Samuel Huntington to George Washington, 17 May 1781
From Samuel Huntington
Philadelphia May 17. 1781
Sir,
I am favored with yours of the 11th Instant covering the Extract of Intelligence received from Colonel Dayton which proves to be premature.1
Enclosed is the Copy of a Letter this Moment received from a confidential Person giving the latest authentic Intelligence received relative to the Movements of the British Fleet, though a Report prevails that they have since actually sailed, but the Truth of this Report remains to be more fully ascertained.2 I have the Honor to be, with the most perfect Respect Your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant
Sam. Huntington
P.S. Your Excys dispatches of the 1st 8th & 10th instt have been receivd.3
LS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 15. The postscript, in Huntington’s writing, appears only on the LS.
1. See GW to Huntington, 11 May; see also Elias Dayton to GW, 9 May.
2. The enclosed intelligence begins “Saturday night 12 of May 81”: “This Morning the Fleet got under Way but meeting a Brig coming from the Southward they immediately returned within the Hook.
“Yesterday the London got a Ground in coming down where she lay for Six Hours, which caused great Uneasiness throughout the whole Fleet but got off safe. They now give out they are going to Chesapeake Bay as a Reinforcement to G. Phillips which I think is probable as I cant Learn they have any Genl Officer on Board and only 2.000 Troops with about 50 Horse.
“I think the Fleet sails to morrow the Weather permitting.” This report was sent on 14 May by an unknown person (signature is struck out) who apparently was at Allentown, N.J.: “The above is a Copy of Letter I received last Evening from Shrewsbury which I wish safe to hand.
“In a New York Paper of the 9th Inst. I saw the following. ‘On Sunday last was sent in here by some of his Majesty’s Ships the Rebel Frigate Protector bound from Port au Prince to Boston Carries 12. 12s, 8 9s, 6 6 pounders, had many valuable Articles with 10.000 Dollars on Board’ ” (DLC:GW; see also The Royal Gazette [New York] for 9 May, and Robert Howe to GW, this date, and n.5). For the British embarkation, see General Orders, this date, and n.1 to that document.
3. GW had written Huntington on 1 May about Continental army administrative matters (see also GW to Huntington, 8 and 10 May).