1From Benjamin Franklin to St. John de Crèvecoeur, 2 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of Writing to me the 27th past, relating to the 5 Americans who landed on your Coast from England. Please to accept my Thanks for your Kindness to them. There is no doubt of the Success of their Petition relating to their Boat, the same Case having happened several Times, and such Requests always readily comply’d with...
2From George Washington to Stockbridge Indians, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter by your Captain with your kind Tenders of a Months Service if needed—In Answer I inform you that the Circumstances of the Campaign are such, that at present I have no Ocassion for your Aid—but should Genl Heath find Need of your Assistance, I will be glad you will do him the like Service as you have offered to me, if he shall write to you for that Purpose. In Answer...
3To George Washington from Antoine-Jean-Louis Le Bègue de Presle Duportail, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
i arrived here this morning at five o clok after a long and tedious journey on many accounts. But the pleasure i have to see at last a French fleet of 27 Sails of line in Your Country makes me forget all the hardships i experienced. Something yet gives me some uneasiness. i am sorry not to find here admiral du barras. your excellency knows very well all the different inconveniency’s which were...
4From George Washington to David Forman, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of last Evening is this Moment received—your Conjecture of the Destination of the British Fleet is probably right—I had scarcely a Doubt in my Mind at the first Intelligence I received from you of their sailg. their Course now makes a full Declaration. I have no Certainty of the Arrival of Admiral de Grasse in Chesapeak—what Intelligence the British may have I cannot say—I wish if...
5From George Washington to William Goodrich, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter in Behalf of yourself & sundry other Gentlemen of Berkshire, makg Tender of your Services with me as Volunteers for a Month—I most sincerely Thank you for the kind offer—& inform you that the Circumstance of the Campaign at present are such as will not probably require your Services—Unless Genl Heath, who comands the Troops in the Vicinity of N. York, should find...
6From George Washington to Jean-Baptiste de Gouvion, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed with all convenient dispatch to the Camp of the Marqs de la Fayette in Virginia, and receive further orders from Genl Duportail or the Marquis. You will let your rout be by Christiana bridge—the head of Elk—the lower ferry on Susquehanna—Baltimore—Elk ridge landing—Bladensburg—& George Town—From George Town you will go by the best waggon Road to Fredericksburg by Falmouth...
7To George Washington from François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
J’ai recû au moment ou je m’y attendois le moins, la lettre que Votre Excellence a eû la bonté de m’adresser par M. du Portail, dont la réputation m’etoit connuë depuis plusieurs années, aussi n’aÿe pas tardé á lui ouvrir mon coeur et à lui faire connoitre tous mes moyens et mes ordres. je suis on ne peut pas plus touché de ne pas avoir avec moy, d’autres Bâtiments que mes Vaisseaux de Guerre,...
8From George Washington to Moses Hazen, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed immediately to Christiana Bridge at which place I expect you will meet the Boats laden with Ordnance and other stores—You will make the proper general arrangements for the speediest transportation of them across to the Head of Elk—Colonel Lamb or Lieut. Coll Stevens will attend particularly to the assorting and forwarding the Ordnance Stores, which ought to be first carried...
9From George Washington to William Heath, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this, one of the Stockbridge Indians, has come from the Chiefs of that Tribe with an offer of their service for part of the Campaign; their application you have inclos’d—In my answer to those Chiefs I have refer’d them to you; and if you think they can be of any advantage you may order them down—but it has ever been my opinion that their services never compensated the expence....
10To George Washington from William Heath, 2 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was last evening honored with yours of the 29. ulto. The dispatches for the eastern states will be forwarded this day. A gentleman who returned with a flag from the enemy’s guard ships this morning, informs me that the british officers told him a fleet of upwards of twenty sail of men of war had arrived at New York—Another officer said seventeen sail. I am this moment informed by another...