From George Washington to John Mathews, 30 March 1780
To John Mathews
[Morristown] 30th Mar. 17801
Sir,
I am much obliged to you for your favor of the 24th of this month.
It would seem pretty evident from the enemy’s inactivity, from which we derive so many advantages, that some very considerable derangement has happened in their affairs. Whether this arises from the want of horses—the loss of military stores, or an insufficiency in the article of small craft for the transportation of troops or of proper ships to attempt the harbour, the result is the same to us; and I would flatter myself in the same hopes that you have expressed on this head. You speak of the arrival of the Roebuck and transports from the Southward at New-York, but I have not had any information of this kind altho my inquiries have been particular. The Russel from Savannah &2 some provision vessels from Cork have got in lately,3 but there are no other entries of consideration, which have taken place within these few weeks.
My intelligence for some time past has looked towards a considerable move on the part of the enemy—flat boats have been collecting,4 and a number of boat men engaged for a particular service. But5 The preparations were of such a nature as would not admit of any decisive conclusions. Since this general intelligence, I have received some of a more pointed nature,6 that indicates another embarkation of abt 2500 Men7 for some distant part.8 And Under the circumstances of the enemy to the Southward it is most probable it is for this quarter. I expect to have the parti[cula]rs in a day or two when I shall have the honr of writ[in]g fully to Congress on the subject.9 With great regard I am Sir Your Ob. svt.
Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW wrote the date on the draft.
2. GW inserted the previous five words on the draft in his own writing.
3. New York City printer Hugh Gaine noted various ships arriving “with the Fleet from Cork” in his journal entry for 19 March (, 2:82).
4. See Robert Howe to GW, 20 March, and Johann Kalb to GW, 22 March, found at GW to Kalb, 23 March, n.1.
5. GW inserted this word on the draft in his own writing.
6. At this place on the draft, McHenry wrote and then struck out a parenthetical qualification that reads: “but which still wants sufficient authenticity.”
7. GW inserted the previous four words on the draft in his own writing.
8. GW repeated this intelligence when he wrote New York delegate Philip Schuyler on 31 March; see also Council of War, 1 April.
9. GW wrote this sentence on the draft. For the promised letter to Congress, see GW to Samuel Huntington, 2 April.