From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 15 July 1780
To Samuel Huntington
Head Quarters Bergen County 15th July 1780
Sir
The New York paper of the 14th announces the arrival of Admiral Greaves on the 13th with, as they say, “a formidable Squadron of Capital Ships to reinforce Vice Admiral Arbuthnot.”1 My private information makes this Squadron to consist of the six following Ships.
| London | 90 Guns |
| Resolution | 74 |
| Bedford | 74 |
| Royal Oak | 74 |
| Prudent | 64 |
| America | 60.2 |
The arrival of this naval Armament has not induced us to make any alteration in our arrangements, nor ought it to have any effect upon our exertions. It ought on the contrary to excite in us a determination to be prepared at all events. We do not yet know the force which the Chevalier de Ternay has brought with him.3 If superior to Admiral Greaves, we may be able to operate in some other quarter if not against New York—but supposing it should not be more than equal, we should not lose sight of the great superiority of the French and Spanish Fleets in the West Indies, which may perhaps enable the Commanders in those Seas to turn the Balance decidedly in our favour.4 I have the honor to be with the highest Respect Sir Your Excellency’s Most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DNA:PCC, item 152; Df, DLC:GW; copy, DNA:PCC, item 169; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS. Congress read this letter on 18 July (, 17:638).
1. GW probably saw this report in The New-York Mercury; or, General Advertiser, a weekly newspaper that published on Thursdays, including 14 July 1780 (see , 1:664–65).
New York printer Hugh Gaine wrote in his journal for 13 July: “About 11 o’clock a Signal for a Fleet. At 4 P.M. a Letter from the Captain of the Blond, to the Hon. H. White announced the arrival of the Fleet of 6 Sail of the Line under the Command of Admiral Graves from England. This Eve a letter from Admiral Arbuthnot was received by the President of the Chamber of Commerce requesting a Number of Seamen to man the Fleet in order to go in search of the French Admiral” (, 2:92–93; see also Robert Howe to GW, 11 May, n.8).
2. On this date, Col. Elias Dayton wrote GW from Elizabeth, N.J.: “I enclose to your Excellency the New york paper of yesterday, which announces the arrival of the British fleet under Admiral Graves.
“From what I can learn, the fleet consists of one of 90 guns three 74 and four 64 under A. Graves this however I cannot absolutely asert to be a fact not haveing received my information in as direct or regular a channel as I could wish.
“The Capt. of the Guadaloup, its, is Said, is much censured for mistakeing a number of virgina merchant men for the french fleet last week” (LS, DLC:GW).
Dayton wrote a second letter to GW on this date from Elizabeth: “Since sealing the letter of this morning to your excellency—I have received the following very particular account of Admiral Greaves’s force &c. Viz:
| Commanders | Ships names | Guns |
| Admiral Greaves | London | 90 |
| Sir Charles Ogle | Resolution | 74 |
| Capt. Affleck | Bedford | 74 |
| Captn Burnet | Royal Oak | 74 |
| Capt. Thompson | Prudent | 64 |
| Unknown | America | 60–64 |
Admiral Graves has demanded 1000 Seamen, immediatly the new york merchants have agreed to furnish them. It was reported that great part of the army was to leave New york to go to the west Indies, & that this would soon have taken place, if the arrival of the french fleet does not prevent it” (LS, DLC:GW).
Chaloner Ogle became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1745 and rose to commander in 1755 and captain the following year. He finished his naval career as an admiral.
Three officers with the name of Affleck held commissions as captains in the Royal Navy in 1780.
Thomas Burnet (d. 1784) became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1744, a commander in 1756, and a captain in 1757.
Two officers with the name of Thompson held commissions as captains in the Royal Navy in 1780. The captain of the Prudent likely was Charles Thompson, who became a lieutenant in 1761, a commander in 1771, and a captain in 1772. He finished his naval career as a vice admiral.
3. For the strength of the French fleet, see William Heath to GW, 12 July.
4. On this date, GW, through Lafayette, advised Lieutenant General Rochambeau and Rear Admiral Ternay of Rear Adm. Thomas Graves’s arrival. Writing from Preakness, N.J., Lafayette informed the French officers: “We have just this moment learned that Admiral Graves has arrived in New York, and if the gazette assures us that this squadron has entered the harbor, the letters I also have the honor of sending you seem to instruct us about the number of vessels. We think, gentlemen, that we should not lose a minute in giving you this information. … You can judge better than we what we can expect from your naval situation, and you will decide how far it will be prudent to follow the plan proposed by General Washington. Your letters and the news from New York will determine his plans, and until then he continues to make preparations for the siege of that place. We must hope we shall not be obliged to renounce our plans for that siege” (, 3:90). For the probable letters enclosed, see n.2 above.