1. Rochambeau enclosed a letter to him from Lt. Col. William Ledyard, written at New London, Conn., on 29 May: “By return of the Boat I sent on Long Island I am Informed that there was an Embarkation about taking place in New York, and that a number of Horses which was Ordered to be furnished for Goverment service by the Inhabitants at the East end of Long Island by the 10th Inst. after being sent up were all Ordered back again without paying any expences attending them, Capt. Fosdike of the Privatier Randolph who arrived here last Night I am informed that last Thursday evening he saw ten Ships which he suppos’d to be Arbuthnots Fleet, close in with the Land south side of Long Island, better than half way from Montauk Point to New York, standing to the Southward and Eastward under very small sail the Wind then E.N.E. blowing fresh and looking like a Gale coming on.

“Capt. Youngs Ledyard a Nephew of mine Arrived here last evening from Guadaloupe, by him I Learn that a French Fleet had arrived Off, and at Martinico consisting of 155 Sail with a Number of Troops from 7 to 10000—twenty eight of which was Ships of the Line including four which was employed as store Ships—and that sometime before this Fleets arrival at Martinico a Number of Ships said to be from 5 to 9 Sail of the Line with Transports parted with them, Bound to North America—that on the Approach of the French Fleet near Martinico, Vessels that was kept out to give the necessary Information respecting the British Fleet, which was Cruising for the French Fleet, came athwart the French Fleet in season and gave the Information relative to the English Fleet, upon which the French Fleet after taking care of their Convoy went in pursuit of the English Fleet, and soon came athwart them, when a severe Engagement took place which lasted for some time; the French Fleet consisted of 20 Sail of the Line, after which was Joined by four sail from Fort Royal, the English Fleet consisted of 17 Sail of the Line, after the two Fleets engaged some time the English Fleet made off, and was pursued by the French Fleet which prevented their geting into St Lucia, after which a Vessel Arriv’d at Guadaloupe and gave an Account that the French Fleet had taken two of the British Fleet that fell in the rear, and was in pursuit of the others—The Engagement took place the 29th April between the two Fleets.

“the Boat I sent to Block Island has not yet returnd this day two Ships was seen betwen Block Island & Montock Point—the French Ships which is said to be coming to North America am told are from 74 to 90 Guns, shall do all in my power to give Your Excellency the earliest Intelegence respecting the Movements of the Enemy. . . . beg your Excellency will please to inform the Admiral of this, should have wrote him but not knowing his Name did not no how to direct a Letter for him” (DLC:GW). For the naval action off Martinique, see Barras to GW, this date, n.1.

2. For Rear Admiral Barras’s orders, see Document III with The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note; see also Barras to GW, this date. The proceedings of the council of war, held aboard Barras’s flagship Duc de Bourgogne on 31 May and signed by Rochambeau, Barras, Captain Destouches, Brigadier General Lauzun, Major General Chastellux, and thirteen other senior officers, read: “His Excellency General Washington having demanded of the Count de rochambeau to march with his army into the Continent, and the instructions which the Count de rochambeau has received from his Court—Bearing, that in the case of his evacuation from rhode island, the Squadron shall leave it and retire to Boston, if it can be done with Surety and without compromising itself, The Count de Barras has required that a council of war composed of the General and Principal Officers of the Land forces and Navy, be assembled, to examine whether, in the present circumstances and tho’ there be no more impediment from the enemy to the Squadron retiring to Boston, It would not be advantageous to the King’s Service that the Squadron stay at rhode island, and whether it can be done with Surety.” The subsequent paragraphs are written in a side-by-side column format. The left column contains the “Decisions of the Council” and the right column contains the propositions discussed:

“1st Proposition. By the stay of the Squadron at rhode island, will it be in a better position than at Boston to cooperate with the naval forces, which we have reason to hope will arrive from the West-indies in the course of the Summer? It has been unanimously decided, that for the Success of the operations that could be undertaken and for the honor of the King’s arms, it is Suitable that the Squadron should stay at rhode island, and that this position in the present circumstances, is preferable to that of Boston.

“2d Proposition. Can the Squadron stay in Surety at rhode island, that island being only guard’d by American militia, with four hundred French troops which the Count de rochambeau would Leave there? It has been decided that, considering the well known weakness of the Garrison at New york, occasioned by the differents detachements that have been made out of it, the British are not in a condition to attack rhode island with considerable forces, and that the detachement which the Count de rochambeau would Leave there, joined to a thousand militia to stay continually that will be demanded to General Washington, to which a greater number would be added in case of need, will be Sufficient to guard rhode-island, and cover the Squadron by Land.

“3d and Last Proposition. The contrary winds having made it impossible to the Squadron to go out, about the 18th of this month, as likewise the position of the British fleet, as the Count de Barras had proposed, to protect the approach of the Convoy that set sail from Brest on the 22d of March, is it suitable that the Squadron should now go out on that account? It has been unanimously decided that the going out of the Squadron in the present moment, might very much delay the departure and operations of the Land Army as it would carry away a very considerable detachment that it had to compleat its crews: that, besides, that inconvenience would not be probably compensated by an advantage whatsoever as it is not likely that the Squadron can be of any help to the convoy, which having set sail 71. days ago, should arrive at Boston, before the Squadron could be in the points where it would be possible to meet it, and that consequently the Squadron must not go out” (DLC:GW). For Chastellux’s role in this council of war, see his letter to GW, 9 June, and the source note to that documemt.

3. Rochambeau refers to Massachusetts.

4. See GW to William Greene and to John Hancock, both 4 June, found at GW to Rochambeau, that date, n.5.

5. Rochambeau and GW expected the arrival of a French fleet from the West Indies (see n.2 above and Rochambeau to GW, 11 May, n.2).

6. For the likely contents of the enclosed letter, see the source note above; see also GW to La Luzerne, 13 June.