George Washington to Lieutenant General Rochambeau, 26 April 1781
To Lieutenant General Rochambeau
Head Quarters New Windsor 26th April 1781.
Sir
Since my letter of the 22d,1 I have received intelligence, which I think may be depended upon, that Admiral Arbuthnot with his Fleet was in New York harbour, and that three or four of the Ships which suffered in the late Action were near the town repairing their damage.2 Transports were fitting and preparations were making as if for an embarkation,3 but I can yet gain no satisfactory account4 upon that subject.5 I have the honor to be with very great Esteem Your Excellency’s Most obt and humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, CtY-BR:R; Df, DLC:GW; Rochambeau’s French translation, CtY-BR:R; LB, in French, DLC: Rochambeau Papers, vol. 7; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. For the Battle of Cape Henry, see Destouches to GW, 19 March.
3. For these reports, see Elias Dayton to GW, 20 April.
4. On the draft, which Tilghman also wrote, the words “whether it will take place shortly” are struck out at this point.
5. Rochambeau replied to GW on 4 May.