George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 19 April 1781
To Major General Nathanael Greene
Head Quarters New Windsor April 19 81
Dear Sir,
I duly received your letter of the 17th of March inclosing the copy of one of the 16th to The President of Congress. The motives which induced you to hazard a battle appear to me to have been substantial. I am happy to find by your subsequent letter to Congress, that the retreat of Cornwallis in circumstances of distress corresponded with your expectations1—I still however regard your affairs as critically situated—the enemy are accumulating a large force in the Southern states; we have several concurring accounts that a further detachment, is preparing at New York to be commanded by Clinton himself—Its destination is given out to be for Delaware bay; but it is much more probably for Chesapeak or Cape fear.2
The Marquis will have informed you of the orders he has received to march Southward with his corps, and to concert with you his ulterior movements, whether to remain in Virginia to make head against the enemy who are now in force there, or to proceed directly to a junction with you.3
General St Clair informs me that 900 of the Pensylvanians were to march the 16th from York Town.4
You may be assured that we give you all the support in our power—I wish our means were more adequate.
We are impatiently waiting for definitive advices from Europe; we have nothing certain since the dutch war5—The precariousness of conveyances by the post would make it dangerous to enlarge confidentially.6 With the truest esteem and regard I am Dr Sir Yr most Obedt servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC: Hamilton-McLane Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW refers to Greene’s letter to Samuel Huntington of 23 March (see Huntington to GW, 5 April, and n.3 to that document).
2. GW recently conveyed the same intelligence (see his letter to Steuben, 18 April, and n.7).
3. See GW to Lafayette, 6 April; see also Lafayette to Greene, 17 April, in , 4:35–41.
4. See Arthur St. Clair to GW, 6 April.
5. For the rupture between Great Britain and the Netherlands, see Elias Dayton to GW, 18 March, and n.1 to that document.
6. Greene acknowledged this letter when he wrote GW on 22 June (DLC:GW).