George Washington to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 8 April 1781
To Major Benjamin Tallmadge
Head Quarters New Windsor, April 8th 1781
Dr Sir
I have received Your Letter of the 6th Inst.1
The success of the Enterprize propos’d, must depend, on the absence of the British Fleet, the secrecy of the attempt, and a knowledge of the exact situation of the Enemy. If after you have been at the Westward, the circumstances, from your intelligence, shall appear favorable; You will be at liberty, to be the bearer of the enclosed Letter to His Excellency the Count De Rochambeau—to whose determination I have referred the Matter;2 as any co-operation3 on our part, by moving Troops towards the Sound, would give such indications of the design as would effectually frustrate the success.
Should you not proceed to the Count you may destroy that Letter—if on the contrary you should go to New Port, by keeping an account of the expences, they will be repaid by the Public.
In the mean time, I wish you to be as particular as possible, in obtaining from your friend, an accurate account of the Enemy’s strength, on York, Long, and Staten Islands, specifying the several Corps, and their distributions.4 This I think from the Enemy’s present weak state, may be procured with more facility & accuracy than at any former Period. I am Sir Your Most Obedient Servant
Go: Washington
P.S. I wish to know also, the strength of the last Detachment from New York, and of what Troops it was composed.
I need scarcely suggest, if you should go Eastward that it will be expedient to do it in such a Manner as not to create suspicion. Indeed, you know, secrecy is absolutely5 necessary in the whole affair.
As the Count De Rochambeau does not understand English, it may be well to communicate Your business to the Chevalier De Chattelus in the first instance & thro him to the Count, lest it should by accident get abroad.6
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, ViMtvL; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Humphreys wrote “Private” on the cover of the LS, which GW signed and is addressed to Tallmadge at Wethersfield, Connecticut.
2. See GW to Rochambeau and Destouches, this date.
3. Humphreys wrote “co-opertation” for this word on the LS.
4. GW desired this intelligence from the Culper spy ring.
5. Humphreys had written “n” on the LS and then attached this word. Humphreys also wrote the draft, and “absolutely necessary” appears on that version.
6. Tallmadge replied to GW on 20 April.