Alexander Hamilton Papers

George Washington to Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, 21 October 1779

George Washington to
Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton1

West point October the 21. 1779

Gentn.

In my Letters of the 10th & 18th I transmitted all the intelligence I had obtained, respecting the Enemy from the time of your departure to those two periods; and by the present conveyance, I inclose you an Extract of a Letter from Major General Gates of the 15th.2 By this you will perceive he was fully persuaded, that the Enemy were preparing to evacuate Rhode Island and he expected from his advices, they would do it on Monday or Tuesday last. Whether the event has taken place or not as yet, is a matter I cannot determine, having received no information since upon the subject; but admitting it has not, there is no room to doubt that they have all things in a condition to do it, on the shortest notice—whenever they shall think the exigency of their affairs require it. It is also equally certain, that they continue to carry on their Fortifications for the defence of New York with the utmost industry and perseverance, and appear to be providing for the most obstinate resistance. Indeed as their reduction would be attended with the most alarming and fatal consequences to their Nation, Nothing else can be reasonably expected. The moment I hear the Troops have left Rhode Island, I will advise you. The Garrisons of Verplank & Stony points still remain; but from the concurring accounts of Deserters, the Heavy baggage and Stores, except about Eighteen or Twenty Rounds for each Cannon, are embarked, and all matters are putting in train for an Evacuation, in case events make it necessary. Deserters add, as a circumstance of confirmation, that Sir Henry Clinton was up at the posts about Eight days ago, and ⟨that⟩ from that time they have totally ⟨declined⟩ carrying on any works.

Having given you the substance of the Intelligence received since my last, I am led, from the vast magnitude of the object which carried you from Head Quarters and the very interesting consequences it may involve, all of which I am persuaded will occur to your consideration, to remark that the Count’s entering New York Bay with his fleet, must be the basis and groundwork of any co-operation that can be undertaken by us—either for the reduction of the Enemy’s whole force, or the destruction of their shipping only. Every thing will absolutely depend upon it in either case; as without it and a free & open communication up & down the Rivers and in the sound, which cannot be effected & maintained in any other way, we could not possibly undertake any operations on Long Island, as our supplies of provisions & Stores could only be obtained by water. This point I am certain would have your due consideration, but it appearing to me—the Hinge—the One thing—upon which all others must rest, I could not forbear mentioning it. The circumstance of the Season now, the expenditure of Wood and the necessity of supplying it &c. will of course be fully attended to according to their importance, and I have only to add, from a desire of preventing a misconception by either side—if any Cooperation is agreed on—that the terms and conditions may be explicitly understood. And whether it shall extend to an attempt to reduce the Enemy’s whole force—or only to the destruction of their shipping—your engagements will provide for the continuance of the Count’s fleet to secure our retreat and the removal of our Stores from Long & York Island, if unhappily it should be found on experiment that neither is practicable & we should be obliged to abandon the Enterprize.

I am Gentn. with great regard & respect,   Yr most Obed servt

Go: Washington

Genl Du Portail & Col Hamilton

P.S. ¼ after 3 PM

Three deserters have just come in who left Verplank’s point last night. They all corroborate the accounts, by a detail of circumstances, of the preparations to evacuate both that & Stony point. I have no doubt that things will at least be held in readiness.

Go: Washington

After dispatching the above, I received a Letter from Major General Heath of which the following is a Copy.

“I now have the pleasure to acquaint your Excellency that the Enemy have left both points having burnt & destroyed their Works”

“Mandevilles3 Oct 21. 1779
4 OClock PM”

LS, in writing of Robert Hanson Harrison; Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; Df, in writing of Harrison, George Washington Papers.

1This letter was sent by Washington in the care of Deputy Quartermaster General John Mitchell at Philadelphia. In the enclosing letter to Mitchell (dated October 21, 1779) Washington wrote: “The Contents of the inclosed Letter are important and I request that You will take measures for forwarding it, without delay, to Genl. Duportail and Colo. Hamilton by a faithful and trusty Conveyance” (Df, in writing of Robert Hanson Harrison, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).

When Washington’s letter to Du Portail and H was written, they were on a mission to D’Estaing for whom they were waiting on the New Jersey coast See H to Nathanael Greene, October 7, 1779, note 1; and John Holker to H, October 21, 1779, note 1.

2The extract from the Gates letter reads:

“My intelligence from all quarters, and from all Stations, announce the enemy are preparing to evacuate Newport. Monday or Tuesday it is imagined they will take their departure. A deserter from the 22d. Regiment mortally wounded, but rescued by a party of our Soldiers, declares, that the whole of the troops now on Rhode Island are bound to the West Indies—this may be, but I believe they will first visit New York.” (This extract, in writing of Tench Tilghman, is in the Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.)

3On the east side of the Hudson River, in the region opposite West Point.

Index Entries