1. GW most likely enclosed duplicates of his letters to Lafayette dated 31 May. The British had intercepted both letters. The duplicates have not been found.

British major Frederick Mackenzie, stationed in New York City, wrote in his diary entry for 5 June: “Ensign John Moody, came in early this morning with a Rebel Mail which he intercepted a few days ago, near Sussex Court house, going from Washington’s quarters to Congress. The information obtained by The Commander in Chief from the despatches and letters found in this Mail, is of the utmost consequence, as they contain the particulars of the conference held the 17th of May at Weathersfield in Connecticut, between Washington and Rochambeau, and the whole plan of their operations for the ensuing Campaign.

“The Capture of this Mail is extremely consequential, and gives the Commander in Chief the most perfect knowledge of the designs of the Enemy.

“Ensign Moody received a reward of 200 Guineas for this Service.

“General Knyphausen, and Lieut Genl Robertson, met the Commander in Chief this afternoon, to examine the papers taken” (Mackenzie Diary description begins Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Giving a Daily Narrative of His Military Service as an Officer of the Regiment of Royal Welch Fusiliers during the Years 1775–1781 in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass., 1930. description ends , 2:536; see also James Robertson to Jeffrey Amherst, 12 June, in Klein and Howard, Letter Book of Robertson description begins Milton M. Klein and Ronald W. Howard, eds. The Twilight of British Rule in Revolutionary America: The New York Letter Book of General James Robertson, 1780-1783. Cooperstown, N.Y., 1983. description ends , 202–6). For the stratagem that enabled Ensign John Moody to capture this mail, see Moody’s Narrative description begins Lieut. James Moody’s Narrative of His Exertions and Sufferings in the Cause of Government, Since the Year 1776. 2d ed. London, 1783. Reprint. New York, 1968. description ends , 41–42. William Smith, royal chief justice of New York, wrote that Gen. Henry Clinton was “elated with his Discoveries. … Sir Henry wishes they may attack his Posts here” (Sabine, Smith’s Historical Memoirs [1971] description begins William H. W. Sabine, ed. Historical Memoirs from 26 August 1778 to 12 November 1783 of William Smith. . .. New York, 1971. description ends , 421).

In a letter dated 9–12 June, Clinton sent copies of all the intercepted letters to George Germain, secretary of state for the American colonies. GW discussed allied strategy for the campaign in his letter to John Sullivan, 29 May, and in his first letter to Lafayette, 31 May. Also sent were GW to Elias Dayton, 28 May; to William Stephens Smith and to Samuel Huntington, both 30 May; and to Lund Washington, to John Parke Custis, and a second letter to Lafayette, all 31 May. The intercepted mail included a packet of dispatches that Lieutenant General Rochambeau had sent GW for forwarding to Philadelphia (see Rochambeau to GW, 28 May, and GW to Rochambeau, 3 June). This packet included Rear Admiral Barras’s letter to La Luzerne, 27 May, and Rochambeau to La Luzerne, same date, the latter in cipher, a sure sign to Clinton of its significance (see Davies, Documents of the American Revolution description begins K. G. Davies, ed. Documents of the American Revolution, 1770–1783; (Colonial Office Series). 21 vols. Shannon and Dublin, 1972–81. description ends , 19:120–22, and The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note, and notes 34–35).

When forwarding copies of some intercepted letters, Clinton wrote Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis from New York City on 8 June that he was “threatned with a siege” (Saberton, Cornwallis Papers description begins Ian Saberton, ed. The Cornwallis Papers: The Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in The Southern Theatre of the American Revolutionary War. 6 vols. Uckfield, England, 2010. description ends , 5:123–25, quote on 123). That belief conditioned Clinton’s reaction to subsequent allied movements.

2. See Lafayette’s two letters to GW dated 24 May.