Colonel Elias Dayton to George Washington, 15 March 1781
From Colonel Elias Dayton
Chatham [N.J.] March 15th 1781
Sir,
The fleet of which I gave your Excellency advice in my last, set sail & left the hook the day before yesterday about ten oClock.1 The account which I transmitted of the number of sail, of troops and the horses embarked was, I believe, strictly true. Two frigates only sailed out with them, but I could not learn with certainty whether any part of Arbuthnot’s fleet were to join them on their way. Their detention thus long has I am sensible been occasioned by the advices they had received of the sailing of the French fleet at the moment of their embarkation.
I am still of opinion that they are intended to land at Wilmington or by running up James river to form a junction with Arnold and either strengthen his position or assist in securing his retreat.
From the weakness of the enemy in the city and on the Islands, I conclude that they cannot undertake any important excursions, but will be contented to hold the posts they now occupy.2 I have the honor to be your Excellencys most Obedient Hbl. Servant
Elias Dayton
LS, DLC:GW.
1. Dayton last wrote GW on 9 March. British warships and transports got under way from the Watering Place on Staten Island on 13 March, but they anchored near Sandy Hook, N.J., because of contrary winds and uncertainty over the location of the French fleet. The expedition finally departed for Virginia on 20 March (see the entries for 13–15, 18, and 20 March in , 2:483–84, 486, 490–91, and the entries for 13, 15, 17–20 in , 2:112–13).
2. GW replied to Dayton on 27 March.