To George Washington from Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron [von] Steuben, 23 August 1783
Sarratoga August 23 1783.
Sir,
I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that I arrived here last night, & had my health permitted should have continued my journey untill I could have had the honor to inform Your Excellency in person of the success of my mission.
Lieutt Colonel Villefranche will present this, to him I beg leave to refer for such Observations relative to the situation of certain places, as I have been able to make during my tour.
I esteem myself very unfortunate that I could not succeed in the business with which I was charged & am only consoled by the idea that Your Excellency will believe that every thing which was in my power to do was done to answer the wishes of Your Excellency & of Congress.
I arrived at Chambly the 2d of August, from whence I sent Major North to announce my arrival to General Haldemand; enclosed is a copy of my letter & his answer, which did not meet me ‘till I had reached De Chambault.
According to General Haldimands appointment we met at Sorel on the 8th, where I presented Your Excellency’s letter & open’d the business on which I was sent.
To the first proposition which I had in charge to make General Haldimand replied that he had not received any Orders for making the least arrangement for the evacuation of a single post, that he had only received orders to cease hostilities, those he had strictly complied with, not only by restraining the British troops but also the Savages from committing the least hostile act—but that untill he should receive positive orders for that purpose he would not evacuate an inch of Ground.
I informed him that I was not instructed to insist [on] an immediate evacuation of the posts in question, but that I was ordered to demand a safe conduct to, and the liberty of visiting the posts on our Frontiers & now occupied by the British, that I might judge of the arrangements necessary to be made for securing the interests of the United States.
To this he answered, that the precaution was premature, that the Peace was not yet signed, that he was only authorised to cease hostilities, & that in this point of view he could not permit that I should visit a single post occupied by the British, neither would he agree that any kind of negotiation should take place between the United States & the Indians if in his power to prevent it. & that the door of communication should on his part be shut, untill he received positive orders from his Court to open it.
My last proposal was that he should enter into an agreement to advise congress of the evacuation of the posts three months previous to their abandonment; this for the reason before mentioned he refused, declaring that untill the definitive treaty should be signed he would not enter into any kind of agreement or negotiation whatever.
Although General Haldimands answers to my demands were sufficiently clear not to be misunderstood I requested his definitive answer in Writing, a copy of which together with a Copy of my letter are inclosed, not having any thing to hope from a continuance of the negotiation, I left St Johns on the 13th.
In a few days I hope to be able to inform Your Excellency more minutely of every thing which passed between us. with the greatest respect I have the honor to be Sir Your Excellencys Obedient Servant
Steuben
Maj. Genl
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
Chambly August 3d 1783
Sir
The United States of America in Congress, having charged their commander in chief with making the Necessary arrangements with the commander in chief of the British Armies, for receiving the posts now occupied by the Troops of his Britanic Majesty & which are within the limits of the United States, for this object as well as for others relative to the preliminary Articles of peace. I am ordered by His Excellency General Washington to concert such measures with your Excellency as shall be mutually agreeable.
Major North my aid de Camp will inform your Excellency that I am on my route to Quebec, where I expect in three or four Days to assure your Excellency that I am Your Excellency’s most Obedient humble servant
Steuben
Enclosure
Quebec 6th August. 1783
Sir
I was last night honored with your Letter of the 3d Instant—having been detained here, by the embarkation of the German Troops, from an intended tour of the upper part of the province, on which I should have set out some days ago, I dispatch Colo. Hope, my Quarter Master General to prevent your having the trouble of coming thus far, and to conduct you to my house at Sorel, where I shall have the honor of waiting on you, I hope on Friday next. I have the honor to be Sir your most obedient and most humble Servant
Fred. Haldimand
Enclosure
Sorel August. 11th 1783
Sir
After having received from your Excellency a decisive answer to the requisitions, which in the name of the United States I had the honor to make, it appears useless to renew the subject, but as the event of my Mission will be of consequence to those in whose names we act, I take the liberty to request your Excellency’s final answer to my requisitions in writing.
Every Object of dispute between Great Britain & the United States of America is done away by the Articles which were, signed by the commissioners of the powers on the day of 1783 those articles are by the United states considered as definitive.
The reciprocal delivery of prisoners, the recalling the Auxilliary Troops, the Arrangements for the evacuation of New York, & the communication which is opened between us and the British posts in that state, all prove that the Court of Great Britain, consider the Articles above mentioned, as definitive And unchangeable.
The United states of America wish to establish a perfect harmony with Great Britain by making good every engagement on her part, and at the Same time they have a right to expect that every promise which has been made on the part of Great Britain will be fulfilled.
A delivery of the posts within the l\Limits of the United States, now occupied by the British is promissed in the Articles before mentioned—this at present I am not instructed to insist on, but I am ordered to demand of your Excellency a safe conduct to, and the Liberty of visiting them, that I may be able to make Such arrangements for the Interest of the United States, as may be necessary when they shall be delivered up—to this demand, I beg your Excellency, will be pleased to give a categorical Answer. I have the Honor to be Sir your Excellency’s Most Obedient humble Servant (Copy) Steuben
( Copy)
Steuben
Enclosure
St Johns 13th August 1783
Sir
In answer to the Letter which I had the honor to receive from you yesterday, desiring a final answer, in writing, to the requisitions which you have made in the name of the United States, I very readily comply with that desire, tho the sense of my answer can be no more than a Repetition of that which I have made to his Excellency General Washington delivered to you under a flying Seal. I have therefore the honor to acquaint you that however definitive the United States may consider the provisional Treaty to be the Sense I have of my duty, and the Customs of War, will not permit me to consider a cessation of Hostilities in that Light—The Orders I have received, direct a discontinuance of every hostile Act on my part, and an attention to defensive measures only—I have most punctually obeyed them, and shall continue to do so until I shall receive His Majesty’s further commands.
I have not a Doubt of the Wishes express in your Letter, of the United States to establish a perfect harmony with Great Britain, by making good every engagement on their part—You will at the same time, allow me to express an equal confidence that every promise on the part of Great Britain, will in due time be fulfilled—but it is not for me to anticipate on this occasion—when the Ratification of peace shall be announced to me I beg you will be assured that it will afford me the highest pleasure to execute every instruction I shall receive relating to it, with the utmost puntuallity and Dispatch—until that event shall arrive it is totally out of my power to permit you to proceed to the Posts in the upper country or, in fact to Treat with you on the Subject of you Mission. wish’g you a Safe & agreeable passage I have the honor to be Sir your most Obed and mo: humble Servt
Fred. Haldimand