Philadelphia, December 12, 1779.
My Dear Hamilton:
Upon my arrival here yesterday evening, I communicated the intelligence
received from General Wayne, to the President of Congress and the
French minister. The latter surprised me greatly, by informing me,
that only one 74 gun ship of the Count De Grasse’s division, and
the Fier Rodrigue, had arrived at Chesapeake. I am at a loss how to
account for the absence of the rest. They have not been within the
reach of a superior enemy’s force: no storm has happened, within
our knowledge, to drive them to any considerable distance from the
coast. It cannot rationally be supposed that the Count has received
countermanding orders, and that a capital ship of the line, together
with a very valuable warlike merchantman, is to be sacrificed. Be the
case as it may, all hopes of passing our reinforcement for the southern
department, by sea, are out of the question. The North Carolina
Brigade, after profiting by the navigation of the Delaware as far as
it would serve them, marched to the head of Elk. Thence they proceed,
by water, across the Chesapeake, and up to Petersburgh, where they are
to be overtaken by their wagons, and pursue the rest of their way by
the middle road to Charleston. This is the route marked by the Board
of War, and a Committee of Congress appointed to confer with them;
and I believe it was recommended by Doctor Burke, one of the North
Carolina delegates lately from that country. It is intended that the
Virginians should pursue the same as far as Petersburgh, where they
are to take an upper road. In this route we do not avail ourselves of
Albemarle Sound. The going up the river to Petersburgh will certainly
be tedious; and four hundred miles land march is to be executed from
thence. I communicated these objections to Mr. Matthews, and proposed
the route which the General pointed out; but the poverty of the country
in provision, and the means of transporting the baggage of the troops,
he said, would outweigh the advantages of the water carriage and
direct road. I am by no means satisfied with the present arrangement,
when I reflect how much more rapidly the British may convey their
reinforcements: but all the inquiries I have made hitherto, have
produced nothing favorable to our plan. Indeed, in the present
unguarded state of the Chesapeake, the British might render the passage
even of that ineligible.
Mr. Serle, a member of Congress, who arrived in town last night from
the neighborhood of Major Leigh’s post, asserts, that no transports
were at the Hook on Wednesday. Whether the British operations are
delayed by false rumors of Count De Grasse’s division; or whether
they have heard, as we have here, that Count D’Estaing was still
on the coast the twentieth of November, I cannot decide: but one
would be inclined to think, that they are disconcerted, either by
false intelligence, or a total defect of it. I entreat you, my dear
friend, to transmit me the earliest and most accurate relation that
can be obtained, of the British movements; and enlighten me with your
observations upon them. Present my respects and love to our excellent
General and the family. May you enjoy all the pleasure, moral and
physical, which you promise yourself in winter quarters, and be as
happy as you deserve. Tell the Doctor I shall commit his darling to
the press this morning.
Yours, ever,
John Laurens.
Colonel Hamilton.