1To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The fleet of which I gave your Excellency advice in my last, set sail & left the hook the day before yesterday about ten oClock. The account which I transmitted of the number of sail, of troops and the horses embarked was, I believe strictly true. Two frigates only sailed out with them, but I could not learn with certainty whether any part of Arbuthnot’s fleet were to join them on their way....
2To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Number of Small frigats and Privateers that Are in the Bay Has Made it impossible for me to Carry the Detachement farther down than Annapolis, and I Have Requested the Governor of Maryland as well as the principal officers of the detachement to give out that we were going to join General Greene. But the object of the Expedition is so perfectly known every where that our Sole dependance to...
3To George Washington from Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Letter of the 11th instant. The report mentioning the number of ships in the British fleet, seems to me to be accurate and confirmed by the correspondance of M—— T—— and by the prisoners arrived on board a flag: they have 7. ships of the line 2. 50 gun ships and 4. 44 gun ships with some frigates. The Troops for the embarkation according to M—— T—— is only of...
4To George Washington from Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 15 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency of the Marquis arrival at this place yesterday. he will write himself by this Opportunity. The great delay in this Expedition gives me much uneasiness which is not lessened by the amazing tranquillity of the Enemy-- knowing the preparations making against them. I can only account for it by their exploiting some Assistances unknown to us-- As I...