are waiting the arrival of Sir Henry Clinton, either to push up the North river against the highland posts, or to bend their whole force against this army. In either case the most disastrous consequences are to be apprehended. You, who are well acquainted with our situation, need no arguments to evince the danger.

"The militia of this State have run to arms, and behaved with an ardor and spirit of which there are few examples. 'But perseverance in enduring the rigors of military service, is not to be expected from those who are not by profession obliged to it.

'The reverse of this opinion has been a great misfortune in our affairs, and it is high time we should recover from an error of so pernicious a nature. We must absolutely have a force of a different composition, or we must relinquish the contest.

'In a few days we may expect to have to depend almost wholly on our continental force, and this (from your own observation) is totally inadequate to our safety. The exigency calls loudly upon the States to carry all the recommendations of the committee into the most vigorous and immediate execution, but more particularly that of completing our battalions by a draft, and with all the expedition possible.

'I beg to advise that these ideas be all clearly held up to the States. Whatever inconvenience there may be in diffusing the knowledge of our circumstances, delicate as they are, there is, in my opinion, more danger in concealing than disclosing them.

I have the honour to be, with perfect respect and esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble ser'vt, 'GEO. WASHINGTON.

Committee of Congress for Co-operation.'

Letter from General Washington to the Committee of Congress for Co-operation.

'HEAD-QUARTERS, SPRINGFIELD, June 12th, 1780.

Gentlemen,—I have received information, which though not official, I deem authentic, that some of the States have taken up the measure of augmenting their battalions by draft, on a less extensive footing than was urged in your circular letter of the 23d of May. Though I wish to pay in every instance, implicit deference to the determination of the respective States, I think it my duty, in the present crisis, once more to declare with freedom, that I conceive the measure of filling our battalions to their full complement, fundamental to a co-operation on a large scale, that any thing short of this, will infallibly compel us to confine ourselves to a mere defensive plan, except as to some little partial indecisive enterprize against remote points, and will of course disappoint the expectations of our allies, and protract the war.

is as

The force which has been stated as necessary, small as can give us any prospect of a decisive effort. If it is not furnished, we must renounce every hope of this kind.

'It remains with the States to realize the consequences. 'I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, 'Go. WASHINGTON.

'The Committee of Co-operation.'

Letter from General Washington to the Committee of Congress.

'HEAD-QUARTERS, ROCKAWAY, 23d June, 1780. Gentlemen,―The enemy are now in full force, bending their march towards Morristown, and by my last advices had advanced beyond Springfield. They were vigorously opposed by our advanced corps. But what could the

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,

and if true, the arrival of the fleet on the coast may be 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."

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.