My last1 gave you some account of the situation of affairs in the Southern department.2 The total defeat of the army under genl. Gates on the 16th August left the enemy at liberty to over run S. Carolina without annoyance accept from the militia who being but thinly scattered over an extensive Country could not soon be collected in the face of a powerful and victorious enemy. However the small parties that got together acted with such spirit and determined resolution as shewed that they did not deem themselves conquered. In order effectually to subdue and break their bold spirits Cornwallis sent out a powerful detachment under a Major Ferguson to ravage and waste the Country. He was ^at^ first joined by a number of disaffected, But a body of militia hastily collected by their Officers met and drove him back and coming up with him at Kings mountain after a pretty severe conflict entirely defeated him.3 Ferguson and a considerable number of his officers fell in the action, only twenty ^one^ escaped; the rest of the detachment was either killed or taken prisoner. During this time general Greene who had been sent to succeed Gates was busy in North Carolina in collecting the small remains of the Southern army and drawing together some militia in order to cover and defeat that State, But before he could collect a sufficient force Cornwallis put his army in motion with a view to extend his conquests and penetrate farther into the Country. For this purpose while he advanced with his main army, Col. Tarlton with his legion consisting of dragoons and a select band of light infantry was moving forward in a parallel direction at some considerable distance. Greene though his force was small had advanced as far as Pedee and sent forward brigr Morgan with Washington’s corps of light dragoons a detachment of the Maryland line under Col. Howard, Being joined by about 500 militia he ^Morgan^ fell in with Tarlton’s party at a place called the Cowpens when a smart engagement ensued in which Tarlton was defeated; a considerable number ^about 300^ killed and upwards of six hundred taken prisoners.4 Tarlton was pursued for several miles but escaped with a few horse and joined Cornwallis. This stroke irritated Cornwallis to that degree that he determined at all hazards if possible to recover the prisoners and be revenged on Morgan. For this purpose without taking time to remove his baggage and heavy stores to a place of security, having equipped his army as light troops and taken out just what was necessary, he burned the remainder of his waggons and baggage and immediately set out in quest of Morgan, who sensible of his inferiority had prudently retired in order to convey the prisoners and stores he had taken to a place of safety. Morgan directed his course to North Carolina and having crossed a river in ^the^ evening Cornwallis was so close at his heels that he reached the same next morning but fortunately a heavy rain had fallen in the night which swelled the river to that degree that his Lordship could not transport his army across for two days. This gave Morgan an opportunity of sending his prisoners forward in safety and enabled Greene to throw himself with his little army between them and the enemy. His lordship’s rage was still unabated. As soon as the waters fell he crossed the river; and as Morgan and the prisoners were out of his reach he flattered himself with the hope of falling upon Greene. But Greene who saw his danger and knew how much depended on saving his little army prudently retired ^as fast as Cornwallis advanced^ and took such precautions as eluded all his arts and efforts. In this manner they proceeded the one advancing and the other retreating by long and rapid marches quite across the State of North Carolina. When his lordship reached the banks of Dan on the borders of Virginia having continued his pursuit upwards of 200 miles finding his troops fatigued and harrassed with a fruitless march and that the militia of Virginia was in motion to support Greene, he thought it prudent to measure back his steps and therefore after making a show of preparations for crossing the river for several days he suddenly broke up his camp and directed his course towards Hillsborough. Greene being now reinforced with militia recrossed the Dan, and pursued Cornwallis endeavouring now to overtake and bring him to an action with as much diligence as he had before avoided him. When Cornwallis reached Hillsborough which is the seat of government he pretended to halt, made a parade of erecting the royal standard and with an air of triumph & rediculous ostentation set his presses to work and issued proclamations commanding the people to repair to his standard and to come and assist in establishing civil government, but before his proclamations were well dry he suddenly decamped and proceeded toward Guilford towards the sea shore. Greene by rapid marches came up with him at Guilford Court house, when ^and^ an action ensued.5 Our people behaved with great gallantry, but just in the moment of victory by one of those chances in battle which prudence often can neither forsee nor prevent our troops were thrown into disorder and the Genl. thought proper to retire and leave the enemy the honor of the field. Greene retreated about three miles and then halted. The enemy had suffered so much in the action that they ^did^ not think proper to pursue their victory but filed off another way. Greene after halting a few days to refresh his troops & give the enemy an opportunity to attack if they thought proper, finding they kept at distance advanced to give them battle but the enemy not willing to risk a second engagement hastily decamped leaving their wounded to his mercy. Having pursued them several days without hopes of over taking or forcing them to an action, as they were advanced into a desert part of the Country where it was impossible for him to procure supplies or subsist his army he dropped the pursuit and suffered his lordship to proceed with the shattered remains of his army to Wilmington.—

Feeble as his army was Greene determined to pursue his main object which was the relief of South Carolina and at least to drive the enemy out of the upper Country, & to confine them within the limits of Charlestown, therefore without losing time or suffering himself to be diverted by any new scheme which Cornwallis might have in view he turned his face to the Southward and crossing the Pedee and breaking up some posts and in his way he marched to Camden and sat down before it One of his detached parties advanced as a far as Georgetown; surprised and broke up the post there. Camden was considered as the head quarters of the enemy in South Carolina. It was well secured with redoubts and garrisoned with a considerable force under the command of Lord Rawden who was next in rank to Cornwallis. Greene’s force was too small to invest it he therefore took such a position as would straiten the enemy and might tempt them to make a sally and in which if he was so fortunate as to cut them off he fondly hoped he might force them to surrender or to evacuate the place. According to his expectation after he had been some time before the place the enemy made a sally and Greene had taken his measures so well that they were driven back with considerable slaughter, But here again fortune proved inauspicious and an order of one of the officers for the troops under his command to take a new position being construed into an order to retreat threw the corps into confusion, which the enemy immediately took advantage of and returning to the charge compelled Greene to retire almost two miles. But though Greene lost the honor of the day, he reaped almost the same advantages from the action as he would have from a victory. For Rawden had lost so many men that he was afraid of suffering himself to be again shut up in the place and therefore after setting fire to the town he quitted it and returned towards Charlestown. Greene having followed him some distance and having by parties sent out invested and taken posts Granby, Motte &c &c while Marian and Sumpter scoured the Country and broke up the posts in the neighbourhood of Charlestown, he suddenly turned back and invested ninety six the only remaining post held by the enemy in the upper part of South Carolina. At the same time he detached a party against Augusta which is the principal if not the only post of the enemy in the upper part of Georgia. We have no official accounts of his success against those places, but private accounts put it beyond all doubt that lieut. Col Lee has succeeded against Augusta and compelled the garrison which consisted of several hundred men to surrender at discretion, and there is some reason to hope that Greene is in possession of ninety six; in which case the enemy will have nothing left in those two States but the posts of Charlestown and Savannah.—

The severities exercised by the enemy while in possession of the Country have almost rooted out all disaffection to our cause and have so embittered the minds of the people that they will not find it an easy matter to gain the same footing they formerly had.—

In order to prevent the State of Virginia from sending aid to the Southern State’s Leslie with a body of troops was sent ^in the fall^ from New York into Chesapeak bay and landed at Portsmouth. This was one reason why Greene’s army continued so weak. For he was obliged to suffer the troops of Virginia which were to have joined ^him^ to remain under the command of baron Steuben for the defence of their own State. After some time Leslie was called off ^to join Cornwallis^ and Arnold with a more considerable force was sent ^in the Winter^ as if with a view to take post and to make an impression on or at least to harrasss and plunder the Country lying on both sides of Chesapeak, which being intersected by a great number of navigable rivers is much exposed to a predatory war. For this purpose he was accompanied with a number of frigates and private armed vessels, which after he had landed at Portsmouth spread themselves over the bay and running up the river landed their men in many places and practised a mode of warfare unknown in modern times and unpractised by the civilised nations of Europe robbing, plundering and burning the houses of the peaceful farmers. To put a stop to these ravages and with a view to make a stroke at Arnold Genl. Washington detached about one thousand choice troops under the command of Major general the Marquis de la Fayette. He had concerted his measures with the Commanders of the french army and navy at Rhodeisland and as the british fleet had been lately roughly handled in a storm, one of their ships being lost, another damaged in her masts and a third seperated and driven to Sea, it was agreed that the french fleet ^which^ was now become equal if not superior to the british should take on board some land forces and proceed to Chesapeak and there cooperate with Fayette. The plan was well concerted and executed with as much dispatch and secrecy as possible. But the british used such diligence in repairing their damaged ships and that which was driven out to sea and which it was conjectured was lost returning into port, the british were ready to put to sea by the time the french Admiral sailed from Rhode Island. The Fleets met off Chesapeak bay and came to an engagement, in which the french though of inferior strength maintained the combat with great gallantry, but one of their largest ships being much damaged in her rudder and the enemy instead of availing themselves of their superiority of strength having parted and slipped into the bay, the expedition was disconcerted, and the french commander returned to Rhode Island with his disabled ship in order to refit. The Marquis in the mean while proceeded on, and although he was detained so long in Elk river by contrary winds that the enemy gained intelligence of his movements and destination and sent up frigates to intercept him yet by watching a favourable opportunity he crossed the bay and landed his troops safe at Annapolis. Finding it too hazardous to proceed farther by water he marched his detachment by land through Maryland crossed the Potomack at Alexandria and entering Virginia directed his course for Richmond, which Arnold had reached with his band of plunderers. Steuben had exerted his utmost endeavours to check the progress of the enemy, but they having the command of the water eluded his efforts. However he succeeded so far as to remove most part of the public stores out of their way. At the approach of Fayette they retired down the river to Portsmouth after burning an iron work, and manufactory of arms in the neighbourhood of Richmond and destroying or carrying off a considerable quantity of tobacco which was lodged in the wares houses on the river. Clinton flattered with the success his arms had met with in Virginia and sensible how much weight the eclat of invading that State would give to the measure of Administration in England at the opening of the new parliament sent genl. Philips with a large reinforcement to take the command. If we may credit reports the two generals were not very agreeable to each other. Arnold now saw that he lost the opportunity of enriching himself by plunder and Philips held in the utmost contempt the abilities and character of the traitor. However they continued some time together and advanced from Portsmouth to Petersburgh, where Philips was suddenly taken ill and in two or three days expired. Various reports were circulated respecting his death some attributing it to a fever others to poison administered by Arnold on whom the command again devolved. However that might be it is pretty certain that no good understanding subsisted between Arnold and his troops. The Officers who came with Philips and were of his family bore with reluctance the command of Arnold, which it is not improbable might have proved very advantageous to us ^& ruinous to them^ Had not Cornwallis in that critical moment come up and assumed the command. After parting with Greene near cross Creek in North Carolina he had proceeded down with the remains of his army to Wilmington and there having refreshed his troops and being reinforced by a small detachment from Charlestown instead of following Greene and securing the posts he held in South Carolina he turned back and marching through North Carolina by the way of Halifax entered Virginia and joined the Army under Arnold at Petersburgh. Soon after this junction Arnold quitted the army and returned to New York. And now the famous marching general immediately put his troops in motion and crossing James river at Richmond proceeded up the country into the very heart of Virginia. The general Assembly which was then convened and in order to be out of the way ^of the enemy had^ removed from Richmond to Charlottesville But Cornwallis finding a plentiful supply of fine horses in the stable of private gentlemen mounted a considerable body of his men on horseback and sent them up and down the Country in parties to burn mills and ravage the houses and farms of the planters and carry off their negro slaves. A considerable detachment under Tarlton by a rapid march penetrated as far as Charlottesville where the general Assembly was sitting and had well ^nigh^ surprized and taken the whole prisoners. Fortunately however they got notice of his approach just time enough to make their escape, and crossing the mountains convened at Stanton in Augusta where they held their Session—

General Greene who had received no advice of the reinforcements sent to Virginia and who was ignorant of the movements of Cornwallis not imagining he would be so mad as to undertake a march with his harrassed troops through the swamps and deserts of North Carolina and leave his posts & conquests in South Carolina an easy prey to his antagonists, had ordered Steuben to join him with a detachment of the Virginia troops. And in consequence of this order Steuben had ^before Cornwallis junction^ seperated from Fayette and proceeded on his march to the borders of North Carolina Fayette being thus left was unable to stop the progress of Cornwallis and therefore fell back as his lordship advanced. But being joined by a detachment of the Pennsylvania line under Waine he suddenly turned upon the enemy and by a rapid and judicious movement threw himself between them and Albemarle court house to which place they were directing their march to destroy a magazine of public stores. Here he took such a position as kept them in check in the mean while Steuben who had received counter orders was hastening up with his troops to join him and the militia from every quarter was coming to his assistance. Upon this change of affairs Cornwallis who is no less renowned for his retrograde movements than for his rapid advances where there is no force to oppose him hastily retreated and in two mighty marches measured back upwards of fifty miles. The Marquis pressed after him with equal rapidity. When Cornwallis reached Richmond he seemed as if he intended to make a stand and sent out a party to attack the advance guard of the marquis at the same time drawing out his army as if he meant to support the attack and hazard a general engagement. But the advance guard met the assailants with such firmness and the Marquis moved on to support them with such spirit and order that Cornwallis thought proper not to wait his approach but to resume his order of retreat and therefore quitting Richmond he posted down to Williamsburg and the Marquis after him. The great superiority in cavalry gave the enemy great advantages and enabled them in these rapid movements to cover their rear. That they might not however wholly escape the Marquis pushed on some light troops and riflemen to skirmish with their rear and if possible retard them until he could come up, But the enemy marched with such diligence and rapidity that it was impossible to overtake them until Major McPherson mounting fifty of the infantry behind as many gragoons [dragoons] pressed on and immediately began an attack this was within six miles of Williamsburg. The riflemen coming up took such good aim that the enemy thought proper to retreat within their lines leaving sixty killed and one hundred wounded. Cornwallis had taken such a position on the strong ground near Williamsburg that the Marquis did not judge it prudent to attempt dislodging him Lord Cornwallis by his travels through the Southern States must have gained some knowledge of the disposition of the Americans and what little foundation there is for those idle reports and surmises with which the nation of Great Britain had been so long amused and deceived that the bulk of the people were in favor of Britain and that the opposition and the war was ^is^ upheld and supported by a faction.6 In his long marches from Charles town to Camden, from Camden to Dan, from Dan through the whole extent of Carolina to Wilmington, from Wilmington to Richmond and from Richmond to the foot of the blue ridge and thence down again to Williamsburg and the sea coast a route of upwards of eleven hundred miles, what accession of force did he gain? What supplies of assistance did he receive except from those immediately in his power and who was under the terror of his arms? Who was it but the armed yeomanry of the Country that opposed his march and so often forced him to measure back his steps with such speed? And yet at this time the people were in a great degree in a state of nature, being free from all restraints of government. In South Carolina a civil government was wholly suspended; North Carolina was in such confusion and tumult by the sudden invasion, that government had no time to exert itself and the people were left to act from the immediate impulses of their own minds. The case was the same in Virginia when the Assembly retired from Richmond to Charlottesville and from thence across the mountain to Augusta. And yet as fast as the people could arm themselves they repaired to the continental standard and joining the few continental troops in the field voluntarily and bravely exposed their lives in defence of their rights and liberties and could a sufficient number of arms have been procured and put into the hands of the volunteer militia, his lordship would have sooner been convinced to his Cost of the ridiculous absurdity of such assertions.—

There is another instance which ought not to be omitted and which demonstrates in the clearest manner what a deed [deep] rooted and national hatred of Britain possesses the minds of the people. I mentioned in my last the great embarrassment of our finances. During the time of those great exertions already mentioned the public treasury was in a manner empty, The Army unpaid and ill supplied with provisions and in a manner naked for want of cloaths. When the troops under Genl. Washington were separated and sent into their winter cantonments, some british deserters that had been inlisted in the Pensylvania line took advantage of the uneasiness occasioned for want of money cloaths and provisions and some complaints among those troops on account of the terms of enlistment and incited them to a mutiny and open revolt. The news of this revolt quickly reached New York and Clinton from a fond hope of turning it to his advantage immediately dispatched two emissaries to the mutineers with large offers of reward if they would come over to him, and even proceeded so far as to march with a body of troops to the west end of Staten Island with a view to facilitate a junction with him if they accepted his offer or to support them in case they should be attacked by the troops of the other States. But so deep rooted was their aversion to the british that they immediately seized his emissaries and kept them closely confined declaring at the same time that though they were driven by wrongs and distresses to the present measures they looked for redress from no other quarter then from the State to which they belonged and that in case Clinton advanced to take advantage of their seeming defection from the cause they would instantly put themselves under the command of their officers and convince him that their attachment to the cause was the same it ever was. And to give farther force to their declarations they advanced from Princeton to Trenton and delivered up the emissaries who were executed as spies.—7

I should now give ^you^ some account of our internal affairs but I imagine you are pretty well tired with this minute detail of military transactions and know you will receive from others whose duty it is, information on some arrangements late taken I shall therefore spare you.

Enclosed is an official letter from the Secretary of Congress informing you that Mr Huntington having on account of his ill state of health been obliged to apply for leave of absence and to quit the chair. Congress proceeded to the election of another President and their choice has fallen on Mr McKean—8

You have also a cypher which you may use either in your public dispatches or with your friend the Secretary who presents his most respectful compliments to Mrs Jay and begs your acceptance of the same.—9