guishing the flames of the vessels which had been set on fire by the enemy, and rescuing the whole of the ordnance and stores from destruction, has the applause of the general."

On the 21st Gen. Washington wrote to the French Admiral as follows-"I hope there will be no occasion for a movement to the southward, for the want of force to act against New-York, as I flattered myself that the glory of destroying the British squadron at New-York, is reserved for the king's fleet under your command, and that of the land forces at the same place, for the allied arms."

On the evening of the 18th, precisely at 8 o'clock, the allied armies commenced a grand movement, and marched from their encampments down to New-York, and at 4 the next morning they were drawn up in order of battle, whilst Gen. Washington, Count Rochambeau, with all the general officers, and engineers, reconnoitered the enemy's works, throughout their whole line; the next day they renewed their reconnoitering, and in the afternoon drew off their troops, and returned to their encampments, where they arrived at half past twelve at night.

These movements confirmed Sir Henry Clinton in the belief of the intercepted letters, that New-York was the grand object of destination, and led him to withdraw a very considerable part of the force under the command of Lord Cornwallis, then in garrison. This movement was occasioned by the removal of the heavy artillery; mortars, &c. left at Boston in 1776, across the country to North-River, and down to the army before New-York.

Gen. Washington at this time pressed the several states to forward their quotas of men; but to his great mortification they came forward very slowly, which led him thus to complain on the 2d of August

"Not a single man has joined me since I moved from winter quarters, excepting 176 militia from Connecticut, who arrived at West-Point yesterday, and 80 of the York levies, with 200 state troops of Connecticut, both of which corps were upon the lines previous to my leaving winter quarters."

At this eventful moment a letter from the Count De Grasse, announced his arrival at the mouth of the Chesapeak. The allied commanders, dispatched assurances to the French Admiral, that they would put their troops in motion to co-operate with him.

Gen. Washington caused a detachment to forward the preparations for the intended attack upon New-York, by constructing ovens opposite to Staten-Island, for the accommodation of the French army; at the same time the alled army crossed North River and moved by rapid marches to Philadelphia, and from thence to the head of Eik. Rivington published in his New-York Gazette at the same time, that young Laurens, just returned from Paris, had announced in New-Jersey, that "the Emperor of Germany had declared himself the ally of Great-Britain, (all in large capitals) which had thrown the court of Versailles into such confusion, that the French nation must withdraw their support from their new allies, the rebels of this continent; and we are informed, it has with another concurring circumstance, occasioned Mr. Washington and Count Rochambeau to quit their menacing position at White Plains.

We are also told that the French Admiral is embarking all the sick on board his fleet, from which it is suggested, that their fleet and army are to be withdrawn from Rhode Island, to strengthen themselves in the WestIndies. It is said the French and rebels left their ground the day after Mr. Washington received the mortifying ac

count of the Emperor's alliance with his old friend, the Court of Great-Britain.

Pending these movements, Sir Henry Clinton discovered the exposed situation of the French fleet and stores at Newport, and attempted to recal Admiral Graves from his cruise before Boston, and proposed that he should commence an attack upon the French fleet at Newport, but the disabled state of several of his ships called him back to New-York to refit, and at this moment Monsieur De Barras, with the military train and stores, set sail for the Chesapeak. On the same day Sir Samuel Hood, (who had been dispatched from England under the command of Sir George Rodney, and by him detached to this service,) arrived off the Chesapeak, in expectation of there joining Admiral Graves, with his squadron from New-York; but not finding him there, he dispatched a frigate to New-York to announce his arrival, and proceeded on to the Hook, where he was joined by Admiral Graves, with five ships of the line, and a fifty gun ship; and the whole fleet sailed for the Chesapeak. Five days after Sir Samuel Hood left the capes of the Chesapeak, Count De Grasse entered the bay, and came to an anchor.

Count De Grasse, on his passage, fell in with and captured a packet bound to England, with Lord Rawdon on board.

Count De Grasse convoyed the transports 18 leagues up James River, and landed 3300 troops under the command of the Marquis de St. Simon, to reinforce the Marquis La Fayette.

Admiral Graves had received no tidings of Count De Grasse until he arrived off the Chesapeak, and discovered his fleet, consisting of 24 ships of the line, lying at anchor within the capes.

The detachment, consisting of 1800 seamen, and 90 officers, destined to assist the landing of the troops under

St. Simon, had not returned; yet De Grasse slipped his cables, and put to sea, to meet Admiral Graves. At four o'clock in the afternoon, September 5th, the action commenced; but it was not so much an object with either commander to fight, as to gain and possess the bay. Only 15 ships on each side were engaged; yet the French had so decidedly the advantage, that both fleets continued to manoeuver in sight of each other, to gain the bay, and both at the same time exerted themselves to repair their damages, and prepare for action, until the 10th, when De Grasse again entered the bay, where he took two 32 gun ships in the act of cutting away the buoys to the French anchors, and the British admiral put away for NewYork.

During this period of manoeuvering, after the action, De Barras entered the bay with his whole fleet, consisting of eight ships of the line, besides frigates, transports, victuallers, &c. and proceeded to land his ordnance stores, to carry forward the operations against Lord Cornwallis.

Admiral Graves arrived at New-York on the 20th of September, and proceeded to make the necessary repairs, for further action.

Lord Cornwallis became sensible of his critical situation at Portsmouth, in the month of August, and of course removed his force to York-Town, which he considered as: being the most tenable, and proceeded to fortify his camp, and prepare for the worst.

Pending the march of the allied armies, the Marquis La Fayette untied the experience of age to the fire of youth, and hovered about his lordship so adroitly, as to check and cramp all his movements, until be made himself secure in his strong post at York-Town.

Within one hour after the allied army arrived at the head of Elk, the commanders received an express from Count De Grasse, which announced his arrival in the Chesa

peak, and at the same time he dispatched seven transports to receive, and convey the troops down the bay; but at the moment of their sailing, he was constrained to ship his cables, and meet the British. When De Barras arrived he sent up his transports, and when De Grasse returned he dispatched for that service all the frigates he could spare, and by the 25th of September, the troops were all transported, and landed at Williamsburg; but General Washington and Count Rochambeau had reached that place by forced marches, on the 14th, where they found a vessel in waiting to convey them down to the fleet at the capes; they at once embarked with their suits, consisting of Generals Chastellux, Du Portail, and Konx, and proceeded on board the count's ship, the Ville De Paris, where they were most cordially as well as respectfully received, and a plan of future operations arranged, and the illustrious allies parted in great good humour, and repaired to their several stations to accomplish the enterprise.

The Marquis La Fayette, with the troops of St. Simon, joined General Washington and Count Rochambeau, at Willimsburg, where the whole allied forces were united, to the amount of about 12,000 men.

Governor Nelson called into service the militia of Virginia, and took the field in person.

On the 27th of September General Washington issued the following in general orders." If the enemy should be tempted to meet the army on its march, the general particularly enjoins it upon the troops to place their principal reliance on the bayonet, that they may prove the vanity of that boast which the British make of their peculiar prowess in deciding battles with that weapon."

The next morning the whole army moved forward to the distance of two miles only from York-Town, and encamped about sun set, and lay on their arms through the VOL. III.

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