Head Quarters, West Point, Oct. 18, 1779.
Gentlemen:
I have been favored with Colonel Hamilton’s letter, mentioning your
arrival early on the 11th, at Philadelphia, and your being about to set
off for Lewistown on the morning on which it was written.
I have attentively considered the object to which you more particularly
refer, and am now to authorize you (provided the Count will not
determine on a co-operation to the full extent of my instructions), to
engage the whole force described in my letters to him, comprehending
the Continental troops and militia, in such an enterprise against
the enemy’s shipping, as the Count and you may agree to undertake.
In a word, I will aid him in every plan of operations against the
enemy at New-York, or Rhode Island, in the most effectual manner that
our strength and resources will admit. He has nothing more to do,
therefore, than to propose his own plan, if time will not admit him
to accede to ours; weighing thoroughly, consequences of expense and
disappointment.
Inclosed is some intelligence received from Elizabethtown since your
departure. You will observe the preparations of the enemy for throwing
every possible obstruction in the Count’s passage.
A chain of alarm ships are stationed in the Sound, to communicate the
first approach of the Count’s fleet to the garrison at Rhode Island.
This they can propagate in a few minutes by signal guns. In a letter
from General Gates of the 13th instant, he advises me of the arrival
of the fleet, which some time ago sailed from New-York. It amounts to
fifty-six sail, and appeared to be only in a set of ballast. This was
confirmed by one of the vessels which fell into our hands for a few
hours. The opinion is, that it is designed to take off the garrison.
General Gates makes the marine force at Newport, one fifty, and a
thirty-two gun frigate. The Refugee and Wood fleet, about thirty-seven
sail, mostly armed, at the head of which is the Restoration, late the
Oliver Cromwell, of twenty-two guns. One frigate is also taken notice
of in the fleet from New-York.
Should the operations against New-York, in either case, be undertaken,
it will be of the utmost consequence to block up the garrison at Rhode
Island. You will consider the propriety of suggesting to the Count,
the detaching of a superior sea force for this purpose, previous to
his approaching the Hook. For, should the measure be deferred till his
arrival there, it may not then be possible to prevent their junction
with the army at New-York, as the notice can be so very suddenly
transmitted by means of the signals which they have established.
Every proper attention has been given to preparing the necessary
number of fascines, and such other materials as may be requisite in
this quarter. Fascines, gabions, etc., are also held in readiness at
Providence in case of an operation against Newport. I had thought
of the fire ships, and have taken order in the matter. I do not,
however, choose to go to the great expense they must run us into, till
something is decided with His Excellency Count D’Estaing; but every
thing relative shall be provided, so as to occasion no delay when such
matters become necessary.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
G. Washington.
Brigadier-General Du Portail.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton.