or example, of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Tarleton, could prevent the panic from becoming general. The two three-pounders were taken, and I fear the colours of the feventh regi- ment fhared the fame fate. In juftice to the detach- ment of the royal artillery, I muft here obferve, that no terror could induce them to abandon their guns, and they were all either killed or wounded in the de- fence _L Correjpondence relative to the fence of them. Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton with difficulty affembled fifty of his cavalry, who having had time to recollebt themfelves, and being animated by the bravery of the officer who had fo often led them to victory, charged and repulfed Colonel Walhington’s horfe, retook the baggage of the corps, and cut to pieces the detachment of the enemy who had taken poffieffilon of it; and, after deftroying what they could not conveniently bring off, retired with the remainder unmolefted to Hamilton’s ford, near the mouth of Bullock’s creek. The lofs of our cavalry is incon- fiderable; but I fear about four hundred of the in- fantry are either killed, wounded, or taken; I will tranfmit the particular account of the lofs as foon as it can be afcertained. It is impoffible to forefee all the confequences that this unexpedled and extraordinary event may produce; but your Excellency may be affured, that nothing but the moft abfolute neceffity ffiall induce me to give up the important objedl of the winter’s campaign. I fhall diredt Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour to tranf- mit a copy of this letter, by the firft; opportunity, to the Secretary of State. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER Campaign in North Carolina. 5 NUMBER II. Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, March ^th, 1781. [Received June, 1781.] MY LORD, I WAS honoured with your Lordlhip’s difpatches dated the i8th of November, the 3d, 4th, 6th, 7th, lid, and 29th of December; and 3d, 6th, and i8th of January, by the Halifax Hoop of war, on the i6th ultimo. And, by the Mercury packet, which will fail in a day or two for Europe, I propofe to tranfmit copies of fuch of them to the Minifter as may be neceflary for his Majefty’s information. What your Lordlhip obferves, in your letter of the 4th December, I am very fenfible of; and am fully perfuaded that no reprefentation I can make will have any effedt upon men loft to every fenfe of humanity. I am forty to fay, my Lord, that I have the fame reafon to lament the want of fafe conveyances for my difpatches, which your Lordlhip regrets in your letter of the 6th January, having had feveral prepared for vour Lordlhip ever since the beginning of that month. And I am even now obliged to truft them by the pre- carious conveyance of a merchant veftel, as I have in vain applied for a ftiip of war for thefe two months paft for the purpofe. I requeft your Lordlhip’s forgivenefs for the omif- fton 6 Correjpondence relative to the fion I was guilty of, in not anfwering the paragraph of your letter of the 30th June, relative to Lieutenant- governor Graham. As there are now no Refugees in Georgia, and of courfe no occafion for fuch an office as that to which he was appointed; and as he is now in full poffeffion of his property, and does not feem to wiffi for a continuance of the employment, it is very proper that it fhould ceafe — and but reafonable that Mr. Graham fhould be reimburfed for the fums he has advanced, as well as paid his falary of twenty (hillings per day for himfelf and clerk, from the 3d of March to the period he ceafed to ad. It gives me very great pleafure to learn from your Lordfhip, that the army under your command is now perfedly healthy, and in good order. I am forry the oat-fhips met with an accident off Charles-town bar. It is a rifk, in my opinion, which every fleet runs that anchors there. Surely it would have been better for them to have flood off, and on; — but of thofe fea matters I am, of courfe, not a com- petent judge. I am glad to find that your Lordfhip intends to fend the viduallers, and all fuch tranfports, to En- gland, as are unfit for fervice; their fpeedy return being moft earneftly defired. I would wifh to have all fuch invalids, whofe times of fervice do not entitle them to Chelfea, and though unfit for fervice in the field, may be able to do duty in garrifon, fent here from time to time, that they may be placed in the garrifon Campaign in North Carolina. 1 garrifon battalion, which will finally infure to them his Majefty’s royal bounty. As I underftand the Chatham has brought out fifty thoufand pounds in fpecieto Charles-town, your Lord- Ihip’s difficulties with regard to money will have been removed. But I cannot fay fo much for ours. Lord George Germain having informed me, “As “ Major Rofs was of opinion that many of the pri- “ foners in our hands in Carolina might be induced “ to ferve on board the King’s fhips, or in privateers, “ or inlift in the regiments ferving in the Weft Indies, “ or go as volunteers upon expeditions in that quarter, “ he had recommended to your Lordfhip to get rid “ of all you could in thofe feveral ways, or in any “ other your Lordfhip fhould think fit to be adopted;” it is unneceflary for me to add any thing upon that fubjedl, but to fay, that I leave them entirely to your Lordfhip’s dispofal. I wifh it had been poffible to have procured the horfes for General Vaughan; as I fear the troops may fuffer from the drudgeries they were intended to per- form. I know not at prefent how it is poffible, my Lord, to avoid the expence of quartering the troops at Charles-town, confiftent with the terms of the capi- tulation; but I will endeavour to find fome means of doing it, if it be pradlicable. I am moft exceedingly concerned, my Lord, at the unfortunate affair of the 17th January. From the account Correfpondence relative to the account your Lordfhip gives me of it, I fear Morgan has been in very great force, that our firft line has been too impetuous, and that the referve has fuftained the other too nearly, and probably in too loofe order; and that the enemy has moved againft them in that critical fituation. I confefs I dread the confequences; but my hope is, as it ever will be, in your Lordfhip’s abilities and exertions. I lhall always be happy in paying every attention to your recommendations in filling up the vacancies in the thirty-third regiment, as I fhall be conftantly guided by your Lordfhip’s wifhes with refpedt to the promotions of your own regiment. I have already had an opportunity of fulfilling my intentions refpedt- ing Colonel Webfter; but this is too unfafe a convey- ance to truft the commiffion by. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER Campaign in North Carolina. 9 NUMBER III. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. dated Camp near Wilmington, April lo, 1781. S I R, I AM juft informed that I have a chance of fend- ing a few lines to New York by the Amphitrite, but as it depends upon my being expeditious, I cannot attempt to give your Excellency a particular account of the winter’s campaign, or the battle of Guildford. I have however the fatisfadtion of informing you, that our military operations were uniformly fuccefs- ful; and the vidlory of Guildford, although one of the bloodieft of this war, was very complete. The enemy gave themfelves out for nine or ten, and un- doubtedly had feven, thoufand men in the field, up- wards of two thoufand of which were eighteen-months men, or Continentals. Our force was one thoufand three hundred sixty infantry, rank and file, and about two hundred ca- valry. General Greene retreated the night of the adlion to the Iron-works on Troublefome Creek, eighteen miles from Guildford, leaving us four fix- pounders, being all the cannon he had in the field. The fatigue of the troops, and the great number ot wounded, put it out of my power to purfue beyond the Reedy Fork, in the afternoon of the ablion; and the want of provifions and all kinds of neceftaries for D I o Correjpondence relative to the tor the foldiers, made it equally impoffible to follow the blow next day. I, therefore, iffued the en- clofed proclamation; and, having remained two days on the field of battle, marched to Bell’s-Mill on Deep-river, near part of the country where the greateft number of our friends were fuppofed to re- fide. Many of the inhabitants rode into camp, fhook me by the hand, faid they were glad to fee us, and to hear that we had beat Greene, and then rode home again; for I could not get one hundred men in all the regulator’s country to ftay with us, even as militia. With a third of my army fick and wounded, which I was obliged to carry in waggons or on horfeback, the remainder without fhoes and worn down with fatigue, I thought it was time to look for fome place of reft and refitment; I, therefore, by eafy marches, taking care to pafs through all the fettlements that had been defcribed to me as moft friendly, proceeded to Cross-Creek. On my arrival there, I found, to my great mortification, and con- trary to all former accounts, that it was impoffible to procure any confiderable quantity of provifions, and that there was not four days forage within twenty miles. The navigation of Cape Fear, with the hopes of which I had been flattered, was totally impradi- cable, the diftance from Wilmington by water being one hundred and fifty miles, the breadth of the river feldom exceeding one hundred yards, the banks generally Campaign in North Carolina. 1 1 generally high, and the inhabitants on each fide al- moft univerfally hollile. Under thefe circumftances I determined to move immediately to Wilmington. By this meafure the Highlanders have not had fo much time as the people of the upper country, to prove the fincerity of their former profeflions of friendfhip. But, though appearances are rather more favourable among them, I confefs they are not equal to my expeflations. General Greene marched down as low as the mouth of Deep-River, where he remained four days ago; he never came within our reach after the adion, nor has a fhot been fince fired, except at Ramfey’s-Mill on Deep-River, where Colonel Malmedy, with about twenty of a gang of plunderers that are attached to him, galloped in among the centries and carried off three iagers. I cannot fufficiently commend the behaviour of both officers and men under my command. They not only fhewed the moft persevering intrepidity in adion, but underwent with cheerfulnefs fuch fatigues and hardlhips as have feldom been experienced by a Britifh army, and juftly merit every mark of favour and reward. The great alhftance which I received from Generals Leflie and 0 ‘Hara, and Lieutenant- colonel Tarleton, deferves my warmeff; acknowledg- ments and higheft commendations. I am now employed in difpofing of the fick and wounded, and in procuring fupplies of all kinds, to put I 2 Correfpondence relative to the put the troops into a proper ftate to take the field. I am, likewife, impatiently looking out for the ex- pected reinforcement from Europe, part of which will be indifpenfably neceffary to enable me either to aft olfienfively, or even to maintain myfelf in the upper parts of the country, where alone I can hope to preferve the troops from the fatal ficknefs which fo nearly ruined the army laft autumn. I am very anxious to receive your Excellency’s commands, being as yet totally in the dark as to the intended operations of the fummer. I cannot help exprefiing my wilhes that the Chefapeak may become the feat of war, even (if neceflary) at the expence of abandoning New-York. Until Virginia is in a man- ner fubdued, our hold of the Carolinas mull be diffi- cult, if not precarious. The rivers of Virginia are advantageous to an invading army, but North-Caro- lina is, of all the provinces in America, the mod; difficult to attack, (unless material affiftance could be got from the inhabitants, the contrary of which I have fufficiently experienced) on account of its great extent, of the numberlefs rivers and creeks, and the total want of interior navigation. In compliance with your Excellency’s general di- reftions, I fhall difpatch my Aid-de-camp, Captain Brodrick, to England, with the particular accounts of the battle of Guildford, of the winter’s campaign, and the prefent ftate of the province, copies of which I ffiall Campaign in North Carolina. 13 I fhall have the honour of tranfmitting to your Ex- cellency with my next difpatch. I have the honour to be, &c. CORN ALLIS. NUMBER IV. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis., dated New-York, April 30, 1781. ' \_Received June, 1781.] MY LORD, CAPTAIN Biggs, of his Majefty’s fhip Amphi- trite, who arrived here the 22d, has delivered to me vour Lordfhip’s two letters from Wilmington, of the loth inftant, informing me of your having obtained a compleat victory over the rebel General Greene, near Guildford, on the 15th ult. on which occafion I beg leave, my Lord, to offer your Lordfhip my moft hearty congratulations, and to requeft you will prefent my thanks to Major-General Leflie, Brigadier-general 0 ‘Hara, and Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, for the great affiftance you received from them, and to the officers and men under your command, for their great exertions on the march through Carolina, and their perfevering intrepidity in adtion. The 14 Correfpondence relative to the The difparity of numbers between your Lordfhip’s force and that of the enemy oppofed to you, appears to be very great; and, I confefs, I am at fome lofs to guefs how your Lordlhip came to be reduced before the aftion to one thoufand three hundred and fixty infantry, as, by the diftribution fent to me in your letter of the 6th of January, I am to fuppofe it was your intention to take with you the regiments men- tioned in the margin, J which (notwithftanding the lofs of the feventy-firft and legion, in the unfortunate affair of Cowpens) I fhould imagine muft have amounted to confiderably above three thoufand, ex- clufive of cavalry and militia. Before I was favoured with your Lordfhip’s letter, the rebel account of the battle of Guildford had led me, indeed, to hope, that its confequences would have been more decihve, and that Greene would have re-paffed the Roanoke, and left your Lordfhip at liberty to purfue the objedls of your move into North t Brigade of Guards, Twenty-third, Thirty-third, Seventy-firft, two Battalions, lagers. Regiment of Bofe, Light Infantry, Seventy-firft, and Legion, North-Carolina Regiment. Campaign in North Carolina. 15 North Carolina. Under the perfuafion, therefore, that you would foon be able to finifh your arrange- ments for the fecurity of the Carolinas, I fubmitted to you in my letter of the 13th inftant, (a duplicate of which I have the honour to enclofe) the propriety in that cafe of your going in a frigate to Chefapeak, and direbting fuch corps to follow you thither as you judged could be bell fpared. But, as it is now probable that your Lordlhip’s prefence in Carolina cannot be fo foon difpenfed with, I make no doubt that you will think it right to communicate to Major- general Phillips, without delay, the plan of your future operations in that quarter, together with your opinion how the Chefapeak army can bell direbt their’s to aflift them. That General-officer has already under his orders three thoufand five hundred men, and I fhall fend him one thoufand feven hundred more, which are now embarked, and will fail whenever the Admiral is ready. With thefe, my Lord, which are rank and file fit for duty, and great part of them taken from the elite of my army. General Phillips is direbted by his inftrublions to abt in favour of your Lordfhip, to the befi: of his own judgment, until he receives your orders, and afterwards in fuch manner as you may pleafe to command him, &c. But I ffiall be forry to find your Lordfhip continue in the opinion that our hold of the Carolinas mufl: be difficult, if not precarious, until Virginia is in a manner fubdued, as that 1 6 Correjpondence relative to the that is an event which, I fear, would require a con- hderable fpace of time to accomplifh, and, as far as I can judge, it might be not quite fo expedient at this advanced feason of the year to enter into a long operation in that climate. — This, however, will greatly depend upon circumftances, of which your Lordlhip and General Phillips may probably be better judges hereafter. With regard to the operations of the fummer, which your Lordfhip is anxious to receive my di- red;ions about, you cannot but be fenfible that they muft in great meafure depend on your Lord- fhip’s fuccefles in Carolina, the certainty and num- bers of the expefted reinforcement from Europe, and, likewife, on your Lordlhip’s fending back to me the corps I had fpared to you, under Major-general Leflie, which Colonel Rawdon, in his letter of the 31ft of October, told me you could return in the fpring. For until I am informed of the particulars of your Lordfhip’s march through North Carolina, the effective ftrength of your moving army, your plan of operations for carrying thofe objecdis you had or may have in view, into execution, as well by the corps adling under your own immediate orders, as thofe adling in co-operation under Major-general Phillips, it muft be obvioufly impoflible for me to determine finally upon a plan of operations for the campaign. 1 was Campaign in North Carolina. 17 I was indeed in great hopes that your fuccefles in North Carolina would have been fuch as to have put it in my power to avail myself of a large portion of your Lordfhip’s army, the whole Chefapeak corps, and the entire reinforcement from Europe, for this campaign’s operations to the northward of Carolina: but I obferve with concern, from your Lordfhip’s letter, that fo far from being in a condition to fpare me any part of your prefent force, you are of opinion that part of the European reinforcement will be in- difpenfibly neceffary to enable you to adt offenfively, or even to maintain yourfelf in the upper parts of the country. Had I known what your Lordfhip’s further offen- five meafures were intended to be for the remaining part of the feafon, I might now have given an opi- nion upon them, as well as upon the probable co- operation of the corps in the Chefapeak, without having which it will be fcarce poffible for me to form any; for as I faid before, I fear no solid operation can be carried on to the northward of Chefapeak before thofe to the fouthward of it are totally at an end, either from fuccefs, or the feafon; and my letter to your Lordfhip of the 6th of November will have informed you what were my ideas of the opera- tions proper to be purfued in Chefapeak, and my expedlations from them, had circumlfances admitted of my purfuing the plan to its full extent. But I mufl now defer fixing ultimately on a plan tor the E campaign Correfpondence relative to the campaign, until I am made acquainted with the final fuccefs of your Lordfhip’s operations, your profpefts and fentiments, and I can judge what force I can colled: for fuch meafures as I can then determine upon. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. D uPLiCATE. Inclofed in Number IV. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis^ dated New- Tork, April 13, 1781. MY LORD, AS it appears, even from the Rebel account of the adion, that your Lordfhip has gained a vidory over Greene; and it is probable he may in confe- quence have repafled the Roanoke, I beg leave to fubmit to your Lordfhip, the propriety of your coming to Chefapeak Bay in a frigate as foon as you have finifhed your arrangements for the fecurity of the Carolinas, and you judge that affairs there are in fuch a train as no longer to require your prefence; direding at the fame time fuch troops to follow you thither, as your Lordfhip is of opinion can be beft By Campaign in North Carolina. ^9 By Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce’s arrival I am made acquainted that fix Britilh regiments are intended as an immediate reinforcement to the army under my command; fhould therefore any of thefe corps flop at Carolina your Lordfhip may probably dired them either to replace fuch troops as follow you, or to pro- ceed immediately to the Chefapeak. Agreeable to what I have already faid to your Lordfhip in my letters of the ist of June and 6th of November, it is my wifh that you fhould continue to condud operations as they advance northerly; for, except as a vifitor, I fhall not probably move to Chefapeak, unlefs Wafhington goes thither in great force. The fuccefs which has hitherto attended your Lordfhip excites the fulleft affurance of its con- tinuance; and as it is my inclination to alfift your operations to the utmofi; extent of my power, I am convinced, from your difintereffednefs, that you will not afk from me a larger proportion of troops than I can polTibly fpare. As this goes by an unarmed veffel to Chefapeak, Major General Philips will add what he thinks ne- ceffary to it, and forward it to Cape Fear. The Admiral has at laft confented that the Medea fhall fail for Cape Fear, as foon as fhe is ready. Perhaps your Lordfhip may take that opportunity of returning in her; and, if we can prevail upon the Admiral, or Commanding Naval officer here, to fpare Captain Duncan to condud the naval part of our ■20 Correfpondence relative to the our bufinefs in the Chefapeak, I think we fhall have gained a great point. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER V. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Wilmington, April 23, 1781. S I R, I HAVE the honour to inclofe to you a dupli- cate of my letter of the loth, fent by the Amphitrite, and copies of all my letters to the Secretary of State; as they contain the moft exa6l account of every tranf- ablion of the campaign, of the prefent ftate of things in this diftrid:, of my great apprehenfions from the movement of General Greene towards Camden, and my refolutions in confequence of it, I have nothing to add to it for your Excellency’s fatisfadion. Neither my cavalry or infantry are in readinefs to move; the former are in want of every thing, the latter of every neceffary but fhoes, of which we have received an ample fupply; I muft however begin my march to- morrow. It is very difagreeable to me to decide upon meafures fo very important, and of fuch confe- quence to the general condud of the war, without an opportunity Campaign in North Carolina. 21 opportunity of procuring your Excellency’s diredlions or approbation; but the delay and difficulty of con- veying letters, and the impoffibility of waiting for anfwers, render it indifpenhbly neceffary. My prefent undertaking fits heavy on my mind; I have experi- enced the diftreffes and dangers of marching fome hundreds of miles, in a country chiefly hoftile, with- out one aftive or ufeful friend; without intelligence, and without communication with any part of the country. The fltuation in which I leave South Carolina adds much to my anxiety; yet I am under the neceffity of adopting this hazardous enterprife haftily, and with the appearance of precipitation, as I And there is no profpeft of fpeedy reinforcement from Europe, and that the return of General Greene to North Carolina, either with or without fuccefs, would put a jundtion with General Phillips out of my power. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. Copy 22 Correfpondence relative to the Inclofed in Number V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis s difpatch, No. 6, to Lord George Germain^ dated Guildford, March 17, 1781. MY LORD, YOUR Lordfliip’s difpatch No. i, dated the 9th of November ult. was delivered to me by my Aid-de-Camp, Major Rofs. The officers and foldiers who fought fo gallantly on the i6th of Auguft re- ceived with the warmeft fenfe of gratitude the royal approbation of their behaviour; and it is particularly plealing to me, that my conduct; has given fatisfaftion to his Majefty and to his Minifters. By the long interruption of our communication with South Carolina I have not been informed whether Lieutenant-Governor Bull, and the other civil officers, have arrived in that province. I fhall pay proper attention to your Lordfhip’s diredlions upon that fubjedt, as well as relating to the prifoners of war confined at Charles-town. There are at prefent fome hopes that a negotiation now on foot, between me and General Greene, will terminate in a cartel for their exchange: if it fails, I fhall en- deavour to difpofe of them in the manner recom- mended by your Lordffiip, the expence and incon- venience of keeping them being intolerable. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. Inclofed Campaign in North Carolina. -3 Inclofed in Number V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis s dijpatch, No. 7, to Lord George Germain, dated Guildford, March 17, 1781. MY LORD, HAVING occafion to difpatch my Aid-de-Camp, Captain Brodrick, with the particulars of the action of the 15th, in compliance with general diredtions from Sir Henry Clinton, I fhall embrace the oppor- tunity to give your Lordfhip an account of the ope- rations of the troops under my command previous to that event, and of thofe fubfequent, until the de- parture of Captain Brodrick. My plan for the winter’s campaign was to pene- trate into North Carolina, leaving South Carolina in fecurity againft any probable attack in my abfence. Lord Rawdon with a confiderable body of troops had charge of the defenfive, and I proceeded about the middle of January upon the offenlive operations. I decided to march by the upper in preference to the lower roads leading into North Carolina, becaufe fords being frequent above the forks of the rivers, my paflage there could not eafdy be obftrufted, and General Greene having taken poll on the Pedee, and there being few fords in any of the great Rivers ot this country below their forks, efpecially in winter, I apprehended being much delayed, if not entirely prevented from penetrating by the latter route. I was 24 Correjpondence relative to the I was the more induced to prefer this route, as I hoped in my way to be able to deftroy or drive out of South Carolina the corps of the enemy commanded by General Morgan, which threatened our valuable diftridt of Ninety-fix; and I likewife hoped, by rapid marches, to get between General Greene and Virginia, and by that means force him to fight without receiv- ing any reinforcement from that province; or failing of that, to oblige him to quit North Carolina with precipitation; and thereby encourage our friends to make good their promifes of a general rifing to affift me in re-efiablifhing his Majefty’s government. The unfortunate affair of the 17th of January was a very unexpected and fevere blow; for, befides repu- tation, our lofs did not fall fhort of fix hundred men. However, being thoroughly fenfible that defenfive meafures would be certain ruin to the affairs of Bri- tain in the Southern Colonies, this event did not deter me from profecuting the original plan. That General Greene might be uncertain of my intended route as long as poffible, I had left General Leflie at Camden, until I was ready to move from Wynnef- borough, and he was now within a day’s march of me; I employed the 18th in forming a jundlion with him, and in colledling the remains of Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton’s corps; after which, great exertions were made by part of the army, without baggage, to retake our prifoners, and to intercept General Morgan’s corps on its retreat to the Catawba; but the celerity of Campaign in North Carolina. 25 of their movements, and the fwelling of numberlefs creeks in our way, rendered all our efforts fruitlefs. I therefore alfembled the army on the 25th at Ramfoure’s Mill, on the South Fork of the Catawba, and as the lofs of my light troops could only be reme- died by the ablivity of the whole corps, I employed a halt of two days in collebting fome flour, and in deftroying fuperfluous baggage and all my waggons except thofe loaded with hofpital ftores, fait, and ammu- nition, and four referved empty in readinefs for fick or wounded. In this meafure, though at the expence of a great deal of officers baggage, and of all profpebl in future of rum, and even a regular fupply of provifions to the foldiers, I muff, in juftice to this army, fay that there was the moft general and cheerful acquiefcence. In the meantime the rains had rendered the North Catawba impaffable; and General Morgan’s corps, the militia of the rebellious counties of Rowan and Mecklenburg under General Davidfon, or the gang of plunderers ufually under the command of General Sumpter, not then recovered from his wounds, had occupied all the fords in a fpace of more than forty miles upwards from the fork. During its height, I approached the river by fhort marches, fo as to give the enemy equal apprehenfions for feveral fords; and after having procured the beft information in my power, I refolved to attempt the paflage at a private ford (then flightly guarded) near M ‘Cowan’s ford, on the morning of the iff of February. F Lieutenant- 26 Correjpondence relative to the Lieutenant-colonel Webller was detached with part of the army and all the baggage to Beattie’s Ford, fix miles above M ‘Cowan’s, where General Davidfon was fuppofed to be polled with five hundred militia; and was directed to make every polfible demonftra- tion, by cannonading and otherwife, of an intention to force a palfage there; and I marched at one in the morning with the brigade of guards, regiment of Bofe, twenty-third, two hundred cavalry, and two three-pounders, to the ford fixed upon for the real attempt. The morning being very dark and rainy, and part of our way through a wood where there was no road, one of the three-pounders in front of the twenty- third regiment, and the cavalry, overfet in a fwamp, and occafioned thofe corps to lofe the line of march, and fome of the artillery-men belonging to the other gun, (one of whom had the match,) having flopped to afiifl, were likewife left behind. The head of the column in the mean while arrived at the bank of the river, and the day began to break. I could make no ufe of the gun that was up, and it was evident, from the number of fires on the other fide, that the oppofition would be greater than I had expecfled. However, as I knew that the rain then falling would foon render the river again impaflable, and I had received information the evening before that General Greene had arrived in General Morgan’s camp, and that his army was marching after him with the greatefl Campaign in North Carolina. 27 greateft expedition, I determined not to defift from the attempt; and therefore, full of confidence in the zeal and gallantry of Brigadier-general 0 ‘Hara and of the brigade of guards under his command, I ordered them to march on, but, to prevent confufion, not to fire until they gained the oppofite bank. Their behaviour juftified my high opinion of them; for a conftant fire from the enemy, in a ford upwards of five hundred yards wide, in many places up to their middle, with a rocky bottom and ftrong cur- rent, made no impreffion on their cool and determined valour, nor checked their palTage. The light infantry, landing firft, immediately formed, and in a few minutes killed or difperfed every thing that appeared before them, the reft of the troops forming and ad- vancing in fucceftion. We now learned that we had been oppofed by about three hundred militia, that had taken poft there only the evening before, under the command of General Davidfon. Their general and two or three other officers were among the killed; the number of wounded was uncertain, and a few were taken prifoners. On our fide. Lieutenant- colonel Hall and three men were killed, and thirty- fix men wounded, all of the light infantry and grena- diers of the guards. By this time the rear of the column had joined, and the whole having paffed with the greateft difpatch, I detached Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, with the cavalry and twenty-third regi- ment, to purfue the routed militia. A few were foon killed 28 Correfpondence relative to the killed or taken; and Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton having learned that three or four hundred of the neighbouring militia were to affemble that day at Tarrants’s houfe, about ten miles from the ford, Laving his infantry, he went on with the cavalry, and, finding the militia as expedled, he with excellent condudt and great fpirit attacked them inftantly, and totally routed them with little lofs on his fide, and on their’s between forty and fifty killed, wounded, or prifoners. This ftroke, with our palTage of the ford, fo effectually difpirited the militia, that we met with no further oppofition on our march to the Yadkin, though one of the moft rebellious traCls in America. During this time the rebels having quitted Beattie’s Ford, Lieutenant-colonel Webfter was palling his detachment and the baggage of the army; this had become tedious and difficult by the continuance of the rain and the fwelling of the river; but all joined us foon after dark about fix miles from Beattie’s ford. The other fords were likewife abandoned by the enemy: the greateft part of the militia difperfed, and General Morgan with his corps marched all that af- ternoon and the following night towards Salilbury. We purfued next morning in hopes to intercept him between the rivers; and, after ftruggling with many difficulties, arifing from fwelled creeks and bad roads, the guards came up with his rear, in the evening of the third, routed it, and took a few waggons at the Trading Campaign in North Carolina. 29 Trading Ford of the Yadkin. — He had palTed the body of his infantry in flats, and his cavalry and waggons by the ford, during that day and the pre- ceding night; but at the time of our arrival the boats were fecured on the other fide, and the ford had be- come impaflable. The river continuing to rife, and the weather appearing unfettled, I determined to march to the upper fords, after procuring a fmall fupply of provifions at Salifbury. This, and the height of the creeks in our way, detained me two days; and in that time Morgan having quitted the banks of the river, I had information from our friends, who croffed in canoes, that General Greene’s army was marching with the utmoft difpatch to form a junblion with him at Guildford. Not having had time to colleft the North-Carolina militia, and having received no reinforcement from Virginia, I concluded that he would do every thing in his power to avoid an adtion on the South fide of the Dan; and, it being my intereft to force him to fight, I made great expe- dition, and got between him and the upper fords; and, being affured that the lower fords are feldom prafticable in winter, and that he could not colledt many flats at any of the ferries, I was in great hopes that he would not efcape me without receiving a blow. Nothing could exceed the patience and alacrity of the officers and foldiers under every fpecies of hardfhip and fatigue in endeavouring to overtake him. But our intelligence upon this occafion was exceedingly Correjpondence relative to the TO exceedingly defedlive; which, with heavy rains, bad roads, and the pafTage of many deep creeks, and bridges deftroyed by the enemy’s light troops, ren- dered all our exertions vain; for, upon our arrival at Boyd’s ferry on the 15th, we learned that his rear- guard had got over the night before, his baggage and main body having pafled the preceding day at that and a neighbouring ferry, where more flats had been colledled than had been reprefented to me as poflible. My force being ill fuited to enter by that quarter fo powerful a province as Virginia, and North Caro- lina being in the utmofl: confufion, after giving the troops a halt of one day, I proceeded by eafy marches to Hillfborough, where I ereded the king’s ftandard, and invited by proclamation all loyal fubjecfts to re- pair to it, and to ftand forth and take an aftive part in alTifling me to reftore order and conftitutional go- vernment. As a confiderable bodv of friends were faid to refide between the Haw and Deep rivers, I detached Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton on the 23d, with the cavalry and a fmall body of infantry, to prevent their being interrupted in aflembling. Un- luckily, a detachment of the rebel light troops had croffed the fame day, and by accident fell in with about two hundred of our friends, under Colonel Pyle, on their way to HillflDorough; who, miftaking the rebels for Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton’s corps, allowed themfelves to be furrounded, and a number of them, were moft inhumanly butchered when beg- Campaign in North Carolina. 3 1 ging for quarter, without making the leaft refiftance. The same day I had certain intelligence that General Greene, having been reinforced, had re-crolfed the Dan, which rendered it imprudent to separate my corps, occafioned the recall of Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton’s detachment; and forage and provifions being fcarce in the neighbourhood of Hillfborough, as well as the pofition too diftant (upon the approach of the rebel army) for the proteftion of the body of our friends; I judged it expedient to crofs the Haw, and encamped near Allemance Creek, detaching Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton with the cavalry, light company of the Guards, and one hundred and fifty men of Lieutenant-colonel Webfter’s brigade, a few miles from me on the road to Deep River, more ef- fedtually to cover the country. General Greene’s light troops foon made their ap- pearance; and on the 2d, a patrole having reported that they had feen both cavalry and infantry near his poll, I directed Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton to move forward with proper precautions, and endeavour to difcover the deligns of the enemy. He had not ad- vanced far, when he fell in with a confiderable corps, which he immediately attacked and routed; but being ignorant of their force, and whether they were fup- ported, with great prudence defifted from purfuit. H e soon learned from prifoners, that thofe he had beat were Lee’s legion, three or four hundred back mountain men, under Colonel Prefton, with a number of 32 Correjpondence relative to the of militia; and that General Greene with a part of his army was not far diftant. Our fituation for the former few days had been amongft timid friends, and adjoining to inveterate rebels; between them I had been totally deftitute of information, which loft me a very favourable opportunity of attacking the rebel army. General Greene fell back to Thompfon’s Houfe, near Boyd’s Ford, on the Reedy Fork; but his light troops and militia ftill remained near us, and as I was informed that they were pofted careleflly at feparate plantations for the convenience of fubfift- ing, I marched on the 6th to drive them in, and to attack General Greene if an opportunity offered. I fucceeded completely in the firft; and at Weitzell’s Mill, on the Reedy Fork, where they made a ftand, the back-mountain men and fome militia buffered confiderably, with little lofs on our fide; but a timely and precipitate retreat over the Haw prevented the latter. I knew that the Virginia reinforcement were upon their march; and it was apparent that the enemy would, if polfible, avoid rifqueing an aftion before their arrival. The neighbourhood of the Fords of the Dan in their rear, and the extreme difficulty of fubfifting my troops in that exhaufted country putting it out of my power to force them, my refolution was to give our friends time to join us, by covering their country as effedlually as poffible, confiftent with the fubfift- ence of the troops, ftill approaching the communica- tion Campaign in North Carolina. 33 tion with our fhipping in Cape Fear River, which I faw it would foon become indifpenhbly neceffary to open, on account of the fufferings of the army from the want of fupplies of every kind; at the fame time I was determined to fight the rebel army, if it ap- proached me, being convinced that it would be im- poflible to fucceed in that great objedtof our arduous campaign, the calling forth the numerous Loyalifts of North Carolina, whilft a doubt remained on their minds of the fuperiority of our arms. With thefe views, I had moved to the Quaker Meeting, in the Forks of Deep River, on the 13th; and on the 14th I received the information which occafioned the movement that brought on the adtion at Guildford, of which I fhall give your Lordlhip an account in a feparate letter. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. G Inclofed 34 Correjpondence relative to the Inclofed in No. V. By the Right Honourable Charles Earl Cornwallis^ Lieutenant-general of his Majefty s Forces^ ^c. &e. Cdc. A Proclamation. WHEREAS it has pleafed the Divine Providence to profper the operations of his Majefty’s arms in driving the rebel army out of this province; and whereas it is his Majefty’s moft gracious wilh to ref- cue his faithful and loyal fubjedts from the cruel tyranny under which they have groaned for feveral years, I have thought proper to iflue this Proclama- tion, to invite all fuch faithful and loyal fubjedts to repair, without lofs of time, with their arms and ten days proviftons, to the Royal Standard now eredled at Hillfborough, where they will meet with the moft friendly reception: and I do hereby aflure them that I am ready to concur with them in effedlual meafures for fupprefling the remains of rebellion in this pro- vince, and for the re-eftablilhment of good order and conftitutional government. Given under my hand at head quarters at Hillfbo- rough this 20th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1781, and in the twenty-firft year of his Majefty’s reign. CORNWALLIS. By his Lordlhip’s command, H. Brodrick, Aid de Camp. God fave the King. Inclofed Campaign in North Carolina. 35 Inclofed in Number V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis s Dijpatch, No. 8, to Lord George Germain^ dated Guildford, i~th March, 1781. MY LORD, I HAVE the fatisfabtion to inform your Lord- fhip that his Majefty’s troops under my command obtained a fignal victory, on the 15th inftant, over the rebel army commanded by General Greene. In purfuance of my intended plan, communicated to your Lordfhip in my difpatch. No. 7, I had en- camped on the 13th inftant at the Quaker Meeting between the forks of Deep River. On the 14th I received information, that General Butler, with a body of North-Carolina militia and the expedted reinforcements from Virginia, faid to conhft of a Virginia ftate-regiment, a corps of Virginia eighteen- months men, three thoufand Virginia militia and recruits for the Maryland line, had joined General Greene; and that the whole army, which was re- ported to amount to nine or ten thoufand men, was marching to attack the Britifh troops. During the afternoon intelligence was brought, which was con- firmed in the night, that he had advanced that day to Guildford, about twelve miles from our camp. Being j6 Correjfondence relative to the Being now perfuaded that he had refolved to hazard an engagement, after detaching Lieutenant-colonel Hamilton with our waggons and baggage efcorted by his own regiment, a detachment of one hundred infantry and twenty cavalry, towards Bells Mill on Deep River, I marched with the reft of the corps, at day-break on the morning of the 15th, to meet the enemy or to attack them in their encampment. About four miles from Guildford, our advanced guard, com- manded by Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, fell in with a corps of the enemy, confifting of Lee’s legion, fome back-mountain men and Virginia militia, which he attacked with his ufual good condudl and fpirit, and defeated; and, continuing our march, we found the rebel army pofted on rifing grounds about a mile and a half from the court-houfe. The prifoners taken by Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton having been feveral days with the advanced corps, could give me no account of the enemy’s order or pofition, and the country people were extremely inaccurate in their defcription of the ground. Immediately between the head of the column and the enemy’s line, was a confiderable plantation, one large field of which was on our left of the road, and two others, with a wood of about two hundred yards broad between them, on our right of it; beyond thefe fields the wood con- tinued for feveral miles to our right. The wood beyond the plantation in our front, in the Ikirt of which the enemy’s firft line was formed, was about a mile Campaign in North Carolina. 37 mile in depth, the road then leading into an exten- five fpace of cleared ground about Guildford court- houfe. The woods on our right and left were reported to be impradticable for cannon; but, as that on our right appeared the moft open, I refolved to attack the left wing of the enemy; and, whilfl: my difpofition was making for that purpofe, I ordered Lieutenant Macleod to bring forward the guns and cannonade their center. The attack was directed to be made in the following order: On the right the regiment of Bofe and the feventy- firft regiment, led by Major-general Leflie, and fup- ported by the firfl: battalion of guards; on the left, the twenty-third and thirty-third regiments, led by Lieut. Col. Webfter, and fupported by the grenadiers and fecond battalion of guards commanded by Briga- dier-general O’Hara; the yagers and light-infantry of the guards remained in the wood on the left of the guns, and the cavalry in the road, ready to ad: as circumftances might require. Our preparations being made, the adion began at about half an hour paft one in the afternoon; Major-general Leflie, after being obliged by the great extent of the enemy’s line, to bring up the firft battalion of guards to the right of the regiment of Bofe, foon defeated every thing before him; Lieutenant-colonel Webfter, having joined the left of Major-general Leflie’s divifion, was no lefs fuccefsful in his front, when, on finding that the left of the thirty-third was expofed to a heavy fire 38 Correjfondence relative to the fire from the right wing of the enemy, he changed his front to the left, and, being fupported by the yagers and light-infantry of the guards, attacked and routed it. The grenadiers and fecond battalion of guards moving forward to occupy the ground left vacant by the movement of Lieutenant-colonel Webfter. All the infantry being now in the line. Lieutenant- colonel Tarleton had diredions to keep his cavalry compad, and not to charge without pofitive orders, except to proted any of the corps from the moft evident danger of being defeated. The excelTive thicknefs of the woods rendered our bayonets of little ufe, and enabled the broken enemy to make frequent Hands, with an irregular fire, which occafioned fome lofs, and to feveral of the corps great delay, particu- larly on our right, where the firft battalion of the guards and regiment of Bofe were warmly engaged in front, flank, and rear, with fome of the enemy that had been routed on the firfl: attack, and with part of the extremity of their left wing, which by the clofenefs of the woods had been palTed unbroken. The feventy- firft regiment and grenadiers, and fecond battalion of guards, not knowing what was pafling on their right, and hearing the fire advance on their left, continued to move forward, the artillery keeping pace with them on the road, followed by the cavalry. The fecond battalion of guards firfl: gained the clear ground near Guildford court-houfe, and found a corps of continental infantry much fuperior in number formed in Campaign in North Carolina. 39 in the open field on the left of the road. Glowing with impatience to fignalize themfelves, they inftantly attacked and defeated them, taking two fix-pounders; but, purfuing into the wood with too much ardour, were thrown into confufion by a heavy fire, and im- mediately charged and driven back into the field by Colonel Wafhington’s dragoons, with the lofs of the fix-pounders they had taken. The enemy’s cavalry was foon repulfed by a well-direded fire from two three-pounders juft brought up by Lieut. Macleod, and by the appearance of the grenadiers of the guards, and of the feventy-firft regiment, which, having been impeded by fome deep rains, were now coming out of the wood on the right of the guards, oppofite to the Court-houfe. By the fpirited exertions of Bri- gadier-general O’Hara, though wounded, the fecond battalion of guards was foon rallied, and, fupported by the grenadiers, returned to the charge with the greateft alacrity. The twenty-third regiment arriving at that inftant from our left, and Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton having advanced with part of the cavalry, the enemy were foon put to flight, and the two fix- pounders once more fell into our hands; two ammu- nition-waggons and two other fix-pounders, being all the artillery they had in the field, were likewife taken. About this time the 33d regiment and light- infantry of the guards, after overcoming many diffi- cvzlties, completely routed the corps which was op- pofed to them, and put an end to the abtion in this quarter. 40 Correjpondence relative to the quarter. The twenty-third and feventy-firft regi- ments, with part of the cavalry, were ordered to purfue; the remainder of the cavalry was detached with Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton to our right, where a heavy fire ftill continued, and where his appearance and fpirited attack contributed much to a fpeedy termination of the adtion. The militia with which our right wing had been engaged, difperfed in the woods; the continentals went off by the Reedy-fork, beyond which it was not in my power to follow them, as their cavalry had fuffered but little; our troops were excelTively fatigued by an adlion which lafted an hour and a half, and our wounded difperfed over an extenfive fpace of country, required immediate atten- tion; the care of our wounded, and the total want of provihons in an exhaufted country, made it equally impofhble for me to follow the blow the next day. The enemy did not flop until they got to the Iron- works on Troublefome-Creek, eighteen miles from the field of battle. From our obfervation, and the befl accounts we could procure, we did not doubt but the flrength of the enemy exceeded feven thoufand men; their mi- litia compofed their line, with parties advanced to the rails of the fields in their front; the continentals were polled obliquely in the rear of their right wing. Their cannon fixed on us whilfl we were forming, from the center of the line of militia, but were — ^ctrt'Cornwallis' s March into Virginia. . . 41 were withdrawn to the Continentals before the at- tack. I have the honour to enclofe to your Lordfhip the lift of our killed and wounded; Captain Schutz’s wound is fuppofed to be mortal, but the surgeons alTure me that none of the other officers are in dan- ger, and that a great number of the men will foon recover. I cannot afcertain the lofs of the enemy, but it muft have been confiderable, between two and three hundred dead were left upon the field; many of their wounded that were able to move, whilft we were employed in the care of our own, efcaped and followed the routed enemy; and our cattle-drivers and forage-parties have reported to me, that the houfes in a circle of fix or eight miles round us are full of others: thofe that remained we have taken the beft care of in our power. We took few pri- foners, owing to the exceffive thicknefs of the wood facilitating their efcape, and every man of our armv being repeatedly wanted for aftion. The condudt and adtions of the officers and foldiers that compofe this little army will do more juftice to their merit than I can by words. Their perfevering intrepidity in adlion, their invincible patience in the hardfhips and fatigues of a march of above fix hun- dred miles, in which they have forded feveral large rivers and numberlefs creeks, many ot which would be reckoned large rivers in any other country in the world, without tents or covering againft the climate, H and 42 Correjpondence relative to and often without provifions, will fufficiently mani- feft their ardent zeal for the honour and interefts of their Sovereign and their country. I have been particularly indebted to Major-general Leflie for his gallantry and exertion in the action, as well as his affiftance in every other part of the fervice. The zeal and fpirit of Brigadier-general 0‘Hara merit my higheft commendations; for, after receiving two dangerous wounds, he continued in the field whilfi: the a6lion lafted; by his earnefi: attention on all other occafions, feconded by the officers and fol- diers of the brigade; his Majefty’s guards are no lefs diftinguifhed by their order and discipline than by their fpirit and valour: the Heffian regiment of Bofe deferves my warmeft praifes for its difcipline, alacrity, and courage, and does honour to Major Du Buy, who commands it, and who is an officer of fuperior merit; I am much obliged to Brigadier-general Howard, who ferved as volunteer, for his fpirited example on all occafions: Lieutenant-colonel Webfter conduced his brigade like an officer of experience and gallantry. Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton’s good conducd and fpirit in the management of his cavalry, was confpicuous during the whole aftion; and Lieu- tenant Macleod, who commanded the artillery, proved himfelf upon this, as well as all former occafions, a moft capable and deferving officer. The attention and exertions of my Aid-de-camps, and of all the other 43 Earl Cornwallis s March into Virginia. other public officers of the army, contributed very much to the fuccefs of the day. I have conftantly received the mod zealous affift- ance from Governor Martin, during my command in the fouthern diftrift: hoping that his prefence would tend to incite the loyal fubjeds of this pro- vince to take an adive part with us, he has cheerfully fubmitted to the fatigues and dangers of our cam- paign; but his delicate conftitution has buffered by his public fpirit, for, by the advice of the phyficians, he is now obliged to return to England for the re- covery of his health. This part of the country is fo totally deftitute of fubliftence, that forage is not nearer than nine miles, and the foldiers have been two days without bread; I fhall, therefore, leave about feventy of the word: of the wounded cafes at the New-garden Ouaker- meeting-houfe, with proper affiflance, and move the remainder with the army to-morrow morning to Bell’s-mill. I hope our friends will heartily take an adive part with us, to which I fhall continue to en- courage them; dill approaching our dripping by eafy marches, that we may procure the neceffary fupplies for further operations, and lodge our fick and wounded where proper attention can be paid to them. This difpatch will be delivered to your Lordfhip by my Aid-de-camp, Captain Brodrick, who is a verv 44 Correfpondence relative to very promifing officer, and whom I beg leave to recommend to your Lordffiip’s countenance and fa- vour. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. Inclofed in No. V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis s Difpatch, No. 9, to Lord George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 18, 1781. MY LORD, I MARCHED from Guildford on the morning of the 1 8th of March, and next day arrived at Bell’s- mill, where I gave the troops two days reft, and procured a fmall fupply of provifions. From thence I proceeded flowly towards Crofs-creek, attending to the convenience of fubfiftence, and the movement of our wounded. On my way I iflued the enclofed proclamation, and took every other means in my power to reconcile enemies, and to encourage our friends to join us. From all my information I intended to have halted at Cross-Creek, as a proper place to refreffi and refit the troops; and I was much difappointed, on Karl Cornwallis s March into Virginia^.- 45 on my arrival there, to find it totally impoflible: provifions were fcarce, not tour days forage within twenty miles, and to us the navigation of the Cape Fear river to Wilmington impradticable; for the diftance by water is upwards of a hundred miles, the breadth feldom above one hundred yards, the banks high, and the inhabitants on each fide gene- rally hoftile. — Under thefe circumflances, I was obliged to continue my march to this place, in the neighbourhood of which I arrived on the 7th in- ftant. I have been bufy, fince my arrival, in difpofing of our fick and wounded, and in procuring the necetfary fupplies to put the troops in a proper ftate to take the field. I am in daily expedation of feeing the reinforcement from Europe, and of receiving the Commander-in-chief’s direbtions for the further ope- rations of the campaign. Captain Schutz died a few days after the action, as we expefted; but I am forty to inform your Lord- Ihip, that, notwithftanding the flattering appearances and the affurances of the furgeons. Colonel Webfter, (whofe lofs is feverely felt by me and the whole army) Captain Maynard of the guards, and Captain Wilmoufky and Enfign de Trott of the Regiment of Bofe are fince dead: the reft of the officers are recovering faft, and many of the wounded foldiers have already joined their regiments. 46 Correjpondence relative to Major Craig, who took pofleffion of this place in the latter end of January, has conduced himfelf with great zeal and capacity, having with a very fmall force not only fecured the poll from all infults, but made himfelf refpeftable in this part of the country, by feveral fuccefsful excurfions. I fhall not trouble your Lordfhip on the fubjeft of South-Carolina, having diredted Lord Rawdon, who commands on the frontiers, and Lieutenant- colonel Balfour, commandant of Charles-town, to take every opportunity of communicating to your Lordfhip, as well as to the Commander-in-chief, the date of affairs in that province. As they are both officers of capacity and great merit, I truft that their conduft will have given fatisfadlion. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. Inclofed Earl Cornwallis s March into Virginia. 47 Inclofed in Number V. NORTH CAROLINA. By Charles Earl Cornwallis., Lieutenant-General of his Majejly s Forces, Gfc. Gfc. ^c. A Proclamation. WHEREAS by the bleffing of Almighty God, his Majefty’s arms have been crowned with fignal fuccefs, by the compleat viblory obtained over the Rebel forces on the 15th inftant, I have thought pro- per to iffue this proclamation to call upon all loyal fub- jebts to hand forth, and take an a6live part in reftoring good order and government. And whereas it has been reprefented to me that many perfons in this pro- vince who have taken a lhare in this unnatural rebel- lion, but having experienced the oppreffion and injuf- tice of the Rebel government, and having seen the errors into which they have been deluded by falfehoods and mifreprefentations, are fincerely defirous of returning to their duty and allegiance, I do hereby notify and promife to all fuch perfons (murderers excepted) that if they will furrender themfelves with their arms and ammunition, at head quarters, or to the officer com- manding in the diftrict contiguous to their refped:ive places 48 Correjpondence relative to places of refidence, on or before the 2oth day of April next, they fhall be permitted to return to thei- homes, upon giving a military parole, and fhall be protected in their perfons and properties from all fort of violence from the Britifh troops, and will be reftored as foon as poflible to all the privileges of legal and conftitutional government. Given under my hand at head quarters, this i8th day of March, A. D. 1781, and in the twenty- firfl year of his Majefty’s reign. CORNWALLIS. Inclofed in No. V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis s dispatch. No. 10, to Lord George Germain, dated Wilmington, April 1 8 th, 1781. MY LORD, AS Governor Martin returns to England by this, opportunity, I fhall beg leave to refer your Lordfhip to him for many particulars relating to this province; but I think it incumbent on me to be explicit to your Lordfhip, as his Majefly’s Minifter, on one or two capital points. The principal reafons for undertaking the winter’s campaign were, the difficulty of a defenfive war in South Carolina, and the hopes that our friends in North Campaign in North Carolina. 49 North Carolina, who were faid to be very numerous, would make good their promifes of aflembling and taking an adive part with us, in endeavouring to re- eftablish his Majeftv’s government. Our experience has fhewn that their numbers are not fo great as had been reprefented, and that their friendlhip was only paflive; for we have received little afliftance from them fince our arrival in the province, and although I gave the flrongeft and mod: public affurances, that after refitting and depofiting our fick and wounded, I fhould return to the upper country, not above two hundred have been prevailed upon to follow us, either as provincials or militia. This being the cafe, the immenfe extent of this country, cut with numberlefs rivers and creeks, and the total want of internal navigation, which renders it impoffible for our army to remain long in the heart of the country, will make it very difficult to reduce this province to obedience by a direft attack upon it. If therefore it fhould appear to be the interefi: of Great Britain to maintain what fhe already pofiefles, and to pufh the war in the Southern Provinces, I take the liberty of giving it as my opinion, that a ferious attempt upon Virginia would be the mod: folid Plan, becaufe fuccefsful operations might not only be attended with important confequences there, but would tend to the fecurity of South Carolina, and ultimately to the fubmilTion of North Carolina. I The 50 Correspondence relative to the The great reinforcements fent by Virginia to General Greene, whilft General Arnold was in the Chefapeak, are convincing proofs that fmall expeditions do not frighten that powerful province. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. Inclofed in No. V. Copy of Earl Cornwallis's dijpatch, No. ii, to Lord George Germain^ dated Wilmington^ April i^d, 1781. MY LORD, I YESTERDAY received an exprefs by a fmall veflel from Charles-town, informing me that a frigate was there, but not then able to get over the bar, with difpatches from Sir Henry Clinton, notifying to me that Major-General Philips had been detached into the Chefapeak with a confiderable force, with in- ftru( 5 lions to co-operate with this army, and to put himfelf under my orders. This exprefs likewife brought me the difagreeable accounts, that the up- per polls of South Carolina were in the moft im- minent danger, from an alarming fpirit of revolt, among many of the people, and by a movement of General Greene’s army. Although the exprefles that I fent Campaign in North Carolina. 51 I Tent from Crofs Creek to inform Lord Rawdon of the neceffity I was under of coming to this place, and to warn him of the poifibility of fuch an attempt of the enemy, had all mifcarried, yet his Lordfhip was lucky enough to be apprized of General Greene’s approach at leaft fix days before he polTibly could reach Camden, and I am therefore ftill induced to hope from my opinion of his Lordlhip’s abilities, and the precautions taken by him and Lieutenant- colonel Balfour, that we fhall not be fo unfortunate as to loofe any confiderable corps. The diftance from hence to Camden, the want of forage and fubliftence on the greateft part of the road, and the difficulty in paffing the Pedee when oppofed by an enemy, render it utterly impoffible for me to give immediate affiftance, and I apprehend a poffi- bility of the utmoft hazard to this little corps, with- out the chance of a benefit in the attempt; for if we are fo unlucky as to fuffer a fevere blow in South Carolina, the fpirit of revolt in that province would become very general, and the numerous rebels in this province be encouraged to be more than ever acdive and violent. This might enable General Greene to hem me in among the great rivers, and by cutting off our fubliftence, render our arms ufelefs: and to remain here for tranfports to carry us off, would be a work of time, would lofe our cavalry, and be otherways as ruinous and difgraceful to Britain, as moft events could be. I have therefore under fo manv 5 - Correjpondence relative to the many embarraffing circumftances, (but looking upon Charles-town as fafe from any immediate attack from the Rebels,) refolved to take advantage of General Greene’s having left the back part of Virginia open, and march immediately into that province to attempt a junction with General Phillips. I have more readily decided upon this meafure, becaufe if General Greene fails in the objedt of his march, his retreat will relieve South Carolina; and my force being very infufficient for offenfive opera- tions in this province, may be employed ufefully in Virginia in conjundlion with the. corps under the command of General Phillips. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. C O R R E S- State of the TROOPS that marched with the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis. Campaign in North Carolina. 53 RANK AND FILE PRESENT, AND FIT FOR DUTY. '1 V X O X cs ro 0 H- CO cs cs CO cs !>. Provincials. •sjoomnjOyY EUIJ0JE3 HJJON '-o cs CO d CO -h cs cs •0^ *0?? •uot§ 3 '^ HfPH9 'E 1 German. •sjoSej^ ro 0 CTn r-- o^ t-- ON ‘uog JO juauitSs-g CO CO CO CO Britifh. •XuEdui03 ItfSta ‘ju 3 uii§ 3 -^ y I Z On CO 1 1 1 •UOI|E33Eg pz auolutSo-g yiZ V- CO CO 2 CO •uoTiEjjEg yi LusuiiSa-g yiZ o^ 1 1 1 ■ •jusiuiSs'g p£f CO cs CO 334 ct ct CO ON ct cs •tuouiiSa^ pfz 'O CO ON CO (S cS CO •s 3 iuEdui 03 £ Lu 3 Uii§ 3 -g x{ 59 i 1 1 1 ouauiiSs'g yjZ v- co 1 1 1 •?pjEng JO oppSug 0 oc CD 0 ON CO CO 1-4 •s a X V a Jan. 15, 1781. h-H o c cd g g 5 O c p < ^ ^ £ 1) o ■5 O M CO D-, O 0 01 h H O O H I— I tin Q <1 h IZi w CO W P< Ph w I— I Q ;z; Iz •< TOTAL. '-O CO hH PROVINCIALS. ’XuEdui 03 3H^!T[ ‘SJ33JUnjO^ EutpjB3 iji-iojvj; — i fti •jusuiiSo'^ pa pjt;{;-dju3MX •spjBng JO OpBiug CO 1— 1 CO w h < Q ci CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K. B. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS. PART III. RELATIVE TO THE OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA. NUMBER 1. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton^ dated Byrd's Plantation^ James River, May 26, 1781. S I R, I HAVE confented to the requeft of Brigadier- general Arnold to go to New York; he conceives that your Excellency wifhes him to attend you there, and his prefent indifpofition renders him unequal to the fatigue of fervice. He will reprefent the horrid enormities which are committed by our privateers in Chefapeak- 8o Correjpondence relative to the Chefapeak-bay ; and I muft join my earneft wifh, that home remedy may be applied to an evil which is fo very prejudicial to his Majefty’s fervice. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER 11. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. dated Byrd's Plantation, North of James River, iGth of May, 1781. S I R, THE reinforcement is fafely arrived in James River, and I opened all your difpatches to poor Phillips, marked On his Majefty s fervice. I hope that your Excellency has received my let- ters from Wilmington, and one of the 20th from Peterfburgh; as the latter went by an uncertain con- veyance, I fend a duplicate of it. The arrival of the reinforcement has made me eafy about Portfmouth for the prefent. I have fent Ge- neral Leflie thither with the feventeenth regiment and the two battalions of Anfpach, keeping the forty- third regiment with the army. I Ihall now proceed to diflodge La Fayette from Richmond, and with my light troops to deftroy any magazines or {lores in the neighbourhood which may have been colleded either Operations in Virginia. 8 1 either for his ufe or for General Greene’s army. From thence I purpofe to move to the NeckatWil- liamfburgh, which is reprefented as healthy, and where fome fubfiftence may be procured; and keep myfelf unengaged from operations which might in- terfere with your plan for the campaign, until I have the fatisfaftion of hearing from you. I hope I fhall then have an opportunity to receive better informa- tion than has hitherto been in my power to procure, relative to a proper harbour and place of arms. At prefent I am inclined to think well of York. The objections to Portfmouth are, that it cannot be made ftrong without an army to defend it, that it is re- markably unhealthy, and can give no protection to a fhip of the line. Wayne has not yet joined La Fayette; nor can I pohtively learn where he is, nor what is his force. Greene’s cavalry are faid to be coming this way; but I have no certain accounts of it. Your Excellency defires General Phillips and Ar- nold to give you their opinion relative to Mr. Alex- ander s propofal. As General Arnold goes to New York by the firft fafe conveyance, you will have an opportunity of hearing his fentiments in perfon. Experience has made me lefs fanguine, and more arrangements feem to me neceflary for fo important an expedition than appear to occur to General Arnold. Mr. Alexander s converfations bear too ftrong a refemblance to thofe of the emiftaries from North M Carolina Correjpondence relative to the Carolina to give me much confidence; and, from the experience I have had, and the dangers I have under- gone, one maxim appears to me to be abfolutely neceffary for the fafe and honourable condudl; of this war, which is, that we Ihould have as few poflis as polfible, and that wherever the King’s troops are, they fhould be in refpeftable force. By the vigorous exertions of the prefent governors of America, large bodies of men are foon collecfted; and I have too often obferved, that when a ftorm threatens our friends difappear. In regard to taking pofleflion of Philadelphia by an incurfion, (even if pradlicable,) without an inten- tion of keeping or burning it, (neither of which ap- pear to be advifeable,) I fhould apprehend it would do more harm than good to the caufe of Britain. I fhall take the liberty of repeating, that, if oflen- five war is intended, Virginia appears to me to be the only province in which it can be carried on, and in which there is a flake. But to reduce the province, and keep pofTeffion of the country, a confiderable army would be neceffary; for, with a fmall force, the bufi- nefs would probably terminate unfavourably, though the beginning might be fuccefsful. In cafe it is thought expedient, and a proper army for the at- tempt can be formed, I hope your Excellency will do me the juftice to believe, that I neither wifh nor expedt to have the command of it, leaving you at New York on the defenfive. Such fentiments are fo far Operations in Virginia. far from my heart, that I can with great truth aflure you, that few things could give me greater pleafure than being relieved by your prefence from a fituation of fo much anxiety and refponhbility. By my letter of the 20th, your Excellency will obferve, that, inftead of thinking it poflible to do any thing in North Carolina, I am of opinion that it is doubtful whether we can keep the polls in the back part of South Carolina; and I believe I have Hated, in former letters, the infinite difficulty of pro- tedling a frontier of three hundred miles againll a perfevering enemy, in a country where we have no water communication, and where few of the inhabit- ants are aftive or ufeful friends. In enumerating the corps employed in the Southern Dillrift, your Excellency will recoiled; that they are all very weak, and that fome of the Britiffi as well as Provincial regiments retain nothing but the name. Our weaknefs at Guildford was not owing to any detachment, unlefs that with the baggage; but to our loffies by adion, licknefs, &c. during the winter’s campaign. I faw with concern that you thought Lieutenant- colonel Balfour had aded injudicioully in fending home fome transports. That buHnefs has, I appre- hend, been mifreprefented by perfons interelled in retaining rotten velTels in the fervice of Government. The circumllances I do not now perfedly recoiled, but I believe you will find that the fhips fent home were 84 Correfpondence relative to the were either vidluallers, which the Treafury defired in the ftrongeft manner, or tranfports which were fo exceedingly bad that they could never have gone out with fafety, after a ftay of three months in Charles- town harbour. Whatever was done in it was with my approbation at the time, appearing evidently for the good of the fervice: I, therefore, think it my duty to exculpate Lieutenant-colonel Balfour, whom I have found, on all occafions, a moll zealous, intel- ligent, and deferving officer. Colonel Robinfon’s corps is fo weak, and deferts fo fall, that at the recommendation of General Ar- nold, I have confented that it fhall return in the tranfports to New-York. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER Operations in Virginia. 85 NUMBER III. Sir Henry Clinton., K. B. to Major-general Phillips, dated March 14, 1781, half pajl Pwo. [Received at Peterfburgh by Earl Cornwallis, May 20.] DEAR PHILLIPS, BY the enclofed from the Admiral you will fee that the want of intelligence has again loft us a fair opportunity of giving mortal blow.” I hope, how- ever, he will ftill overtake them before they reach Chefapeak; they failed in a fnow ftorm on Wednef- day, and I fear he was not out of Gardiner’s Bay till Saturday. He was, however, left purfuing on the I ith, with all his coppers and a fair wind. I think, if he does not overtake them at fea, they will not rilk an aftion in Lynhaven-bay, and will therefore pro- ceed with their whole fleet to York, as I told the Admiral they would, and there, perhaps, lay; and I had almoft {zidi fajcinate the Admiral till another fleet arrives; if from Europe, it ought not to come with- out a hint from thence; from the Weft Indies it will not probably come unaccompanied by our friend Sir George. ’Tis poffible it only means to fee the tranf- ports off* the Chefapeak, and then proceed to the IVeJl-Indies with the fleet of men of war; ’tis polTible, alfo, that the whole is gone to the Weft-Indies, for it 86 Correjpondence relative to the it is a bold move to evacuate Rhode-ifland, and pro- ceed to the Chefapeak fo encumbered, liable to be followed by an unencumbered fuperior copper fleet. God fend our old Admiral fuccefs ! I depend on early information from you, and fhall prepare for every polTible event. — Recolle6l that we have not a fingle tranfport till you fend fome. With every wifh for your health and fuccefs. Believe me, &c. H. CLINTON. The fchooner fhall attend you, though we can ill fpare her. As often as poffible communicate by thefe veflels; they make their paffage better than the frigates. P. S. I have received your letters. In addition to what I have written above, pray obferve me well in what I am faying. I think, if the French are gone to Chefapeak, they will fhelter themfelves in York-River. — The Admiral will immediately hold his ufual language — that he waits for the army. That from South-Carolina can- not come, as Colonel Balfour has very injudicioufly fent home the tranfports. — I cannot move a man till you fend back tranfports; but, if he propofes any thing to you, he muft firfl; declare in writing pofi- tively what he thinks his fleet will do, or at leafl: attempt Operations in Virginia. 87 attempt, before you can decide; and then, after con- fulting your officers, let me know your opinion what can be done, and what land force it will require to do it. If all agree that they will be unattackable in that ftation, it mull: be blocked, and then we mull do our bell: to affifl; Lord Cornwallis’s operations, or carry on defultory operations in the Chefapeak till fome other plan can be fettled; but all rnuft be fettled in formal council. NUMBER IV. Sir Henry Clinton., K. B. to Major-general Phillips, dated New-Tork, March 24, 1781. [Received by Earl Cornwallis at Peterfburg, May 20.] DEAR SIR, I BELIEVE that Lord Cornwallis has finiffied his campaign, and, if report fays true, very hand- fomely, by taking all Greene’s cannon, and recover- ing the greatell part of his own men who had been made prifoners by Mr. Greene. — If that ffiould be the cafe, and Lord Cornwallis does not want any co- operation to affift him, and you fee no profped: of ftriking an important droke elfewhere, I ffiall pro- bably requeft you and General Arnold to return to me, with fuch troops as I have already named in my inftrudtions. 88 Correjpondence relative to the inftruftions. But all this will depend on the infor- mation I fhall receive from you, and your opinion refpedting the poll at Portfmouth, and fuch others as you propofe to eftablifh on James river, with their importance confidered, either as aflifting Lord Cornwallis’s operations, or connedled with thofe of the navy. When you return, you will be pleafed to bring with you a fmall proportion of howitzes, mortars, cohorns, &c. fo placed in the velfel in which they are embarked, as to be ready to land direftly, as it is very likely we may proceed upon fome operation immediately on your arrival. I believe Fayette is intrenched at Annapolis, and that his corps does not now exceed nine hundred men, though he ftarted with thirteen hundred. You may polTibly attempt him in earned; — he will, at all events, ferve as a malk to your return to us. You will probably hear from Lord Cornwallis before you determine on any attempt at a diftance from him. — I wifh much to know what troops he thinks he can fpare from the troops under his Lord- fhip’s immediate orders; for, till I do, ’tis impolfible to fix any plan. — Three complete regiments will, I hope, arrive at Charles-town in the courfe of a few days, if Captain Elphinfton fhould think it too early in the feafon to come direbtly here; and three more are hourly expefted from the Weft-Indies, both which divifions will, of courfe, join me. The Operations in Virginia. 89 The French certainly expedt an early reinforce- ment; if it comes from Europe, we muft, I think, hear from thence long before it arrives: if from the Havannah, copper-bottomed Hoops or frigates, which the Admiral will doubtlefs have on the look out, will announce their arrival, and give you time to determine what, in that cafe, will be beft to be done. — And here I take the liberty of hinting to you, that (from the appearance on the map) when you have once obtained a naval force in Curratuck and Albemarle Sounds, by holding the bridges of Pequi- mans and Pafquotank rivers, you fecure a fhort paf- fage across the Albermarle-found, and communication with Lord Cornwallis; or, by deftroying the bridges on thofe rivers, you prevent the enemy’s approach by the bridge at North Weft landing. Upon thofe hints I requeft your opinion, in cypher, as foon as poflible. — In the mean time I fliall prepare for what may probably be your determination, after talking with Brigadier-general Arnold. I beg you will be fo good to forward the enclofed to Lieutenant-colonel Moncrief by the firft oppor- tunity to Charles-town, and that you will bring Mr. Fyers, of the corps of engineers, with you, when you return to this place. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. N P. s. 90 Correjfondence relative to the P. S. Pray fend Brigadier-general Arnold here by the firft good opportunity, if you Ihould not have particular occahon for his fervices. NUMBER V. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Major-general Phillips, dated New-Tork, April ii, 1781. [Received by Earl Cornwallis, at Peterfburg, May 24.] Your letter of the 3d inftant, by Captain Chads, which I am this day favoured with, makes me appre- henfive left you may have mifconceived my intentions with regard to the order in which I wiftied that the different objebls recommended to you in my inftruc- tions fhould be attended to; and that your having in confequence propofed to commence with ftrength- ening the works at Portfmouth, may occafion fome delay of the operations delired to favour thofe of Lord Cornwallis, whofe fttuation after the aftion of the 15th ult. might not only derive the greateft ad- vantage from, but indeed might poflibly be fo critical as even to require a timely exertion of the troops under your command. You will, therefore, have the goodness to forgive me, if I requeft you to recolledl, that at the time thofe inftrublions were drawn up. General Arnold was partly invefted by a confiderable body of militia, and Operations in Virginia. 9 1 and threatened with an attack from the French ar- mament from Rhode-illand, and Fayette’s corps then on their march to Virginia, which naturally pointed out the Jecurity of him, the troops under his orders, and the pofts on Elizabeth-riv^r, as the principal object of your expedition; which words were certainly intended to mean no more than relieving them from their fuppofed danger, by either forming a jundlion with General Arnold, or taking fuch meafures againft the enemies oppofed to him as might mod: effeflually enable you to throw into his lines an immediate fup- ply of provifions and men; for how could I imagine that the poll at Portfmouth, which General Arnold had but juft informed me, in his letter of the 27th of February, he could defend againft the force of the country, and two thoufand French troops, until a reinforcement arrived from hence, would require additional works for its fecurity, after you had joined him with fo confiderable a reinforcement, or was add- ing againft the rebel ftations in its neighbourhood? And I could not but fuppofe that you yourfelt com- prehended what I intended to be the firft objed: of my inftrudions, when you tell me in your letter, by Serjeant Coulter, that the propofed confultation would go, the firft inftance to the fecurity of this '''' poft, and in the next to the fulfilling the firft objebl “of your Excellency’s inftrudions.” Which, (excufe me for repeating it) has been invariably in all my inftrudions to the General-officers fent to the Chela- peak, 92 Correfpondence relative to the peak, operation in favour of Lord Cornwallis. But, if you will have the goodness to read thofe I gave you once more, I am fure you will perceive that what I have faid about ftrengthening the prefent works on Elizabeth-river, and adding fuch others as you fhall think necejfary, is placed fubfequent in order to moft of the other objects recommended to you, and they were of courfe defigned to have been taken into confideration after thofe had been accomplifhed, and you were upon the point of returning to me with part of your prefent force. I am always happy to receive your opinions refpedl- ing the different operations of the war in this coun- try, particularly thofe immediately connected with your own ftation. I, therefore, of courfe, Ihall pay every attention to what you fay about the poll at Portfmouth, and feel myfelf greatly obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to inveftigate its good and bad properties. My ideas of a poft on Eliza- beth-river have continued uniformly the fame fince I firft took a view of it, having always confidered it merely as a ftation to protedl the King’s fhips, which might occafionally fail from thence to cruize in the waters of the Chefapeak, and command its entrance. I, therefore, only wifhed to have there fuch a num- ber of troops as might be fufficient for its defence, and which, being occafionally reinforced, as circum- ftances ftiould require and our abilities admit, might ad: offenftvely in diftrefting and embarrafting the meafures Operations in Virginia, 93 meafures of the enemy in its neighbourhood. — For, God forbid I fhould think of burying the elite of my army in Nanfemond and Princefs Anne! thefe ideas I communicated to the General officers I fent on that fervice; and they each adopted fuch as ap- peared to them beft calculated to answer the intended purpofe. My own opinion indeed was that we ffiould poffiefs a clofe work at Mill Point, (which Fyers forti- fied by my order in 1776, as he will remember,) another at Norfolk, and a third fomewhere on the oppofite fide of the river: but as I had been there only for a very ffiort time, I could not of courfe but be influenced by the reprefentations of the General offi- cers and Engineers on the fpot, who had more time, and better opportunity to examine all the different pofitions on that river. General Leflie therefore having informed me that he had, with the unanimous fuffrage of the fea and land officers on the expedition, made choice of Portfmouth, (which probably he did with a view of putting our friends of Princefs Anne, &c. under cover and protedlion, but, by your account, a fmall houfe, I fear, will be fufficient for them all,) and his Engineer, Captain Sutherland, having in confequence began a work there, which he was of opinion could in a few days be in a ftate to be perfectly fecure with a fmall garrifon; I was induced to recommend to General Arnold the occupying the fame ground: and though I muff do the juftice to that General officer to acknowledge that he gave me, in 94 Correfpondence relative to the in his letter of the 23d of January, a very different reprefentation of the poft at Portfmouth, from the one given me by Major-general Lellie; circum- ftances became so critical at the time I received it, in confequence of the French preparations at Rhode- Ifland, and the numerous militia who were colleft- ing in Virginia and North Carolina, that I thought it an improper time to change the ffation, becaufe good or bad, fuch as it was, it mull for the prefent be defended. I accordingly thought it right to defer, to fome more proper occafion, the writing to General Arnold on the fubjedt; and I was afterwards happy to find by his letter to me of the 27th of February, that his works there were in fuch forwardnefs; and that he was even preparing to fend up James River, an expedition of five hundred men. All thefe cir- cumftances confidered, I was led to fuppofe that the poll at Portfmouth, was now rendered an eligible one by the manner in which it was fortified. How- ever, as I intimated before, it is by no means a pofition of my choice, and if you and General Arnold have fuch good reafons to condemn it, it may be right to return to our original objedl, a ftation to protehl the King s Jhips, which is capable of being main- tained by a garrijon of about five on fix hundred men; and if Mill-Point will anfwer thefe purpofes with- out Norfolk, and the correfponding ftation on the oppofite fide of the river, I can have no objedtion; but Operations in Virginia. 95 but leave it to you to adl as you judge beft for the King’s fervice. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER VI. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Major-General Phillips., dated New-Tork, April 16th, 1781 . [Received by Earl Cornwallis, at Peterfburg, May 24.] DEAR SIR, YOUR letters of the 15th, i6th, i8th, and 19th inftant, were delivered to me on the '22d by Captain Biggs of his Majefty’s fhip Amphitrite. And I Ihould have now entered largely into, and given a detail anfwer (agreeable to your delire) to the feveral fubjedls thereof, if I had not from the purport of Lord Cornwallis’s letter of the loth, and yours of the 19th, judged it to be unnecelfary at prefent to give either you or myfelf that trouble. What you fay in your letter of the 15th inftant, refpebting the poll at Portfmouth, and the choice of another fomewhere elfe on Elizabeth River, you will find fully anfwered in mine to you of the i ith which accompanies this: for (though written above a fort- night fince) I had no fafe opportunity before the prefent of fending it to you. Lord 96 Correjpondence relative to the Lord Cornwallis’s arrival at Wilmington has con- fiderably changed the complexion of our affairs to the fouthward, and all operations to the northward muff probably give place to thofe in favour of his Lordfhip, which at prefent appear to require our more immediate attention. I know nothing of his Lordfhip’s lituation but what I have learnt from his letter to me of the loth, which you have read; and as I have the ffrongeff reafon to believe that he had above three thoufand men (exclufive of cavalry and militia) when he entered North Carolina, I am to- tally at a lofs to conjedlure how his numbers came to be reduced before the day of abtion to one thou- fand three hundred and fixty infantry, except by fuppofing (as you have done) that he had previoufly weakened his army by detachments. Of this how- ever, I fhall probably be informed when I receive the copy of his Lordfhip’s letter to the Miniffer; and I fhall moft likely be at the fame time informed what profpefts he may ftill have of arming the numerous friends we were taught to expebt his find- ing in the diflrifts he has vifited in his march to, and retreat from, Guildford; without whofe affiftance we fhall, I fear, hold thofe provinces by a very precari- ous tenure. I had great hopes before I received Lord Corn- wallis’s letter, that his Lordfhip would have been in a condition to have fpared a confiderable part of his army from Carolina for the operations in Chefapeak, but Operations in Virginia. 97 but you will obferve from it that, inftead of fending any part of his prefent force thither, he propofes to detain a part of the reinforcement coming from Europe for his more fouthern operations, even though they Ihould be defenhve. I lhall therefore take the opinions of the General officers near me upon the prefent date of our affairs, and I propofe afterwards to fend you fuch a further detachment from this army as we may judge can be done with tolerable fecurity to this poll, at lead while we re- main fuperior at fea. With fo large a force as you will then have, I flatter myfelf that you will be able to make the moft effeftual exertions either direblly or indirectly in Lord Cornwallis’s favour, as far as your efforts on the ffiores of the Chefapeak can co-operate with what he may be doing in Carolina. What thefe, however, may be, you, as being upon the fpot, muft certainly be the beft judge, until you either hear further from or fee his Lordfhip. In yours and Brigadier General Arnold’s joint letter, you mention that from one thoufand fix hundred to two thoufand more men, would enable you to take a pofl; in force at Peterfburg; from whence you might break up Mr. Greene’s commu- nications with Virginia, and in co-operation with Lord Cornwallis, probably difperfe the Rebel army. And that you could moreover, with this increaled ftrength, attempt Fayette’s corps, Baltimore, and Annapolis, o 98 Correfpondence relative to the Annapolis, with great probability of fuccefs, and finally attempt Philadelphia, and take port in the lower counties of Delaware, for which you appre- hend your force would then be fufficient. The fecurity of the two Carolinas is certainly an objeft of the greateft importance, and fhould at all events be firft attended to. Succefs alfo againft any confiderable corps of the enemy, which may be col- lected any where within reach, and the taking or deftroying their public ftores, magazines, &c. are undoubtedly very important advantages. But there is in my humble opinion ftill another operation, which if fuccefsful would be moft folidly decifive in its confequences, and is therefore well worth our confideration. It is the trying the fame experiment (which has hitherto unfortunately not fucceeded to ^ the fouthward) in other diftriCts, which have been reprefented as moft friendly to the King’s interefts. Virginia has been in general looked upon as univer- fally hoftile; Maryland has not been as yet tried, but is fuppofed to be not quite fo much fo; but the inhabitants of Pennsylvania on both fides of the Sufquehannah, York, Lancafter, Chefter, and the Peninfula between Chefapeak and Delaware, are reprefented to me to be friendly. There or there- abouts, I think this experiment fhould now be tried, but it cannot be done fairly until we have a force fufficient not only to go there, but to retain a re- fpeClable hold of the country afterwards, fhould it be 99 Operations in Virginia. be judged neceffary. I wifh that our numbers were competent to the occupying two correfponding fta- tions at Baltimore and Elk river. Agreeable to what I mentioned to you in the converfations we have had together on this fubjedt, to which that you may be able on occafion to refer, I have committed the fubftance of them to writing, and fend them to you inclofed. This I Ihould have done fooner, had I had a fafe opportunity before. I have now the greater reafon to be convinced that the opinions I then gave you were right, from a converfation I have hnce had with a very intelligent friend of ours from the country, known to Colonel Simcoe, who goes to you by this opportunity, and will be able to give you the fulled information thereon. April 30th. I expected that the Medea would have been fent to Lord Cornwallis, and that Captain Duncan would have been appointed by the Admiral to condudl the naval operations in the Chefapeak, for which he is particularly qualified from his know- ledge of thofe waters, and his having had the man- agement of that bufinefs in Lord Howe’s command. But the Admiral has juft wrote to me that he cannot poflibly at prefent fpare Captain Duncan, and that he has appointed Captain Hudfon of the Richmond to carry my difpatches to Chefapeak and Cape Lear, and afterwards attend this fervice. My difpatches will therefore go in her under the charge of Lord Chewton, and as we both know Captain Hudfon’s great loo Correfpondence relative to the great zeal to co-operate with the troops on all occa- fions, I hope every thing will go on under his direc- tion perfedlly to your fatisfadlion. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. Inclofed in No, VI. Subftance of Jeveral Converjations had with Major- general Phillips^ on the Subject of Operations in the Chefapeak, before his Embarkation on his Expedition thither. [Received by Earl Cornwallis at Peterfburg, May 2.^-.] UNTIL I know Lord Cornwallis’s fuccefs to the Iduthward, and what force can be fpared from the fouthern diftridl for further operations, and until the reinforcements expedled to this army arrive; fuch troops as are in the Chefapeak may be employed, firft in affifting his Lordfhip’s operations, and then in either eftablifhing a permanent poll near the en- trance of that bay (if the naval commander does not approve of the one in Elizabeth River,) where large Ihips as well as fmall may lie in fecurity during any temporary fuperiority of the enemy’s fleet; or if fuch a poll cannot be found, in employing what remains of the feafon in carrying on defultory expeditions againll fuch towns, llations, magazines, &c. as the enemy may have there; — to convince thofe people more by what we can do, than what we really do, that Operations in Virginia. lOI that they are in our power; and finally, in purfuing the fame plan (fupporting friends,) in a more north- erly and healthy climate. With regard to a ftation for the proteftion of the King’s fhips, I know of no place fo proper as York Town, if it could be taken pofleffion of, fortified, and garrifoned with one thoufand men ; — as by having one thoufand more at a pod fomewhere in Elizabeth River, York and James Rivers would be ours, and our cruizers might command the waters of the Chefapeak. Troops might likewife be fpared from thefe pods to carry on expeditions during the fummer months, when probably nothing can be rilked in that climate but water movements. But if the Heights of York and thofe on Glouceder fide cannot be fo well and fo foon fortified as to render that pod hors d’infult, before the enemy can move a force, &c. againd it, it may not be advifeable to attempt it: in that cafe, fomething may pofiibly be done at Old Point Comfort to cover large fhips lying in Hampton Road, (which is reckoned a good one, and not fo liable to injury from gales at N. E. as that of York, particularly in winter.) If neither can be fecured, we mud content ourfelves with keep- ing the Chefapeak, with frigates and other armed veffels, which will always find fecurity, againd a fuperior naval force, in Elizabeth River. As our operations in proper feafon may re-commence in the Upper James, perhaps a dation might be found at the 102 Correfpondence relative to the the entrance of the narrows of that river that may be of ufe in future day, and held with a fmall force. James-town feems a proper fpot for fuch a ftation; as does the place where the narrows and windings begin. At a proper time of the year operations muft Hill go northward — either by a diredl movement — fta- tioning your fupplies in the navigable rivers which lie favourable for it — in which you are, however, expofed to a temporary naval fuperiority of the ene- my — or by proceeding up the Chefapeak, if a force equal to the attempt can be collefted; (for when it can, I fhould propofe to take a ftation, threatening all the provinces bordering on Chefapeak with a de- fultory war;) prevent thofe provinces from being fuccoured; — by menacing communications; and availing ourfelves of a fuppofed numerous band of friends, who otherwife may be forced to arm againft us. Had we a force fufficient for two movements, that would be beft; — four thoufand men to proceed in tranfports up to Baltimore, taking a ftation within a certain diftance of the Sufquehannah, and having veftels always ready for a rapid move with part, or even the whole, to a correfponding ftation in the Eaftern Neck; while a corps of ten thoufand men, or more, (according to the force that can be brought againft you,) occupies the Eaftern Neck, and can, in its turn, fuccour the weftern corps. Whether the eaftern corps abts alone, or in co-operation, it muft be Operations in Virginia. 103 be in very great force for reafons obvious. I do not know enough of this Neck to fay what force, or whether any, can be placed in fecurity. The moft advanced ftation would certainly be the beft, par- ticularly at firft, to enable our friends, who, we are told, are at Lancafter, Little York-town, and Chef- ter, to join us. — Iron Hill may perhaps be it; and as marfhy creeks run up from Delaware and Chefa- peak, the heads of which are not far afunder, many good polls may be found for corps of different llrength; — for while we command thofe bays, there can be no danger of operation againll our flanks and rear; and if the enemy Ihould be fuperior in one, he cannot be fo in both: — we Ihould therefore have always a communication open. This corps Ihould be very llrong indeed, — or there Ihould be one afting in favour of it in Jerfey. The preference mull be given to that plan, againll which Walhing- ton can bring the leall force. He undoubtedly can bring a greater force into Jerfey than any where, as the New-England troops may be prevailed on to go there, — and they cannot fo eafily be drawn into the Eallern Neck, or even over the Delaware. Belides, if Walhington moves into Jerfey, his meal and flour have both but a fhort portage; but once deprived of the eallern counties, his cattle in that cafe coming chiefly from New England, will increafe his diffi- culty of fubfiftence; for as we may, under thofe cir- cumflances, attempt to occupy King’s Ferry, he will be 104 Correjpondence relative to the be reduced to the Detour. I therefore fhould pre- fer a fingle corps in the Eaftern Neck, fufficient, however, for the purpofe. As the French have ad- ded confiderably to Wafhington’s force, I do not think an army lefs than Sir William Howe had could be fufficient — fifteen thoufand men. But where are they to be found? My whole force, rank and file, fit for duty, is nearly twenty-four thoufand. It is prefumed Lord Cornwallis will be content with fix thoufand for the fouthward; two thoufand we fuppofe in the Chefapeak — twelve thoufand are re- quired for New York; — there remains only four thoufand for that operation. I did expedl ten thou- fand men as an augmentation to my prefent army. — Had they come, this projedl might have taken place; but I am now told, I am to expebt only four thou- fand — which will not be fufficient. — However, once convinced that the French will not fend reinforce- ment, and that we ffiall be permanently fuperior at fea, and have an acflive co-operating naval com- mander, — I fhould be tempted to try: — but until all this combines, I dare not: — and if it is delayed too long, our friends in Pennsylvania may be forced from us, or cajoled. If we could hold the Chefapeak by the pofts on Elizabeth and York rivers, Oxford, and Port Penn, and the two Eaftern on the fea-cofts, and threaten our enemies of Virginia and Maryland, and protect our friends of all thefe countries, I think we fhould in Operations in Virginia. 105 in that cafe leave the French little to induce them to fupport the war. 'i()th April. Thefe however I give you merely as my opinions at the time we talked this on fub- jeft; — and they will influence you, of courfe, no further, than as they correfpond with your own now. With refpedt to the number and difpofltion of friends in Pennfyivania, I am telling you more what I wilh than what I exped; to And; for we have been too often deceived by reprefentations of fanguine friends. H. CLINTON. NUMBER VII. (Secret, and moft private.) Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general Phillips, dated New York, ■^oth April, 1781. [Received by Earl Cornwallis at Peteriburg.] Hear Phillips, I CANNOT judge from Lord Cornwallis’s letter, whether he propofes any further operations in the Carolinas — what they may be — and how far you can operate in his favour. If I was to give a private opinion from reading his letter — I would fay I can- not conceive from it that he has any offenflve objed p in io6 Correjpondence relative to the in view. He fays, that North-Carolina is a country, in which it is impoffible for an army to a6l or move without the afliftance of friends; he does not feem to think we have any there — nor do you. I fhall give no opinion refpefting that at prefent, or until I re- ceive his Lordfhip’s account of the ftate of the pro- vince, and of his winter campaign. H is Lordlhip tells me that he wants reinforce- ment. — With nine Britifh battalions, and detach- ments from feven more, (behdes thofe from the Artillery and feventeenth Dragoons) — five Heffian battalions, and a detachment of Yagers — and eleven Provincial battalions, exclufive of the cavalry and infantry of the Legion, and the Provincial Light Infantry; — I would alk, — How can that be polfible? And if it is, what hopes can I have of a force fuffi- cient to undertake any folid operation? To be brief — If his Lordlhip propofes no opera- tion to you foon, and you fee none that will operate for him diredtly — (that is, before the fir ft of June,) — I think the beft indireft one in his favour will be, what you and General Arnold propofed to me in No. lo of your joint letter of the i8th inftant, be- ginning with the attempt on Philadelphia. The only rifk you run is from a temporary fuperiority of the enemy at fea. — Land and naval reinforcements from France are talked of — If they come immedi- ately from Europe, we muft have fome information of them, and they will, I hope, be followed; — if from the Operations in Virginia. 107 the Wefl-Indies, I hope the fame. It is however an important move, and ought (in my opinion) to be tried, even with fome rifk. If our friends are as numerous and hearty as Colonel Rankin reprefents them to be, with their alfiftance added to what you carry thither, you will be able to maintain yourself. But if, after having given the experiment a fair trial, you find it will not do; you may either retire to Portfmouth, or by tranfports and boats in Delaware pafs to Jerfey — where, at all events, I muft pick you up, by receiving you at, or near. Mount Holly. Give me timely notice of your intended move, and, if polfible, I will follow you into Delaware with fuch a fmall reinforcement as I can at the time fpare. As my invitation to Lord Cornwallis to come to the Chefapeak was upon a fupposition that every thing would be fettled in the Carolinas, I do not think he will come; — if however, he determines to do fo as a vifitor, he will get Barklay or fome other to bring him, for the Admiral has this day only ordered a fhip for the purpofe — and the one he has ordered cannot (I apprehend) get over the bar of Cape Fear. Our Admiral is grown, if polfible, more imprac- ticable than ever. He fwears to me that he knows nothing of his recall — to others he fays, he is going home immediately. If the next packet does not fatisfy me in this particular, I fhall probably retire, and leave him to Lord Cornwallis’s management. — To io8 Correjpondence relative to the To whom it will be my advice to try the only experi- ment that {in my opinion) can operate, if the one in Carolina has failed. — As to Virginia, I know none which can reduce that province in one campaign. — Though it is certainly a great exertion, the only one that appears to me is the above. If I flay it lhall be tried. Without a co-operating naval Chief, the rilk is doubly great: — it would be fufficiently fo with one. But if it fucceeds, its confequences mull be very decifive. May id. The reinforcement is embarked, and fallen down to Staten Illand, where they wait only the Admiral’s pleafure for their proceeding to Chefa- peak. Two days ago he offered to take them thither under the effort of his fleet — to-day he writes to me, “that he thinks he cannot be juftified in lofing a “moment to proceed off the Chefapeak; but if I “think it of greater confequence to land the rein- “forcement of troops propofed to be fent there, than “to intercept the enemy, he will take the tranfports “with him — otherwife, he lhall certainly leave them “behind, until it is known where the enemy’s fleet is “lodged, of which he will tranfmit the earliefl: infor- “mation to me, and then appoint a convoy to bring “them on.” Inanfwer, I have acknowledged the very great importance of intercepting the French fleet — but that it is alfo of importance that this reinforce- ment fhould join you immediately, and to leave him (as being the befl: judge) the propereft mode of ac- complilhing it with fafety. — Thus the matter refts. May Operations in Virginia. 109 May 2 ^. As I am (from the Admiral’s ftrange condud;) doubtful when or whether the reinforce- ment will ever join you, I do not now fend Colonel Rankin to you, as I at firft propofed — but I enclofe his propofals. You will fee by them that he is not much of an officer — but he appears to be a plain, fenfible man, worth attending to — And Simcoe can explain a thoufand things refpefting him and his affio- ciates, which I cannot in a letter. As you feemed to think (before you received Lord Cornwallis’s letter) that all diredl operations in favour of his Lordfhip would ceafe by the end of May; ffiould the expedition not fail from hence before the 20th inft. and I do not hear further from you, I will not fend it; for, in that cafe, I think the experiment on the peninfula may be tried to more advantage up Delaware than round by Chefapeak; in which cafe I fhall expedt General Ar- nold and you, with fuch troops as you can fpare, to meet me at the head of Elk or Bohemia, and form a jundlion. I can certainly fpare more troops from hence for fuch a move than I can fend to Chefapeak, for reafons obvious. Pray let me receive General Arnold’s and your opinions upon Colonel Rankin’s propofals as foon as poffible. I confefs I am not fan- guine; but if the experiment can be tried without any other rilk than from the enemy’s fuperiority at fea, I fhould wifh to do it. Therefore if General Arnold and you like it, I fhall be reconciled to it, and it fhall be tried, after I know your opinions on it, and the inclofed no ' Correjpondence relative to the inclofed propofals — and if you approve, about what time you think the attempt may take place. I am perfuaded, that on application, Captain Hudfon will give you a frigate for your difpatches. If we move up Delaware, Captain Duncan, (Lord Howe’s Cap- tain,) will condudl us. I have already talked to him on the fubjed:, and he approves. If Lord Cornwallis propofes any thing neceflary for his operations, you of courfe muft adopt it if you can, letting me know your thoughts thereon. But ITiould his Lordfhip determine on a defenfive in the Carolinas, he furely cannot want any of the European reinforcement, and will of courfe fend it to you, and all fuch other as fhall arrive. Thus reinforced, if after leaving a fufficient garrifon in Elizabeth river, you can proceed to the peninfula; I think we fhall be in force to give this a fair trial : and I may leave you in the command there, unlefs things fhould take a more favourable turn in the Carolinas, and Lord Cornwal- lis’s prefence there be no longer neceffary; for, until they do, I fhould imagine he will not leave Carolina. You will think me long-winded. But as fafe oppor- tunities are not frequent, I muft make the beft ufe I can of this. I refer you for more information to Lord Chewton, who is the bearer of my difpatches. H. CLINTON. N U M- Operations in Virginia. 1 1 1 NUMBER VIII. Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Major-general Phillips, dated May 1 1 . [Received by Earl Cornwallis at Peterfburg, May 24.] DEAR PHILLIPS, I was in hopes that the fleet would have failed long fince, but although the Admiral dates his letter the loth, off Sandy Hook, I fear he is ftill within. Report fays that the French had not failed from Rhode-Ifland a few days ago, they might, however, have failed yefterday; the only news we have is a riot at Philadelphia, and all paper-money refufed in pay- ment; it works finely. No news from Lord Cornwallis fince his letter of the loth of April. Wafhington fome days fince called in Burgoyne; by a letter from him this day, that is countermanded or fufpended; their councils feem a little unfettled, — it is reported and believed, that the French troops are to join Wafhington, and are now on their route. I am, &c. H. CLINTON. Lord Chewton failed three days fince for Lord Cornwallis. N U M- I 12 Correfpondence relative to the NUMBER IX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-Tork June 15, 1781. [Received June 26, 1781, from Enfign Amiel.] MY LORD, AS the Admiral has thought proper to flop the failing of the convoy with ftores, horfe accoutrements, &c. (which has been for fome days ready to fail to the Chefapeak) without affigning to me any reafon for fo doing, I delay not a moment to difpatch a run- ner to your Lordfhip, with a duplicate of my letter of the I ith inftant, which was to go by that opportunity. And as I am led to fuppofe (from your Lordfhip’s letter of the 26th ult.) that you may not think it ex- pedient to adopt the operations I had recommended in the Upper Chefapeak, and will by this time pro- bably have finifhed thofe you were engaged in, I requeft you will immediately embark a part of the troops dated in the letter inclofed (beginning with the light infantry, &c.) and fend them to me with all polfible difpatch; for which purpofe Captain Hudfon, or officer commanding the King’s fhips, will I pre- fume, upon your Lordfhip’s application appoint a proper convoy. I fhall likewife in proper time folicit the Admiral to fend fome more tranfports to the Chefapeak, in which Operations in Virginia. "3 which your Lordfhip will pleafe to fend hither the remaining troops you judge can be fpared from the defence of the polls you may occupy; as I do not think it advifable to leave more troops in that un- healthy climate at this feafon of the year than what are abfolutely wanted for a defenlive, and defultory water excurhons. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. Duplicate inclofed in Number IX. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis^ dated New- 7 'ork, June II, 1781. [Received the 26th of June from Enfign Amiel.] MY LORD, I am honoured with your Lordlhip’s letter of the 26th ult. and as I am unwilling to detain the con- voy, I fhall not have time to write fo fully to your Lordfhip as I would wifh. Refpecfling my opinions of Rations in James and York rivers, I fhall beg leave only to refer your Lordfhip to my inflrublions to, and correfpondence with. Generals Phillips and Arnold; together with the fubftance of my converfations with the former; which your Lordfhip will have found amongft General Q Phillips’s 1 14 Correjpondence relative to the Phillips’s papers, and to which I referred you in my laft difpatch. I lhall, threfore, of courfe, approve of any alteration your Lordlhip may think proper to make in thofe ftations. The detachments I have made from this army into Chefapeak, fince General Lellie’s expedition in 0(5tober laft, incluftve, have amounted to feven thou- fand feven hundred and twenty-four effecftives; and at the time your Lordlhip made the jundlion with the corps there, there were under Major-general Phillips’s orders five thoufand three hundred and four; a force I fhould have hoped, would be fufti- cient of itfelf to have carried on operations in any of the fouthern provinces of America; where, as ap- pears by the intercepted letters of Walhington and La Fayette, they are in no fituation to ftand againft even a divifion of that army. I have no reafon to fuppofe the Continentals under La Fayette can exceed one thoufand; and I am told by Lieutenant-colonel Hill, of the ninth regiment, that about a fortnight ago, he met at Frederick-town, the Pennfylvania line, under Wayne, of about the fame number, who were fo difcontented, that their officers were afraid to truft them with am- munition. This, however, may have fince altered; and your Lordlhip may polfibly have oppofed to you, from fifteen hundred to two thoufand Conti- nentals, and (as La Fayette obferves,) a fmall body of ill armed peafantry, full as fpiritlefs as the militia of Operations in Virginia. 1 1 5 of the fouthern provinces, and without any fer- vice. Comparing, therefore, the force now under your Lordfhip in the Chefapeak, and that of the enemy oppofed to you (and I think it clearly appears they have for the prefent, no intention of fending thither reinforcements,) I fhould have hoped you would have quite fufficient to carry on any operation in Virginia; fhould that have been advifeable at this advanced feafon. By the intercepted letters, inclofed to your Lord- fhip in my laft difpatch, you will obferve, that I am threatened with a fiege in this poft. My prefent effective force is only ten thoufand nine hundred and thirty-one. With refpeft to that the enemy may colled for fuch an objed, it is probable they may amount to at leaf! twenty thoufand, befides rein- forcement to the French, (which, from pretty good authority, I have reafon to exped,) and the numerous militia of the five neighbouring provinces. Thus circumftanced, I am perfuaded, your Lordfhip will be of opinion, that the fooner I concentrate my force the better. Therefore, (unlefs your Lordfhip, after the receipt of my letter of the 29th of May, and 8th infl. fhould incline to agree with me in opinion and judge it right to adopt my ideas refped- ing the move to Baltimore or the Delaware Neck, &c.) I beg leave to recommend it to you as foon as you have finifhed the adive operations you may be now 1 1 6 Correjpondence relative to the now engaged in, to take a defenfive ftation, in any healthy fituation you choofe, (be it at Williamfburg or York-town.) And I would wifh in that cafe, that after referving to yourfelf fuch troops as you may judge necelfary, for an ample defenfive, and deful- tory movements by water, for the purpofe of annoy- ing the enemy’s communications, deftroying maga- zines, &c. the following corps may be fent to me in fucceffion as you fpare them. Two battalions of Light Infantry. Forty-third regiment. Seventy-fixth or eightieth regiment. Two battalions of Anfpach. Queen’s Rangers, cavalry and infantry. Remains of the detachment of 17th Light Dragoons; and fuch proportion of Artillery as can be fpared, particularly men. Until the arrival of the expelled reinforcements from Europe, it will be impolfible for me to judge what future operations may be within my power, under my prefent circumftances. I heartily wifh I was able to fpare a fecond army, after leaving a fufficient defenfive for this important poll. But your Lordfhip will, I hope, excufe me, if I diflent from your opinion of the manner in which that army fhould be employed; for experience ought to convince us, that there is no poffibility of re-eftab- lifhing order in any rebellious province on this con- tinent without the hearty affillance of numerous friends. Operations in Virginia. 1 1 7 friends. Thefe, my Lord, are not, I think, to be found in Virginia; nor dare I pofitively aflert, that under our prefent circumftances they are to be found in great numbers any where elfe, or that their ex- ertions when found will anfwer our expeftations : but I believe there is a greater probability of find- ing them in Pennfylvania than in any, except the fouthern provinces. In thefe your Lordfhip has already made the experiment; it has there failed — they are gone from us, and I fear are not to be recovered. The only one therefore now remaining is this; and if I continue in the command I am de- termined to give it a fair trial, whenever it can be done with propriety: I am not, however, likely to have a choice of operation at leaf! for fome time to come. Nor can I altogether agree with your Lord- fhip, in thinking that a defultory move againll Phila- delphia would do more harm than good. There, my Lord, are colledted their principal depots of ftores for the campaign, an immenfe quantity of European and Weft-India commodities, and no inconfiderable fupply of money, which their uninterrupted trade and cruifers have lately procured them; and from thefe funds they are now forming a bank by fub- fcription, which, if it fucceeds, may give frefh vigour to their caufe. Could we therefore at this moment feize thofe important magazines, &c. overfet their fchemes, and break up their public credit, the favour- able confequences refulting from fuch fuccefs are too obvious 1 1 8 Correjpondence relative to the obvious to need explanation. And all this, my Lord, I have no doubt might have been effected if our reinforcement had arrived in time, and the enemy had no profped; of receiving any without our either keeping or deftroying Philadelphia; the latter of which is foreign to my inclination, and the former is certainly at prefent inadvifeable. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER X. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. dated PVilliamJburgh, June 1781. S I R, AFTER pafTing James river, at Weftover, I moved to Hanover court-houfe, and croffed the South Anna; the Marquis de la Fayette marched to his left, keeping above at the diftance of about twenty miles. By pufhing my light troops over the North Anna, I alarmed the enemy for Frederickfburgh, and for the jundlion with General Wayne, who was then marching through Maryland. From what I could learn of the prefent ftate of Hunter’s iron manufac- tory, it did not appear of fo much importance as the ftores on the other fide of the country, and it was impoflible Operations in Virginia. 119 impoffible to prevent the jundion between the Mar- quis and Wayne: I therefore took advantage of the Marquis’s paffing the Rhappahannock, and detached Lieutenant-colonels Simcoe and Tarleton to difturb the affembly then fitting at Charlotteville, and to deftroy the ftores there, at Old Albemarle court- houfe, and the Point of Fork; moving with the in- fantry to the mouth of Byrd creek, near the Point of Fork, to receive thofe detachments. Lieutenant- colonel Tarleton took fome members of the aflembly at Charlotteville, and defiroyed there and on his re- turn one thoufand ftand of good arms, fome cloath- ing and other Ifores, and between four and five hun- dred barrels of powder, without oppofition. Baron Stuben, who commanded about eight hun- dred twelvemonths-men and militia, retired with great precipitation from the Point of Fork. Lieu- tenant-colonel Simcoe, after ufing every exertion to attack his rear-guard, defiroyed there and at places adjacent, about three thoufand three hundred fiand of arms, mofi of which unferviceable, but then un- der repair, fome fait, harnefs, &c. and about one hundred and fifty barrels of powder. I then moved by Richmond, and arrived at Williamfburgh on the 25th infiant, having, in addition to the articles already mentioned, defiroyed on this expedition at different places above 2000 hogfheads of tobacco, and a great number of iron guns, and brought off four brafs thirteen-inch mortars, five brafs eight-inch howitzes 1 20 Correfpondence relative to the howitzes, and four long brafs nine-pounders, all French. We found near H anover court-houfe ten French brafs twenty-four pounders, which we could not carry, and had not time or means to deftroy farther than fpiking, and throwing five or fix of them into the Pamunkey; and we found at Wil- liamfburgh a confiderable quantity of Ihot and fhells, which are embarked. General Wayne joined the Marquis about the middle of the month, as did Baron Stuben foon after; and their army has gene- rally kept about twenty miles from us, without any material attempt by detachment, except in an attack on Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe, on the 26th, as he was returning with his corps and the yagers from the deftrubtion of fome boats and ftores on the Chicka- hominy. The enemy, though much fuperior in num- bers, were repulfed with confiderable lofs, three offi- cers and twenty-eight privates were made prifoners: the Rangers had three officers and thirty privates killed and wounded; Lieutenant Jones, who was killed, behaved with the greateft fpirit, and is much lamented by Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe. The morning after my arrival here I was honoured with your Excellency’s difpatches of the iith and 15th inflant, delivered by Enfign Amiel. By them I find, that you think if an offenfive army could be fpared, it would not be advifable to employ it in this province. It is natural for every officer to turn his thoughts particularly to the part of the war in which he Operations in Virginia. I 21 he has been moft employed; and as the fecurity at leaft of South Carolina, if not the reduftion of North Carolina, feemed to be generally expedted from me, both in this country and in England, I thought my- felf called upon, after the experiment I had made had failed, to point out the only mode in my opinion of effedling it, and to declare, that until Virginia was to a degree fubjedted, we could not reduce North Carolina, or have any certain hold of the back coun- try of South Carolina; the want of navigation ren- dering it impoffible to maintain a fufficient army in either of thofe provinces at a confiderable diftance from the coaft, and the men and riches of Virginia furnifhing ample fupplies to the rebel fouthern army. I will not fay much in praife of the militia of the fouthern colonies; but the lift of Britifh officers and foldiers killed and wounded by them ftnce laft June, proves but too fatally that they are not wholly con- temptible. Your Excellency being charged with the weight ot the whole American war, your opinions of courfe are lefs partial, and are diredled to all its parts; to thofe opinions it is my duty implicitly to fubmit. Being in the place of General Phillips, I thought myfelf called upon by you to give my opinion with all deference on Mr. Alexander’s propofals, and the attempt upon Philadelphia. Having experienced much difappointment on that head, I own I would cautioufly engage in meafures depending materially R for 122 Correfpondence relative to the for their fuccefs on the aftive affiftance from the coun- try, and I thought the attempt on Philadelphia would do more harm than good to the caufe of Britain; be- caufe, fuppofing it prafticable to get pofTeflion of the town, (which, behdes other obftacles, if the re- doubts are kept up, would not be eafy) we could not hope to arrive without their having had suffi- cient warning of our approach to enable them to fecure fpecie, and the greateft part of their valuable public ftores, by means of their boats and fhipping, which give them certain poffeffion of the river from Mud Ifland upwards. The difcriminating of the owners, and deftroying any conliderable quantity of Weft India goods, and other merchandize difperfed through a great town, without burning the whole together, would be a work of much time and labour. Our appearance there, without an intention to ftay, might give falfe hopes to many friends, and occafion their ruin; and any unlucky accident on our retreat, might furniffi matter for great triumph to our ene- mies. H owever, my opinion on that fubjedt is, at prefent, of no great importance, as it appears, from your Excellency’s difpatches, that, in the execution of thofe ideas, a co-operation was intended from your ftde, which now could not be depended upon, from the uncertainty of the permanency of our naval fuperiority, and your apprehenftons of an intended ferious attempt upon New York. I have, therefore, loft no time in taking meafures for complying with the Operations in Virginia. 1 23 the requifition contained in your difpatch of the 15th inftant. Upon viewing York, I was clearly of opinion, that it far exceeds our power, conhftent with your plans, to make fafe defenfive pofts there and at Gloucefter, both of which would be neceflary for the protedlion of fhipping. The ftate of the tranfports has not yet been re- ported to me, but I have ordered the few that are at Portfmouth to be got ready; and as foon as I pafl; James River (for which purpofe the boats are collebting), and can get a convoy, they fhall be dif- patched with as many troops as they will contain, and fhall be followed by others as faft as you fend tranfports to receive them. When I fee Portf- mouth, I fhall give my opinion of the number ot men neceflary for its defence, or of any other poll: that may be thought more proper. But as maga- zines, &c. may be deftroyed by occafional expeditions from New York, and there is little chance of being able to eftablifh a poft capable of giving effedtual protection to fhips of war, I fubmit it to your Ex- cellency’s confideration, whether it is worth while to hold a fickly defenfive poll in this Bay, which will always be expofed to a fudden French attack, and, which experience has now fhewn, makes no diverfion in favour of the fouthern army. Tarleton was lucky enough to intercept an exprefs with letters from Greene to La Fayette, of which the inclofed 124 Correjpondence relative to the inclofed are copies. By them you will fee Genera Greene’s intention of coming to the northward, and that part of the reinforcements, deftined for his army, was flopped in confequence of my arrival here. As foon as it is evident that our plan is nearly defenfive here, there can be little doubt of his returning to the fouthward, and of the reinforcements proceeding to join his army. I ftill continue in the mofl painful anxiety for the htuation of South Carolina. Your Excellency will have received accounts of Lord Rawdon’s proceed- ings previous to his arrival at Monk’s Corner, and of his intended operations. My laft account from him is in a note to Lieutenant Colonel Balfour, dated the 9 th infhant at Four Hole Bridge, and he was then in great hopes of being in time to fave Cruger. I have ordered Colonel Gould to proceed, as foon as convoy could be procured, with the nineteenth and thirtieth regiments to New York, leaving the third regiment and the flank companies in South Carolina, till your pleafure is known. I named the flank com- panies, becaufe they might be diftant at the time of the arrival of the order, and as a corps capable of exertion is much wanted on that fervice. Your Excellency well knows my opinion of a defenflve war on the frontiers of South Carolina. From the ftate of Lord Rawdon’s health, it is im- polfible that he can remain; for which reafon, al- though the command in that quarter can only be attended Operations in Virginia. 125 attended with mortification and difappointment, yet, as I came to America with no other view than to endeavour to be ufeful to my country, and as I do not think it poffible to render any fervice in a de- fenfive fituation here, I am willing to repair to Charles-town if you approve of it; and in the mean time, I fhall do every thing in my power to arrange matters here till I have your anfwer. Major Craig reprefented fo ftrongly to Lord Raw- don his regret at leaving the diftreffed Loyalifts in the neighbourhood of Wilmington, and his hopes of a confiderable infurreftion in the lower part of North Carolina, where the enemy have no force, that his Lordlhip gave him a conditional permilfion to poft- pone the evacution of Wilmington; but I have not yet learned whether he has availed himfelf of it. La Fayette’s continentals, I believe, confift of about feventeen or eighteen hundred men, exclu- five of fome twelvemonth’s men, colled:ed by Steuben. He has received confiderable reinforce- ments of militia, and about eight hundred moun- tain rifle-men under Campbell. He keeps with his main body about eighteen or twenty miles from us; his advanced corps about ten or twelve; pro- bably with an intention of infulting our rear guard when we pafs James River. I hope, however, to put that out of his power, by croffing at James City Ifland; and if I can get a favourable opportunity of ftriking a blow at him without lofs of time, I will certainly 126 Correfpondence relative to the certainly try it. I will likewife attempt water expe- ditions, if proper objedls prefent themfelves after my arrival at Portfmouth. I inclofe a report made by Lieutenant Thomas Hagerly, who came with a Captain Fleming from Maryland to join us in North Carolina. I feel moft lincerely for the fulferings of the unfortunate Loyalifts; but being of opinion, that a detachment would not afford them fubstantial and permanent relief, I fhall not venture fuch a ftep, unless your Excellency fhould think proper to dired; it. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER XL Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-Tork, June 28, 1781. [In Cypher.] [Received July 8, 1781.] MY LORD, HAVING for very effential reafons come to a refolution of endeavouring by a rapid move to feize the ftores, &c. collebled at Philadelphia, and after- wards Operations in Virginia. 1 27 wards to bring the troops employed on that fervice to reinforce this poll, I am to requeft, that if your Lordfhip has not already embarked the reinforce- ment I called for in my letters of the 8th, iith, 15th, and 19th inftant, and fhould not be engaged in fome very important move, either of your own, or in confequence of my ideas refpebling operation in the Upper-Chefapeak, you will be pleafed, as foon as poffible, to order an embarkation of the troops fpecified below, J and of ftores, &c. &c. dated in the enclofed paper; — or, in as full a manner as your Lordfhip can with propriety comply; — recollecting, that whatever may have been taken too great a pro- portion of, will be immediately returned to you the moment the expedition is over. As 'it is poffible that your Lordfhip may have fent Major-general Leflie to Charles-town, in con- fequence of what I faid to you in my letter of the 29th ult. I have thought proper to appoint General Robertfon to the command of the troops on this fervice, which I fhould not have judged neceffary, could I have been certain of his being named by you to accompany the troops coming hither. Should that have been the cafe, your Lord- fhip X Second battalion of light infantry ; forty-third regiment ; feventy- iixth or eightieth ; two battalions of Anfpach ; Queen’s rangers, cavalry and infantry ; and fuch a proportion of artillery as can be fpared, par- ticularly men. 128 Correjpondence relative to the Hiip will be pleafed, neverthelefs, to direft him to proceed with the expedition. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. Inclofed in No. XI. Liji of Cannon, Stores, &'c. to be Jent from Virginia. ARTILLERY, &C. Two eight-inch howitzes, light. Two five and a half-inch ditto. Two medium brafs twelve-pounders. Four brafs fix-pounders, field pieces. Twelve waggons, without the bodies, for tranfport- ing boats, &c. &c. A proportion of carcaffes. VESSELS. The floop Formidable, Brigantine Spitfire, Brigantine Rambler, The prize-fhip Tempeft, if fhe can be unloaded and fitted without delaying the tranfports. As many horfes as are neceffary for the artillery and waggons. As many of the firft twenty-four new boats as can be fpared. — Thofe with platforms, to have can- non mounted in them, and compleatly fitted, Operations in Virginia, 1 29 if it can be done without delaying the embarka- tion. — The cannon to be brought in the tranf- ports, and the boats towed by them. Lieutenant Sutherland, of the Engineers, with in- trenching tools, &c. &c. for five hundred men. NUMBER XIL Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton,, K. B. dated Cobham, July 8, 1781. S I R, I WAS this morning honoured with your difpatch of the 28th ult. The troops are perfeflly ready, and will proceed to Portfmouth to wait the arrival of the tranfports. I will give immediate orders about the artillery, ftores, &c. The tranfports now at Portfmouth are fufficient to carry the light infantry; I had prepared them to receive that corps, and fhould have fent them to you in a few days, if your laft order had not arrived. In your cyphered difpatch, the fecond battalion of light infantry only is mentioned, but I conclude that to be a miftake, and fhall keep both ready to embark. I take for granted that General Robertfon will come with the tranfports to take the command of the ex- s pedition. I JO Correspondence relative to the pedition. General Leflie is ftill here, but as it was not my intention to have fent him with the troops to New-York, and, as he will be the properell; perfon to command here in cafe you fhould approve of my returning to Charles-town, I lhall not fend him on the expedition unlefs it fhall then appear to be your Excellency’s defire that he fhould accompany General Robertfon. I muft again take the liberty of calling your Ex- cellency’s ferious attention to the queftion of the utility of a defenfive poft in this country, which cannot have the fmallefl influence on the war in Carolina, and which only gives us fome acres of an unhealthy fwamp, and is for ever liable to become a prey to a foreign enemy, with a temporary fuperiority at fea. Defultory expeditions in the Chefapeak may be undertaken from New-York with as much eafe and more fafety, whenever there is reafon to fuppofe that our naval force is likely to be fuperior for two or three months. The boats and naval alfiftance having been fent to me by Captain Hudfon, I marched on the 4th from Williamfburgh to a camp which covered a ford into the ifland of James-town. The Queen’s Rangers palfed the river that evening. On the 5th, I fent over all the wheel carriages, and on the 6th the bat- horfes and baggage of every kind, intending to pafs with the army on the yth. About noon on the 6th, information was brought me of the approach of the enemy. Operations in Virginia. 131 enemy, and about four in the afternoon a large body attacked our out-pofts. Concluding that the enemy would not bring a confiderable force within our reach, unlefs they fuppofed that nothing was left but a rear- guard, I took every means to convince them of mv weaknefs, and fuffered my piquets to be infulted and driven back; nothing, however, appeared near us but riflemen and militia till near fun-fet, when a body of continentals with artillery began to form in the front of our camp. I then put the troops under arms, and ordered the army to advance in two lines. The at- tack was began by the firfl: line with great fpirit ; there being nothing but militia oppofed to the light infan- try, the adlion was foon over on the right, but Lieut. Col. Dundas’s brigade, confifting of the forty-third, feventy-fixth, and eightieth regiments, which formed the left wing, meeting the Pennfylvania line, and a detachment of the Marquis de la Fayette’s conti- nentals, with two flx-pounders, a fmart aftion enfued for fome minutes, when the enemy gave way and abandoned their cannon. The cavalry were perfectly ready to purfue, but the darknefs of the evening pre- vented my being able to make use of them. I cannot fufficiently commend the fpirit and good behaviour of the officers and foldiers of the whole army; but the feventy-flxth and eightieth regiments, on whom the brunt of the adion fell, had an opportunity of diftinguiffiing themfelves particularly, and Lieu- tenant-colonel Dundas’s condud and gallantry de- fer ve 132 Correjpondence relative to the ferve the higheft praife. The force of the enemy in the field was about two thoufand, and their lofs, I believe, between two and three hundred. Half an hour more of day-light would have probably given us the greateft part of the corps. I have enclofed a lift of our killed and wounded. We finiftied our paflage yesterday, which has been an operation of great labour and difficulty, as the river is three miles wide at this place; I have great obligations to Captain Aplin and the officers of the navy and feamen, for their great exertions and atten- tions on this occafion. I have not received the letters your Excellency alludes to, of the 29th of May, or 8th and 19th of June. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER XIII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. dated Suffolk, July 12, 1781. S I R, I ACKNOWLEDGED in my letter of the 8th the receipt of your Excellency’s difpatch of the 28th of June. I have fince been honoured with that of the Operations in Virginia. 133 the I ft, by the Orpheus, and of the duplicates of thofe of the 29th of May, 8th and 19th of June, by the Charon, the originals of which have mifcarried. I have only now to inform your Excellency, that every exertion fhall be made to fit out the expedition in the compleateft manner without lofs of time, and as by your letter to General Leflie you feem to wifh that he Ihould accompany it, I have fent him direc- tions for that purpofe. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER XIV. Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-Tork, June 8th, 1781. [Received July 12, 1781, from Lieut. Col. M‘Pherfon.] MY LORD, I INCLOSE to your Lordlhip copies of fome intercepted letters; by thefe your Lordfhip will fee that we are threatened with a fiege. The enemy have had bad information refpedling m.y force; it is not, however, as your Lordfhip knows, what it ought to be. Your Lordfhip will fee by Layette’s letter, that you have little more oppofed to you than 134 Correfpondence relative to the than his corps and an unarmed militia; for, we are told here, that the Pennfylvania troops have revolted a fecond time, at York-town, Your Lordfhip can therefore certainly fpare two thoufand, and the fooner they come the better; without it Ihould be your in- tention to adopt my ideas of a move to Baltimore or the Delaware Neck, and put yourfelf in nearer co-operation with us; but even in that cafe you can fpare us fomething, I fuppofe. I am naturally to expebt reinforcement from Eu- rope, but not having heard from thence fince Fe- bruary, I can fay nothing pofitive as to when it failed. It is rumoured here (from what authority I cannot learn) that the three battalions from Corke are arrived at Charles-town, and that your Lordfhip has ordered them to Chefapeak. Should that have been the cafe, I have by this opportunity direbled them not to difembark, but to join me here as foon as a convoy can be obtained for them; in the firft place becaufe I want them, and in the next, becaufe it would be death to them to abl in Chefapeak in July. From all the letters I have feen, I am of opinion, if circumftances of provifions, ftores, &c. turn out as they wifh, that the enemy will certainly attack this poft. As for men, for fuch an objebt as this (cir- cumftanced as they fuppofe it to be) it cannot be doubted that they can raife a fufficient number. By a commiffary of provifion’s intercepted letter, he now feeds Operations in Virginia. 135 feeds (at Weft-point only) eight thoufand, and they are coming in very faft. My difpatches for your Lordfhip, and the ftores, &c. you fent for, have been waiting for a convoy thefe ten days. I hope it will fail immediately, but I difpatch this runner in the mean time, referring your Lordfhip to the bearer. Lieutenant Nairne, for particulars. I requeft that the officer commanding at Portf- mouth may have pofitive orders to difpatch a runner once a week while they laft, whether he has any thing material to fay or not. Every circumftance in the prefent fituation of the corps of this army is of con- fequence to know. As your Lordfhip is now fo near, it will be unneceflary for you to fend your difpatches immediately to the Minifter: you will therefore be fo good to fend them to me in future. I am much in want of howitzes, &c. I think your Lordfhip can fpare fome; if so, I requeft they may be fent, and a good proportion of artillery men with them. Captain Page of the Artillery, and Lieutenant Sutherland of the Engineers are to return here, as I particularly want them; and Lieutenant Fyers, if your Eordfhip can poflibly fpare him. I likewlfe requeft that your Lordfhip will fend General Arnold to me. I fend by Lieutenant-colonel Macpherfon a com- miflion for Colonel Abercrombie to ad; as Brigadier- general until further orders; but I fear it will not be in my power to eftablifh him in that rank, as I un- derftand 136 Correjpondence relative to the derftand there are fix older than him coming out. The commiffion will therefore be delivered to your Lordlhip, to ufe or not as you may fee expedient. But at all events I imagine your Lordlhip will not think it necelfary to give the commiffion to Colonel Abercrombie, whilft Major-general Lellie, or Briga- dier-general Arnold, remain with you. I am perfuaded that I need not fay to your Lord- lhip how necelfary it is that I Ihould be informed without delay of every change of pofition in your Lordlhip’s army; and I am fure you will excufe me for obferving that had it been polfible upon the ar- rival of the lall reinforcement from hence (which I am told joined you the day after the date of your letter of the 20th ult.) for your Lordlhip to have let me know your views and intentions, I Ihould not now be at a lofs to judge of the force you might want for your operations. Ignorant therefore as I am of them, I can only truft, that as your Lordlhip will fee by the inclofed letters, my call for a reinforce- ment is not a wanton one, you will fend me what you can fpare as foon as it may be expedient; for Ihould your Lordlhip be engaged in a move of fuch import- ance as to require the employment of your whole force, I would by no means wilh to fiarve or obftrudt it; but in that cafe would rather endeavour to wait a little longer, until my occafions grow more urgent, or your fituation can admit of your detaching; of which, however, I requeft to be informed with all polfible Operations in Virginia. 137 poffible difpatch. But with refpeil to the European reinforcement, I muft requeft, that fhould it arrive in the Chefapeak, it may be fent to me without de- lay, agreeable to the orders I have fent to the officer commanding at Portfmouth, and the requifition I make by this opportunity to Captain Hudfon, or officer commanding the King’s ffiips. Should your Lordlhip not propofe to fend Major- general Leflie to command in South Carolina, I beg leave to mention that his affiftance may probably be wanted here, if he can be fpared from your army. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER XV. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis^ dated at New-Tork., ic^th of June^ 1781. [Received July 12, 1781, from Lieut. Col. M‘Pherfon.] MY LORD, THE intercepted letters, which I had the honour to tranfmit to your Lordffiip with my difpatch of the 8th inft. will have informed you, that the French Admiral meant to efcape with his fleet to Bofton, T from ijS Correfpondence relative to the from Rhode Ifland; (from whence it is probable they failed the 15th inft. the wind being then fair;) and that it was propofed the French army fhould after- wards join fuch troops as Mr. Wafhington could aflemble, for the purpofe of making an attempt on this poll. I have often given it as my opinion to your Lord- fhip, that for fuch an objebt as this, they certainly could raife numbers; but I very much doubt their being able to feed them. I am, however, perfuaded, they will attempt the inveftiture of the place. I therefore heartily wifh I was more in force, that I might be able to take advantage of any falfe move- ment they may make in forming it. Should your Lordfhip have any folid operation in the Chefapeak to propofe, or have approved of the one I mentioned in my former letters, I fhall not, as I have already told you, prefs you for the corps I wifhed to have fent me, at leaft for the prefent. But if, in the approaching inclement feafon, your Lord- fhip fhould not think it prudent to undertake ope- rations with the troops you have, (and you may eafdy conceive I cannot poffibly fpare more,) I cannot but wifh for their fake, if I had no other motive, that you would fend me as foon as poffible what you can fpare from a refpedable defenfive. And that your Lordfhip may better judge what I mean by a rejpehlable defend ve, it is neceflary to inform you, that other intelligence, beddes Mondeur Barras’ letter, makes it highly pro- bable. Operations in Virginia. 139 bable, that Monfieur de Grafle, will vifit this coaft in the hurricane feafon, and bring with him troops as well as fhips. But, when he hears that your Lordfhip has taken pofleffion of York river before him, I think it moft likely he will come to Rhode Ifland; and, in that cafe, that their firft efforts will be in this quarter. I am, however, under no great apprehenfions, as Sir George Rodney feems to have the fame fufpicions of De Graffe’s intention that we have, and will of courfe follow him hither. For I think our fituation cannot become very critical, unlefs the enemy by having the command of the Sound, fhould poffefs themfelves of Long Ifland; which can never be the cafe, whilft we are fuperior at fea. What I faid to your Lordfhip in my letter of the 8th inft. refpefting the reinforcement from England, was only occahoned by a report prevailing here, that you had ordered them from Charles-town to the Chefapeak. But as it is now probable there is no real foundation for the report, it is unneceffary to trouble your Lordfhip again on the fubjecd, as they will of courfe remain in South Carolina, fhould they arrive there. In the hope that your Lordfhip will be able to fpare me three thoufand men, I have fent two thoufand tons of tranfports from hence; and what is wanting may be made up from thofe in Chefapeak. The corps I named in my letter of the iith, will, I imagine, amount to nearly that number. But fhould your Lordfhip not be able to fpare the whole, it is neceflary 140 Correfpondence relative to the neceflary to mention, that 1 expeft the detachment of the feventeenth dragoons, as they happened to be placed laft in the lift. I likewlfe requeft, your Lord- ftiip will at the fame time fend me the twenty-four boats built by General Arnold, if you fhould have no particular call for them; as they will be ufeful here, and it Is probable the ten, (which I underftand are now building in the Chefapeak,) will be fufftcient for your Lordlhip’s purpofes. But as your Lordflilp will be the beft judge of this, you will fend, them or not, as you pleafe. I have at laft had a perfonal conference with the Vice-admiral; and he has agreed, if he does not in- tercept the French fleet, to take his ftation between the Nantucket Shoals and Delaware, where his fleet is to cruife for the protecftion of this harbour, and our communication with the Chefapeak. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. N U M- Operations in Virginia. 141 NUMBER XVI. Sir Henry Clinton., K. B. to Earl Cornwallis., dated New York, July iji, 1781. [Received July 12, 1781, by the Orpheus.] MY LORD, FOR reafons which I think it unnecelTary to mention to you by this opportunity, I requeft, that whatever troops, &c. your Lordfhip may have em- barked for this place, may fail forty-eight hours after the departure from the Chefapeak of the frigate which carries this letter, and which has orders to return whenever your Lordlhip lignifies to the Captain of her, that the troops, &c. are all on board, and ready to proceed on the intended fervice. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER 142 Correjpondence relative to the NUMBER XVII. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. dated Suffolk, \~jth July, 1781. S I R, I AM glad to hear from Portfmouth that the expedition is almoft ready to fail; and having given General Leflie full powers relating to the equipment of it, I hope it will be to your fatisfabtion. I have detained fix infantry boats and four horfe boats for the fervice here, and have direfted all the others to go, if they can be carried. The twenty-third Light Company has done duty for fome time paft with the Legion, which is not yet returned from an excurhon to the upper part of the country; I have, therefore, in place of the twenty-third, fent the Light Companv of the eightieth. The enemy’s army having come fo low down the country, and we having, by the deftrublion of their craft, rendered it difficult for them to pafs James river below Tuckahoe, and the militia of the upper counties of this fide of the river being with them, I thought it a good opportunity to endeavour to deftroy the magazines between James river and the Dan that are deftined for the ufe of their fouthern army. I ac- cordingly detached Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton with the Legion cavalry, and fomething upwards of one hundred Operations in Virginia. 143 hundred mounted infantry, on the 9th inftant, from Cobham, with orders to call, among other places, at Prince Edward and Bedford court houfes, where I was informed their principal military ftores had been collefted. This will be a fatiguing expedition; but I fhall be able to give them reft upon their return, as I fee little appearance of cavalry being much wanted in this quarter for fome time to come. In the mean time I fhall remain at, or near, this place till he comes back, which I hope will be in a few days. I have de- tached Lieutenant-colonel Dundas with part of the eightieth, to deftroy the fhipping and ftores at South Quay; and, if poflible, I fhall fend a detachment to Edenton for the fame purpofe, before I fall back to Portfmouth. Colonel Gould has not received my order for fen- ding two of the late-arrived regiments to New-York, the exprefs veflel with my difpatches having been taken by a rebel privateer. And as it appears by your Excellency’s difpatch to me of the 19th of June, that you approve of the three regiments remaining in South Carolina, I have notified this to Colonel Gould by the Amphitrite, which retook the exprefs veflel, and called here two days ago, in her way to Charles-town. The variety of fatiguing fervices for which pio- neers are conftantly wanted, obliged me to augment the detachment with this army to a company of fifty men, and I appointed Lieutenant Brown of that corps 144 Correjpondence relative to the corps Captain; and Mr. Jackfon, a North-Carolina refugee, Lieutenant. Mr. Brown is an old officer of pioneers, and in his own line a man of uncommon merit. The officers of the guards having repeatedly re- prefented the very fuperior merit of Mr. Ruffi, their furgeon, and his unwearied and Ikilful attention to their numerous fick and wounded, I think it right to mention him to your Excellency, as a man highly worthy of a mark of favour. I received your Excellency’s letter, with the inclo- fures relating to the tranfports intended to be fent home by the Agent and Lieutenant-colonel Balfour. The refolution of fending all had been adopted after I left South Carolina, in confequence of the Minif- ter’s Circular Letter, and which, if executed, I ffiould, no doubt, have difapproved of, being entirely of opinion with your Excellency, that it is with you to decide whether ferviceable tranfports can be fpared. But I am happy to find that Lieutenant-colonel Bal- four returned to his firft refolution, which I approved of, only difpatching victuallers and unferviceable tranfports, and which I hope before now has been explained to your Excellency’s fatisfaction. It gave me great pleafure to learn from a Charles- town paper, lately brought in here, that General Greene had raifed the fiege of Ninety-fix, after having been repulfed in an attempt to carry it by affault, and that Lord Rawdon had arrived there on the 20th ult. I have Operations in Virginia. 145 I have likewife been informed in this country that Greene was on his march on the 24th ult. towards Broad river. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. NUMBER XVIII. Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated Head- barters, New-Tork, July i\th, 1781. [In Cyph er.] [Received from Brig. Maj. Bowes, July 20th, at i A.M.] MY LORD, I HAVE received your Lordfhip’s letter of the 30th of June, and the Admiral has difpatched a fri- gate with his and my opinions in anfwer to it. I cannot be more explicit by this opportunity than to defire, that if you have not already pafled the James river, you will continue on the Williamfburgh Neck, until Ihe arrives with my difpatches by Captain Sta- pleton. If you have pafled, and find it expedient to recover that ftation, you will pleafe to do it, and keep polTeflion until you hear further from me. Whatever troops may have been embarked by you for this place, are likewife to remain until further u orders; 146 Correfpondence relative to the orders; and if they fhould have been failed, and within your call, you will be pleafed to flop them. It is the Admiral’s and my wifh, at all events to hold Old Point Comfort, which fecures Hampton road. H. CLINTON. NUMBER XIX. Sir Henry- Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis^ dated New-Tork, July 15, 1781. MY LORD, UNTIL I had the honour to receive your Lord- fhip’s letter of the 8th inftant, I had flattered myfelf, that upon re-confidering the general purport of our correfpondence, and General Phillips’s papers in your polTeflion, you would at leafl: have waited for a line from me in anfwer to your letter of the 30th ult. be- fore you finally determined upon fo ferious and mor- tifying a move as the re-paffing James river, and re- tiring with your army to Portfmouth. And I was the more induced to hope that this would have been the cafe, as we both feemed to agree in our opinion of the propriety of taking a healthy ftation on the Neck, between York and James rivers, for the pur- pofe of covering a proper harbour for our line-of- battle fhips. And I am perfuaded your Lordlhip will Operations in Virginia. 147 will be fenfible, that in all my letters I clearly leave you at full liberty to detain any part, or even the whole of the troops I folicited you to fend me, Ihould your Lordlhiip have determined on any folid opera- tion of your own in Virginia, or elfewhere; or fhould you have adopted the one I had recommended in the Upper Chefapeak; or even Ihould you have judged their continuance with you neceffary until the ftations you might think proper to take were rendered re- fpedlably defenfive. Your letter of the 30th ult. in which your Lord- fhip was pleafed to intimate this intention, did not leave the Chefapeak before the 5th inftant: and as foon as I confulted the Admiral at the Hook upon its contents, I loft no time in difpatching my anfwer to your Lordftiip, both by a fhip of war and one of my runners; but as I now find your Lordftiip has de- cided, I lhall fay no more upon the fubject; and I fincerely congratulate you upon the fuccefs of your well concerted plan againft the Marquis de la Fay- ette, hoping that amongft other good effeds which may be expeded from it, it will prevent his giving you difturbance in the execution of what I recom- mended to your Lordfhip in my letter of the iith inftant, a duplicate of which accompanies this. I likewife requeft your Lordfhip will be pleafed to communicate to Lieutenant-colonels Dundas, Simcoe, and Tarleton (whom you have particularifed, the firft for his condud and gallantry in the adion of James- town, 148 Correjpondence relative to the town, and the two others for their adive fervices on your march through Virginia) and to all the other officers and foldiers under your command, the high fenfe I have of their fpirit and good behaviour, for which I defire their acceptance of my thanks. As your Lordffiip is again pleafed to recall my ferious attention to the queftion of the utility of a defenfive poll in Virginia, which you fay cannot have the fmallefl: influence on the war in Carolina, and which only gives us fome acres of an unhealthy fwamp, I mufl: in anfwer beg leave again to repeat to your Lordffiip, that it never was my intention to continue a poll on Elizabeth river any longer than until the commencement of folid operation in the Chefapeak, nor to have there more troops than what might be capable of defending a fmall work on that river; and that all the general officers who have commanded in the Chefapeak have had my confent to change that ftation for one more healthy, if they judged it proper to do fo. To which I will moreover add, it ever has been, is, and ever will be, my firm and unalterable opinion, that it is of the firfl: confequence to his Majefty’s affairs on this continent, that we take pof- feffion of the Chefapeak, and that we do not after- wards relinquiffi it. I beg leave alfo, my Lord, to dilfent from the opinion you have given me of a de- fenfive poll in Chefapeak, and that defultory expedi- tions there may be undertaken from New-York with as much eafe and more fafety; for I cannot but fup- pofe. Operations in Virginia. 149 pofe, that a defenfive ftation in the Chefapeak, with a corps of at leaf!: four thoufand regular troops, for its protedlion and defultory water movements during the fummer months, wherein land operation may be im- pradicable, would have the moft beneficial effedls on more diftant diftridts, for the reafons I have already had the honour to give your Lordfhip. Nor do I re- coiled, that in any of my letters to your Lordfhip I have fuggefted an idea, that there was a probability of the enemy’s having a naval fuperiority in thefe feas for any length of time, much lefs for fo long a one as two or three months. But with refped to the un- healthinefs of the ftation at Portfmouth, my letters to General Phillips on that fubjed, (wherein I fay, God forbid I fhould wifh to bury the elite of my army in Nanfemond and Princefs Anne) will fatisfy your Lordfhip that we are both of one opinion. With regard to your Lordfhip’s returning to Charles-town, for which you fay you wait my ap- probation, though I allow your Lordfhip to be the belt judge where your prefence may be moft required, yet, as I cannot conceive that offenfive operation will be carried on in Carolina for fome months, I muft beg leave to recommend it to you to remain in Chefa- peak, at leaft until the ftations I have propofed are occupied and eftablifhed, and your Lordfhip favours me with your opinion of the number of men you can afterwards fpare from their defence until the firfi; week in Odober; about which time it is my intention, as I have 150 Correjpondence relative to the have before told your Lordfhip, to recommence ope- ration in the Chefapeak: but whether in Virginia, according to your Lordlhip’s plan, or in the Upper Chefapeak, according to my own, I fhall then deter- mine. If in the firft, I fhall requeft the favour of your Lordfhip to condu6l it, as you muft be a better judge than I can, from the local knowledge you have acquired in your march through great part of the country, and your being from thence capable of judg- ing how far it is connected with the fouthern provinces. If in the lafl, I fhall probably affume the diredlion of it myfelf; and I fhall in that cafe be glad to have your Lordfhip’s affiftance: but if you Ihould prefer return- ing to Carolina, I fhall after that no longer reftrain your Lordfhip from following your inclinations. Now, my Lord, I have only to repeat, what I have already faid in all my letters, that you are at full liberty to employ all the troops under your imme- diate command in the Chefapeak, if you are of opinion they may be wanted for the defence of the ftations you fhall think proper to occupy, fecuring to us at leaf! a healthy one, from whence we may flart at the proper time for beginning operation, and for the car- rying on in the interim fuch defultory water expedi- tions as you may think of any utility. I fhould, in- deed, have hoped, that even in the feafon for ablive operation, feven thoufand men would have been quite fufficient, confidering the force which the enemy can bring againfl you; in this, however, your Lordfhip feems Operations in Virginia. 1 5 1 feems to think diflFerently. Should nothing, there- fore, happen to induce you to alter your opinion, or Ihould any objedl: call up of importance enough to be undertaken at this inclement feafon, you are at liberty to keep the whole. But before you finally decide, I requefi: your Lordfhip will recolledt the very bare de- fenfive I am reduced to in this poll; whilft I have oppofed to me Walhington’s army, which is already eight or ten thoufand men, the French four thoufand, befides the large reinforcements expelled to them; and I fcarce need mention to your Lordfhip, who is fo well acquainted with their difpofition, the effecfl which fuch an appearance will have on the numerous and warlike militia of the five neighbouring provinces. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. N U M- Correjpondence relative to the 152 NUMBER XX. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-Tork, July 26, 1781. MY LORD, I HAD the honour to receive your Lordfhip’s letter, of the 17th inftant, by Major Darner, who arrived here the 22d, and as it is pofTible that my difpatches of the iith may not have reached you before the troops under General Leflie failed from Portfmouth, and left any change of arrangement your Lordftiip may have judged proper in confequence may be thereby prevented, I immediately difpatched a runner to cruize for the fleet off the Delaware, with orders for the troops, in that cafe, to return imme- diately to you, and wait your further commands; but if you had received my letters by Captain Stapleton before they failed, and had, notwithstanding, diredled them to proceed according to their original deftina- tion, they are ordered to come to the Hook to re ceive mine. What I faid to your Lordfhip in my letter of the 19th inftant, refpefting the continuance of the three European regiments in Carolina, was only on a fup- pofition that your Lordfliip thought they would be wanted there; but as that appears not to be the cafe, from Operations in Virginia. 1 53 from your having ordered two of them to join me, if you fhould ftill be of opinion, that they can be fpared during the inactive fummer months, I hope your Lordfhip will think proper to renew your order for their coming here, as I fhall probably want them, as well as the troops you may be able to fpare me from the Chefapeak, for fuch offenlive or defenhve opera- tions as may offer in this quarter, until the feafon will admit of their afting in yours, where I propofe collefting, in the beginning of Ocflober, all the force which can be fpared from the different polls under my command. But if your Lordfhip wifhes that Brigadier General Gould fhould command in Caro- lina upon the departure of Lord Rawdon, I fhall have no objedlion to his remaining behind for that purpofe. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER XXL Rarl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton., K. B. dated Tork- Town, Virginia, 10th Augujl, 1781* S I R, I HAVE been honoured with your Excellency’s difpatches of the 15th and 26th ult. V I beg 1 54 Correjpondence relative to the I beg leave to affure your Excellency, that before I refolved to pafs James River to enable me to com- ply with your requifition of troops, I had very ma- turely confidered the general tenor of your difpatches to General Phillips, as well as thofe to me of the iith and 15th of June, delivered on the 26th, by Enfign Amiel; and when I decided upon that mea- fure, I fufficiently felt how mortifying it was to me, perfonally, and how much the reputation of his Ma- jefty’s arms would fuffer by it in this province. But your Excellency was pleafed to give me to underftand, in your difpatch of the iith, that you wifhed to concentrate your force, being threatened with an attack at New York by General Walhing- ton with twenty thoufand men at lead, belides an expedled French reinforcement, and the numerous militia of the five neighbouring provinces; and, in your difpatch of the 15th, fuppofing that I had not thought it expedient to engage in operations in the Upper Chefapeak, and that thofe I had undertaken in this province would be finifhed, you require that part of the troops, mentioned in a lift contained in the former difpatch, fhould be embarked to be fent to New York with all poflible difpatch; notifying to me, at the fame time, that you would, in proper time, folicit the Admiral to fend more tranfports to the Chefapeak; in which you defired that I would fend the remaining troops that I judged could be fpared from the defence of the pofts that I might occupy Operations in Virginia. 155 occupy, as you did not think it advifeable to leave more troops in this unhealthy climate, at this feafon of the year, than what were abfolutely wanted for a defenhve, and defultory water excurfions. My own operations being finilhed, and being of opinion, that, with the force under my command, and circum danced as I was, in a variety of refped:s, it would have been highly inconfiderate in me, and dangerous for the King’s fervice, to engage in ope- rations in the Upper Chefapeak, I thought it incum- bent upon me to take elfedlual meafures to enable me to obey fo explicit an order without lofs of time. To this end, as I could not difcover in your inftruc- tions to General Phillips, or in your paper contain- ing the fubftance of private converfations with him, or in your difpatches to me, any earneftnefs for im- mediately fecuring a harbour for line of battle fhips, I thought myfelf under the neceffity of being con- tented with the pod at Portfmouth, fuch as it was; for I did not imagine myfelf at liberty to exercife my difcretionary power, by changing that pod for another, which I knew would have required fo great a part of the troops under my command for many weeks, for the purpofes of covering, fubfiding, and fortifying it, that any olfendve or defendve plans ot yours, which depended upon material reinforce- ment from hence, might thereby have been totally frudrated. My 156 Correjpondence relative to the My refolution to pafs James River was juft exe- cuted when I received your difpatch of the 28 th of June, ordering the expedition for the attempt upon Philadelphia. That order being likewife pofitive, unlefs I was engaged in any important move of my own, or in operations in the Upper Chefapeak, I felt a particular fatisfaftion that my decifion on your firft order had enabled me to comply fo expeditioufly with this; and I own, that inftead of blame, I hoped to have merited approbation. I was clearly convinced when I received thofe orders, and I cannot yet fee any cause to alter my opinion, that having a fufficient force remaining for a defenfive in the poll that I had refolved to occupy, and for defultory water excurftons, if I had detained the troops required and fpecified in your lift, for any other reafon than that of being engaged in an im- portant move of my own, or in operations in the Upper Chefapeak, and if in the mean time a mif- fortune had happened at New York, or you had been difappointed of any material objeft at Phila- delphia, my condud; would have been highly and defervedly cenfured. But I acknowledge, I never apprehended, even although it might afterwards ap- pear that the danger at New York was not immi- nent, nor the attempt upon Philadelphia expedient, that I Ihould be fubjed to blame for pafling James river; a ftep rendered indifpensably neceflary by an obedience Operations in Virginia. 1 57 obedience of your orders, and for the fafety of the troops remaining under my command. Your Excellency, after mentioning your intention of recommencing operation in the Chefapeak about the beginning of Oftober, is pleafed to fay, that you will then determine whether you will ad: in Virginia according to my plan, or in the Upper Chefapeak according to your own. It is true, that it is my opinion, that while we keep a naval fuperiority, Virginia is, by its navi- gable rivers, extremely acceifible ; and that if we have force to accomplifh it, the redudion of the province would be of great advantage to England, on account of the value of its trade, the blow that it would be to the rebels, and as it would contribute to the redudion and quiet of the Carolinas. But in my fubordinate fituation, being unacquainted with the inftrudions of adminiftration, ignorant of the force at your command from other fervices, aud without the power of making the necelTary arrange- ments for execution, I can only offer my opinions for confideration; certainly not as plans. I am thoroughly fenfible that plans, which effentially af- fed the general condud of the war, can only come from your Excellency, as being in pofTeffion of the requifite materials for framing them, and of the power of arranging the means for their execution. But whatever plan you may think proper to adopt for operations in the Chefapeak, I fhall be mod: lin- cerely 158 Correjpondence relative to the cerely concerned if your Excellency fhould be fo circumftanced as not to be able to undertake the execution of it in perfon; for the event muft be of great importance to our country, and not only the military operations, would be beft diredled by your fuperior abilities, but your weight and authority as commiflioner, might have the happieft elfedls in the civil and political regulation of the country, without which, military fuccefs would not be attended with folid confequences. However, if your Excellency fhould find it neceffary to direcfl me to undertake the execution of any plan that may be fixed upon by you, I fhall make the beft ufe in my power of the force put under my command. But as my ailing differ- ently from your ideas or wifhes, might, in many in- flances, be attended with great detriment to the King’s fervice, I fhall, if employed, hope to be honoured with explicit inflruilions from your Excel- lency on all points that will admit of them. I fhall, by the firft opportunity, acquaint General Leflie, that if he can fpare troops from the fervice in South Carolina, you wifh them to be fent to New York. But being ignorant of the prefent date of affairs, and knowing well that, fince the furrender of Charles-town, the feafons of the year have not occa- fioned military inactivity in that quarter, I cannot judge whether your Excellency may expect any rein- forcement from thence. As Operations in Virginia. 159 As there appears to be little chance of co-operation from hence with the troops in that province, and as my communication with it is extremely precarious, I fubmit it to your Excellency’s confideration, whether it would not be moft expedient to tranfmit your com- mands, relating to the affairs of that country, direcdly to General Leflie. I have the honour to be, &c. CORNWALLIS. C O R R E S- CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K. B. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS. PART IV. RELATIVE TO OCCUPYING AN HARBOUR FOR LINE OF BATTLE SHIPS. NUMBER I. Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated Head-Barters, New-Tork, July 8/^, 1781. [Received July 21ft, 1781, from Captain Stapleton.] MY LORD, I AM this moment honoured with your Lord- fhip’s letter by Enfign Amiel of the 30th ultimo, and am very happy to be informed you have had an opportunity of deftroying fuch a quantity of arms and public ftores, the lofs of which muft be very heavily felt by the enemy. w By 1 62 Correjpondence relative to occupying an By your Lordfhip’s anfwer to my letters of the iith and 15th ultimo, (which are the only ones you acknowledge the receipt of, and in which I made a requifition for fome of the corps ferving in the Che- fapeak, if you could /pare them,) I am to underftand that your Lordfhip does not think, that with the re- mainder (which would have amounted to at leaf! four thoufand, fuppofing even that you fent me three thou- fand,) you could maintain the polls I had propofed to be occupied at York-town, &c. fo necelTary in every refpeft to cover our fleet, and give us entire com- mand over the entrance of that bay. I therefore think proper to mention to your Lordfhip, that whatever my ideas may have been of the force fuf- ficient to maintain that ftation, and the correfpond- ing one on the Gloucefter fide, your Lordfhip was left the foie judge of that fufficiency to the whole amount of the corps under your immediate orders in ^'^irginia; nor did I mean to draw a fingle man from you until you had provided for a refpeftable defen- five, and retained a fmall corps for defultory water expeditions; for my requifition was made after the receipt of your Lordfhip’s letter of the 26th of May; from which I apprehend that you had no im- mediate operation of your own to propofe, and did not think it expedient to adopt the one I had re- commended to General Phillips. But I confefs I could not conceive you would require above four thoufand in a flation wherein General Arnold had Harbour for Line of Battle Ships. 163 reprefented to me (upon report of Colonel Simcoe) that two thoufand men would be amply fufficient; and being ftrongly imprefled with the neceffity of our holding a naval flation for large fhips as well as fmall, and judging that York-town was of impor- tance for fecuring fuch a one, I cannot but be con- cerned that your Lordlhip fhould fo fuddenly lofe fight of it, pafs James-river, and retire with your army to the fickly poll: of Portfmouth, where your horfes will, I fear, be ilarved, and a hundred other inconveniences will attend you; and this, my Lord, as you are pleafed to fay, becaufe you were of opi- nion that it exceeded your power, confident with my plans, to make fafe defenfive polls there and at Glouceller. My plans, my Lord, were to draw from Chefapeak, as well for the fake of their health, as for a necelTary defenfive in this important poll, fuch troops as your Lordlhip could fpare from a refpecfta- ble defenfive of York, Glouceller, or fuch other lla- tion as was proper to cover line of battle fhips, and all the other fervices I had recommended; but 1 could not polTibly mean that your Lordlhip fhould, for this, give up the hold of a llation fo important for the purpofes I defigned, and which I think La Fayette will immediately feize and fortify the moment he hears you have repaffed James-river; for though I am to fuppofe the enemy will be as little able to defend it with five thoufand as your Lordlhip judges yourfelf to be, and of courfe may be 164 Correjpondence relative to occupying an be for the fame reafons difpoflefled, I fhould be forry to begin with a flege the operations I am determined to carry on in .Chefapeak whenever the feafon will admit of it; I will therefore confult Rear-admiral Graves on this fubjedl, and let your Lordfhip have our joint opinion in confequence. With regard to Portfmouth, your Lordfhip will have feen by my former letters and the papers in your pofTefTion, that when I sent General Leflie to the Chefapeak, I only wifhed for a flation to cover our cruifing frigates and other fmall Ihips; that General officer thought proper to make choice of Portfmouth, and had, I doubt not, good reafons for fo doing. But it has ever been my opinion that if a better could be found, efpecially for covering line of battle fhips, it ought to have the preference; and I think, if Old Point Comfort will fecure Hampton- Road, that is the flation we ought to choofe; for if Elizabeth-River is at all kept, a fmall pofl for about three hundred men at Mill-Point, would in my opi- nion anfwer. But as to quitting the Chefapeak en- tirely, I cannot entertain a thought of fuch a mea- fure, but fhall mofl probably on the contrary fend there, as foon as the feafon returns for adling in that climate, all the troops which can poffibly be fpared from the different pofls under my command. I therefore flatter myfelf, that even although your Lordfhip may have quitted York and detached troops to me, that you will have a fufficiency to re- occupy Harbour for Line of Battle Ships. 165 occupy it, or that you will at leaft hold Old Point Comfort, if it is poffible to do it without York. I find by the intercepted letters you fent me, that La Fayette’s continentals, when joined by Stuben and Wayne, do not altogether exceed one thoufand eight hundred, and that if he could colled: a numer- ous militia, he had but few arms to put into their hands, and thofe your Lordfhip I fee has effedually deftroyed. It likewife appears that although Greene may himfelf come to the Northward, his corps is to remain in South Carolina. I therefore fuppofe your Lordlhip has recolleded this, when you fent orders to Brigadier-general Gould to bring the 19th and 30th regiments to this place, efpecially as you tell me you ftill continue in the moft painful anxiety for the fituation of that province. I am forry Lord Rawdon’s health Ihould oblige him to return to Europe. I think it is highly pro- per that either your Lordlhip, General Lellie, or General O'Hara fhould go to Charles-town, but I can by no means confent to your Lordlhip’s going thither, before you hear further from me, for very elfential reafons which I lhall not now trouble your Lordlhip with. I am very unhappy to hear of the unfortunate move of our friends and its confequences, as related by Lieutenant Haggarty; thofe under the influence of Mr. Alexander were defired by me not to rife, and they feemed contented to remain quiet until operation 1 66 Correjpondence relative to occupying an operation came to them. But it is probable they have no arms to defend themfelves; I Ihould imagine that if a ftation could be found in their neighbour- hood, which was fafe and tenable, and arms could be given to them, it might be the means of faving many of them: your Lordlhip will, however, as being upon the fpot be the beft judge how far this may be proper or practicable, for as I know nothing of the diftriCl where this is fuppofed to have happened, or what their numbers, I cannot fay how far it may be expe- dient to give them affiftance. Your Lordlhip has, I believe, many fpare arms in Chefapeak, and there are likewife a confiderable number at Charles-town, but if any Ihould be wanted from hence, I will fpare as many as I can. As your Lordlhip muft be fenlible how necelfary it is I Ihould have frequent and accurate returns of the Hate of the troops under my command, I am perfuaded you will pardon me for requefting you to order that returns are prepared, and, if polTible, fent to me every fortnight of the troops under your Lordlhip’s immediate orders in the Chefapeak, and as accurate ones as can be procured of thofe in Caro- lina, and the other fouthern polls. By the letters brought to me from the Miniller by the lall packet, I underhand that three battalions originally dellined for this army, are to accompany Sir George Rodney in cafe De GralTe comes on this coall, from whence I am to conclude he will be cer- tainly Harbour for Line of Battle Ships. 167 tainly followed by that Admiral. I am likewife told that nearly two thoufand two hundred German re- cruits and auxiliary troops may be hourly expected to arrive here. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER II. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Lari Cornwallis, dated Head-Barters, New-Tork, July ii, 1781. [Received July 21ft, 1781, from Captain Stapleton.] MY LORD, I am juft returned from having a conference with Rear-admiral Graves, in confequence of your Lord- Ihip’s letter of the 30th ultimo, and we are both clearly of opinion that it is abfolutely neceflary we Ihould hold a ftation in Chefapeak for Ihips of the line, as well as frigates; and the Admiral feems to think that ftiould the enemy poflefs themfelves of Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth River would no longer be of any ufe to us as a ftation for the frigates, therefore judges that Hampton-road is the fitteft fta- tion for all fhips, in which your Lordftiip will fee by the papers in your pofleflion, I likewife agree with him. 1 68 Correjpondence relative to occupying an him. It was moreover my opinion that the pofleffion of York-town, even though we did not pofTefs Glou- cefter, might give fecurity to the works we might have at Old Point Comfort, which I underftand fecures Hampton-road. I had flattered myfelf that after giving me as nearly three thoufand men as you could fpare, your Lord- fhip might have had a fufiiciency not only to main- tain them, but to fpare for defultory expeditions; for I had no other plans in view than to draw for the defence of this poll, and operation in its neighbour- hood, fuch troops as could be fpared from your army, after leaving an ample defenfive to fuch ftations as your Lordfhip might judge proper to occupy; and a fmall moving corps for defultory water expeditions during the fummer months, in which no other might be proper in that unhealthy climate. But as your Lordfhip feems to think that you can in no degree comply with my requifition for troops, and at the fame time eftablifh a poft capable of giving proteftion to fhips of war, and it is probable, from what you write me, that you may have repafled James-river and retired to Portfmouth; I beg leave to requeft that you will without lofs of time examine Old Point Comfort, and fortify it; detaining fuch troops as you may think neceffary for that purpofe, and garrifoning it afterwards. But if it fhould be your Lordfhip’s opinion that Old Point Comfort cannot be held with- out having polfelTion of York, for in this cafe Glou- cefter Harbour for Line of Battle Ships. 169 cefter may perhaps be not fo material, and that the whole cannot be done with lefs than feven thoufand men, you are at full liberty to detain all the troops now in the Chefapeak, which I believe amount to fomewhat more than that number; which very liberal conceffion will, I am perfuaded, convince your Lord- Ihip of the high eftimation in which I hold a naval ftation in Chefapeak, efpecially when you confider that my whole force in this very extenlive and im- portant poll, is not quite eleven thoufand elfedives; and how far I may be justifiable in leaving it to fo reduced a garrifon, time will fhew. I am as much mortified as your Lordfhip can pof- fibly be at the neceflity there is at prefent for leaving you upon the defenfive in Chefapeak; and your Lord- Ihip will do me the juftice to obferve that I have for fome months paft been myfelf content with a fiarved defenfive, from the defire I had to give your Lordfhip as large an army for offenfive operations as I could. Therefore, until the feafon for recommencing opera- tions in the Chefapeak fhall return, your Lordfhip, or whoever remains in the command there, mufl I fear be content with a flrid; defenfive; and I muft de- fire that you will be pleafed to confider this as a pofi- tive requifition to you not to detain a greater pro- portion of the troops now with you than what may be abfolutely necelTary for defenfive operations, &c. as before mentioned. When, therefore, your Lordfhip has finally determined upon the force you think fuf- X ficient 1 70 Correjpondence relative to occupying an ficient for fuch works as you fhall eredl at Old Point Comfort, and the number you judge requifite to cover them at York-town, and for the other fervices of the Chefapeak during the unhealthy feafon; you will be pleafed to fend me the remainder. Your Lordlhip will obferve by this that I do not fee any great ne- cefTity for holding Portfmouth while you have Old Point Comfort; for, fhould a ftation on Elizabeth- river be judged necelTary, I think Mill-point will anfwer every necelTary purpofeof covering frigates, &c. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER III. Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. dated Portjmouth, Virginia, July iS, 1781. S I R, I RECEIVED your cyphered letter of the iith inllant, on the 20th, in confequence of which the expedition was detained; and on the 21ft I was honoured with your difpatches of the 8th and iith inllants, delivered by Captain Stapleton, the contents of which, I will confefs, were to me as unexpected as, I truft, they are undeferved. As Harbour for Line of Battle Ships. 1 7 1 As a fubordinate ofbcer, I think it my duty to obey pofitive orders, or in exercifing difcretionary powers, to a 1 North Carolini I Volunteers. | i i£ g c 1 s 1" 0 Q . H > a Q X E u 3 du Regiment de Bofe. June 1, i:8i. 46 s 417 33 « 180 i6s 186 *85 164 310 377 435 4*7 383 *05 3>7 •73 4837 .,0 SO *5 S 7 33 54 475 S 3 ‘* Julv 1. 1781. 47 * 404 337 •74 16s 186 280 161 3 «* 356 418 400 405 204 3 «S ‘73 4762 *33 SO *$ 3 ^ 57 33 54 488 5*50 Auguft 1, 1781. 446 33 » • 4 * 166 186 * 9 * •67 477 448 436 4«9 386 * 7 * 347 183 505 • *‘7 50 3 * 76 78 54 5*9 5580 Sept. I. 1781. 447 334 354 «*4 •47 '63 • 9 * 162 446 460 404 394 384 *50 307 168 4736 218 SO 5 ‘ 36 73 79 5 * {80 S316 Oftob. 1 1-81. 4*9 316 36s 128 •*3 162 185 ,60 313 455 38s 369 337 230 282 168 44'7 2|8 49 ■■ 45 35 ?• 79 5 * 570 49S7 N U M B E S T A T E of the A R M Under ihc COMMAND of LIEUTENANT OCTOBER th( R XXL Y in V I R G I N 1 A, -GEN ERA L EARL CORNWALLIS. : 1 8th, 1781. RANK AND FILE PRESENT. AND FIT FOR DUTY. GARRISON OF YORK. 1 0-2 ■ 5 > h GARRISON OF GLOUCESTER. J u 0 f- (RANK and PILE ( Fit for Duty. (RANK and FILE ( Sick and Wounded. j TOTAL (OfRANKandFILE. < 1 £• eC Twenty-third Regiment. I h 1 i z 'll g'“ 1 E Two Battalion* of Anfpach. X i 0 5 dl e 4 Detachment of (he 8oih Regiment. 1 «s 4 * 23d and Sid Light Companica. North Carolina Volunteer*. n t 'so h J i.o 577 74 67 141 94 i6j 4 *: . 7 . 718 * 3 * •59 3*73 84 168 208 44 9 » 1 ?44 4017 RANK AND FILE. — SICK AND WOUNDED PRESENT. 40 j 167 109 "4 97 37 '^8 65 >34 ,6, 191 >35 '*> 1741 119 *4 5 18 >933 167 490 786 388 164 178 j6i i6i 440 909 367 *74 4014 «4 387 * 3 * 47 70 116 936 5950 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K. B. COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS. PART VI. LETTERS FROM SIR HENRY CLINTON, K. B. TO EARL CORNWALLIS. DELIVERED AT NEW -YORK A MONTH AFTER EARL Cornwallis’s surrender. NUMBER I. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, Auguji 'id, 1781. [Received from the Secretary at New York, Nov. 19, 1781.] MY LORD, I WAS laft night honoured with your Lordihip’s letters of the 24th and 27th ultimo, by Captain Stapleton; and it gives me no fmall concern to ob- ferve by the tenor of them, that you are difpleafed with the opinions I took the liberty of giving in my letter 23 8 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. letter of the 29th May, refpefting the probable confequences of your retreat from Crofs Creek to Wilmington, and march from thence to Peterfburg; and with what I faid to your Lordfliip in my letters of the 8th and iith of laft month, on your defign of abandoning the Williamfburg Neck, and retiring with your army to Portfmouth. Therefore, as it was not my intention to give offence, and is ex- tremely my wifli to be properly underftood by your Lordfhip, I requeft your attention for a few moments to the following elucidation of my fentiments on both thofe fubjedts. The high opinion I entertained of your Lordfhip’s military talents, and the refpedl I had for your fitu- ation as fecond to myfelf, induced me, from the moment you took charge of a feparate command, to leave you at full liberty to adl in it as you judged beft for the King’s fervice. And I am perfuaded your Lordfhip is not infenhble that I conftantly purfued this line of condudt towards you during all your operations in the Carolinas; aiming at no other merit than that of diligently attending to your wants and fupplying them; — whilft I was content to re- main here myfelf, upon the very confined defenfive, to which I was reduced, by the large detachments I had fent to the fouthward in fupport of your pro- Although your Lordfhip was, as you have obfer- ved fubjedted by this means to a certain degree of anxiety “To Earl Cornwallis. 239 anxiety and refponfibility ; it does not appear that I was exonerated of my ihare of them. I could not, therefore, but be perfonally and anxioufly interefted in your fuccefles and difappointments. And, though I have a refpebt for your Lordlhip’s judgment, and am apt to doubt my own when it differs from it; yet it is certainly a duty I owe to my llation as Commander in Chief, to exprefs my diffent from any meafure your Lordfhip adopts, when I appre- hend that the confequences may be prejudicial. This, my Lord, being the cafe with refped: to the move taken notice of in my letter of the 29th May (and I moft lincerely wifh experience had convinced me I was miftaken) I immediately communicated to your Lordfhip my fentiments of the event, and how I thought it might have been obviated. In thefe it feems I am not fo fortunate to have your concur- rence. But I muft confefs they are not the lead al- tered by your Lordfhip’s arguments; being ftill of opinion, that, under the circumftances in which you defcribe your troops to be, you could have fallen back from Croffcreek to the Pedee, with much greater eafe and fafety, than you could have marched double the diftance to Wilmington, through a coun- try which you report to be entirely hoftile; and I fhould fuppofe Lord Rawdon might have moved to the Pedee without interruption to join you, with every refrefhment your army wanted; as there does not appear, to have been at that time, an enemy be- tween 240 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. tween that river and Camden; and before you reached the Pedee, the country would probably have been fo opened, that your orders for that purpofe might have got to his Lordfhip with as much expedition and fafety, as your note did from Guildford after the battle. And with refpedt to your Lordfhip’s fubfequent move, I hope you will pardon me if I continue to diflent from the policy of the meafure, tho’ you happily furmounted the danger of it; as I fear the advantages refulting from your junflion with the Chefapeak army will not compenfate the Ioffes which immediately followed your quitting Carolina, — not- withftanding General Greene’s wifhes to the contrary ; which, I apprehend, meant nothing more than a gaf- conade, to boaft the fuccefs he expefled from a fecond adtion with your Lordfhip’s army, in cafe it had diredled its fleps towards him inftead of Virginia. I hope your Lordfhip will likewife excufe me for expreffmg the uneafinefs I feel at the obfervation you make refpedting my opinion of the Virginia force; becaufe it feems to convey an infinuation, which I am not confcious of deferving. And I trufl;, that as I know myfelf to be incapable of wrefting opinions to ferve particular purpofes, it will appear, that what I have faid at different periods, on that or any other fubjedt, has been perfedlly confonant and candidly what I thought. I beg leave, therefore, to contrail with each other what I have faid, in this and my other letters, on the force of Virginia; and I requeft your 'To Earl Cornwallis. 241 your Lordfhip will be pleafed to point out the im- propriety which gave rife to that obfervation. In the letter your Lordfhip quotes, I fay, “I fhould not have thought even the one under Major- general Phillips in fafety, at Peterfburgh, at leaf! for fo long a time.” In the one of June 8th, “Your Lordfhip will fee by La Fayette’s letter, that you have little more oppofed to you than his corps, and an unarmed militia.” And in that of June iith, “where, as appears by the intercepted letters of Wafhington and La Fayette, they are in no fituation to ftand againfh even a divifion of that army. And your Lordfhip may poffibly have oppofed to you from 1500 to 2000 Continentals, and (as La Fayette obferves) a fmall body of ill armed peafantry, full as fpiritlefs as the militia of the Southern Provinces, and without any fervice.” At the period alluded to in the firft letter. General Phillips was at Peterfburg with only 2000 men, uncovered by works. Fayette was oppofed to him with his own corps, Steuben, Muhlenberg, &c. and all the militia of the province, and expebled to be foon joined by Wayne with the Pennfylvania line. I therefore certainly had caufe to be apprehenhve for General Phillips’s corps, in cafe Greene had, on hearing of your Lordfhip’s move from Wilmington, fallen back, and calling La Fayette to him, placed himfelf with their united force between your Lordfhip’s and the Peterfburg army, ready to ftrike at either, as it fuited his purpofe. But when GG the 242 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. the other letters were written, my opinion of the '\’^irginia force was formed from the Rebel letters juft intercepted, which fully defcribed the ftate of their arms and their numbers. I therefore cannot difcover, that they Ihew I thought at different periods more or lefs favourably of it, but as I was warranted to do by matter of fabt, and the intelligence I received. To give a full and fatisfadtory anfwer to your Lordfhip’s letter of the 27th July, will perhaps take up more time than you or I can well fpare. But, as your Lordfhip appears to be greatly alfedted by the contents of my letters of the 8th and iith ultimo, I think it a duty I owe to your feelings and my own, to fay fomething in explanation of them. I muft therefore beg your Lordfhip’s patience, while I ftate the fubftance of my correfpondence with General Phillips and yourfelf, concerning the ftations to be held, and operations to be carried on in Chefapeak, &c. which, I prefume, will at leaft prove, that I fpared no pains to explain my defires to your Lord- fhip, though I have, perhaps, unhappily failed in making them underftood. My inftrudlions to General Phillips, as quoted by your Lordfhip, gave him a power to take pofleffion of York Town, or Old Point Comfort, as a ftation for large fhips, if the Admiral fhould difapprove of Portfmouth, and require one. In my letters to that General Officer, of 24th of March and 1 1 th of April, I defired his opinion refpedling the poft of Portf- mouth, 'To Earl Cornwallis. 243 mouth, and fuch others as he propofed to eftablifh on James River; with their importance confidered, either as alTifting your Lordfhip’s operations, or con- nected with thofe of the navy : and, after having re- ceived that opinion, I told him, “that Portfmouth was by no means my choice;” and left him at liberty to change it if he faw proper. And the fubftance of the converfations with him, as extracted by your Lordfhip, go more fully into the advantage of a naval ftation, pointing particularly to the one at York — being led to the conhderation of its utility by the French having, two winters ago, Iheltered their fhips underworks thrown up there. And, as I have already mentioned to your Lordfhip, General Arnold has fince told me, that from the defcription given him of it by Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe, he judged 2000 men would be ample for its defence. From hence, my Lord, I prefume it will appear, that I very early entertained thoughts of a ftation in Chefapeak for large fhips; and I referred your Lord- fhip, in my letter of the 29th May, to my corre- fpondence, &c. with General Phillips, in your pof- feffion, for my ideas on that and other operations which I had in view — leaving you at liberty, how- ever, to follow them or your own, as you judged beft for the King’s fervice. Having therefore, after- wards feen by your Lordfhip’s difpatches of the 26th of May, that you had confidered the papers referred to; and that, though you did not think it expedient to 244 Letters from Sir H. Clinton^ K. B. to attend to Mr. Alexander’s propofal, and the ex- pedition againft the flores at Philadelphia, you had the fame objections to Portfmouth which had been before ftated, and was inclined to think well of York as a proper harbour and place of arms; I naturally concluded that your Lordfhip had entirely con- curred with me, not only as to the propriety of lay- ing hold of a naval ftation fomewhere on the Wil- liamlburg Neck, but as to the place. And I of courfe fuppofed, that your Lordfhip would fet about eftablifhing yourfelf there immediately on your re- turn from Richmond, which I expeCled would be in three or four days after the date of your letter. Wherefore, imagining you were confiderably ad- vanced in your works (for I had no letter afterwards from your Lordfhip until the one you honoured me with of the 30th June) I ventured to folicit you for a part of your force to alfift me in the operations I propofed carrying on in this quarter during the fum- mer months — when thofe of the Chefapeak muft have probably ceafed. And in doing this, as I was totally in the dark with refpeCt to what was then doing in the Chefapeak, I endeavoured, as much as lay in my power, to avoid all poffibility of interrupt- ing the moves you might be engaged in, or any objeCt you might have in view — as will, I doubt not, be manifeft from the following extracts from my letters to your Lordfhip, which I beg leave to fubmit once more to your conhderation. May To Earl Cornwallis. 245 May 29th. — “I would rather content myfelf with ever fo bare a defenfive (until there was an appear- ance of ferious operation againft me) than cramp yours in the lead.” June 8th. — “You will fee by Fayette’s letter, you have little more oppofed to you, &c. — Your Lord- fhip can therefore certainly fpare 2000, and the fooner they come the better, &c. Had it been polTible for your Lordfhip to have let me know your views and intentions, I Ihould not now be at a lofs to judge of the force you might want for your operations. Igno- rant, therefore, as I am of them, I can only trull, that as your Lordfhip will fee by the inclofed inter- cepted letters, my call for a reinforcement is not a wanton one; you will fend me what you can fpare as foon as may be expedient. For, fhould your Lord- fhip be engaged in a move of fuch importance as to require the employment of your whole force, I would by no means wifh to ftarve or obftrudt it. But in that cafe, would rather endeavour to wait a little longer, until my occahons grow more urgent, or your htuation admits of your detaching. Of which, how- ever, I requeft to be informed with all polTible dif- patch.” N. B. This letter was written immediately after I had known the enemy’s defigns of attacking this place; and fhould therefore be confidered as tho- roughly defcriptive of the nature of my wifhes for a reinforcement. June 246 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. June nth. — ‘‘I fhall of courfe approve of any alterations your Lordfhip may think proper to make with refpecfl to the flations I propofed taking in York or James Rivers, &c.” — “Thus circumftanced, I am perfuaded your Lordfhip will be of opinion, that the fooner I concentrate my force, the better. There- fore, (unlefs your Lordfhip, after the receipt of my letters of the 29th May and 8th inft. fhould incline to agree with me in opinion, and judge it right to adopt my ideas refpedting the move to Baltimore, or the Delaware Neck;) I beg leave to recommend it to you, as foon as you have finifhed the aftive operations you may be now engaged in, to take a defenfive flation in any healthy fituation you chufe (be it at Williamfburg or York Town :) and I would wifh in that cafe,” (that is, after you have fecured fuch a flation) “that after referving to yourfelf fuch troops as you judge neceffary for an ample defenfive, and defultory movements by water, &c. the follow- ing corps may be fent me, in fucceffion as you can fpare them. June 15th. “I delay not a moment to difpatch a runner with a duplicate of my letter of the nth infiant; and as I am led to fuppofe from your Lord- fhip’s letter of the 26th ultimo, that you may not think it expedient to adopt the operations I had re- commended in the Upper Chefapeak, and will by this time probably have finifhed thofe you were en- gaged in,” (in which furely the fecuring defenfive flations To Earl Cornwallis. 247 ftations is obvioufly implied) “I requeft you will immediately embark a part of the troops ftated in the letter inclofed, (beginning with the Light In- fantry) and fend them to me with the greateft dif- patch. I lhall likewife in proper time folicit the Admiral to fend fome more tranfports to the Chefa- peak; in which your Lordfhip will pleafe to fend hither the remaining troops you judge can be fpared from the defence of the polls you may occupy; as I do not think it advifeable to leave more troops in that unhealthy climate at this feafon of the year, than what are abfolutely wanted for a defenlive and defultory water excurfion,” June 19. “I am, however, perfuaded they will attempt the invelliture of the place; I therefore heartily wifh I was more in force, that I might be able to take advantage of any falfe movements they may make in forming it.” Should your Lordfhip have any folid operations to propofe, or have ap- proved of the one mentioned in my former letters, I fhall not, as I have already told you, prefs you for the corps I wilhed to have fent me, at leaf! for the prefent. But if in the approaching inclement feafon, your Lordfhip fhould not think it prudent to under- take operation with the troops you have, &c. I can- not but wifh, for their fake, if I had no other motive, that you would fend me as foon as poflible what you can fpare from a refpeftable defenlive. And that your Lordfhip may better judge what I mean by a refpebtable 248 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. refpeftable defenfive, it is neceflary to inform you, that other intelligence (befides Monfieur Barras’ letter) makes it highly probable that Monfieur De Grade will vidt this coaft in the hurricane feafon, and bring with him troops as well as fhips. But when he hears your Lordfhip has taken polTeflion of York-river before him, &c. (which in other words certainly means your defenfive is required to be more particularly refpeftable, as De Grade is expeded to come foon with a confiderable armament to the Che- fapeak, where he will probably feize a ftation for his large fhips in York-river; but as it appears to be your Lordfhip’s intention to take poffedion of that pod;, I think he will, upon hearing you have done fo, relinquifh the dedgn, and join the force alfem- bling againft this place.) “In the hope that your Lordfhip will be able to fpare me three thoufand men, I have fent two thoufand tons of tranfports, &c.” But fhould your Lordfhip not be able to fpare the whole, &c.” Thefe letters, my Lord, are each a link of the fame chain, and, collectively or feparately, were in- tended to fpeak the fame language. The dmple and obvious meaning of which I humbly prefume to be this. I find your Lordfhip does not think it expedient to undertake the operations I propofed, and you have none of your own in contemplation; and it being probable you have made your arrangements for changing T'o Earl Cornwallis. 249 changing the poll of Portfmouth, which you dillike, and have finilhed your defenfive on the Williamfburg Neck, which we both approve of; I requell that, of the feven thoufand men, which (as far as I can judge without having lately received any returns) you have, you will referve as many as you want for the moll ample defenlive, and defultory water expeditions; and then fend me the rell according to the inclofed lifts in fucceflion as you can fpare them. It is true, indeed, that feveral of thefe letters were not received by your Lordfhip until fome time after you received thofe of the iith and 15th, owing to the unexpebled tedious voyage of the Charon that carried them (and you mull be fenlible that it would have been imprudent in me to have rilked duplicates of them by the boat, in which Enfign Amiel was difpatched.) But, if your Lordfhip will be pleafed to recur to thofe you received by him, I am perfuaded you will find that the letter of the i ith refers you to thofe of the 29th of May and 8th of Juhe; which (it is exprefily implied) your Lordfhip was to read, be- fore you executed the order contained in that of the 15th; and you not having received them would (I fhould fuppofe) have fully warranted, at leaf! the fuf- penfion of your refolution of repafling James-river, until you had ftated to me your fituation, and heard again from me. After this very candid and ample explanation, my Lord, I have only to allure you, that it was not my HH intention Letters from Sir H. Clinton^ K. B. 250 intention to pafs the flighteft cenfure on your Lord- fliip’s conduct, much lefs an unmerited or fevere one. W e are both amenable to the cenfure of a much higher tribunal, fhould either of us unhappily commit errors that deferve it; nor had I the fmalleft right to doubt your Lordfhip’s readinefs to comply with my defires, if you had underfiood them. The difpatch with which you prepared to execute what you thought my wifh, and the alacrity you afterwards fhewed, together with the ample manner in which you equipped the expe- dition I ordered, convince me you are inclined to do fo. I had therefore only to lament, that your Lord- Ihip had miftaken my intentions, and to endeavour to obviate the inconvenience as fpeedily as polfible. This perhaps, was done in more pofitive language than I had been accuflomed to ufe to your Lordlhip; but I had no other objeft in view than to make my- felf clearly underfiood, which I am happy to find has been the cafe, and that my melfenger was in time to prevent the confequences I apprehended. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. N U M- T’o Earl Cornwallis. 251 NUMBER II. Sir Henry Clinton.^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis., dated New-Tork, Auguft iqth, 1781. [Received from the Secretary at New-York, November 19th, 1781.] MY LORD, I had the honour to receive your Lordlhip’s letter in cypher of the 17th inllant, by the Swallow dif- patch boat, which arrived here the 23d. In anfwer to which, I muft confefs that I conceived your letter of the 27th ultimo, gave me reafon to fuppofe it was your intention to fend me the troops you could fpare, as foon as you finilhed the evacuation of Portf- mouth; and I was impatient for their arrival for the reafons I have already communicated to you, as it is probable they would have been of infinite ufe had they come in time. For on the arrival of the two thoufand five hundred raw German recruits which I mentioned in my laft, and in the hope of reinforce- ment from your Lordlhip, I had affembled my little army in fuch a manner as to be able to avail myfelt of any opportunity which might be given me by the enemy, who had foraged within fix miles of my lines on the 17th. This fmall movement was made on the 1 8th, they fell back on the 19th, and pafled the Croton ; 252 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. Croton; afterwards eroded the Hudfon at King’s- ferry, and are now encamped in the neighbourhood of Chatham. I cannot well afeertain Mr. Walbington’s real in- tentions by this move of his army; but it is poffible he means for the prefent to fufpend his offenfive ope- rations againft this poll, and to take a defendve fta- tion at his old pofl; of Morris-town, from whence he may detach to the fouthward. On this account there- fore, and becaufe the feafon is approaching when operation may recommence in the Chefapeak, I re- queft your Lordfhip will be pleafed to keep with you all the troops you have there, and I fhall send you fuch recruits, convalefcents, &c. as can go by this fudden opportunity; which are all that I can at pre- fent fpare; as this move of the enemy may be only a feint, and they may return to their former pofition, which they certainly will do, if De Graffe arrives. But towards the latter end of next month, when the effebls of the equinox are over, (for I am perfuaded the Admiral will not approve of any water move- ments till then) if this poft fhould not be threatened, I propofe to reinforce the Chefapeak army with all the troops which can poffibly be fpared confidently with the fecurity of this important poft. General Leflie has been here fome days, he will himfelf explain to your Lordfhip the caufe of his coming. I was much concerned to find him in fo bad a date of health on his arrival, but it is now much altered To Earl Cornwallis. 253 altered for the better; he embarks to-morrow to pro- ceed to Chefapeak on his way to Charles-town, If your Lordfhip from your knowledge of the date of South-Carolina, fhould be opinion that any troops may be fpared from thence, I beg leave to fuggeft that the fooner you give orders for their joining you the better. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. NUMBER III. Sir Henry Clintony K. B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-Tork, Auguji 1,0th, 1781. [Received from the Secretary at New-York, November 19th, 1781.] MY LORD, I am this moment honoured with your Lord- fhip’s difpatches of the 20th, 22d, and 24th inftant, which were delivered to me by Lieutenant-colonel Du Buy; and as my letters of the 2d and 27th, have already fpoken very fully to the fubjedl they chiefly treat of, it becomes unneceffary for me at prefent 2 54 Letters from Sir H. Clinton^ K. B. prefent to give your Lordfliip any further trouble thereon. General Leflie will have the honour to commu- nicate to your Lordfhip my wifhes refpedling Caro- lina, as I have given him fuch inftrudlions relative to the fervice in that quarter, as my prefent limited information enables me to do. However, as I can- not but fuppofe that the operations in Virginia and Carolina, will ftill have a confiderable connexion with each other, and that your Lordfhip, by apply- ing to the officer commanding the King’s ffiips, will have the fame means of communication that I ffiall; I muft requeft that you will ftill retain the direction of the fouthern diftridf, until I can determine upon it, or ffiall find it expedient to comply with your Lordffiip’s wiffies, which I ffiall not fail to pay the earlieft attention to. For your Lordffiip having hitherto had the entire management of the civil and military tranfacftions in the Carolinas, and being in confequence better qualified than any other perfon to judge of what may be hereafter proper to be done there, it will be neceflary I ffiould receive your opinions upon them, before any change takes place, or I can frame definitive orders for General Leffie’s guidance. Your Lordffiip will be therefore pleafed in the mean time to make fuch additions to the in- ftrudlions I have now given him as you ffiall find requifite. I am To Earl Cornwallis. '^55 I am concerned to find your Lordfhip under the neceflity of employing fo many troops in working on the fortification; having entertained hopes that you were fupplied with a fufficient number of Negroes for that and other drudgeries. Mr. Wier having informed me that the Commif- fary with your Lordfhip has received your orders to buy rum for the troops; I have the honour to ac- quaint you, that as there is a confiderable quantity of that article in the ftores here, a fupply of it will be fent you from hence, which will of courfe come cheaper than any that may be purchafed in Virginia. I hope your Lordfhip will find every thing you want fent you by this opportunity, except money, of which only ten thoufand pounds can pofhbly be fpared at prefent. But, a confiderable fum being expebled by the firfl; fleet from England, I fhall on its arrival fend your Lordfhip a further fupply. Sir Samuel Hood arrived here from the Leeward- iflands on the 2»th, with fourteen fail of the line, three frigates and a fire fhip; and has brought with him the fortieth and fixty-ninth regiments to rein- force this army; the latter of which continues to do duty on board the fleet. On the evening of the fame day I received undoubted information that Monfieur Barras’ fleet failed from Rhode- ifland the morning of the 25th, their deftination not known. Mr. Wafh- ington’s force ftill remains in the neighbourhood of Chatham, 256 Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. Chatham, and I do not hear that he has as yet de- tached to the fouthward. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. P. S. September ift. As your Lordfhip informs me in your letter of the 22d, that the works you have thought proper to conftrudt at York, will not probably be finifhed before the expiration of fix weeks, I am to fuppofe you will not think of com- mencing folid operations before that time. There- fore unlefs Mr. Wafhington fhould fend a confider- able part of his army to the fouthward, I fhall not judge it necelTary until then to detach thither. I fhould wifb, however, in the mean time to be in- formed from your Lordfhip what number of troops you think will be required for the defence of your works, what force you will afterwards have to take the field with, and what you will want in addition; fuppofing that you fhall not have a greater force abt- ing againfi: you in Virginia, than what may be ex- pedled from the prefent appearances. N U M- . to Lord Cornwallis. •257 NUMBER IV. Sir Henry Clinton^ K. B. to Earl Cornwallis^ dated New-Tork, Odlober 14, 1781. [Received from the Secretary at New-York, Nov. 29, 1781.] MY LORD, I HAD the honour to receive your Lordfhip’s letter of the 29th ult. on the 8th inftant, and that of the 3d on the 12th inftant, and am happy to hear that mine of the 24th and 25th have reached you. At a council of war of the General officers, held on the loth inftant, it was refolved I fhould fubmit the three following plans to your Lordftiip’s confi- deration. They occurred to us as fecondary objedls only, (in cafe we fhould find it abfolutely impracfti- cable to go diredly up to York; or, by landing at Monday’s point, effeft a jundion with you by the Gloucefter fide) and be thereby obliged to try James river. FIRST, To land at Newport News, and the troops to ad- vance from thence on the James river road to fome favourable pofition, in communication with that river, when we are to wait until we hear from your Lordffiip, or circumftances may make it proper for us to co-operate with you in effeding a jundion of the 11 25 B Letters from Sir H. Clinton, K. B. the two armies, which we at prefent think will be heft done without your lines, in preference to an at- tempt of doing it within, for reafons we think ob- vious. SECOND. To attempt a jundlion with you by a combined move, — we moving up James river to James town, and your Lordfhip up the York river to either Queen’s creek or Cappahofick ferry, and effedl the junftion as near Williamfburg as we can; thereby putting ourfelves in a htuation to attack the enemy, Ihould it be thought advifeable. THIRD. To fave as great a part of your Lordlhip’s corps as poffible, by bringing them off to James town, and a naval force will be ready to protect them. This we think may be done by our giving jealoufy to the enemy from Newport News or Mulberry ifland, whilft your Lordlhip moving up the river with as many troops as your boats will carry, or marching up the Gloucefter hde, croffes the river, and lands either at Queen’s creek or Cappahofick, and makes the beft of your way to James town. The above is our opinion of what is beft to be done in cafe we do not hear from your Lordfhip. But, ftiould we receive other ideas from you, we fhall of courfe be governed by them. By to Earl Cornwallis. 259 By this your Lordfhip will perceive, our wifhes are to effed; the jundion firft by York, — next by Gloucefter, — and, in cafe either of thefe are abfo- lutely impradicable, by the James river. — Firft landing at Newport News, and taking a pohtion ready to co-operate with your Lordfhip, in cafe you fhould recommend a combined effort to effed a jundion that way; or to endeavour to effed it near Williamfburg, the two armies moving up the James and York rivers about the fame time, we landing at James town, and your Lordfhip where you judge beft; and when our jundion is formed, bring on a general adion with the enemy, fhould that on confultation be thought advifeable. But in cafe all thefe fhould fail, our laft objed will be to fave as many of your Lordfhip’s troops as we can, and leave the poft at York afterwards to make the beft terms they can for themfelves. The Torbay and Prince William having arrived on the iith, our fleet at prefent confifts of twenty- five fail of the line and two fifties, with a large num- ber of frigates. They are now ready, and I exped we fhall certainly fail in a day or two. P. S. Od. 15. — Had the wind been fair to-day, the fleet would have fallen down to the Hook, but I exped the whole will fail to-morrow. P. S. Bv 26o Letters from Sir H. Clinton^ K. B. &c. P. S. By the duplicate, London, at the Hook, Odt. 1 8. — The fleet is alTembled, the troops em- barked on board, and the whole will go to fea, if the wind continues fair, to-morrow morning, as the tide will not fuit before. The Admiral and I intreat that we may receive all pofTible information from you and the Commodore, of your fituation, and the exad pofltion of the enemy’s fleet, to meet us off cape Charles. I was honoured with your Lordlhip’s letter of the I ith on the i6th inftant. I have the honour to be, &c. H. CLINTON. Original, forwarded by Captain Stapleton on the 15th. Duplicate by the Refolution whale-boat, Robertfon. THE END. .V yi , . J t.' 'y ; \ ^ I ' . ' N ilA */y (• V I '^ K . . ’■'( ky • y m r..’ J y . 'I' . . < . \- • ,'V r . • . ,. , } v« T ■ I'-' J4 ' S' - . i. 973, S37 ■id'-g'-Eb B ^ 26653 /ttj' u/ft 'Iv •it