31To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 26 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
This very instant, I receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 9th currtt. I have the honor to inform you of the arrival of our two frigates from Boston, together with the Transport L’isle de France , Loaded with various supplies necessary for the fleet. these vessels had put to sea on the 10th, have beaten very severely beaten by three different hard gales, and we were very much concerned about...
32To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Divine Providence manifests itself always for our cause. In my Last of the 26th inst. I have had the honor to acquaint your Excellency that our frigates, after having been severely beaten by three hard gales of wind were entered safe in our harbour. These same gales have thrown on shore two British Line of battle Ships and a frigate that had put to sea on purpose to intercept ours at their...
33To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 2 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d Last month. I cannot too much admire, on one part the wisdom of the means employed by your Excellency to Leave to congrés an affair in which the military Discipline could not interfere without using rigorous measures that would not have been Well timed. on the other part, all the Sentiments of Patriotism of Virtue, of reason, existing among a...
34To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 3 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I send to your Excellency a copy of the report of the naval officer who has seen and constated at Plumb island the real state of the English fleet. I am going this moment a board of the Admiral[’s ship] to know whether he intends going out with all his ships, or at Least send a detachment of some of them to Chesapeak bay. It is generally looked on as dangerous to go and attack them in the bay,...
35To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 8 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am exceeding glad of the good news which your Excellency gives me about the entire reduction of the Last mutinery that had taken place among a part of the Jersey Line, and of the example of rigor that you thought necessary to give to terminate in a solid manner these movements of Mutinery. I cannot flatter myself that I shall have the honor to see here Your Excellency but only after you will...
36To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 12 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Line of battle ship and two Frigates set sail on the 9th instt in the evening, with a very fresh wind and the fairest departure. The hermione having Lost her Bowsprit in the Last Gale, could not go with them, But as soon as She is refitted, she will set sail to join that fast Sailing Squadron. If Arnold is not by this time out of the Rivers of Virginia I believe he will not have the best...
37To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 18 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Three days ago, there arrived at Bedford a vessel, that brought a piece of Intelligence, of which I expected the particulars and further confirmation, before I chose to send it to your Excellency. That Vessel coming from Mole St Nicholas, has brought Letters from Cape François, mentioning the arrival of a Frigate, sent by Mr D’Estaing, who had beaten Admiral Hood, taken Six men of War and 95....
38To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th inst. I immediately sent it to the chevalier Destouches, who sends me this moment his answer which is joined to this Letter. It is most certain that the Ch. De La Luzerne, at the requisition of Congress and of the Governor of Virginia, had only asked from Mr Destouches the Assistance of Some Frigates, and of one ship of the Line, and...
39To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 24 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received a few hours ago, Your Excellency’s Letter of the 19th instant. It has caused me a great deal of Surprize that you had not then received two, which I had wrote to your Excellency on the 8th and 12th inst. the first, after the Last resolution taken by Mr Destouches and the other after the Departure of a line of battle ship and two frigates for Chesapeak Bay. As It has not been in my...
40To George Washington from Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 25 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Letters found on board the Vessels taken by Mr De Tilly, have decided Mr Destouches to follow at full the plan given by your Excellency, and to risk every thing to hinder Arnold from establishing himself at Portsmouth in Virginia. Your Excellency has been apprised by my yesternight’s Letter, that our ships could not go into Elizabeth river, there not being water enough for the 64. man of...