valour of a handful do against so infinite a superiority of numbers?

'The enemy can effect any particular object they may attempt. Besides the army, they can have no other in this State, than our stores, as we cannot defend them, we must endeavour to remove them.

'I am so entirely engaged in attention to our military operations, that I must entreat you to write to the executives of Pennsylvania and Jersey, pressing them to bring out all the wagons they can to our relief. An application has been already made to Pennsylvania for two hundred and fifty wagons, they ought to be instantly furnished.

'But we do not know what may be the ultimate designs of the enemy, all we know is, that they are very strong, and that we are very weak.

'I beg leave to recommend that the States may be again called upon to redouble their exertions, to comply with the demands that have been already made upon them.

'It is essential to our immediate safety, to say nothing of the expected co-operation. If she means to be free, this is the moment for America to exert herself.

'With every sentiment of esteem, I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant, 'Go. WASHINGTON.

'Hon'ble Committee of Co-operation.'

Letter from General Washington to the Committee of

Congress.

'HEAD-QUARTERS, July 13th, 1780. 'Gentlemen,-We have received intelligence through different channels, from New York, that the Gaudeloupe had arrived there on Sunday morning, and brought an account that she had fallen in with a large French fleet, consisting of several sail of the line, and a number of transports, between the capes of Virginia and Delaware. This intelligence has every appearance of authenticity,

may be

and if true, the arrival of the fleet on the coast instantly looked for. This indeed must be the case, at any rate, from the time they are said to have sailed.

'It cannot be too much lamented, that our preparations are still so greatly behind hand. Not a thousand men, that I have heard of, have yet joined the army; and in all probability, the period for commencing our operations is at hand.

'I am happy to learn that a spirit of animation has diffused itself throughout the States, from which we may expect the happiest consequences. But the exigency is so pressing, that we ought to multiply our efforts to give new activity and despatch to our measures; levying and forwarding the men, providing the supplies of every sort required forage and transportation demand particular attention.

'After what has been preconcerted with the honourable, the congress, after two months previous notice of the intended succour, if our allies find us unprepared, and are obliged to wait several weeks in a state of inaction, it is easy to conceive how unfavourable the impressions it will make of our conduct. Besides this, the season is exceedingly advanced. A decisive enterprize, if our means are equal to it, will not permit us to lose a moment of the time left for military operations, which if improved with all the vigour in our power, is less than were to be wished for an undertaking of so arduous and important a nature; so much is at stake; so much to be hoped; so much to be lost; that we shall be inexcusable if we do not employ all our zeal and all our exertion.

'With the highest respect and esteem, I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servant," 'GO. WASHINgton.

'The Committee of Co-operation.'

i.

Letter from General Washington to Governor Lee, of Maryland, dated

'July 26, 1780.

'Sir, I have been honoured with your excellency's favour of the 10th, enclosing copies of the several laws passed by the legislature of your State, for procuring the supplies of men, provisions and carriages, required by the Honourable Committee of Co-operation in conjunction with me.

'The readiness with which these laws were passed, and the pointed attention which your excellency seems determined to pay to the due execution of them, are happy presages that they will be speedily and fully carried into effect. 'I have the honour to be, &c.

'Go. WASHINgton.'

Letter from General Washington to the Committee of

Congress.

HEAD-QUARTErs, Orangetown, 17th August, 1780.

'Gentlemen,-We are now arrived at the middle of August, if we are able to undertake any thing in this quarter this campaign, our operations must commence in less than a month from this, or it will be absolutely too late. It will then be much later than were to be wished, and with all the exertions that can be made, we shall probably be straitened in time.

'But I think it my duty to inform you, that our prospects of operating diminish in proportion as the effects of our applications to the respective States unfold; and I am sorry to add, that we have every reason to apprehend, we shall not be in a condition at all to undertake any thing decisive.

"The completion of our continental battalions to their full establishment of five hundred and four, rank and file, has been uniformly and justly held up as the basis of offensive operations.

'How far we have fallen short of this, the following state of the levies received, and of the present deficiencies, will show.

'By a return of the 16th instant we had received from

New Hampshire,
Massachusetts,
Rhode Island,
Connecticut,

New York,

New Jersey,
Pennsylvania,

Rank and file,

'The deficiencies of the battalions from a return of the 12th, allowing for the levies since arrived, to the 16th, Of New Hampshire, three battalions, . 248 Of Massachusetts, including Jackson's adopt

Of Connecticut, including Webbs' battalion
adopted, 9 battalions, .

Of New York, 5 battalions,

Of New Jersey, 11 battalions,

Rank and file,

3,514

198

1,866

1,234

2,768

10,397

'If the amount of these deficiencies and the detached corps, necessarily on the frontier, and at particular posts, be deducted, and a proper allowance made for the ordinary casualties, and for the extra calls upon the army for wagoners, artificers, &c. it will be easy to conceive how inadequate our operating force must be to any capital enterprize against the enemy. It is indeed barely sufficient for defence.

'Hitherto all the militia for three months, that have taken the field under my orders, have been about 700 from New Hampshire, 1,700 from Massachusetts, 800 from New York, 500 from New Jersey.

'A part of the eastern militia has been detained to assist our allies at Rhode Island, and will shortly march to join the army.

'But from all the information I have, the number of militia will fall as far short of the demand as the continental troops; and from the slow manner in which the latter have for some time past come in, I fear we have had nearly the whole we are to expect.

'In the article of provisions, our prospects are equally unfavourable. We are now fed by a precarious supply from day to day.

"The commissary, from what has been done in the several States, so far from giving assurances of a continuance of this supply, speaks in the most discouraging terms, as you will perceive by the enclosed copy of a letter of the 15th instant, in which he proposes sending back the Pennsylvania militia, who were to assemble at Trenton the 12th, on the principle of a failure of supplies.

'As to forage and transportation, our prospects are still worse. These have lately been principally procured by military impress, a mode too violent, unequal, oppressive, and consequently odious to the people, to be long practised with success.

'In this state of things, gentlemen, I leave it to your own judgment to determine how little it will be in my power to answer the public expectations, unless more competent means can be, and are, without delay, put into my hands.

'From the communications of the general and admiral of our allies, the second division, without some very unfortunate contrariety, will in all probability arrive before the time mentioned as the ultimate period for commencing our operations.

'I submit it to you whether it will not be advisable immediately to lay before the several States, a view of our circumstances at this juncture, in consequence of which they may take their measures.