"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 followng 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.

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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 atentively 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 vou 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

3d, and took possession of the ground, on this side of Haerlem River, near where Fort Independence stood. This movement was principally intended to support and favor an enterprise, which I had projected against a corps of refugees, under the command of Colonel Delancey, at Morrisania, and other light troops without the bridge, and which was to have been executed by the Duke de Lauzun, with his own legion, Colonel Sheldon's regiment, and a detachment of State troops of Connecticut, under the command of Brigadier-General Waterbury. The Duke, notwithstanding the heat of the day of the 2d, marched from Ridgebury, in Connecticut, and reached East Chester, very early, next morning; but, upon his arrival there, finding, by the firing, that General Lincoln had been attacked, and the alarm given, he desisted from a further prosecution of his plan, (which could only have been executed to any effect, by surprise,) and marched to the General's support, who continued skirmishing with the enemy, and endeavoring to draw them so far into the country, that the Duke might turn their right, and cut them off from their work on the east side of Haerlem River, and also prevent their repassing that river, in boats. General Parsons had possessed the heights immediately commanding Kingsbridge, and could have prevented their escape by that passage. Every endeavor of this kind proved fruitless; for I found, upon going down, myself, to reconnoitre their situation, that all their force, except very smail parties of observation, had retired to York Island. This afforded General Duportail and myself the most favorable opportunity of perfectly reconnoitering the works, upon the north end of the Island, and making observations, which may be of very great advantage, in future. Finding nothing further could be done, I returned, the day before yesterday, to this ground, where I expect to be joined, this day, by his Excellency the Count de Rochambeau, who reached North Castle on the 2d instant.

"I cannot too warmly express the obligations I am under to the Count, for the readiness with which he detached the Duke de Lauzun, and for the rapidity with which he pushed the march of his main body, that he

might have been within supporting distance, had any favorable stroke upon the enemy, below, given us an opportunity of pursuing any advantage, which might have been gained. General Lincoln had five or six men killed, and about thirty wounded, in his skirmish."

The extracts, that follow, are from a letter, dated "Head-Quarters, near Dobbs's Ferry, 13 July, 1781," addressed to the Marquis de Lafayette.

"I shall shortly have occasion to communicate matters of very great importance to you,-so much so, that I shall send a confidential officer on purpose. You will, in the mean time, endeavor to draw together as respectable a body of Continental troops, as you possibly can, and take every measure to augment your cavalry. Should the enemy confine themselves to the lower country, you will, no doubt, pay attention to the formation of magazines, above. These will be, in every case, essential, whether the war continues in Virginia, or whether it shall still be carried on in South Carolina. Should General Greene come into Virginia, in person, you will be good enough to communicate the foregoing to him.

"In the present situation of affairs, it is of the utmost importance, that a communication, by a chain of expresses, should be opened, between this army and that in Virginia. They are already established, from hence to Philadelphia; and, if there is none, from you to Philadelphia, you will be pleased to take measures for having it formed. You will also endeavor to establish such a communication with the coast, as to be able to know whether any troops are detached, by sea, from Lord Cornwallis's army; for it is more than probable, that, if he finds himself baffled, in attempting to overrun Virginia, he will take a strong post at Portsmouth or Williamsburg, and re-enforce New York or South Carolina. Should any detachment be made, you will transmit to me the earliest intelligence."

The foregoing extracts will give the reader a general view of the disposition of the contending powers, at the time of the date of the one last quoted. General Greene was conducting the war, with his usual admirable skill an