bor of New York. It is possible they may be wanted, and I am not able to furnish them, without your assistance.

"Mrs. Washington, and the rest of my small family, which, at present, consists only of Tilghman and Humphreys, join me in cordial salutations; and, with sentiments of the purest esteem and most affectionate regard, I remain, my dear Marquis, &c."

"To the President of Congress.

"New Windsor, 17 May, 1781. "SIR,-The Count de Rochambeau having received despatches from the Court of France, by his son, the Viscount de Rochambeau, who arrived at Boston, in the frigate Concorde, on the sixth instant, has requested an interview with me. I have appointed the place of meeting, at Weathersfield, on Monday next, for which purpose I shall set out, hence, to-morrow. I am in hopes, that we shall be able, from the intelligence received, to settle a definitive plan of the campaign.

"I am sorry to inform your Excellency, that a part of our advanced troops were surprised, on Monday morning, near Croton River, by about sixty horse and two hundred foot, under the command of Colonel Delancey. Colonel Greene, who commanded our party, was mortally wounded in his quarters. The enemy attempted to carry him off, but he died upon the road. Major Flagg was killed. The loss of these two officers is to be regretted, especially the former, who had, upon several occasions, distinguished himself, particularly in the defence of the post of Red Bank, in 1777, when he defeated Count Donop. I enclose a return of our loss upon the late occasion.

"The enemy, on their return, fell in with Capt. Flagg, of the New Hampshire line, who was patrolling near White Plains. They attempted to surround him, and cut him off, by dint of superior numbers; but the Captain made so good a disposition of his small force, that he brought them off, with the loss of two men only. The enemy had a Captain and several men killed in the attack."

The subjoined extracts from a letter to Chevalier de

la Luzerne, dated Weathersfield, May, 23, 1781, will show that Washington's favorite plan, of a combined attack, by land and sea, upon New York, still continued to gather strength in his mind.

"SIR, The letter which I have the honor to enclose, from the Count de Rochambeau, will, I imagine, inform you of the intended march of the French army, towards the North River, and of the destination of the King's squadron, now in the harbor of Newport, if circumstances will admit of the respective movements. I should be wanting in respect and confidence, were I not to add, that our object is New York. The season, the difficulty and expense of land transportations, and the continual waste of men, in every attempt to re-enforce the southern States, are almost insuperable objections to marching another detachment from the army on the North River; nor do I see how it is possible to give effectual support to those States, and avert the evils which threaten them, while we are inferior, in naval force, in these seas.

"It is not for me to know, in what manner the fleet of his Most Christian Majesty is to be employed in the West Indies, this summer, or, to inquire, at what epoch it may be expected on this coast; but the appearance and aid of it, in this quarter, are of such essential importance, in any offensive operation, and so necessary, to stop the progress of the enemy's arms, at the southward, that I shall be excused, I am persuaded, for endeavoring to engage your good offices, in facilitating an event, on which so much depends. For this, I have a stronger plea, when I assure you that General Rochambeau's opinion and wishes concur with mine, and that it is at his instance, principally, I make to you this address.

"If we are happy enough, to find your Excellency in sentiment with us, it will be in your power, to inform the Count de Grasse, of the strength and situation of the enemy's naval and land force, in this country, the destination of the French squadron, under Admiral Barras, and the intentions of the allied arms, if a junction can be formed. At present, the British fleet lies within Block Island, and about five leagues from Point Judith.

"The Count de Rochambeau, and the Chevalier Chastellux, agree perfectly in sentiment, with me, that, while affairs remain as they now are, the West India fleet should run, immediately, to Sandy Hook, (if there are no concerted operations,) where they may be met with all the information requisite, and where, most likely, it will shut in, or cut off, Admiral Arbuthnot, and may be joined by the Count de Barras. An early and frequent communication, from the Count de Grasse, would lead to preparatory measures on our part, and be a means of facilitating the operation in hand, or any other which may be thought more advisable.".

The same idea is developed, more fully, in the following extract from a letter to Meshech Weare, President of New Hampshire, of May 24.

"SIR,-In consequence of a conference, held between the Count de Rochambeau and myself, at this place, the French army will march, as soon as circumstances will admit, and form a junction with the American army, upon the North River. The accomplishment of the object, which we have in contemplation, is of the utmost importance to America, and will, in all probability, be attained, unless there should be a failure, on our part, in the number of men, which will be required for the operation, or the enemy should withdraw a considerable part of their force, from the southward. It is in our own power, by proper exertions, to prevent the former; and, should the latter take place, we shall be amply repaid our expenses, by liberating the southern States, where we have found, by experience, we are vulnerable.

"Arguments, surely, cannot be wanting, to impress the Legislature with a due sense of the obligation which they are under, of furnishing the means now called for. The enemy, counting upon our want of ability, or upon our want of energy, have, by repeated detachments to the southward, reduced themselves in New York to a situation, which invites us to take advantage of it; and, should the lucky moment be lost, it is to be feared that they will, after subduing the southern States, raise a force in them sufficient to hold them, and return again to the

northward, with such a number of men, as will render New York secure against any force, which we can, at this time, raise or maintain. Our allies, in this country, expect and depend upon being supported by us in the attempt, which we are about to make, and those in Europe will be astonished, should we neglect the favorable opportunity, which is now offered.”

In a letter to General Greene, of June 1st, Washington still further explains and illustrates his plan, as follows. "I have lately had an interview with Count de Rochambeau, at Weathersfield. Our affairs were very attentively considered, in every point of view, and it was finally determined, to make an attempt upon New York, with its present garrison, in preference to a southern operation, as we had not the decided command of the water. You will readily suppose the reasons, which induced this determination, were the inevitable loss of men, from so long a march, more especially in the approaching hot season, and the difficulty, I may say impossibility, of transporting the necessary baggage, artillery, and stores, by land. If I am supported as I ought to be, by the neighboring States, in this operation, which, you know, has always been their favorite one, I hope that one of these consequences will follow,-either that the enemy will be expelled from the most valuable position which they hold upon the Continent, or be obliged to recall part of their force, from the southward, to defend it. Should the latter happen, you will be most essentially relieved by it. The French troops will begin their march this way, as soon as certain circumstances will admit. I can only give you the outlines of our plan. The dangers, to which letters are exposed, make it improper to commit to paper the particulars; but, as matters ripen, I will keep you as well informed, as circumstances will allow."

In the mean while, Washington was concerting an enterprise, on a smaller scale, which was designed to prepare the way for the great consummation of his wishes, in the assault, by the expected aid of the allied fleet and army, upon the British forces in New York. He gave notice, confidentially, to Governor Clinton, of his intention to

attack, by sunrise of the 3d of July, the enemy's posts on the north end of York Island, and requested his cooperation. He described it, in a letter of July 2d, to General Knox, as follows:

"An enterprise, which I have long had in contemplation, will be executed in the course of this night, if General Lincoln, who commands the operating party, finds the attack advisable, upon reconnoitering the situation of the enemy, and he can do it by surprise. The enterprise is against the posts upon the north end of York Island. The remainder of the army marched this morning towards Kingsbridge. Part of the French troops were last night at Ridgebury, and will be at Bedford this evening. They will, in the course of to-morrow, be at hand to support us, should there be occasion. At the same time that the posts upon York Island are attempted, I have planned a surprise upon Delancey's corps at Morrisania, which is to be executed by the Duke de Lauzun, in conjunction with Sheldon's regiment, and Waterbury's State troops.

"Should we succeed in the attempt upon the posts, every effort will be made to hold them, and your assistance will be materially necessary. I shall take the speediest method of communicating the event to General McDougall, at West Point, who will bring out the militia to our support. You may, therefore, take it for granted that we have succeeded, if you see or hear the signals." The result was thus communicated to Congress :

"To the President of Congress.

"Head-Quarters, near Dobbs's Ferry, 6 July, 1781. "SIR,-I do myself the honor to inform your Excellency, that the army marched from their camp near Peekskill, on the morning of the 2d, without either tents or baggage, and reached Valentine's Hill, about four miles on this side of Kingsbridge, a little after daylight, the morning following.

"General Lincoln, with a detachment of eight hundred men, fell down the North River, in boats, landed near Phillips's House, before daylight, on the morning of the