John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from the President of Congress (Samuel Huntington), 18 December 1780

From the President of Congress (Samuel Huntington)

Philadelphia December 18. 1780

Sir,

Since writing my Letter of the 6th of October last1 (a Copy of which is enclosed) I have been honored with yours of July 10th & September 16th; by the latter I am happy to find that we may expect soon to receive further & more particular Intelligence from you2

Congress, it is probable, will soon establish an Office for foreign Affairs, to be managed by an Officer stiled Secretary for foreign Affairs,3 who will be constantly devoted to the Business of that Department; which it is to be hoped will remedy many Disadvantages we have hitherto laboured under, and give our Ministers at foreign Courts more frequent, better & earlie[r] Intelligence than they have hitherto received from us

In the Course of the last Campaign the Enemy at New York have been pretty much confined under the Protection of their Ships and Fortifications. The Particulars of their Eruption into the Jerseys under Kniphausen and the Repulse they met with, you must have been informed of before this4

The Enemy from Canada have repeatedly attacked the western & northern Frontiers of New York, by the Way of the Mohawk River and Lake Champlain, marking their Route with their usual Devastation, but were soon compelled to retreat with Precipitation5

Since the unfortunate Action near Camden and Retreat of General Gates, our People, principally Militia of the Southern States, have been frequently skirmishing successfully with the Enemy, and have driven in most of their out Posts. The brilliant Success of the Militia over Colonel Ferguson at Kings Mountain, you must ^have^ learnt from the Papers.6 The Enemy from the last Intelligence were in Possession of Camden and some other inland Posts in South Carolina. Should they not be reinforced soon, it is probable they must have Recourse to their old Practice of retiring to the Sea Coast under the Protection of their Shipping. General Greene by Order of Congress hath taken command of the Southern Army, which will be reinforced so as to make a respectable Army in the Course of the Winter—7 We are waiting and wishing for a naval Force to command the American Seas, and with the Smiles of Providence might soon expect in that Case to expell the Enemy from the United States.

Necessity obliges me to confide in the Committee for foreign Affairs to give you the needful and more particular Intelligence—8

Please to make my Compliments acceptable to your Lady & believe me to be with sincere Esteem & Regard Sir your most obedient & humble servant

Saml. Huntington

ALS, NNC (EJ: 12770). Endorsed: “ . . . Recd. 13 March 1781 / priv: / ansd. 21 Apr 1781”. Enclosure: duplicate LS of 6 Oct. 1780 (EJ: 7743).

1ALS, NNC (EJ: 7743).

2JJ to the President of Congress, 10 July and 16 Sept., both above.

3On 15 May 1780, Congress appointed Lovell, Houston, and Duane a committee to “report a proper arrangement for the department of foreign affairs.” Their report was discussed on 12 June and 15 Dec. 1780, but it was not until 10 Jan. 1781 that Congress resolved to establish the department, and not until 10 Aug. 1781 that Robert R. Livingston was elected secretary. See RRL to JJ, 20 Oct. 1781, below; JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 17: 428, 505; 18: 1156; 19: 43–44; 21: 851–52; and LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 16: 645, 682–83.

4JJ received information about the Springfield raid and other military and naval events from William Churchill Houston, 7 Feb., and RRL, 6 July and 26 Aug. 1780, all above.

5On the Indian incursions, see LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 16: 234, 247, 255.

6On the battle at Camden, South Carolina, see RRL to JJ, 26 Aug. 1780, above. On the battle of King’s Mountain, an American victory, see LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 16: 233–34.

7On Greene’s appointment, see LDC description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds., Letters of Delegates to the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (26 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1976–98) description ends , 16: 159.

8There is no record of a letter from the committee to JJ at this time.

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