George Washington to Major General Steuben, 18 April 1781
To Major General Steuben
Head Quarters New Windsor 18th April 1781.
Dear Sir
I have received your favr of the 23d ulto.1 As soon as I had ascertained the point of Genl Phillips having sailed with a detachment from New York I sent directions to the Marquis to proceed to the southward and put himself under the orders of Major General Greene.2 I was in hopes my letters would have reached him at Annapolis or met him on his march from thence to the Head of Elk, but unfortunately as things are circumstanced he had found an opportunity of returning by Water to the Head of Elk and by that means brought the detachment near one hundred Miles back again.3 He however was to recommence his march on the 13th and as he is very light4 he will move as quick as it is possible for troops to do.5
The first division of the Pennsylvanians Line will be larger than I could have expected. Genl St Clair writes me that 960 Rank and File formed into three Battalions were to march from York Town the 16th instant. He was in hopes to collect between three and four hundred more of the old soldiers, but was very uncertain of the success of recruiting.6
Another embarkation is preparing at New York. Most accounts agree that Sir Henry Clinton is to command in person and that the destination is for the Delaware.7 I rather think if Sir Henry does go, that it must be his intent to take the command to the southward, for I will not beleive that he will employ himself with a detachment, especially as it cannot be made a very considerable one without weakening the Garrison of New York more than he would chuse to do, notwithstanding the smallness8 of our force at present.
We are very anxious to hear the event of Lord Cornwallis’s retreat from Guilford and New Garden.9 I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
4. “I am in hopes” is struck out at this point on the draft.
5. Major General Lafayette wanted to march his troops southward on 11 April, but winds delayed the departure (see Lafayette to GW, 10 [second letter] and 14 April).
6. See Arthur St. Clair to GW, 6 April.
7. For this intelligence, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 7 April, and n.2 to that document, and Elias Dayton to GW, 14 April, and n.3 to that document.
8. Tilghman struck out “weakness” on the draft and then wrote “smallness” above the line.
9. Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene had written on the British retreat (see his letter to GW, 29 March, n.2, and GW to Greene, 22 April; see also Greene to Huntington, 16 March, printed as an enclosure with Greene to GW, 17 March).
New Garden, N.C., was about four miles southwest of Guilford Courthouse.