The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 9

Philadelphia, April 13th, 1782.

Sir,

I embrace the first moment after my return from Virginia, to comply with the request of the princ.i.p.al officers of our army, in tendering you their sincere respects.

I have already forwarded to your Excellency a letter from Count de Rochambeau; on my return here, I found letters from my Court, dated in February last. They do not announce anything pacific, on the part of our enemies. No progress is made in the mediation of the Courts of Vienna and Petersburg, and the Court of London seems determined to risk the event of another campaign, in which they will employ all the strength they have left. The plan for the campaign was not yet finally decided, it depending on some arrangements, which were yet to be made with the Court of Madrid, and on some advices, which were expected from the Antilles. It nevertheless seemed to be the intention to act vigorously for the a.s.sistance of the United States, and though no particular a.s.surances could be given me on this head, yet from what they write me, it is probable that New York or Charleston, or perhaps both, will be the object of their efforts next campaign.

I think it, however, proper to inform you, that at the same time they announce to me their general views, they observe, that it is an unhappy circ.u.mstance, that the American army is so weak as it is; and they seem to fear, that it will not be in a condition to second their efforts, when it shall be necessary to strike, a decisive stroke, or to undertake operations, in which such extensive means are required as in a siege.

I beg your Excellency would enable me to give my Court the necessary information on a matter so important as this is. I am not curious to know any of the particular details relative to your army, which it may be necessary to keep secret, but the military operations of France and America are so intimately connected, that it is indispensable for us to know what is the actual force and means which you have, in order to calculate with any degree of probability what enterprises can be undertaken. Our ignorance in this respect cannot but be very prejudicial to our affairs, because, if from false information we consider your army as weaker than it really is, it will prevent our forming plans, which it would be possible to execute; and if, on the contrary, we are led to believe it stronger than it really is, we run the risk of forming plans impracticable in their execution. It is from these considerations, that I beg of you to confide to me such information on this head as you may think proper, both with respect to the actual force you have at the different parts of the continent, and what it will probably be in the course of the campaign. It is equally interesting to know the force of the enemy, both in regulars and militia. I beg you to rest a.s.sured of the discretion, with which I shall make use of these communications.

I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of communicating to you the sentiments, with which our Court and the nation at large are inspired, from the reports of the French officers, respecting your Excellency, on their return to Versailles. Their testimony could add nothing to the universal opinion of the great services you have rendered your country, but to the esteem and admiration of the French are now added a sentiment of affection and attachment, which are the just return for that attention which our military experienced from you, and the progress they made in their profession by serving under your orders.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Williamsburgh, April 16th, 1782.

I send you under a flying seal, my dear Chevalier, the letter I have written to M. de Guerny, commanding the Emerald frigate. You will observe, that I am yet in a state of ignorance, not having received my ministerial despatches. It is of the greatest consequence, that this letter should be forwarded by a safe route, through the hands of General Washington, that it may be despatched as quick as possible.

Our last news from Edenton is of the 8th of April, by a captain of a vessel, who left Georgetown the 25th of March. The enemy employ all the wagons of Charleston in transporting their stores on board the empty vessels, which came from New York.

I think General Washington would do well to have all the works levelled, which we made at Rhode Island round Newport, and even the fort on b.u.t.ts' Hill, if he has not troops vigorous and firm to keep possession of it.

The plans of the enemy seem to give their marine all the superiority they can in these seas. I think they must have it much at heart to re-occupy the port of Rhode Island. The port of New York being precarious, the entry depending on the tides, they run the greatest risks in their naval combats, in not having a port where they can take refuge at all times.

I have not time to translate this into English; I beg you to transmit it to our General, as well as that for M. de Guerny, that he may forward it with the greatest despatch.

I submit, with reason, all my reflections on Rhode Island to him. I have always in mind Lord North's speech, and the news which seemed to follow, of the pretended evacuation of Charleston.

Count Ferson sets off to meet my despatches; he tells me that there is a detachment of about one hundred men, which might be employed jointly with the militia in levelling the works.

ROCHAMBEAU.

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, April 18th, 1782.

Sir,

On my return to this place, Count Beniowsky delivered to me a plan, which he wished to have communicated to your Excellency before your departure from Philadelphia, but as he was particularly recommended to me by my Court, he deferred taking that step till my arrival. He will not make any proposition to Congress without first consulting your Excellency and obtaining your approbation, and it is with this view he now goes to the army.

I need not recall to your Excellency's mind, the services and actions, which have recommended Count Beniowsky. His fervor you are acquainted with, and I am persuaded, that if you think he can be useful to the United States, no one will more sincerely support him in carrying into execution those views, which brought him to this continent.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Newburgh, April 28th, 1782.

Sir,

I receive with much grat.i.tude the remembrance and compliments of the princ.i.p.al officers of the French army in Virginia, and thank your Excellency for the trouble of being the bearer of them to me, and the letter from Count de Rochambeau.

With equal sensibility and pleasure, I received and do now acknowledge my obligations to your Excellency for the communications from your Court, which, though not decisive, are nevertheless important. The late instance of their generous aid, hinted at by your Excellency and particularised by Mr Morris, is one among a variety of important considerations, which ought to bind America to France in bonds of indelible friendship and grat.i.tude, never I hope to be sundered.

Induced by that entire confidence, which I repose in your Excellency, and a full conviction, that a nation, who combines her force with ours, for purposes of all others most interesting to humanity, ought not to be deficient in any information I can give to point objects to means, that an accordance with them may be inseparable, I shall, without hesitation, give you the state of our present force, and my ideas of the increase of it by recruits, from the best view of it which is before me.

It can scarcely be necessary to inform your Excellency, that our military establishment for the present year consists of one regiment of artillery, four legionary, and two partisan corps, and fifty regiments of infantry, beside the corps of invalids; or that Congress have called in pointed terms upon each State to complete its regiments to the establishment, the aggregate of which, if complied with, would amount to thirtyfour thousand three hundred and eight men, exclusive of commissioned officers, sergeants, and music, Hazen's regiment, and the corps of invalids. Of this force, one legionary corps, two regiments of artillery, and twentytwo of infantry, besides Hazen's regiment and the invalids, compose the northern army; but as Hazen's regiment is fostered by no State, discouraged from recruiting by all, and without funds if the case were otherwise, it must soon dwindle to nothing, being now very weak.

The present totality of the rank and file, exclusive of sergeants, of those regiments which compose the northern army, amounts to nine thousand one hundred and fortysix. From this number the sick men, in different branches of the staff department, and such as are employed on other extra duties, which the peculiarity of our circ.u.mstances compels me to furnish from the army, being deducted, will reduce the efficient operating force of these corps to seven thousand five hundred and fiftythree rank and file, and I should be uncandid if I were not to acknowledge, that I do not expect it will be increased by recruits in the course of the campaign, to more than ten thousand fit for duty in the field. This, Sir, in my opinion will be the full amount of the established regiments of the States east of Pennsylvania. To ascertain the number of militia, who may be a.s.sembled for occasional offensive operations, is more than I can do. The general opinion is, that there will be no want of militia for my enterprise we can have in view. Be this as it may, this one thing is certain, that this cla.s.s of men are not only slow in their movements, but undertaking to judge also of the propriety of them in point of amount, will wait till the necessity for it strikes them, which, in most cases, is as injurious to the service as inability or want of inclination; disappointment being the consequence of delay. This observation I could not refrain from making, because in all combined operations, especially those which may depend upon the season or a limited period for their execution, it is of the utmost importance to be known.

The enclosed return, which is a copy of the last state of the force under the order of Major General Greene, which has come to my hands, will give your Excellency every information in my power, respecting the state and condition of that army; which was to be augmented by the partisan corps of Colonel Armand, consisting of about two hundred horse and foot. Independent of those, there are two small regiments at Fort Pitt. One from the State of Pennsylvania, the other from Virginia, which are included in the general establishment of the army; but no particular return is here given of them.

What measures are adopted by the States of Georgia and North and South Carolina, to recruit their battalions, I know not. Virginia marched about four hundred men the latter end of February for the southern army; and by an act of the legislature, pa.s.sed at their last session, resolved to raise more; but in what forwardness they are, or what is to be expected from the act, I am equally uninformed. Maryland and Pennsylvania depend upon voluntary enlistments, and are proceeding very slowly in the business of recruiting.

This, Sir, is an accurate state of the force we have at present, and my expectation of what it may be, independent of militia.

The enemy's force, from the best information I have been able to obtain of it, may stand thus at New York;

Rank and File.

Regulars, including their established corps of Provincials, 9,000 Militia of the city, refugees, and independent companies, 4,000 Sailors and marines, according to the number of ships which may be in the harbor;--this being uncertain no number is given, Now in New York, 13,000 Charleston, about 3,300 Savannah, about 700 In Canada, including British, German, and established Provincials, 3,000 Pen.o.bscot, about 500 Halifax and its dependencies, uncertain, but say, 3,500 ------ In all, 26,000

The above estimate, so far as it respects New York, Charleston, and Savannah, is, I believe, to be depended upon. The force of Canada by some accounts is more, by others less, than five thousand. The regular British and German troops in that country cannot exceed four thousand; but in addition to these, are the corps of Sir John Johnson and others, which I am told have been considerably increased by the disaffected of this, and other States, who have fled to Canada. But it is to be observed, that this force, be it what it may, is employed in the occupation of posts from Quebec to Michillimackinac, and on Lake Champlain, through an extent of not less than seven or eight hundred miles, and that all these posts are dependent upon the former for provisions and supplies of every kind. I am less certain of the enemy's force in Nova Scotia than elsewhere. The number here given is not from recent intelligence, or strengthened according to circ.u.mstances. c.u.mberland, Windsor, Annapolis, St John's River, &c, are posts dependent upon Halifax, and included in the three thousand and five hundred men here mentioned.

If this state of matters can be satisfactory to your Excellency, or useful in the formation of any plans against the common enemy, I shall be happy in having given it.

Permit me now, Sir, to express the high sense I have of the honor you have done me, in communicating the favorable opinion entertained of my conduct by the Court and nation of France, and to acknowledge my obligations to those officers who have inspired these sentiments. To stand well in the eyes of a nation, which I view as one of the first in the world, and in the opinion of a Monarch, whom I consider as the supporter of the rights of humanity, and to whom I am personally indebted for the command he has been pleased to honor me with, is highly flattering to my vanity, at the same time it has a first claim to all my grat.i.tude.

It is unnecessary I hope to add fresh a.s.surances of the respect and esteem, with which I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

COMMUNICATION OF THE FRENCH MINISTER TO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.