61From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed are your Instructions, in the prosecution of wch if you should receive authentic intelligence of the Enemys having left Virginia—Or by adverse fortune the detachment from Monsr Destouche⟨s⟩ has lost its superiority in that State and dis-abled thereby to cooperate with you—You will return with the Detachment under your Command, as the enemy cannot be effected by it while they have...
62From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 20 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have ordered a detachment to be made at this post to rendezvous at Peeks Kill the 19th instant, which together with another to be formed at Morris Town from the Jersey troops will amount to about twelve hundred Rank & file. The destination of this detachment is to act against the corps of the enemy now in Virginia in conjunction with the Militia and some ships from the fleet of The Chevalier...
63From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 22 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have a letter under a flying seal to Genl St Clair. Upon your arrival at Philada you will learn with a degree of certainty from Genl Wayne—Colonel Butler—Colo. Stewart and other Officers who you will find in town whether it will be possible to derive such a reinforcement from the Pennsylvania line, in time to answer your purpose, as I have mentioned in the letter—Should those...
64From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 25 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 23d from pompton by Capt. Castaign —You may make yourself perfectly easy as to ships of the line being at New York—the Iris and the others mentioned by Hagarty are Frigates—This Man relates a circumstance to me that he does not seem to have informed you of—it is—that a reinforcement of six hundred Men is preparing for Arnold—and that the Convoy is to be the...
65From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 26 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received yours of the 25th from Morris Town. I do not think it very probable that three hundred Dragoons will trust themselves in the heart of Connecticut with a superior regular Corps and the force of the Country to oppose them, but I have nevertheless given the intelligence to Duke Lauzun. Upon your arrival in Philada if not before, you will hear that a Body of Men, supposed to be a...
66From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment recd a letter from the Count de Rochambeau, with intelligence of which the inclosed is a Copy. By this it appears that the first Squadron had returned to Newport but that Mr de Touches was fitting up the Romulus with an intent to despatch her and I suppose the Frigates for Chesapeak as being of more proper construction for the Navigation of that Bay than the ships which were...
67From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 1 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received letters from The Count De Rochambeau and The Chevalier Des-touches, informing me of their intention to operate in Chesapeak bay with their whole fleet and a detachment of 1100 french troops grenadiers and Chasseurs included. The Chevalier expected to sail the fifth of this month, so that you will arrive at the head of Elk before he appears in the bay, He seems to make a...
68From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that the whole Fleet went out with a fair Wind this Evening about sun set. You may possibly hear of their arrival in Chesapeak before this letter reaches you– Should you not– You will have every thing prepared for falling down the Bay at a moments warning– We have not yet heard of any more of the British in Gardeners Bay– Should we luckily meet with no...
69From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I informed you on the 8th in the Eveng that the French Fleet had put to sea. By advices from New London the British did the same yesterday morning with their whole force. They gave out publicly that they were bound for Chesapeak—I think the French had so much the start that they will first reach that Bay, but as there is no accounting for the delays and accidents of the sea I have given you...
70From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 5 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your favors of the 3d 7th 8th 9th 15th 23d 25th and 26th of last Month. You having been fully instructed as to your operations and I having nothing material to communicate, was the reason of my not answering them before—While we lament the miscarriage of enterprize which bid so fair for success, we must console ourselves in the thought of having done every thing...
71From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 6 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Should the Marquis de la Fayette not be with the detachment, you will halt wherever this may meet you and wait till you hear further from him. I am Sir Yr Most obt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
72From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 6 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my letter to you of yesterday, I have attentively considered of what vast importance it will be to reinforce Genl Greene as speedily as possible, more especially as there can be little doubt but the detachment under Genl Phillips, if not part of that now under the command of Genl Arnold, will ultimately join, or, in some degree, cooperate with Lord Cornwallis. I have communicated to the...
73From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is General duPortails desire that Colo. Gouvion may return to him. Independant of the occasion which there may be for him here, there is another reason which operates against his going with you, it is, that he would interfere with Colo. Kosciusko who has been considered as the commanding Engineer with the southern Army. I am with very great Regard Dear Marquis Yr &c. DLC : Papers of George...
74From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor dated at Elk the 8th instant reached me at ten OClock the last Evening. While I give you credit for the maneuvre by which you removed the British Ships from before Annapolis, I am sorry, as matters are circumstanced, that you have put yourself so much further from the point, which now, of necessity, becomes the object of your destination. Whether General Phillips remains in Virginia...
75From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 14 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your two letters of the 10th came to hand last Night—In mine of the 11th I informed you as fully as it was prudent to do upon paper, that there was at present little or no prospect of an operation in the quarter you seem to wish—The Contingencies appeared to me so remote in the Conversations I had with Count Rochambeau that I could not justify myself in withdrawing a detachment already so far...
76From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Though the situation of Southern affairs would not permit me to recall your corps to this army, yet it was with great reluctance I could resolve upon seeing you separated from Head Quarters—My friendship for you makes me desirous of having you near me, and there will occur frequent occasions in cooperative measures in which it would be of the greatest utility I should have it in my power to...
77From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several letters of the 11th 12th two of the 13th and two of the fifteenth. I am extremely concerned at the temper of your detachment and the desertions that are taking place. I imagine however these would have been nearly as great in any other corps that might have been sent, and after the Pensylvania line I think it would have been ineligible to detach any other state...
78From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since writing the inclosed your several letters (acknowledged in my public one of this date) are come to hand—all of them except that of the 12th arrived at Hd Quarters within the course of one hour. The reasons assigned in some of your letters—and others which have occurred to me—chiefly of a political nature—assure me that great advantages will be derived from your being wherever the French...
79From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The freedom of your communications is an evidence to me of the sincerety of your attachment—and every fresh instance of this gives pleasure & adds strength to the band which unite us in friendship. In this light I view the intimation contained in your letter of the 23d Ulto—from Alexandria—respecting the conduct of Mr Lund Washington. Some days previous to the receipt of your letter—which only...
80From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 5 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received, with exceeding great satisfaction & pleasure your favor of the 18th of April, and am extremely rejoiced to learn, that the spirit of discontent had so entirely subsided & that the practice of desertion would probably be totally stopped, among the Troops under your Command. The measures you had taken to obtain on your own Credit a supply of cloathing & necessaries for the...
81From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 31 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 4th, 8th, 17th, and 18th instants, your conduct upon every occasion meets my approbation, but in none more than your refusal to hold a correspondance with Arnold. By an account which I have just received from New York, Genl Robinson goes to succeed Genl Phillips. You may have something to apprehend from his age and experience but not much from his Activity....
82From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 31 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from Weathersfield at which I expected to have met with the Count de Rochambeau & Count de Barras, but the British fleet having made its appearance off Block Island, the Admiral did not think it prudent to leave New port. Count Rochambeau was only attended by Chevr Chattellux—Generals Knox and Duportail were with me. Upon a full consideration of our affairs in every point...
83From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received information that the letters, of which the inclosed are copies, with other dispatches and the Southern Mail, were taken between this and Morris town and carried—it is supposed—into New York—It is unhappy that the communication is so insecure! and that corrispondencies from one part of the Country to another are liable to such accidents! I have received your letters...
84From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The last letter I have had the pleasure of receiving from you is dated the 3d instant—I have since that heard a thousand vague reports of your situation and that of the enemy, but none of them satisfactory. I fear some of your letters have miscarried—as from your usual punctuality, I am certain you must have written in that time. I hope your next will confirm the accounts which I have this day...
85From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have received your letters of the 10th 18th and 28th of June. I sincerely congratulate you on the favorable turn of Affairs announced in your last, and I hope you will be enabled to maintain that superiority which you seem to be gaining over Lord Cornwallis. We have had a variety of reports of General Greens further successes, in south Carolina, by some we are told that both...
86From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure of receiving your favors of the 8th and 20th instants. The first releived me from much anxiety, as I had seen Mr Revingtons account of the Action at Green Spring, which you may suppose was highly coloured in their favor. I find by your last that neither my letter of the 29th of June or that of the 13th inst. had reached you—I cannot tell the dates of those previous as I...
87From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I take your private letter of the 20th of this month in the light which you wish it—that of an unreserved Communication from one Friend to another—and I should be wanting in Candor were I not to expose my sentiments to you in as free a manner. I am convinced that your desire to be with this Army arises principally from a wish to be actively useful—you will not therefore regret your stay in...
88From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your letters of the 26th and 30th ulto and 1st Inst. I cannot learn that any troops have yet arrived at New York from Virginia. A fleet of 20 sail came in last saturday with troops, but they are said to be Hessian Recruits from Europe. The Concorde Frigate is arrived at Newport from Count de Grasse. He was to leave St Domingo the 3d of this month with a Fleet of between 25 and 29...
89From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 17 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favour’d with yours of the 31st ulto and 6th inst. and as General du Portail will hand you this, he will be able to give every intelligence you wish relative to my movements in this Department; as he is sent in confidence he will make known to you all my designs. I am Dr Marquis, Your Mt Obt Servant. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
90From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to my Intentions communicated to you the 15th Instant—The Troops destined for the Southern Quarter are now in Motion—The American Detatchment is already on the West Side of the Hudson—The French Army I expect will reach the Ferry this Day—Our March will be continued with all the Dispatch that our Circumstances will admit. Immediately on Receipt of this you will be pleased to inform...