Major General Lafayette to George Washington, 10 June 1781
From Major General Lafayette
Brock’s Bridge [Va.]1 10th june 1781
Dear General
The disapointement Clel Tupper Met with is So Singular that I Wish to Give Your Excellency a full account of this Affair.
When the detachement Was at the Head of Elk Clel Vose Expressed a desire to Return to the Northward founded Upon the particular Circumstances He was Under, Which Nothing But fear of Giving Example to His Officers and Men prevented Him Officialy to Signify—from What He Often Said the General opinion of Every officer Was that Clel Vose Qould Be Happy to Be Relieved, and Under this light I Mentionned the Matter to Your Excellency—My intention Was Either to Make it a Meritorious Act in Your Opinion for clel Vose to Remain, or if Convenient to Give you an Opportunity to oblige this Gentleman.2
But However known Has Been Clel Vose’s opinion and desire on this Matter I Cannot Say He Ever Made any Application to me to Be Relieved.
Clel Tupper is Arrived and to our Surprise Clel Vose Has Expressed quite a different disposition from what He Had Mentioned at the Head of Elk—indeed Circumstances Were not the Same and in the Midst of A Campaign at a time When an action is Expected Clel Vose thinks it a disgrace to leave His Command—He Represented that His Sentiments Had not Been officially Expressed, and that for the present His Honor and feelings Could Not Be Reconciled to the Arrangement.
Clel Tupper from a Motive of delicacy for the feelings, and Respect for the Reputation of His Brother officer is Willing to desist from His pretensions to the Command and Wishes to Return to His Regiment—But in Case Some more troops Were Sent this Way I Beg leave Warmly to Request that Clel Tupper Be Appointed to the Command of them—I Have felt for His disappointement—More indeed than I Can Express and Shall Be Happy in the Opportunity to Serve With this officer for Whom I Entertain a Very High and Affectionate Regard.3 With the Highest Respect I Have the Honour to be Yr Excy’s Most obedient Humble Servant
Lafayette
ALS, DLC:GW; copy, PEL.
1. Brocks Bridge spanned a tributary of the North Anna River near the border between Louisa and Orange counties about thirty-seven miles southwest of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Benjamin Gilbert, an officer with Lafayette’s detachment, had written his father, Daniel, from Raccoon Ford on the Rappahannock River in Orange County, Va., on 8 June: Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis, “with 1000 Horse and 700 Infantry after a long march through South and North Carolinais and part of Virgina without meeting with any oppesition,” had formed a junction at Petersburg, Va., on 17 May with British forces under Maj. Gen. William Phillips and Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold, making the enemy “too powerfull for us, in consequence of which we began a retreat and have retreated upward of 170 Miles before them, they moving at their ease without the least oppesition. We are near the Pallachain Mountains or Blue ridge. All the lower Counties having ben ravaged by the Enemy are in no situation to lend their assistance if Disposed” (, 43).
2. For Lafayette’s report that Col. Joseph Vose desired to return to the main army, see his letters to GW, 10 (first letter) and 12 April; see also GW to Lafayette, 22 April (first letter). GW had selected Col. Benjamin Tupper to relieve Vose (see GW to William Heath, 27 April, and to Lafayette, 5 May).
3. GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote Lafayette on 13 July (DLC:GW).