Council of War, 27 March 1780
Council of War
[Morristown, 27 March 1780]
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters Morris Town the 27th day of March 1780.
| Major Generals | Brigadier Generals | |
| St Clair | Clinton | |
| DeKalb | Maxwell | |
| Knox | ||
| Hand | ||
| Gist |
The Commander in Chief states to The Council, that by his latest advices from South Carolina Sir Henry Clinton was arrived there with the force under his command and about the beginning of this month was advanced as far as Stono-ferry, having remained more than twenty days nearly in the same position1—That the detachment which went with him from New York was estimated at about 6000—that it is unknown, whether he drew any reinforcement from Savannah, or whether the detachment suffered any considerable loss, in the Storms to which it was exposed during the voyage, a circumstance denied by the enemy. That however there is good intelligence of their having lost their cavalry and every reason to believe that the whole or the greatest part of their waggon-horses experienced a like fate—probably many waggons and boats were also lost, which must necessarily be at least a temporary check to their operations2—That by late accounts from New York, there is an appearance of additional succours going from that place, though these accounts still require confirmation.3
That General Lincoln’s force the beginning of January last consisted of about one thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry comprehending the Regiment in march under Col. Washington Continental troops, besides the militia of the Town and other militia called for from the Country and expected4—since which Brigadier General Hogan had arrived with the North Carolina regiments of about four hundred men; and the Virginia troops under General Woodford about one thousand in number were within three hundred and eighty miles of Charles Town the 11th instant.5 That General Lincoln’s disposition seems to be to garrison Charles Town with the greatest part of his force, and leave the cavalry with such infantry as may occasionally collect to them to cover the country and harass the enemy’s communications.
That the naval force with which the enemy sailed from New York upon the Southern expedition consisted of five sail of the line (one of which has foundered on the passage) one fifty-gun ship two 44s and a 20, with a few small armed vessels; besides which they may have been joined by the vigilant of 24 heavy cannon and some armed vessels, which were already in that quarter6—That Charles-Town harbour was defended by four Continental frigates,7 two state ships to be armed with heavy cannon and some other armed vessels making in the whole fourteen, exclusive of gallies, supposed to be a sufficient security to the harbour.
The Commander in Chief takes occasion to observe, that notwithstanding the hopes which seem to be entertained of an effectual defence much is to be apprehended for the event of the siege, as the loss of Charles Town and its garrison would probably involve the most calamitous consequences to the whole state of South Carolina, and even perhaps beyond it.
His Excellency further states that our operating force at ⟨this Post⟩ amounts to about 7000 rank and file⟨, thirteen⟩ hundred of whom will have completed ⟨their⟩ term of service the last of May—at the Highlands about 2600 including twelve hundred whose services will expire at the same period and at Danbury about 800, including three hundred of the same description—besides which are two small broken regiments of dragoons & Lee’s corps. That not less from the embarrassments in the Quarter Master’s and Commissary’s departments8 than from the season it will be impracticable for some time to put the army in motion if it were necessary.
That the enemy’s present operating force at New York and its dependencies is estimated at Eleven thousand rank and file, the whole of which by several concurring accounts has been said to be some time preparing for a movement.9
His Excellency having thus given the Council a general view of affairs, as well to the Southward as here requests their opinion in writing with their reasons whether any further force can at this time be spared from the army here to reinforce that in South Carolina, whether it will be adviseable to make such a detachment and to what amount; also in case a detachment should be made, what disposition ought to take place of the remaining force.10
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW’s secretary Robert Hanson Harrison wrote the names of the major and brigadier generals on the draft. Mutilated portions of the draft are supplied in angle brackets from the Varick transcript. Replies from brigadier generals James Clinton, Henry Knox, and William Maxwell, and from major generals Johann Kalb (first letter) and Arthur St. Clair, all dated 29 March, indicate that the council of war occurred on 28 March. Brigadier generals Mordecai Gist and Edward Hand also replied on 29 March. Major General Stirling, who did not attend the council, responded to GW on 30 March.
1. GW probably is referring to accounts published in The Royal Gazette, a Loyalist newspaper in New York City (see the postscript to GW’s letter to Samuel Huntington of 28 March and n.5 to that document).
2. A British expedition left New York for the south on 26 Dec. 1779 (see Anthony Wayne to GW, that date, source note; see also John Laurens to GW, 14 March 1780, and John Mathews to GW, 24 March, and the notes to those documents). British commander Gen. Henry Clinton later confirmed the loss of ships, horses, and artillery during the voyage (see , 159–60, 165).
3. See Robert Howe to GW, 20 March. For further intelligence on additional British forces heading south, see Johann Kalb’s second letter to GW, 29 March, found at Kalb’s first letter to GW, same date, source note.
4. GW apparently had received reports from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, commanding at Charleston, S.C., in letters Lincoln had written on 23–24 and 28–29 Jan. and on 11–12, 14, and 22 Feb. (see also GW to Lincoln, 15 April).
5. The North Carolina division and the Virginia line had been ordered south as reinforcements in the late fall (see GW to Thomas Clark, 19 Nov. 1779, and notes 2 and 4 to that document, and GW to Samuel Huntington, 29 Nov. 1779, and the source note to that document).
6. For intelligence regarding the British warship Vigilant, see Laurens to GW, 14 Feb. 1780.
7. The Continental frigates Boston, Providence, Ranger, and Queen of France had arrived at Charleston on 23 Dec. 1779 (see Lincoln to GW, that date).
8. For the serious supply issues then confronting the Continental army, see GW to Huntington, 26 March, and n.3 to that document.
9. For the likely source of this intelligence, see GW to Elias Dayton, this date.
10. After obtaining the views of subordinate generals, GW decided to send Maj. Henry Lee, Jr.’s corps southward as reinforcements (see GW to the Board of War and to Lee or the Officer Commanding his Corps at Burlington, N.J., both 30 March). After receiving additional intelligence, GW also sent the Maryland division and the Delaware Regiment southward (see Council of War, 1 April; GW to Huntington, 2 April; and Huntington to GW, 6 April, and n.2 to that document; see also GW to Gist and to Nathanael Greene, both 2 April, and GW to Kalb, same date, and the source note to that document).