George Washington to Francisco Rendon, 23 March 1781
To Francisco Rendon
Head Quarters New Windsor 23d March 1781.
Sir
Your favor of the 26th ulto reached me at Newport, where I have lately been upon a visit to the Count de Rochambeau.1
I am obliged by the interesting intelligence which you have been pleased to communicate, and I most earnestly hope, that no unfortunate incident will again prevent the progress of the expedition against Pensacola.
Our whole attention is turned to the Southward, which is at present the Theatre of the most important operations. A successful blow in that quarter may give a total change to the face of affairs there.2
I am happy to find that my former communications have not only been servicable to your Court but to you personally—You may be assured that duty and inclination will lead me to the continuance of a correspondence which is held in high estimation by Sir Your most obt and humble Servant.
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MiU-C: Clinton Papers; Df, DLC:GW; copy, P.R.O.: C.O. 5/102; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The British intercepted the LS, and Gen. Henry Clinton enclosed a copy in his letter of 5–20 April to Lord George Germain (see , 19:82, 20:102–6). For the capture of the mail, see GW to Elias Dayton, 4 April, n.2. GW sent a duplicate to Rendon that has not been found (see Rendon’s reply to GW on 16 April).
1. For GW’s visit to Newport to consult with the French commanders, see GW to Alexander Hamilton, 7 March, and the source note to that document. In his letter to GW on 26 Feb., Rendon provided Spanish military intelligence and reported that King Charles III of Spain supported his work as an envoy.
2. GW particularly anticipated news from a French force that had left Rhode Island for the Chesapeake Bay (see Destouches to GW, 8 March; see also Destouches to GW, 19 March).