My official letter a Copy of Which I Send to Congress Will let you know the Situation of Affairs in this Quarter—I Ardently Wish My Condu[c]t May Meet With Your Approbation1—Had I followed the first impulsion of My Temper, I Would Have Risked Some thing More—But I Have Been Guarding Against My Own Warmth, and this Consideration that a General defeat Which With Such a proportion of Militia Must Be Expected Would involve this State and our Affairs into Ruin, Has Rendered me Extremely Cautious in My Movements—indeed, I am more Embarassed to Move, More Crippled in My projects than we Have Been in the Northe[r]n States.

As I am for the present fixed in the Command of the troops in this State, I Beg it as a great favor that You Will please to Send me Clel gouvion—Should a jonction Be made with general greene He will Act as my aid de camp.2

Had the pennsylvanians Arrived Before Lord Cornwallis I Was determined to Attak the Ennemy And Have no Doubt But What We Would Have Been Successfull—their Unaccountable Delay Cannot Be too Much Lamented, and Will make An immense difference to the fate of this Campaign—Should they Have Arrived time Enough to Support me in the Reception of Lord Cornwallis’s first stroke, I would still Have thought it Well Enough—But from An Answer of General Waïne Received this day And dated the 19th I am Affraid that in this Moment they Have Hardly left York town.3

public Stores and private property Being Removed from Richmond this place is a less important Object—I Don’t Believe it Would Be prudent to Expose the troops for the Sake of A few Houses Most of Which are Empty—But I am Wavering Betwen two inconveniences—Was I to fight a Battle I’ll Be Cut to pieces, the Militia Dispersed, and the Arms lost—Was I to decline fighting the Country would think Herself Given up—I am therefore determined to Skarmish, But not to Engage too Far, and particularly to take Care Against their immense and Excellent Body of Horse Whom the Militia fears Like they would So Many Wild Beasts.

A letter from General Greene to General Sumner is dated 5th May Seven Miles Below Camden4—the Baron is Going to Him With some Recruits and will get Some more in North Carolina5—When the pennsylvanians Come I am only to keep them a few days Which I Will improve as Well as I Can6—Cavalry is Very necessary to us—I wish Lauzun’s legion Could Come—I am Sure He will Like to Serve with me, and as General Greene Gave me Command of the troops in this State Lauzun Might Remain with me in Virginia—if not sheldon’s Dragoons Might Be Sent—as to Moylan I do not Believe he will Be Ready Before a long time.7

Was I any Ways Equal to the Ennemy, I would Be extremely Happy in my present Command—But I am not Strong Enough Even to Get Beaten. Governement in this state has no Energy, and Laws Have no force—But I Hope this assembly Will put Matters upon a Better footing—I Had Great deal of trouble to put the Departements in a tolerable train. our Expences were Enormous, and yet we Can get Nothing—arrangements for the present seem to put on a Better face But for this Superiority of the Ennemy which will Chace us wherever they please—they Can Over Run the Country and Untill the pennsylvanians Arrive we Are Next to Nothing in point of opposition to So Large a force—this Country Begins to Be as familiar to me as tappan and Bergen—our Soldiers Are Hitherto very Healthy and I Have turned doctor to Regulate their diet.

Adieu, My dear general, let me Hear Some times from you—Your letters are a great Happiness to your affectionate Friend

My Respects if you please to Mistress Washington and Compliments to the family.8