'I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, 'The Honourable the Committee 'Go. WASHINGTON. of Congress for Co-operation. 'N. B. The returns of the Rhode-Island recruits, is tò the last of July. More may have since joined. 'There is a body of Connecticut State troops and militia, stationed on the Sound, employed in preparing fascines.' Letter from General Washington to George Plater, Esq., President of the Senate, and William Bruff, Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland, dated February 9th, 1781. 'Gentlemen,-I am honoured with your favour of the 27th ultimo. As the troops of Maryland compose part of the southern army now under the immediate command of major-general Green, I think there would be an impropriety (as it may interfere with the arrangements of that army) to give general Smallwood directions to remain in Maryland for the purposes you mention; but if his doing this is not incompatible with the orders or views of general Green, I have no objection to his remaining in that State till application can be made to general Green, who I make no doubt will acquiesce in a measure which seems calculated for the public good, if general Smallwood's services from the army can be dispensed with. 'I have the honour to be, &c. 'Go. WASHINGTON.' Letter from General Washington to Governor Lee, dated 'June 7, 1781. 'Sir,-By a resolve of congress of 31st May, two battalions of infantry and a corps of horse, consisting of sixty four dragoons, are required of the State of Maryland, to serve for three months from the time of their respectively rendezvousing at the place or places directed by me. 'Your excellency has no doubt been made acquainted that the aforegoing requisition is founded upon the alarming progress which the enemy are making in Virginia. 'You will be pleased, therefore, to give orders to the officers commanding the respective corps, to march by detachments as they are raised and equipped, to whatever place may be the head-quarters of the American army in Virginia or Maryland, (should the enemy have advanced into that State,) and take their further commands from the general or other commanding officer. 'I need but refer your excellency to the circular letter of the president of congress, of the 1st inst., for the reasons which ought to influence the exertions of your State, most particularly at this moment. 'I have the honour to be, &c. 'Go. WASHINGTON.' Extract of a letter from General Washington to Governor Lee, dated 10th July, 1781. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's favour of the 29th June. It is with very great satisfaction I observe the proceedings of the general assembly of your State, which you have been pleased to communicate to me. "The exertions of that legislature have heretofore been laudable, and I am exceedingly glad to see the same spirit still prevailing. G. WASHINGTON.' Letter from General Washington to Governor Lee. 'HEAD-QUARTERS, CHATHAM, 27th August, 1781. 'Sir-Official accounts which I have received, giving me reason to expect the arrival of a powerful fleet of our allies very soon in the Chesapeake, if not already there; this expectation, together with some other circumstances not necessary at present to detail to your excellency, have induced me to make a total alteration in the concerted operations of this campaign. In consequence, I am now marching a very considerable detachment from the American army, with the whole of the French troops, immediately to Virginia. 'As our hopes of success against lord Cornwallis, in a great measure depend on the despatch and celerity of our movements, I have to request in the most earnest manner, all the aid and assistance from your excellency, which we may have occasion for, and that may be in your power to afford us. 'Among these the means of transportation from the head of Elk to the point of operation, will be among the most essential. All the water craft that can be procured suitable for the transportation of our army, with their artillery, baggage, stores, &c., will be needed, and should be ready at the head of Elk, by the 8th of September; a quantity of forage will also be necessary for the cattle which will unavoidably attend the army. As I shall probably be disappointed of a quantity of salted provisions, which cannot with safety be conveyed from the eastern States, I must beg your excellency to pay particular attention to that article, if any is to be obtained in your State. Other aids, as well in provisions as other articles, will probably be. needed, which cannot at this moment be particularly specified. 'I communicate my intentions to your excellency, and have the fullest confidence that I shall receive every aid and assistance that is in your power, towards their exe cution. 'I expect to have no occasion to call on you for the aid of men, further than your State troops which are ordered 1 to be raised, and which I hope you have already completed. 'Mr. Robert Morris will have the principal agency in procuring the water craft mentioned; perhaps nothing more will be expected from your excellency in that article, than to afford Mr. Morris every aid which he may stand in need of, from government, in their procurement. This, I am persuaded, you will do with readiness and decision. 'The moment is critical-the opportunity is precious—— the prospect is most happily favourable. I hope that no supineness or want of exertion on our own part, may prove the means of a fatal disappointment. 'I have the honour to be, with great sincerity of esteem and regard, your excellency's most obedient and humble servant, Go. WASHINGTON. 'P. S. Our forage will be principally wanted at the head of Elk, and from thence on the route to Georgetown. 'To his Excellency Governor Lee, of Maryland.' Letter from General Washington to Governor Lee. 'Sir,-I intended on passing through Maryland, to have done myself the pleasure to have called on your excellency, but circumstances pressing upon me, as I advanced on my march, and time slipping too fast from me, I found a necessity of getting on with that rapidity as has obliged me to proceed without calling at Annapolis. 'I am exceedingly pleased to find, as I passed through your State, that a spirit for exertion prevails universally in such manner as gives me the happiest prospects of receiving very effectual support from you. 'Great attention is necessary to be given to the article of supplies. I mention this circumstance, as I am just informed from below, that the army is in distress at this moment for want of provisions, particularly flour; let me entreat your excellency to give every, the most expeditious relief on this head that is within your power. 'With very great regard and esteem, I have the honour to be your excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, Go. WASHINGTON. 'His Excellency Governor Lee.' Letter from General Washington to Governor Lee. HEAD-QUARTERS, WILLIAMSBURGH, 15th Sept., 1781. 'Sir,-Your excellency has been informed, on hearing the French fleet had sailed from the capes, I had given orders to the troops which were embarked, to stop their proceedings. I am now happy to be able to inform your excellency, that the Count De Grasse is returned to his former station at Cape Henry, having driven the British fleet from the coast, formed a junction with the squadron of the Count De Barris, and captured two British frigates. The bay being thus secure, I have given orders for the troops to proceed with all possible despatch to the point of operation. 'I am distressed, my dear sir, to find on my arrival ̄at Williamsburgh, that the supplies for the army here, are not in that desirable train that could be wished; they have already experienced a want of provisions, and are greatly apprehensive for the prospect in future, particularly in the article of bread; all the flour within your reach should be immediately forwarded down, which may, I think, be speedily done; now that the navigation of the bay is secured. I beg, sir, that not a moment may be lost in furnishing us with every supply within your power. 'Happily if the fleet will remain with us, our prospects of success are most promising, if we are not wanting in our own exertions. 'An army cannot be kept together without supplies; if |