Major General Steuben to George Washington, 15 April 1781
From Major General Steuben
Chesterfield Co. Ho. [Va.] 15th April 1781
Sir
The Expedition against Portsmouth having failed my first care was to save those Articles which had at so much trouble and expence been collected for that purpose—and here I must do justice to this State for their Efforts on this occasion—I can with truth say that every possible preparation was made—the expectations of the people were accordingly very great, but not so much so, as the consternation they were thrown into by the Arrival of the British Fleet with a Reinforcement.1
The Marquis has doubtless communicated to your Excellency the project I had formed before his departure—Lord Cornwallis being then in the environs of Hilsbro’ I proposed to Government to march with the whole of the Militia and by forced Marches cross the Roanoke & in conjunction with General Greene fall on his Lordship before the Enemy here could have time to form any plan—this manœuvre I flatter’d myself would at least drive Cornwallis from No. Carolina & probably, by obliging General Phillips to follow us with all his force, have removed the seat of War from this State.2
I submitted this plan to the Marquis to General Weedon and to Colo. Gouvion, who all approved it.3 On my way to Richmond I met Lt Colo. Morris who came directly from Genl Greene, he informed me that his Lordship had already began to retire towards Cross Creek and that Genl Green wanted a Reinforcement to Enable him to pursue with Vigour this served to strengthen my opinion,4 and as I had then upwards of 4000 Militia together I confined my requisition to 2000 Men whom I only required for 30 or 40 Days. The Answer of Government to this proposition I have the honor to inclose5—the perplexity the arrival of the Reinforcement6 had thrown them into, together with the Marquiss retiring at this Juncture to the Northward made them Reject every idea not tending to the immediate defence of the State, my situation here is not the most agreable obliged to undertake this defence against 3000 Regular Troops with nothing to oppose to them but Militia whose numbers decrease Every day—Those who have served since the beginning of the invasion have discharged themselves and are not yet replaced by others in consequence of which General Muhlenberg is left on the South Side the River with only 700 Men & General Weedon on the North Side with about 600 Men—if the Enemy have any intention to penetrate the Country the opposition we can make will avail little.
A very great Evil resulting from this invasion is that it stops the recruiting for the Army; so long as a County has any Militia in the field, so long that County is prevented from Drafting, and as most of the Counties have had part of their Militia either here or with Genl Greene little or nothing has yet been done in the business: only 52 have yet come in & of these some have already deserted some who come as substitutes have received 25 & 30,000 pounds for 18 Months.
I am much at a loss what to do for Arms when the Recruits do come in, I had reckoned on those by Mr Tilly and I must intreat your Excellency to order them on by Land as we have not the least prospect of a single Musket any other way7—we shall also be much distressed for Ammunition, Genl Greene presses me for a supply whilst I can scarce find enough to supply the Militia here8 The Marquis has sent 100,000 Cartridges to Fredricksburg these I will take care to forward to Genl Greene9—Your Excellency has I presume been informed that the Lead Mines have given out—this Article is not now to be had here—if the Eastern States do not send a supply we shall be sadly at a loss10—Powder is also scarce—a Powder Mill near this was blown up some time since supposed by an Emissary of the Enemy11—I immagine Maryland could furnish Some on application of the Board of War.
Another important & very difficult object is Remounting the Cavalry—the Assembly have passed a Law limitting the price of Horses for the Cavalry to £5000—a price inadequate to the purchase of the meanest Horse12 very indifferent Horses which have been impressed have been valued from 20 to 30000£ & upwards—nothing therefore can possibly be done till the meeting of the Assembly the Southern Army will require at least 300 Cavalry Horses for next Campaign,13 I suppose 30 Guineas to have been the old price of such Horses allowing now 40 Guineas, the whole will amount to 12000 Guineas, the price must be limitted or the Continent will not be able to pay the expence of remounting two Regiments of Cavalry. I beg your Excellencys directions for my guide in making a proper Representation to the Assembly which meets the 10th of next Month. Swords will also be much wanting for the Cavalry I have orderd 600 to be made at Mr Hunters Works but dare not reckon on them in time14—Cartridge Boxes is an Article the State cannot furnish if possible 2000 should be sent immediately from Philadelphia.
The little success I have had in creating the Line of this State and in furnishing the necessary supplies for the Southern Army induced me to request Genl Greene to call me to the Army—The Genl has however refused me—and in such a manner as to engage me if possible to redouble my Zeal in Assisting him from this quarter—I lament only that the Invasion not only takes up a part of my attention but prevents those succours which might otherwise be expected.15
The number of Troops of this State in the Field diminishes greatly When I first arrived here Colo. Buford had 500 Men with him since then I have sent from hence 800 R. & file exclusive of Sergts Musick Waiters & Waggoners and by Colo. Morris accot they have not now more than 700 Men in the Field—some speedy & effectual measures must be taken to stop such Desertion or it will be in Vain to raise Men at such expence.
I shall be much obliged to your Excellency to order the Commisy of Prisoners to send me as soon as possible a list of the southern Officers Exchanged that I may order them to Join—many refuse to Act from not having receivd Official Accounts of their being Exchanged.
I inclose your Excellency a representation of the Officers of the Virga Line aginst General Weedon—the propriety of which Congress and your Excellency will Judge—a Copy has been sent to the Board of War.16
The Enemy in Portsmouth are busied in strengtheng their Works and in Building Boats17—they have also some parties in Princess Ann and about 500 Men in Norfolk.18 I have the honor to be with great respect Your Excellencys most Obed. hum. Servant
steuben Maj: Gen:
LS, DLC:GW; Df, NHi: Steuben Papers. The docket of the draft reads: “the same to the Board of War.” That variant has not been found.
1. Steuben had intended for Virginia forces to cooperate with a French expedition to attack a British detachment (see GW to Steuben, 4 April, and n.1). British ships entered the Chesapeake Bay after the Battle of Cape Henry (see Destouches to GW, 19 March, source note).
2. No letter from Lafayette to GW on this subject has been found.
3. See Proposal by Steuben for an Expedition Against Cornwallis, 27 March, in , 3:419–21, and George Weedon to Thomas Jefferson, same date, in , 5:267; see also Richard Henry Lee to Jefferson, 27 March, in , 5:262–63. For Lieutenant Colonel Gouvion’s approval statement, written at Williamsburg on 27 March, see , 3:421.
4. On the draft, “of the necessity of adopting the above plan,” is written at this point.
5. The enclosed document, dated “In Council” on 29 March, reads: “The Board taking under their most serious consideration the proposal of Major Gen. Baron steuben for s[e]nding immediately into North Carolina a detachment of two thousand Militia now embodied on the South side James River for the defence of this State against the Enemy at Portsmouth, are of opinion, that altho the proposition seems to them to be founded upon very probable principles, Yet the number of Arms that such detachment would necessarily carry with them having a very great proportion to what will afterwards remain in the State, it will be a measure unjustifiable in the present circumstances of affairs, the enemy having lately received a great reinforcement: that altho the militia at Present in service may be able to resist the whole force of the Enemy in any quarter, Yet being strangers to their certain intentions, the Militia may be able to repel the incursions of detachments, which otherwise might be rendered absolutely impracticable for the want of Arms.
“The Board are further of opinion that all that can be done in the present exigency, is to reinforce General Greene as speedily as possible with one fourth of the Militia from the Counties of Montgomery, Washington[,] Botetourt, Rockbridge, Henry, Pittsylvania, Bedford, Buckingham, Prince Edward, Charlotte, and Hallifax. as there is reason to hope that such militia may be able to furnish in great measure their own arms” (DLC:GW; see also Steuben to Nathanael Greene, 30 March, in , 8:14–16, and Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Montgomery and Certain Other Counties, 29 March, in , 5:275–77).
6. On the draft, “to the Enemy” is written at this point. A detachment under Maj. Gen. William Phillips had reinforced the British force at Portsmouth, Va. (see GW to Abner Nash, 4 April, and n.2 to that document).
7. See Jefferson to GW, 28 March, n.2.
8. See Greene to Steuben, 22 March, in , 7:463–64; see also Steuben to Greene, 2 April, in , 8:30–31.
9. See Lafayette to GW, 8 April, and n.6 to that document.
10. For the failure of the lead mines, see Jefferson to Samuel Huntington, 21 March, in , 5:198–99; see also Board of War to GW, 30 April.
11. “Arnold” is written on the draft instead of the previous two words.
12. For this resolution, see Jefferson to Greene, 24 March, in , 5:229–30; see also Jefferson to Greene, 1 April, and Greene to Jefferson, 6 and 28 April, in , 5:313–14, 360–62, 567–70.
13. On the draft, “and I shall accept of none that are not fit for that service” is written at this point.
14. The Virginia council had directed its commercial agent on 30 March to place an order with James Hunter, Sr., for the manufacture of 500 cavalry swords (see Jefferson to Richard Call and to David Ross, both 30 March, in , 5:284–85, 296–97).
15. See Steuben to Greene, 27 March, and Greene to Steuben, 2 April, in , 7:473–74, 8:23–26.
16. The enclosed letter from Col. William Davies and twelve other field officers of the Virginia line to Steuben, dated 18 Feb., protested Brig. Gen. George Weedon’s return to active service (see DLC:GW; see also Davies to GW, 20 Feb.). Steuben’s communication to the Board of War has not been identified.
17. The draft ends at this point.
18. GW replied to Steuben on 1 May.