1. See GW to Huntington, 27 May.

2. Huntington enclosed a congressional resolution adopted on 31 May: “Whereas the british king regardless of the rights of Mankind and of the United States in particular continues the ravages of war with relentless fury: and whereas the enemy’s force is principally operating in the States of Virginia the Carolinas and Georgia; & Whereas the deficiency of the Continental regular lines make it absolutely necessary to call forth a respectable body of militia till those lines be compleated, It is therefore earnestly recommended to the State of Pen⟨n⟩sylvania immedeately to raise arm accoutre and equip for the field four battalions of Infantry each battalion to consist of nine companies of sixty four rank and file each also a company of Artillery consisting of thirty two Matrosses and a corps of horse consisting of sixty four troopers each corps to be officered as near as may be to similar corps in the continental Army according to the establishment of the 3d and 21st of October 1780. It is also recommended to the State of Delaware to immediately raise arm equip and accoutre for the field one battalion of Infantry consisting of nine companies of sixty four rank and file each and a corps of horse consisting of thirty two troopers to be officered in the manner aforesaid. It is also earnestly recommend[ed] to the State of Maryland im[m]ediately to raise arm equip and accoutre for the field two battalions of Infantry consisting of nine companies of Sixty four rank and file each and a Corps of cavalry of sixty four troopers to be officered in the manner aforesaid. and it is further recommended to the States of Pensylvania Delaware and Maryland to cause the said troops as soon as raised armed equiped and accoutred as aforesaid to be marched by detachments or otherwise to such place or places as the commander in Chief shall direct to remain in Service for and during the Space of three Months from the time of their respectively rendezvouzing at the place or places directed unless sooner discharged by Congress or the Commander in Chief and to be subject to the orders of the said Commander in Chief, and be it ordained by the United States in Congress Assembled that the troops aforesaid shall receive the same pay rations and subsistance as the troops of the Army of the United States” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:582–84, and Huntington to Certain States, 2 June, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 17:285–86). For the Continental army reorganization, see General Orders, 1 Nov. 1780.

3. The enclosed copy of Huntington’s circular letter to state executives, written in Congress and dated 1 June, reads: “I am directed to inform you that Congress have received undoubted Intelligence, both from their Minister at the court of Versailles and the Minister of France in America by order of his Court, that the Courts of Vienna and Petersburgh have offered their mediation to the belligerent powers for the reestablishment of Peace. That these overtures had been eagerly embraced on the part of Great Britain. That France had declined her full acceptation thereof until the concurrence of her Allies could be obtained for that purpose, at the same time observing that should she again be pressed on this head she would be obliged to enter into a previous plan of negotiation conditionally for herself and Allies. That Spain had answered in such manner to the proposals of the mediating powers as to shew her eventual acceptance. The intervention of such formidable powers will undoubtedly prove an event the most favourable to these United States, if by a great and timely exertion we sufficiently reduce the force of the Enemy now operating in our country: but should languor and inaction subject us to the contempt of the negociators all the consequences will be chargeable upon ourselves. This is a conjuncture that calls for the most serious consideration of these States, Congress have not a doubt in their minds but that each State in the Union is determined to support the confederacy that has been so solemnly entered into through every difficulty and hand it down unimpaired to their posterity. Under these impressions Congress can with confidence call on their constituents for such exertions as are proportionate to the truly critical situation of our Affairs. the plan of operations for the present campaign having been preconcerted on the principle of obliging the Enemy to abandon their possessions in every part of these States; therefore an unequivocal compliance with the demands heretofore made by Congress for provisions, men, and money, are what we have at present to ask for, should these means be expeditiously and punctually put into our hands, we have the most pleasing prospect of putting a speedy and happy issue to the war by driving the Enemy from their present possessions in every part of these States, but at all events to confine them to the sea coasts in order to give as little room as possible to the Enemy’s claim of uti possidetis which will undoubtedly be most strenuously insisted on by them in the course of the Negotiation. A Claim totally inadmissable on our part. Of Course then nothing should be left unessayed by these States to prevent the embarrasments that such a claim must inevitably produce. Of consequence it is become indispensably necessary by our immediate and under providence successful efforts to place ourselves in such a situation as to enable our Negociators to speak a firm and decided language becoming the characters of Ministers of free sovereign and Independent States. we conclude with observing, that from the foregoing communications we are so thoroughly convinced of the most strenuous exertions of every State in the Union to accomplish the great objects herein pointed out that Congress will immediately proceed to carry into full execution their plans adopted for defeating the ambitious views of our Enemies and be prepared to accept of peace upon no other terms than the Independence of the thirteen United States of America in all their parts” (DLC:GW; see also Benjamin Franklin to Huntington, 12 March–12 April, in Franklin Papers description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. 42 vols. to date. New Haven, 1959–. description ends , 34:443–48; JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:549, 560–62, and 585–87; and Huntington to the States, 1 June, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 17:283–85). For the injunction of secrecy that accompanied this letter, see Huntington’s letter to state executives, 2 June, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 17:286–87; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 20:588.

4. Huntington presumably forwarded a letter from Virginia governor Thomas Jefferson to GW dated 28 May. GW replied to Jefferson’s letter on 8 June.

5. The enclosed “Extract of a Letter dated the 3d & 8th May 1781” reads: “Our numerous & much desired Convoy has at length arrived under Circumstances the most fortunate & flattering.

“To have a passage from Brest but of 37 Days without losing a single Vessel of the Convoy, to find the Enemy at the Port ready to oppose the Entrance of it, to engage them, force them to fly & then pursue them are Events which cannot but be glorious to the Count de Grass.

“The active Spirit of our General impells him to the Field. Orders are given for the Embarkation of 40 large Cannon 12 Mortars & all the Apparatus for a Seige with all kinds of Ammunition—Nine hundred of the Regiment of [          ] will embarke tomorrow & the rest of the Troops immediately follow. The intended Expedition is against St Lucie where there remains but a Garrison of 1200 Men the Fleet having taken on Board 800 to compleat its Compliment. The english Squadron was Stationed at that Island to cover & protect it, but our Fleet from a happy Man⟨oe⟩vre has deprived them of this Advantage It was expected they would have arrived by the Dominica Channel where the english waited to receive them, but to their great Disappointment they came the contrary Way & drove the English from their Station.

“Rodney is now at Statia [Saint Eustatius] dividing the Spoil of the poor Dutch & Americans & Hood who commanded the english Fleet is gone down to inform him of his Miscarriage and make him tremble for the Fate of his Capture. This Island is garrisoned by 1300 Men under the Command of General Vaughan who have fortified the Hill in such a Manner that it is now deemed impregnable. It is expected the lower Town will be set fire to.

“The Division of Monsr de Barras consisting of 5 Ships of the Line, with 14 Battallions, left this Fleet in the Latitude of the western Islands, destined for America to reinforce the Army on that Station.

“May 8. Count de Grasse has returned from his Pursuit of the Enemy. It was not consistent with the intended Operations of the Fleet to continue the Chace, from the Difficulty & Delay that would attend the beating up to windward.

“The Troops destined for the Attack of St Lucie are all embarked, & got under way yesterday evening.

“They consist of 4000 Men—The Fleet take their Departure this Morning—May Heaven ensure the Success of this Expedition. If Abilities as a General & Merit as a Man can command it we have nothing to fear for our brave Commander.

“It is expected that rodney will soon make his Appearance with his whole Fleet, in Order to attempt the Salvation of St Lucie” (DLC:GW; see also GW to Rochambeau, 7 June). French forces took Tobago but not Saint Lucia from the British during spring 1781 (see Dull, French Navy description begins Jonathan R. Dull. The French Navy and American Independence: A Study of Arms and Diplomacy, 1774-1787. Princeton, 1975. description ends , 238).