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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning In the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A dee taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour hue reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film6 A partir de Tangle supArieur geuche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 i I l •^ \ NARRATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN IN 1781 IN NORTH AMERICA. BY Sir henry CLINTON, K. B. HNi ':.-! ■'"■■■pi-^ r~ PHILADELPHIA: JOHN CAMPBELL, MDCCCLXV. No. Edition of 250 Copies, Of which 75 copies are in quarto, and 25 copies in folio. PRINTED BY HKNK.Y B, ASHMEAD, Nn. I Ici Sair-cMM Str( it. N A R R A r 1 V E () F LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR HENRY CLINTON, K. B. RKI.AIIVl-; TO HIS CONDUCT DURING PART OF HIS COMMAND OF THE KING'S TROOPS I N NORTH AMERICA; Particularly to that which refpedls the unfortunate IfTue of the Campaign in 1781. WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING Copies and Extracts of those Parts of his Correfpondencc w I r H LORD GEORGE GERMAIN, EARL CORNWALLIS, REAR ADMIRAL G R A V E S, &c. Which are rctcrred to therein. LONDON: Printed for J. Debrett (liiccfUor to Mr. Almon) ojipofite Biiriington-houfe, Piccadilly, 1783. i ERRATA. I'agp. 11 the note, 8, - Line. 3, 1781, vice 1782. 13. - 12, either^ vice each. 24, ■ ■ 19, probably before hi\ at the begin ning of the line. 46, . 16, their., vice thus. 52, ■ ■ 20, oV. after accomplijhed. I NARRATIVE O F LIEUTENANT GENERAL Sir henry CLINTON, &c. "DEING confcious, that during my com- mand in North America, my whole condud: was adiuated by the moft ardent zeal for the King's fervice, and the interefts of the public, I was exceedingly mortified, when I returned to England, after a fervice of feven years in that country, to find that erroneous opinions had gone forth refpeding it; and that many perfons had, in confe- quence, admitted impreflions to my preju- A duce. Ml 1 2 ) duce. Anxious, therefore, to explain what had been mifinterpreted or mifreprefented, (as indeed might well be expedted, from the publication of Lord C.'s letter of the 20th of Odober, without being accompanied by my anfwer to it) I had propofed taking an op- portunity, in the Houfe of Commons, of faying a few words on fuch parts of my condua as fcemed not to be fufficiently un- derftood : and I flatter myfelf I fhould have been able to make it appear, that I adted up to the utmoft of my powers, from the beginning to the end of my command; and that none of the misfortunes of the very unfortunate campaign of 1781 can, with the fmalleft degree of juftice, be imputed to me. But I arrived here fo late in the feflion, that I was advifed to defer it; and it was judged that the gracious reception I had juft met with from my Sovereign rendered an immediate explanation unnecefl^ary. I was not, 4 ( 3 ) not, however, apprifed to what degree the pubHc prejudice had been excited againll me ehe, I (hould probably have been in- duced to have taken an earlier opportunity of offering to Parliament what I have to fay on the fubjedl. But the late change in pub- lic affairs, furnifliing fo much more impor- tant matter for their deliberation, deprived me of the opportunity I thought I ihould have had : and, as by the prefent recefs it is probable that I may not be able to exe- cute my intentions before a late period, when perhaps peculiar circumftances might force me through delicacy to decline it, I beg leave to lay before the public the following plain Narrative, which will, I truft, remove prejudice and error. I have much to regret that, when this bufinefs was difcuffed in the Houfe of Lords laft feffion of Parliament, the whole of my correfpondence, with the late American Minifter, Lieutenant General Earl Corn- wallis Si ( 4 ) wallis, and the Admirals commanding on the Weft-India and American ftations, was not produced, or at leaft fuch parts thereof as, being neceflary to explain my conduil:, might have appeared confiftently with ftate policy. Becaufe the letters which compofe that correfpondence, being written to the moment as events happened, are certainly the moft faithful records of my actions and intentions; and are confequently the clear- eft, faireft, and moft unexceptionable tefti- monies I can adduce in their fupport. I hope, therefore, I ftiall ftand exculpated from the neceflity of the cafe, for any im- propriety there may be in my annexing to this letter fuch of them as I may judge moft requifite for that purpofe. Three of them indeed will, I prefume, be found very material, (Appendix No. IX.) as they con- tain my anfwers and obftrvations upon Lord Cornwallis's letters of the 20th of Odlober and 2d of December on the fubjed of the J ( 5 ) the unfortunate conclufion of the laft cam- paign in the Chefapeak ; — which latter I am forry to obferve, were given to the pubhc, while mine in anfwer were withheld trom it; — I hope without defign. Although I never dared promife myfelf that any exertions of mine, with my very reduced force (nearly one-third lefs than that of my predecelTor) could bring the war to a happy conclufion; yet I confefs that the campaign of 1781 terminated very dif- ferently from what I once flattered my- felf it would; as may appear, by the fub- joined extrads of letters, written in the be- ginning of that year,=^ and which were tranf- * "I am moft exceedingly concerned, my Lord, at the very unfortunate affair of the 17th of January, (Cow- pcr's.) I confefs I dread the confcquences. But my hope is, as it ever will be, in your Lordfliip's abilities and exertions. I have much to lament, that Brigadier- general Arnold's projeded move in favour of your Lordlhip's !!! ( 6 ) tranfmitted to the Minifter. I was led, however, into theie hopes, more by the apparent diftrefles of the enemy than any material lucceffes we had met with. The plan I had formed for the campaign of 1 78 1, (upon the expectation of a rein- forcement Lorilfhip's operations will have been ftopt by the appear- ance of the French fliips. Difcontcnt runs high in Connecticut. In Ihort, my Lord, there feems little wanting to give a mortal (tab to rebellion, but a proper reinforcement and a permanent fuperiority at fea for the next campaign ; without which any enterprise depending on water movements muft certainly run great ri(k. Until Colonel Bruce arrives, I am uncertain what reinforce- ments are intended for this army. The Minifter has however afl'ured me, that every poilible exertion will be made." — Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord Corn- wallis, March 5, 1781. "I cannot fufficiently exprefs my extreme joy at read- ing VVafliington's letter. It is fuch a defcription of diftrefs, as may ferve to convince, that with a tolerable reinforcement from Europe, to enable your Excellency to determine on an ofFenfive campaign, the year 1781 mav ( 7 ) forcement from Europe — from the Weft- Indies — and from the Southward (after ope- ration fliould ceafe in that quarter) — added to what I might be able to fpare at the time from the fmall force under my immediate command at New- York) was calculated to make a fair and folid effort in favour of our friends — in a diftridt where I had fome rea- fon to believe they were numerous and hearty ; and where I judged it might be made with little danger, even from a temporary naval fuperiority of the enemy. This plan had been fuggefted to the Minifter in the year 1780, and more particularly ex- plained to him in 1781; notwithftanding which a preference was given to another, (Appendix, No. I.) which fcemed to be forced may probably prove the glorious period to your command in America, by putting an end to the rebellion." — Letter from Major-general Phillips to Sir H. Clinton, Portf- mouth, Virginia, April 16, 1781. i ( 8 ) forced (Appendix, No. 11.) upon me by Lord Cornwallis's quitting the Carolinas, where I had left him in the command, and marching into Virginia; a meafure, I muft fay, determined upon without my approba- tion, and very contrary to my wiHies and intentions. The Minifter directed me to fupport Lord CornwaUis and folid operation in Virginia; the danger of which, without a covering fleet, I had conftantly reprefented to him. He repeatedly and pofitively pro- mifed me a covering fleet ;^^ and when the Admiral * Extraas from Lord George Germain's letters to Sir Henry Clinton: April 4, 1782. "The latenefs of the feafon will, I imagine, prevent Monf. De Grafle's undertaking any thing againrt the King's poflefllons in the Weft Indies. But it is probable, as foon as he has thrown fupplies into the feveral iflands, he will proceed to North America, and join the French forces at Rhode IHand, and endea- vour to revive the expiring caufe of rebellion. But as Sir me by irolinas, nd, and I muft pproba- les and me to peration ithout a refented ely pro- hen the Admiral tters to Sir fon will, I taking any TeA Indies, iapplies into 1 America, and endea- n. But as Sir Admiral arrived with the naval reinforce- ment from the Weft-Indies, he was clearly of Sir George Rodney's force is little inferior to his, and he will be watchful of his motions, I am not apprehcnfive he will give him time to do you any material injury before he comes to your fuccour." May 2, 1 78 1. "And as Sir George Rodney will bring you three more regiments from the Leeward Iflands before the hurricane months, the augmentation of your force muft, I fliould think, be equal to the utmoft of your wiflies." July 7, 1 78 1. "The arrival of the reinforcement will, I hope, enable you to proceed immediately in the execution of your purpofe, without waiting for the three regiments from the Weft Indies; for I do not expe£l they will join you before the feafon for offenfive operations there is over -, when, I have reafon to believe, the French fleet will pufli for North America, and Sir George Rodney will certainly follow them, to prevent them from giving you any interruption in your operations." Julv 14, 1 78 1. "The purpofe of the enemy was long known here, and Sir George Rodney has been ap- prifed of it, and will certainly not lofc fight of Monf. De B !p"i ( lo ) of opinion himfelf, and of courfe convinced me, that he had brought that covering fleet. (Appendix, No. III.) Therefore, as Admi- ral Graves's fquadron was acknowledged to be fuperior to that under Monfieur de Barras, I could J De Graffe. The very proper ftep you took of tranfmit- ting him copies of the letters you had intercepted, mu(t confirm him in the refolution he had taken in confequence of the former intelligence. But as in a matter of fo great moment, no precaution Ihould be omitted, or poflible con- tingency unguarded againft, extrads of the intercepted letters will be fent to him from hence, and p-ecife inftruc- tions given to him to proceed direftly to North America, whenever Monf. De Graffe quits the Leeward IHands." July 24, 1 78 1. "And I truft, that as Sir George Rodney knows De Graffe's deftination, and the French acknowledge his fhips fail better than their's, that he will get before him, and be in readinefs to receive him when he comes upon the coart." September 25, ijSl- "I ^rulV, before the end of Auguft, Sir Samuel Hood will have been with you, and t hat after his jundion with Admiral Graves our fuperiority at fea will be preferved." J ■^ nvinced ng fleet. ; Admi- idged to 2 Barras, I could if tranfmit- ?pted, niuft onfequence of I'o great loflible con- intercepted cife inftruc- ;h America, rd inands." Sir George the French that he will e him when the end of nth you, and ur fuperiority I could not but fuppofe that the arrival of Admiral Digby (hourly expedled) would give us a moft decifive naval fuperiority. — And here, perhaps, it may not be improper to remark, that though the Minifter directs me, by his letters of the 2d of May, and 6th of June, to adopt folid operation in Virginia, he fignifies to me his Majefty's approbation of my own plan, in a fubfequent letter of the 14th of July, telling me at the fame time, that "he has not the leait doubt Lord "Cornwallis will have fully feen the rea- "fonablenefs of it, and has executed it with "his wonted ardor, intrepidity, and fuc- "cefs." Under thefe circumftances, and with thefe afllirances, I never could have the moft distant idea that Mr. Walhington had the leaft hopes of a fuperior French fleet in the Chefapeak; and I confequently never could fuppofe that he would venture to go there. But if he fliould, I was fatisfied from the reafons already ftated f!rn' mm ( 12 ) ftated, that I fliould be able to meet him there with every advantage on my fide, by having the command of the waters of that bay — without which he could not poflibly feed his army. This opinion has been alfo fince confirmed by a letter from him to Count De GralTe, dated 26th of September 1 78 1, (No. IV. Appendix) wherein he tells him, if he quits the Chefapeak, the enemy will certainly get polfeflion of it, and he muft difband his army. Had my correfpondence been produced, it would have appeared from it, and the returns accompanying it, that inftead of feventeen, twenty, nay twenty-four thouf- and men, which it has been reported I had at New York (after the very ample rein- forcements as the Minifter acknowledges (No. V. Appendix) which I had fent to the fouthward) I had not 12,000 effectives, and of thefe not above 9,300 fit for duty, re- gulars and provincials. But had I had twice i-*- I eet him fide, by 5 of that poflibly aeen alio him to eptember 1 he tells le enemy d he muft produced, , and the inftead of lur thouf- rted I had nple rein- :nowledges ent to the idives, and - duty, re- nad I had twice ( 13 ) twice that number, I do not know that, after leaving fufficient garrifons in the illands and poib depending (which it is ad- mitted by all would take 6000) I could, as has been infinuated, have prevented the junftion between Monf. Rochambeau and General Wafliington, which was made in the highlands, at leaft 50 miles from me; or that I could have made any dired move againft their army when joined (confiding then of at least 11,000 men, exclufive of militia, afl-embled on each fide the Hudfon) with any profped of folid advantage from it. Or if I had as many reafons to believe that Mr. Wafliington would move his army into Virginia without a covering French fleet, as I had to think he would not; I could not have prevented his pafling the Hudfon under cover of his forts at Verplanks and Stoney Points. Nor (fuppofing I had boats properly manned) would it have been ad- vifeable to have landed at Elizabeth town, in TTT ^ ( H ) in the face of works which he might eafily have occupied (as they were only feven miles from his camp at Chatham) without fubjefting my army to be beat, en detail. Nor could I, when informed of his march towards the Delaware, have pafled an army in time to have made any impreflion upon him before he crolfed that river. But with my reduced force, any attempt of the fort would have been madnefs and folly in the extreme. With what might poffibly be fpared from fuch a force, nothing could be attempted except againft detachments from Mr. Waih- ington's army, or (when reinforced in a fmall degree) againft fuch of it's diftant ma- gazines as might occafionally happen to be unguarded. Two of the latter offered, one againft Philadelphia, which I certainly fliould have attempted in July, had Lord Corn- wallis fpared me any part of 3000 men; but as his Lordfliip feemed to think he could i fht eafily ly feven without ?n detail. is march an army on upon But with the fort y in the red from ttempted r. Walh- ed in a tant ma- in to be red, one ly fliould i Corn- o men ; bink he could ( '5 ) could not hold the ftations we both thought eligible, if he fpared me any part of the force with him, I was obliged to relinquiih this defign. The other much more im- portant, was againft Rhode Ifland. I had difcovered by intercepted letters from all the French Admirals and Generals, that Count Rochambeau's army had marched from Rhode Illand to join Mr. Wafhington at the White Plains; that their battering train and ftores for fiege were left at Providence under little more than a militia guard; and that their fleet remained in Rhode Illand harbour with orders, as foon as repaired, to retire to Bofton for fecurity. By private in- formation, which I had at that time, I found alfo that the works at Rhode Illand were in a great meafure difmantled, and had only a few invalids and militia to guard them, and that they were both there and at Providence under great apprehenlions of a vifit from us. From other motives as well as my own knowledge n ( 1 6 ) knowledge of thele polls, I had the ftrongeft realbn to exped the tulleft fuccefs to an at- tempt againrt them, and I therefore immedi- ately propofed to Admiral Graves a joint ex- pedition for that piirpofe ; which he readily confented to. It was accordingly agreed between us, that it fliould be undertaken as foon as he could aifemble his fleet, and a fmall reinforcement (hourly expedled) fliould arrive from Europe. The reinforcement joined me on the nth of Auguft, and the Admiral (who had failed on a cruife) having returned to the coafl: on the i6th, I imme- diately renewed my propofal, (Appendix, No. VI.) The Admiral informed me in anfwer, that he was under the neceflity of fending the Robufte to the yard to be refitted, and that he fliould take the opportunity while that was doing of fliifting a mafl: or two in the Prudente ; and when thofe repairs were accompliflied, he would give me timely notice, (Appendix, No. VII.) The fliips were ftrongeil to an at- ; imniedi- . joint ex- he readily ly agreed jrtaken as ;et, and a ;d) (liould forcement :, and the fe) having , I imme- ;ndix, No. in anfwer, 3f fending :iitted, and lity while or two in pairs were ne timely The fliip3 were ( '7 ) were not ready on the zSth ; Sir Samuel Hood, however, arriving on that day, I im- mediately ordered the troops to be embarked ; and going to the Admirals on Long Ifland, I propofed to them that the expedition fliould inftantly take place : but receiving intelligence that evening that Monfieur De Barras had failed on the 25th, it was of courfe flopped. Thus, to the Admirals great mortification and my own, was loft an opportunity of making the moft important attempt that had offered the whole war. Early in September, to my great furprife, (for I ftill confidered our fleet as fuperior) hearing that Mr. Wafliington was decidedly marching to the fouthward, I called a council of all the general officers, who unanimoufly concurred with me in opinion, that the only way to fuccour Earl Cornwallis was to go to him in the Chefapeak. Although I had every reafon to difapprove of Earl Cornwallis's march into Virginia, c without .Jl ws without conlulting me, (at the rick of en- gaging me in dangerous operations, for which I was not prepared) yet, as I fuppofed he afted with at leaft the approbation of the Minifter, I left him as free as air, when he arrived there, to plan and execute according to his difcretion ;— only recommending to him, m cafe he had none of his own, the plan I had offered to the Minifter ; which, notwithftand- ing the opinion given in the letter of July 14, before quoted,-== I did not, however, find his Lordfhip ^ ex * Extraa from Lord George Germain's letter to Sir Henry Clinton, July 14, lyS'-""!' '« ^'''^'^ '^^ """'^ unfeigned pleafure I obey his Majefty's commands, ni prcfling to you his royal approbation of the plan you have adopted for profecuting the war in the provinces fouth of the Delaware, and of the fuccours you have furnifhed, and the inftrudions you have given for car- rying it into execution. The copies of the very impor- tant correfpondence which fo fortunately fell into your hands, (inclofed in your difpatch) fhew the rebel aftairs to be almoft defperate, and that nothing but the succefs of **» /■ of en- •r which he afted /linifter, arrived g to his him, in an I had ithftand- ■July 14, , find his Lordfliip letter to Sir :h the moll mmands, in he plan you le provinces rs you have ven for car- very inipor- ;11 into your rebel affairs t the succefs of ( '9 ) Lordfliip the leaft indined to adopt. And that letter, which I did not receive till Sep- tember, found me deeply and dangeroully en- gaged in the operation he had forced me into. And here, perhaps, it may be proper to give the reafons which induced me to recom- mend of fome extraordinary enterprize can give vigour and adivity to their caufe ; and I confcfs I am well pleafed that they have fixed upon New York as the objedt to be attempted, as I have not the leaft doubt but that the troops you had remaining with you, after the ample rein- forcements you (o judicioufly fent to the Chefapeak, would be fully fufficient under your command to repel any force the enemy could bring againft you. I cannot clofe this letter, without repeating to you the very great fatisfadtion your difpatch has given me; and my moft entire and hearty coincidence with you in the plan you have propofed to Lord Cornwallis, for diftrefling the rebels, and recovering the fouthern provinces to the King's obedience. And as his Lordftiip, when he received your letters of the 8th and nth of June, will have fully fecn the reafonablenefs of it, I have not the leaft doubt but his Lordftiip has executed it with his wonted ardor, intrepidity, and fucccfs." i 4 I ! mm ( 20 ) mend to Lord Cornwallis to lecure a naval ftation for large fliips, if one could be found that was capable of being fortified and main- tained againft a temporary fuperiority of the enemy at fea, agreeable to the inftrudtions which I had before given to General Phil- lips, and which were of courfe to be now confidered as fuch to his LordHiip, (Ap- pendix, No. X.) Although I ought not to have apprehend- ed that the enemy could have had a fuperi- ority at fea, after the aflurances I had re- ceived from the Minifter, I yet always wilhed to guard againft even a poffibility of it. Finding, therefore, by Lord Corn- wallis's letters, that on his arrival in the Chelapeak, he had no plan of his own to propofe, and that he did not incline to follow the one I had offered to his con- fideration, I recommended the taking a re- fpedable defenfive ftation either at Williamf- burg, or York (the latter of which his Lordfhip J ; a naval be found nd main- ty of the ftrudtions iral Phil- ) be now lip, (Ap- pprehend- l a fuperi- I had re- el always poffibility :>rd Corn- 'al in the lis own to incline to ) his con- king a re- Williamf- which his Lordlhip ( 21 ) Lordfhip had informed me in a letter, dated 26th of May, he was inclined, from the reports which had been made to him, to think well of as a naval ftation and place of arms) and left his Lordfliip at liberty to keep all the troops he had in Virginia, (amounting to about feven thoufand men). But thinking that he might well fpare three thoufand; I defired he would keep all that were necelfary for a refped:able defenfive, and defultory water movements, and fend me of three thoufand men all he could. His Lordfliip mifconceiving my intentions (as will, I truft, be manifefl: to whoever reads our correfpondence) and coniidering my call for three thoufand men as uncon- ditional, tells me that he could not with the remainder keep York and Gloucefter; and that he fliould, therefore, repafs James- river and go to the ftation at Portfmouth. Which refolution (I confefs) furprifed me, as J ( 22 ) as he had a Httle before, in the letter above quoted, repreiented that port as unhealthy, and requiring an army to defend it. On receipt of his Lordlhip's letter, I immedi- ately confulted the Admiral, who was of of opinion, that a naval ftation for large fliips was abfolutely neceffary, and recommended Hampton-road. Therefore in my letter of the nth July, I direded his Lordlhip to examine and fortify Old Point Comfort, which the Admiral and I thought would cover that Road, and in which there had been a fort for that purpofe for fifty years, though probably then in ruins. But his Lordfliip in- forming me in his letter of the 27th of July, that it was the opinion of the captains of the navy, the engineers, and himfelf, that any works ereded on Old Point Comfort, "might "be eafily deftroyed by a fleet, and would "not anfwer the purpofe; and that there- "fore, according to the fpirit of my orders, "he m 1 ,** er above ihealthy, it. On immedi- > was of irge fliips nmended letter of rdlhip to Comfort, ht would ; had been rs, though rdfliip in- :h of July, lins of the , that any rt, "might md would hat there- my orders, ( 23 ) "he fliould feize York and Gloucefter, as "the only harbour in which he could hope "to be able to give efFedtual protedlion to "line of battle fliips;" I fuppofed his Lord- fliip had entirely approved of thofe ports; and that after examining them with the officers of the King's fliips and his engineer, he would let me know if he fliould fee reafon to alter his opinion ; and confequently I did not objed: to the choice he had made; nor indeed had I ever caufe to do fo before I faw his letter of the 1 1 th of Odlober, which I did not receive until the i6th, the day before he offered to capitulate, when for the firfl: time I found his Lordfliip thought unfavourably of them. For on the i6th of Auguft, his Lordfliip told me that he fliould apply to the Commodore for a fliip to send me a ftate of things at York, and bring him back my commands; by which I was of courfe to underftand that his Lordfliip would fend me his own and the Commodore's opi- nion ( 24 ) nion of York and Gloucefter, after his en- gineer had made a moft exadl furvey, which he told me he was employed in, and of which I expeded a copy, as his Lordfliip had before fent me of the one taken of Old Point Comfort. But not receiving thefe from his Lordfliip, I naturally concluded that the port of York and Gloucefter was fuch as his Lordfliip and the Commodore approved; efpecially, as his Lordfliip, in his letter of the 22d of Augufl:, was pleafed to fay, "the "engineer has finiflied his furvey and exa- "mination of this place, (York) and has "propofed his plan for fortifying it; which "appearing judicious, I have approved, and "directed to be executed." And in the same letter it was farther implied, that through the exertion of the troops, the works would be tolerably complete in about fix weeks from that period: and from his faying also in the same letter, "I will not venture to "take :fter, after his en- n, even what we have lately loft there. A" ii (as I have often before fuggefted) the goou-uili of the inhabitants is abfolutely requilite to retain a country, after we have conquered it; I fear it will be fometime be- fore we can recover the confidence of thofe in Carolina, as their paft fufferings will of courfe make them cautious of publicly for- warding the King's interefts before there is the ftrongeft certainty of his army being in a condition to fupport them. I (hall, there- fore, moft cordially join with your Lord- fliip, in condemning the bad policy of taking polfellion of places at one time, and abandon- ing 1 t c I r c v C c ing ( 39 ) ini^ them at another; and in the opinion that the war fliould be condudted upon a permanent and fettled plan of conqueft, by fecuring and preferving what has been re- covered. But if thefe maxims have been, on any occafion, deviated from in the pall progrefs of the war; I muft, in juftice to myfelf declare, that it has never been war- ranted by my orders, except, only in the cafe of Rhode-Illand. This I doubt not will appear from the inftrudions I gave to General Leflie, and the other general offi- cers, whom I fent on expeditions to the Chefipeak. For if Lord Cornwallis made a defultory move into North Carolina, and without a force fufficient to protedt, or pro- vifions to fupport them, invited by procla- mation, the Loyalifts to join him, and after- wards found it neceiTary to quit the friendly diftrids of that province, before he could have time to give them a fair trial, I am perfuaded your Lordlhip will acknowledge he ( 40 ) he did not ad under my inftrud^lions : — nor were his Lordlliip's retreat to VVihning- ton, and fubfequent move from thence to Virginia, in confequence of my orders: on the contrary, as I forefaw all the unhappy confequences of them, I fliould certainly have endeavoured to have ftopt him, could I have known his intentions in proper time. But though his Lordfliip's movements, (which it mull be confelfed have been as rapid as your Lordfliip expe Lords Commillioners months before) I am perluaded that their Report would not have appeared on the table of the Houfe of Commons in the fliape it has done. For when they were informed (as they would have been by the means juft ftated) that all the rum purchafed for the fupply of the army during the whole period of my command, was paid for in America by my warrants, whereas before then it ufed to be paid for in England; that confiderable fums of money were paid on my warrants for expences incurred during the command of my predecelfor, which could not be brought to account fooner; that provifions to a very confiderable amount were purchafed in Ame- rica, and paid for in America on my war- rants, for the fupply of the army, which might otherwife have been expofed to the greateft diftrefs; all which together amount- ed to nearly 1,500,0001. and that the in- creafe of ports, during my command, at Savannah, ( 45 > Savannah, Charles Town, Cape Fear, Portf- mouth, Penoblcot, &c. requiring each their relpeaive eiVabHlliments, added of courle to the extraordinaries of my army; and that, hefides thefe, and many others which I could enumerate, the peculiar circumftances of my command expofed me to many ex- pences unknown to my predeceifor; it is prefumed, thofe Gentlemen would have ad- mitted, that the increafe of the ilTues for the extraordinary fervices of the army un- der my command, was accounted tor. This matter, however, went, by my de- fire, through a very full and formal invefti- gation, in Auguft 1781, before a iJoard ot general officers and magiftrates (of which Lieutenant-general Robertfon was Prefident) under the title of a Comparative View of Expences incurred, from the 3 1 ft December, 1775, to the 1 6th of May, 1778 (the time of Sir William Howe's command) and of what was paid by me, between the 26th of May ii ( 46 ) May 1778, and the 31ft of December 1780. Which produced the following report from that Board. "The great national expence in the "firft period of Sir William Howe's com- "mand, arofe from the whole navy, and "a very numerous fleet of tranfports, be- "ing employed in attending the move- "ments of the army; no part of which "appears in Sir William Howe's war- " rants. "The expence of the (^larter-mafter- " general, Barrack-mafter-general, and En- "gineer departments, were necelfarily fmall, "while the troops were on board fliips, or "had thus fupplies from tranfports. " During part of the firft period, the "great article of expence, r«w, was pro- "vided for by a contrad: made in Eng- "land, and paid for there. Whereas, du- "ring the fecond period, the rum was pur- chafed ( 47 ). "chafed by the Commiiraiy-general, and "paid for by the Commander in Chief's "warrants. A very large quantity of pro- "vifions purchafed alfo, during the latter "period, fwells the amount of the war- " rants. "But what deftroys a poffibility of draw- "ing any juft conclufion from a comparifon "of the amount of the warrants in thefe "two periods, arifes from this; that a great "part of the expence incurred by Sir Wil- "liam Howe, was paid by warrants granted "by Sir Henry Clinton." This report having been regularly tranf- mitted to the Treafury, I muft fuppofe it was laid before the Commiffioners of Ac- counts. Had it been read by thofe Gentle- men, it is prefumable it would have, at leaft, accompanied theirs. With regard to the fecond obfervation alluded to, refpedting my not granting final warrants to certain departments from certain periods ; ( 48 ) periods ; if the commilTioners had read all the above papers, I think it would have occurred to them; that as a Commiiraiy of Accounts had been commillioned, and was adlually employed in auditing the accounts of the different departments, I could not, with propriety, grant final warrants to any of the departments upon their quarterly abftradls (as had been before prad:ifed) untill their accounts had been firft audited and certified by the Commiflary. As to the mode of fupply which I found eftablifhed, when I fucceeded to the com- mand of the army in North America, and which I underflood had been approved by Government, I certainly could not, in pru- dence, have made any alterations or reduc- tion in it, as long as I had offenfive opera- tion in view. The inftant, however, that I received orders to place the army upon a ftri(5l defenfive, I propofed fuch a reduftion as could take place. And when I obtained le ;d Its ily he Xh he as eir ied ( 49 ) his Majelly's permiflion to refign the com- mand, I recommended it to General Ro- hertfon, who was appointed to fucceed me. (Signed) "H. CLINTON." ind inl- and by )ru- luc- era- that jn a ition ined APPENDIX. lis i I It) U' ( 5^ ) APPENDIX. NUMBER I. Extras of a Letter from Lord George Ger- main to Sir Henry Clinton, dated May 2, 1 78 1. "Conceiving therefore Ib highly as I do of the importance of the Southern pro- vinces, and of the vaft advantages which mull: attend the profecution of the war upon the prefent plan of extending our conquefts from fouth to north ; it was a great mortification to me to find, by your inftrudion to Major- General Phillips, that it appeared to be your intention that only a part of the troops he carried with him Ihould remain in the Chefa- peak ; 'r' 5^ A P P E N 1) 1 X. peak ; and that he and General Arnold fliould return to New York, leaving only a fufficient force to ferve for garrifons in the ports they might eftablifli in Virginia. Your ideas, therefore, of the importance of reco- vering that province appearing to be fo dif- ferent from mine, I thought it proper to afk the advice of his Majefty's other fervants upon the fubjed:; and their opinions concur- ring entirely with mine, it has been fubmit- ted to the King; and I am commanded by his Majefty to acquaint you that the reco- very of the Southern Provinces and the pro- fecution of the war, by purtiing our conquefts from fouth to north, is to be conlidered as the chief and principal objedl for the em- ployment of all the forces under your com- mand, which can be fpared from the defence of the places in his Majefty's polfeffion, until it is accompliflied. "The three regiments from Ireland, and the Britidi recruits that went with them, are, I truft, APPENDIX. 5J y I- »- ts as 1- 1- :e til I trull, well on their way by this time to Charles Town ; and as Sir George Rodney will bring you three more regiments from the Leeward Iflands before the hurricane months, the augmentation of your force muft, I fliould think, be equal to the utmoft of your willies. NUMBER II. ExtraB of a Letter from Lord George Ger- main to Sir Henry Clinton, dated fiine 6, 1781. " I SHALL therefore only obferve in ad- dition to all I have hitherto written upon the the fubjed:, that I am well pleafed to find Lord Cornwallis's opinion entirely coincides with mine of the great importance of pulliing the war on the fide of Virginia with all the force that can be fpared until that province is reduced." ■e, It, NUMBER 54 A I* P K N 1) 1 X. NUMBER III. Copy of a Letter from Rear Admiral Sir S. Hood to Sir H. Clifitofi, dated off Cape Henry, Augiijl 25, 1781. "S I R, " HEREWITH you will receive a dupli- cate of the letter I had the honour to write you by Lieut. Delanoe of the Adtive brig, in cafe any misfortune fliould have befallen her in returning to New York. I am now fleering for Cape Henry, in order to examine the Chefapeak. From thence I rtiall proceed to the Capes of the Delaware ; and not feeing, or hearing any thing of De Grafle, or any detachment of fliips he might have fent upon this coaft, fliall then make the beft of my way off Sandy Hook. This I have commu- nicated to Rear Admiral Graves, in order that he may determine my anchoring or not, as the King's fervice may require. "I have li- te in ler ine ;ed any pon my nu- rder not, have APPENDIX. 55 " I have the honour to fend you my hne of battle, by which you will fee the number and force of his Majefty's fquadron under my command; and, I truft, you will think it equal, fully to defeat any defigns of the ene- my, let De Gralfe bring or fend what (hips he may, in aid to thofe under De Barras. " I have the honour to be, 6cc. (Signed) "SAM. HOOD." NUMBER IV. Copy of a Letter from General Wajlmigton to Count De Graje, dated WilUamJhurg, Sep- tember 26, 1 78 1. " I AM unable to defcribe to your Excel- lency the painful anxiety under which I have laboured fince the reception of the letter you did me the honour to write me of the 23d inftant. The motions of the naval force under your command, which your Excellency fays may pollibly happen, fmce the information communicated 5^, A P P v. N I) I X. communicated to you by the Baron de Clozen, obliges me to point out the confe- quences that may follow; and warmly to urge a perleverance in the plan agreed upon between us. Permit me, in the fir ft place, to repeat to your Excellency, that the attempt upon York, under the protedlion of your fliipping, is as certain of fuccefs as a fuperior force and a fuperiority of meafures can render any military operation; that the duration of the fiege may be exadlly afcertained ; and that the capture of the Britifli army is a matter fo important in itself, and in its confequences, that it muft greatly tend to bring an end to the war, and put our allied arms in certain poflef- fion of the moft ineftimable advantages. " If your Excellency quits the Bay, an ac- cefs is open to relieve York, of which the enemy will inftantly avail themselves. The confequences of this will be not only the dif- grace of abandoning a defign on which are founded the faireft hopes of the allied forces, after A V P K N D 1 X. 57 after a prodigious expence, fatigue, and exer- tions; but the probable difbanding of tl^ e whole army; for the prefent feat of war be- ing fuch, as abfolutely precludes the ufe of waggons, from the great number of large rivers which interfed the country, there will be a total want of provifions, unlefs this in- convenience is remedied by water carriage. This province has been fo exhaufted by the ravages of the enemy, and by the support already given to our forces, that fubfiftence muft be drawn from a diftance, and that can be done only by a fleet fuperior in the Bay. "I earneftly beg your Excellency would conlider, that if, by moving your fleet from the fituation agreed on, we lofe the prefent opportunity, we fliall never hereafter have it in our power to ftrike fo decifive a ftroke, that the Britifli will labour without intermif- fion to fortify a place fo ufeful to their (liip- ping; and that then the period of an honoura- ble peace will be farther diftant than ever, H "The :il 5« A I* V K N D I X. "The confidence I have in your Excellen- cy's manly fpirit and naval talents leaves me no doubt that the confideration of the confe- quences that mull: follow your departure from the Bay will determine you to ufe all pollible means for the good of the common caufe. From the alfurances of the moft expert failors, I am perfuaded that your Excellency may take fuch a pofition in the Bay as to leave no- thing to he apprehended from an attempt of the Englirti fleet; that this pofition will at the fame time facilitate the operations of the fiege, fecure the tranfportation of our provifions by water, and accellerate our approaches by land- ing our heavy artillery and warlike necelfaries in York River almoll clofe to our trenches. " The force faid to have arrived under Ad- miral Digby, as the news comes from the Bri- tifli themselves, may not only be exaggera- ted, but perhaps abfolutely falfe; but fuppo- fing it to be true, their whole force united cannot be fuch as to give them any hopes ■ f' I A V V K N 1) I X. 59 fuccels in the attacking your fleet. If the pofition for your (hips to lie at an anchor, which we agreed upon, has fmce appeared imprad:icahle, there is IHU another meafure may he adopted; which, though much in- ferior as to the fecurity and facility it will give to our land operations, may ftill he of advantage to our affairs. The meafure, I mean, is to cruife off the Bay, fo as to keep the Capes ahvays in fight, and to prevent any Englifli veffels getting in. "Whatever plan you may adopt, I am to prefs your Excellency to perfevere in the fcheme fo happily concerted between us ; hut if you fliould find infurmountable obftacles in the way, let me ultimately beg of you not to relinquifli the laft mentioned alternative of preventing all veffels from the enemy entering the Bay of Chesapeak. "The Britifli Admiral may manoeuvre his fleet, and endeav ur to draw you from the main objedt we have in view; but I can never 6o APPENDIX. never believe, that he will ferioufly wifli to bring on a general a(flion with a fleet, whofe force, I will anfwer for it, is fuperior to the moft exaggerated accounts we have of theirs. Palfed experience has taught them not to hazard themfelves with equal numbers; and has drawn from them, though unwillingly, the moft refpeftful opinions of their enemy. "Permit me to add that the abfence of your fleet from the Bay may fruftrate our de- iign upon the garrifon at York. For in the prefent lituation of matters, Lord Cornwallis might evacuate the place with the loss of his artillery, baggage, and a few men, facrifices; which would be highly juftifiable from the delire of faving the body of the armv. "The Marquis de la Fayette, who does me the honour to carry this letter to your Excellency, will explain to you better than any other perfon, or than I can do by letter, many part rticulars of ( Excellency is acquainte prefent poiition. Your d with his candour and talents. A P P E N D I X. 6i talents, which entitles him to your confidence I have ordered him not to pafs the Cape tor fear of accident, in cafe you fhould be at fea. If this be fo, he will inclofe this difpatch in a letter from himself, "I have the honour, &c. "G. WASHINGTON;' NUMBER V. ExtraSt from Lord George Germain s Let- ter to Sir Henry Clinton, dated OBober 1 2, 1781. " IT is a great latisfaftion to me to find your ideas of the importance of fecuring a naval ftation in the Chefapeak capable of giving proteaion to the King's fhips, ap- pointed to intercept the navigation of that Bay, fo entirely coincided with my own ; and that the plan you had concerted for con- duaing the military operations in that quarter correfponds 62 APPENDIX. • ' ^■^ correfponds with what I had fuggefted in my former letters to you on that fubjed. I truft, therefore that Lord CornwalHs will retain the whole of the troops you fo very properly fpared for the fervice in the Chelapeak: or if he has fent you any part, that you will re- turn them to him. And as foon as the heats are abated, tranfport a ftrong detachment to Baltimore, Sec. "The provifion you made for the fouthern fervice was certainly moil ample. And I have always confidered and fpoke of it as a circum- ftance highly to your honour; and as an evi- dence of your being adtuated by the pureft zeal for the public fervice. And though I lament exceedingly that from a concurrence of untoward events, the fuccefs was not equal to the fanguine expedations I had enter- tained, I never imputed any part of the difap- pointment to a deticiency in your fupplies." NUM- A P P E N D 1 X. 63 NUMB E R VI. ExtraB from Sir Henry Clintoiis Letter to Rear- Admiral Graves, dated Auguji 16, 1781. " I CANNOT fay I credit the reports of the French being upon the coait. Should they prove falfe, and there was Httle probabi- lity of their coming for a week or ten days, I think thofe could not be better employed than in a vifit to Rhode-Ilk.id. The recruits I have lately received enable me to make this offer, whenever you think it prudent to at- tempt it. If you determine, I requeft that Captain Duncan may diredt the water-move- ments of the army." ExtraH from Sir Henry Clititons Letter to Rear- Admiral Graves, dated ylugujl 18, 1781. "WHENEVER, Sir, you think the Heet under your command is in number and (late equal .1 ; • I 64 A P P E N D I X. equal to the undertaking, and you will give me twenty-four hours notice, every thing (hall be immediately embarked; and I fliall with plealure accompany you myself on it." NUMBER VII. Extracts from Rear- Admiral Graves's Letters to Sir H. ClititoH, dated 18 and 21 Augiiji, 1781. "IN anfwer to your propofition, I can only alTure you by letter, what I had the ho- nour to declare in perfon, that I am ready to concur with your Excellency in any enter- prize where you found a probability of fuc- cefs; and that I would rilk the fquadron whenever you thought it advifeable to rilk the army. " The Robufte is fo leaky, I am forced to fend her to the yard for reparation; and I fufped: that her guns and heavy furniture muft be t. ken out to enable the (hipwrights to APPENDIX. 65 to examine as much of her bottom as poflible. Whilft that is doing, the Prudent will change one of her malts, if not two. By this ftate you will fee our naval capacity. 21 Auguft, 1 78 1. How foon the Robufte will be ready is yet impoflible to form a judgement upon, as we cannot yet learn the extent of her de- feats. The Prudent will, I am confident, be ready in much lefs time; and fo will all the other fliips, I have not a doubt. "Your Excellency may reft afliired that timely notice fliall be given, and as early as pollible to determine upon the day the fqu '- dron will be fit to a6l; for I would not v ifli that a fingle day fliould be loft." NUMBER VIII. Extract from Lord CormvaUis s Letter to Sir H. Clinton. York Toicny Virginia^ 20 Oc- tober, 1 78 1. " I HAVE the mortification to inform your Excellency, that I have been forced to I give : ' ill ( I 66 A P 1* K N D I X. give up the ports of York and (Jloucefter, and to riirrendei- the troops under my com- mand, hy capitulation, on the 19th inrtant, as prifoners of war to the comhined forces of America and France. "I never iaw this poft in a Hivourahle hght. But, when I found I was to be at- tacked in it, in fo unprepared a ftate, by fo powerful an army and artillery, nothing but the hopes of relief would have induced me to attempt its defence. For I would either have endeavoured to efcape to New York, by rapid marches from the Gloucefter fide, im- mediately on the arrival of General Wailiing- ton's troops at Williamlburg ; or I would, notwithftanding the difparity of numbers, have attacked them in the open field, where it might have been just pofiible that Fortune would have favoured the gallantry of the hand- ful of troops under my command. But, being ailured by your Excellency's letters that every poflible means would be tried, by the navy and \ I -r, li- lt, ;es 5le it- fo )Ut to ler by ni- ild, ers, ere une nd- ing 'ery avy and \ APPENDIX. 67 and army, to relieve us, I could not think myfelf at liberty to venture on either of thole defperate attempts. Therefore, after remain- ing two days in a ftrong pofition, in front of this place, in hopes of being attacked, upon obferving that the enemy were taking meafures which could not fail of turning my left flank in a fliort time; and receiving, the fecond evening, your letter of the 24th Sep- tember, informing me that the relief would lail about the 5th of Odober, I withdrew within the works on the night of the 29th of September, hoping, by the labour and firm- nefs of the troops, to protrad: the defence un- til you could arrive. Every thing was to be expeded from the firmnefs of the troops. But every difadvantage attended their labour; as the works were to be continued under the enemy's fire; and our ftock of intrenching- tools, which did not much exceed four hun- dred when we began to work in the latter end of Auguft, was now much diminillied. "A i • 68 APPENDIX. "A fuccefsful defence, however, in our fituation, was perhaps impoffible; for the place could only be reckoned an intrenched camp, fubjea in moft places to enfilade; and the ground in general fo difadvantageous, that nothing but the neceffity of fortifying it as a port to protect the navy could have in- duced any perfon to ereft works upon it." Copy of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornivallis, dated 30 November, 1781. [This letter was not produced in the House of Lords.] " My Lord, "AFTER the converfation I had with your LordHiip before I fent your letter to be publiOied, in which we feemed fo perfeftly to agree, I muft beg your Lorddiip's pardon for again troubling you on the fubjed. But, being informed, perhaps officioufiy, that fome people here fuppofe there are paflages in that letter APPENDIX. 69 letter which convey an idea that you had been compelled by my orders to take the port of York, (though it was not your own preference;) that you had reprefented the defedts of the ground; and were detained there contrary to your own judgement; — and likewife that I had promifed the exertions of the navy before my letter of the 24th of September: I am perfuaded your Lordfhip will readily excufe my requefting a more formal avowal of your fentiments, left I fliould have then miftaken them. Becaufe, if that (hould unfortunately be the case, I may perhaps be under the neceffity of taking meafures to obviate your letter being viewed in the fame light in England. " I have the honour, &c. "H. CLINTON." 70 A P V E N D I X. NUMBER IX. Copy of Earl ConncaUis s Letter to Sir Henry Clinton, dated Neiv York, ^^ December, 1781. [This letter was read in the House of Lords.] "SIR, "YESTERDAY afternoon I was ho- noured with your Excellency's letter of the 30th of November. " I do not recoUeft that any converlation palled between us the other day, before the publication of my letter, relative to my rea- fons for taking polfeffion of the ports of York and Gloucefter. But, in my anfwers to your difpatches, dated the 8th and nth of July, diredting me fo pofitively to polTefs a harbour in the Chelapeak for line of battle (hips, your Excellency will fee, that, after finding that works on Point Comfort could not protett a naval APPENDIX. 71 naval force in Hampton Road, I thought that I a.d\cd in i\r\t\ obedience to your orders by taking poUellion of thole ports. I thought it unneceiHiry to enter into a minute detail of the difadvantages of the ground, either on my firft examination of it in the month of June, or on my return to it in Auguft; becaufe, on the firft occafion, as I have already had the honour of explaining to your Excellency, I did not, after feeing it, entertain for a moment an idea of occupying it, not thinking myfelf at liberty, by the inftrudions under which I then aded, to detain the greater part of the force in Virginia for the purpofe of fecuring a harbour for fliips of the line ; and, on my re- turn to it in Auguft, I thought it then became my duty to make the beft of it I could, having no other harbour to propofe in its place. "In regard to the promife of the exertions of the navy previous to your letter of the 24th of September, I can only repeat what I had the 72 APPENDIX. the honour of laying to your Excellency in the converfation to which you allude; that, without any particular engagement for the navy before that date, all your letters held out uniformly hopes of relief; and that I had no reafon, from any of them, to fuppofe that you had loft fight of the pofiibility of effeding it. And that, under thofe hopes, after serious re- flection, I did not think that it would have been justifiable in me to abandon thofe ports, with our numerous fick, artillery, ftores, and fliipping; or to rifk an adHon, which, in all probability, would in its confequences have precipitated the lofs of them. "My letter from York, dated the 20th of Oftober, was written under great agitation of mind and in great hurry, being conftantly in- terrupted by numbers of people coming upon bufinefs or ceremony. But my intention in writing that letter was to explain the motives that influenced my own condudt, and to nar- rate A P P E N D I X. 7.1 rate the incidents that preceded the extremity that forced us to lurrender. " I have the honour, Sec. " CORNWALLIS. " NUMBER IX. Copy of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornivallis, dated New York, zd and 10/// December y 1781. [This letter was not read in the House of Lords.] " My Lord, " AS your Lordfliip is pleafed, in your letter of this day, to revert to the circumftance of your quitting Williamftiurg Neck and re- pairing the James River, fo contrary to the intentions I wiflied to exprefs in my letters of the I ith and 1 5th of June, and thofe referred to by them, and which I thought they would have clearly explained. Your Lordlhip will, I hope, forgive me, if I once more repeat that I K am mmmm 74 APPENDIX. ' i am of opinion, if thofe letters had been proper- ly underftood by your Lordlhip, you would at leaft have hefitated before you adopted that meafure. For I humbly prefume it will ap- pear, upon a re-perulal of them, that it was my delire to recommend to your Lordfliip the taking a healthy defenfive ftation, either at Williamflnirg or York; and, after keeping what troops you might want for the ample defence of fuch a poll, and defultory move- ments by water, to fend me fuch a proportion of the corps (mentioned in a lilf) as you could fpare, taking them in the fucceffion they are there placed. Your Lordlliip, on the con- trary, underrtood thefe as conveying a politive order to fend me three thoufand men, (by which you lay your force would have been reduced to about two thoufand four hundred rank and file tit for duty; — having, it is prelluned, above 1500 lick;) and was pleafed to tell me, in your answer, that you could not, confident with my plans, make fafe defenlive polls A i* P K N D I X. 75 d It )- IS le It 'g )n Id re 1-- ve tn id is ^d >t, ve (Is ports at York and Gloucefter, (both of which would be neceira'-y for the protedlion of fliip- ping;) and that you fliould immediately re- pais James River, and take meafures for com- plying with my requifition. " I own, my Lord, that my opinion of the obvious meaning of the letters referred to, continues ftill the fame ; and I am exceedingly iorry to find, by the letter you have now honoured me with, that it differs fo widely from your Lordfliip's. It is plain, however, we cannot both be in the right. "My letter of the 1 1 th of July diredts your Lorddiip to fortify Old Point Comfort, in the mouth of James River, with the inten- tion of fecuring Hampton Road, which the Admiral recommended as the beil naval fta- tion, and requeued I would occupy. But your Lorddiip's letter of the 27th of July informs me, you had examined Old Point Comfort, with the officers of the navy, and the engi- neers, and that you were all of opinion, a poll there mmmm ;:t 76 A P l» K N 1) 1 X. there would not anlwer the purpofe; and that you fliould, therefore, in compHance with the fpirit of my orders, feize York and Gloucefter, heing the only harhour in which you could hope to be able to give cjfeHual proteBion to line of battle fliips. Suppofing, therefore, of courfe, that your Lordfliip ap- proved, in every refpedt, of York and Glou- cefter, from the preference you had thus given them to the port I had recommended, I did not oppofe the choice you had made; having never received the leaft hint from your Lordlhip that the ground of York was unfiivourahle, or liable to be enfiladed till after you had capitulated. "With refpedl to your Lordihip's having been influenced in your conduct, by the hopes of relief, (which you fay was uniformly held out to you in all my letters) you*- Lordlhip cannot be infenfible, that the poflibility of efteding it muft have entirely depended upon the exertions of the navy; which, as I was not 1 A P l> K N 1) I X. 77 not authoriled to promile before the 24th of September, I am perfuaded your Lordrtiip will readily acknowledge, that if your letter of the 20th Ocftober implies I had done fo before that period, the implication cannot be fupported by any thing I wrote previous to my letter of that date, which you received on the 29th. "As, therefore, my letters of the 2d and 6th of September, which promife only my own exertions, did not reach your Lordrtiip before the 13th and 14th of that month, and you did not before then know of Sir Samuel Hood's ai rival, or of Mr. Graves's having more than feven lail of the line to combat Monfieur De Gralfe's force, which on the 29th of Auguft you had heard confided of at leaft twenty-five fail of the line ; your Lord- fhip confequently could have no hopes of re- lief before that time. And with refpedt to your efcapc to New- York, immediately on the arrival of General Walliington's troops at Williamlburg, 7« A P V K N D 1 X. Williamlburg, which your letter of the 20th of October implies you were prevented from undertaking, by the receipt of mine of the 24th of September; I muft beg leave to ob- ferve, that if it had been ever pradicable after the time your Lordfliip mentions (which I am free to own I do not think it was) it muft have been between that period and the time of the enemy's force appearing before your lines. It may, therefore, be prefumed, you could not have been prevented by any thing I fiiid in that letter, as you did not re- ceive it until after the latter event took place. But I readily admit, my Lord, that none of my letters could give you the leaft reafon to fuppofe that an attempt would not be made to fuccour you. "Your Lordfhip will, I am perfuaded, alfo forgive me, if I again take notice of the too pofitive manner in which you are pleafed to fpeak t)f the opinion I gave you about the failing of the fleet ; as my words were, " there IS APPENDIX. 79 20th from ' the > ob- ;able hich as) it Ithe efore med, ' any )t re- )lace. ne of on to made I, alfo e too ed to t the there is *' is every reafon to hope we fliall ftart from "hence about the 5th of Odober." And in my letter of the next day, for fear that fliould appear too pofitive, I fay, "It is fuppofed "the neceffary repairs of the fleet will detain "us here to the 5th of next month; and your "Lordlhip muft be fenfible that unforefeen "accidents may lengthen it out a day or two "longer." With regard to entrenching tools, the want of which your Lordfhip fo much complains of, I can only fay, that by the returns made to me by the Adjutant-general, it appears that two thouland five hundred had been fent to the Chefapeak by the Engineer, fince General Arnold's expedition, inclufive; and that the Hrft moment a requifition was made for more, (which was not before the 23d of Augullj I ordered an additional fupply to be fent, which were prevented from going, by the arrival of the French Heet. I own, however, that I was not at that time very uneafy on this fcore, as I fup- i.l 80 APPENDIX. I fuppofed it poflible for your Lordfliip to have colledted a fufficiency from the neigh- bouring plantations any time before the in- veftiture was begun, "December 10. 1 had wrote thus far, my Lord, immediately after the receipt of your Lordfliip's letter of the 2d inftant. But con- fidering that it was poffible you might not have adverted to the implications, which your letter of the 20th of Od:ober may be thought to bear, from the great agitation of mind and hurry in which you tell me it was written, I was unwilling to give you at that time more trouble on the fubjed:; — in the honeft hope that your Lordfliip's candour will induce you mofl formally to difavow your having any fuch intentions by writing that letter, in cafe you tinil, on your arrival in England, that the palfagesof it (which I have taken notice of) are underftood as I fufpedt they may be. And I therefore intended to have fent this letter to a friend to be delivered to you in London, APPENDIX. 8i London ; but upon confidering your letter of the 2d inftant, (which I have had more leifure to do fince my public difpatches were clofed) I am of opinion, that it is properer your Lord- fliip fliould receive my anfwer to it here. " I have the honour, &c. (%"ed) «H. CLINTON." " P. S. Having forgot to fpeak to the part of your Lordfliip's letter of the 2d inftant, where you fay, 'I do not recoiled that any 'converfation palfed between us the other 'day, before the publication of my letter, 'relative to my reafons for taking poifeffion 'of the the ports of York and Gloucefter,' I beg leave to do it here. "It is true, my Lord, no converfation parted from your Lordfliip on that fubjedt. But when, in the converfation alluded to, I mentioned that I had dirededyou to examine Old Point Comfort, and fortify it, but that, difapproving of that pofl, you had feized ^ York, 82 APPENDIX. York, and that therefore York was your Lord- (hip's preference ; as you were pleafed not to make me any anfwer, I took it for granted you agreed with me. "H. CLINTON. " Lieutenant-general "Earl Cornwallis." NUMBER IX. Extraa of a Letter from Sir Henry C/ifiton, to Lord George Germahie, dated December "YOUR Lordfliip will have received in my Difpatch, No. 146, the copies of Lord Cornwallis's letter to me of the 20th of Oc- tober, his capitulation for the ports of York and Gloucefter, and the other papers which accompanied it. But your Lordlhip will per- ceive, that I declined making any remarks 'Don his letter until I law his Lordfliip; knowing that my whole correfpondence with him being in your Lordfliip's poiTeflion, every thing A V P K N I) 1 X, 83 thing which wanted explanation could readily be cleared up. His Lorddiip having arrived here on the 1 9th ultimo, I have had feveral converfations with him ; and I have now the honour to indole, for your Lordfliip's infor- mation, the copy of a letter I wrote him on the fubjedl, with his Lordfhip's anfwer. "I perceive b\ Lord Cornwallis's letter of the 20th of 0(it()ber, that his opinion of the poll: of York is very unfivourable; and he lince tells me, that he does not think the enemy will be able to make a llrong one of it. Had his Lordfliip, however, not been io very decided in his fentiments of the poll, all the accounts I had ever before received of the lituation and defenlibility of the ground would, I confefs, have inclined me to have thought well of it," N U M- «4 A I' P K N D I X. NUMBER IX. Copy of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton, to Lord George Germain, dated December 6, 1781. / "My Lord, " I have lb often had the honour of deHver- ing the fame fentiments to your Lordfliip, that I muft beg your pardon for again troubHng you with the repetition, that I have ever been of opinion that operation fliould not be under- taken in the Chefapeak, without having a naval fuperiority in thefe feas; and to the want of it, and perhaps to that alone, are we to impute our late misfortune in that quarter. Therefore, when I did myfelf the honour of fending you a copy of Lord Cornwallis's letter to me of the 20th of October, I did not think it neceflary to trouble your Lordlhip with any remarks upon fome palfages of it, which might feem to imply, that his Lordfliip had been to 6, "g en ;r- a :he we ;er. of ter ink my ich lad een i I A I' P E N 1) I X. 85 been forced into a bad port by my orders, notwithftanding he had reprefented its de- fedts, and had been induced to remain there contrary to his judgment by the pofitive alfu- rances I had given him of reUef; efpecially as your Lordfliip was poirelfed of our cor- refpondence, which could in the fulleft man- ner invalidate every implication of that fort, and I wiflied to have an opportunity of fpeaking to Lord Cornwallis before I faid any thing on fo delicate a fubjedt. "Since Lord Cornwallis's arrival here, I have had a good deal of converfation with his Lordfliip upon this bufinefs; by which, and by the anfwer he has fent me to a letter I wrote him thereon, (copies of which are in- clofed) it appears, that his Lordfliip admits this was not the cafe. But as Lord Cornwal- lis's difavowal is not fo explicit and dired: in his letter, as I could wifli, and I think juftice to my charad:er requires, I beg your Lord- fhip's attention to the following obfervations; which IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 125 Iiil2.8 ^ l&i 122 IS 1^ 12.0 u ^ ^^. ^ n^^ ■* > v ^^ "^ y FholDgraiM: Sdmoes CarporatiQn 4^ ¥^ ^ ^. ^. as WIST MAIN STRUT WIMTn,N.Y. USiO (71*)t73-4S01 ^ IMir ■ I 86 A P P K N D I X. r^ which I hope the anxiety I muft naturally feel on this occafion, will plead my excufe for troubling you with ; though they may not be necelfary to vindicate me with your Lord- ihip, who is already fo competent to judge. "I am perfuaded that it will appear by my letters to Lord Cornwallis of the 1 1 th and 1 5th of June, and thofe referred to by them, that I recommended his taking a healthy, defenfive ftation, either at Williamf- burg, or York ; and defired that, after keep- ing what troops he might want for its mofl ample defence and defultory movements by water, his Lordfliip would fend me fuch a proportion of the corps (mentioned in a lilt) as he could fpare, taking them in the fuc- ceflion they are there placed. But his Lord- fliip, on the contrary, underftanding that thefe letters conveyed a pofitive order to fend me three thoufand men, (by which he fays his force would have been reduced to about two \ APPENDIX. 87 two thoufand four hundred rank and file fit for duty, having probably at that time a numerous fick) told me in his anfwer, that he could not, confiftent with my plans, make fafe defenfive pofts at York and Gloucefter, (both which would be neceflary for the protection of iliipping) and that he fliould immediately repafs James River, and take meafures for complying with my requifition. Finding, therefore, that his Lordfliip had fo entirely mifconceived my intentions, I immediately confulted with Rear Admiral Graves upon the fubjed: of his letter; and the Admiral being of opinion that a naval ftation in Chefapeak for large fliips was abfolutely re- quifite, and that Hampton Road appeared to be the fitteft: for the purpofe, I defired his Lordlhip, at the Admiral's requell, to exa- mine Old Point Comfort in the mouth of James River, and fortify it, upon the fup- pofition that a work there would fecure that harbour ; w: 88 APPENDIX, harbour; and if his Lorddiip thought a poft at York necelTary to cover Old Point Com- fort, he was at liberty to take that alfo. This order was fent to Lord Cornwallis in my letter of the nth of July, and his Lordfliip's anfwer to it is dated the 27th; wherein he informs me, that having exa- mined Old Point Comfort with the Cap- tains of the King's lliips and the engineers, and being all of opinion a poft there would not anfwer the purpofe, he fliould, in com- pliance with the fpirit of my orders, feize York and Gloucefter, being the only harbour in which he could hope to be able to give effeftual protection to line of battle fliips. Copies of thefe letters are inclofed for your LordHiip to refer to ; and I truft it will ap- pear from them, that the poft at York was in this inftance entirely his Lorddiip's choice. But never having received any reprefentation from his Lordftiip, by which I could have the APPENDIX. 8y the lead conception he thought the ground difadvantageous and Hable to enfilade, (as ftated in his letter of the 20th of Odlober) and, fuppofing from the preference his Lord- fliip had thus given it to the one I had re- commended, that he fully approved of York and Gloucefter, I own I did not oppofe his laying hold of them, as I could not enter- tain the fmalleft doubt of their being defen- fible, and fuch a port as I had told his Lord- fliip I wanted. And, indeed, if his Lord- fliip had not now informed me that it was a bad one, the eagernefs with which I under- ftand the French have fince feized and are fortifying it, would incline me ftill to think well of it. "With refpedt to his Lordlhip having been influenced in his condudt by the hopes of relief, (which he is pleafed to Hiy I uni- formly held out to him in all my letters) his Lordfliip could not be infenfible that the pof- M fibility l!R 1 I * n 90 APPENDIX, fibility of effeaing it muft have entirely de- pended upon the exertions of the fleet, which, as I was not authorized to promife him be- fore the council of war held on the 24th of September, I am perfuaded that the implica- tion in his Lordfliip's letter that I had done fo before that period, cannot be fupported (as indeed his Lordfliip now feems to acknow- ledge) by any thing I wrote ;o him, previous to my letter of that date, which he received on the 29th. As, therefore, my letters of the 2d and 6th of September, which promife only my own exertions, did not reach his Lordfliip before the 13th and 14th of that month, and he did not before then know of Sir S. Hood's arrival, or that Admiral Graves had more than feven tail of the line to com- bat Monfieur de Grafl'e's force, whofe arrival, it appears from his Lordfliip's letters, he knew of on the 29th of Auguft, and fuppofed it to be twenty-iive fail of the line, his Lord- fliip APPENDIX. 9' fliip confequently did not receive from me any hopes of relief before that time. "With regard to his Lordfliip's efcape to New York, immediately on the arrival of General Wafliington's troops at Williamf- burg, which his letter of the 20th of 0<5tober implies he was prevented from undertaking by the receipt of mine of the 24th of Sept. I cannot help being of opinion, that a re- treat, after Mr. Wafliington joined, was im- practicable, and that it was at no time to be effedted to the northward, for reafons which I gave his Lordfhip. But had it been ever poffible, after the time his Lordfliip men- tions, it muft, I think, have been between that period and the time of the enemy's force prefenting itfelf before the lines of York; and it is confequently prefumable, his Lord- fhip was not prevented by any thing I faid in that letter, as he acknowledges he did not receive it until after the latter event took place. But I readily admit, my Lord, that none 92 APPENDIX. none of my letters could give his Lordfliip the leaft realbn to fuppofe that an attempt would not be made to fuccour him, though, I muft confefs, I think his Lordfliip fpeaks in his letter rather too pofitively of the opi- nion I gave in mine, as to the time of the fleet's failing. My words being, 'There is 'every reafon to hope we fliall ftart from 'hence about the 5th of Odober.' And lefl: even that fliould be thought pofitive, I the next day told him, 'that unforefeen ' accidents may lengthen it out a day or two 'longer.' "The complaint his Lordfliip makes of the want of intrenching tools, I can only anfwer, by faying, that it appears from the Adjutant-general's returns to me, that two thoufand live hundred had been fent by the engineer to the Chefapeak with the difl^erent expeditions, fince the one commanded by General Arnold inclulive; and the firfl: mo- ment a reauifition was made for more (which requi was A P P E N D I X. 93 t .s e is n d e, ;n ro of ly rie ^^o he nt by o- ch was not before his Lordfliip's letter of the 2 2d of Auguft) I ordered an additional fup- ply to be fent, which were prevented from going by the arrival of the French fleet. But I muft own, my Lord, that I was not then very uneafy on this fcore, as I flattered myfelf it was poflible for his Lordfliip to have collected what he wanted from the neighbouring plantations any time before the inveftiture was begun. " No man, my Lord, can feel more fenfibly than I did for the unhappy fituation of Lord Cornwallis and his gallant army, whofe me- ritorious condudt, fpirit, and zeal, on all oc- calions, muft heighten our anxiety and con- cern for their prefent fate; and therefore as his Lordfliip is pleafed to tell me that his letter of the 20th of Odtober was written under great agitation of mind and in great hurry, which might poflibly have prevented his adverting to the implications which it may be thought to bear, I cannot, at prefent, wifli i'S 94 A P P K N D I X. wifli to give his Lordfliip more trouble on the fubjea:, although his anfwer of the 2d inftant is not fo explicitly fatisfaftory as I expeded it would have been; for, if the paflages in that letter, which I have taken notice of, fliould be underftood in Europe in any refpeft to my prejudice, I cannot doubt his Lordfliip will have candour enough moft formally to difavow his having any fuch in- tentions. But if his Lordfliip, contrary to my expedation, fliall not be inclined to do fo, I mufl be obliged, though reludantly, moft earneftly to requeft your Lordfliip to render me that juftice, (which I am perfuaded you think I deferve) by publifliing this letter. " I have the honour, &c. "H. CLINTON." NUM- \ i 1 d I e n n )t ft i- :o lo to :d :r. APPENDIX. NUMBER X. 95 Extra6i from Sir H. Clinton's Injirtiiiions to Major-General Philips ^ dated March lo, 1781. "IF the Admiral difapproving of Portf- mouth, and requiring a fortified ftation for large ihips in the Chefapeak, fliould propofe York Town, or Old Point Comfort, if pof- feffion of either can be acquired and main- tained without great rifk or lofs, you are at liberty to take polTeffion thereof. But if the objed:ions are fuch as you think forcible, you muft, after ftating thofe objedtions, decline it till folid operations take place in the Chefa- peak." Extract 96 APPENDIX. ExtraB from the Suhjhince of Converfations held ivith General Philips, fent to that General Officer for his Guidance. " BUT if the heights of York, and thofe on the Gloucefter fide, cannot be fo well and fo foon fortified as to render that port hors d'infiilt before the enemy can move a force, &c. againft it, it may not be advifeable to attempt it. In that cafe fomething may pof- fibly be done at Old Point Comfort to cover large fliips lying in Hampton road, which is reckoned a good one. If neither can be fe- cured, we muft content ourfelves with keep- ing the Chefapeak, with frigates and other armed vefl'els, which will always find fecurity againft a fuperior naval force in Elizabeth River." N U M- APPENDIX. 97 NUMBER XI. Vide p. 7. 1. 15. Extras from Sir Henry Clintotis Letters to Lord George Germain. OCTOBER 30, 1780. "I fliall in a few days fend to Charles-town, all the recruits belonging to the fouthern army, which will be about eight hundred. And then, includ- ing the corps under General Leflie, Lord Cornwallis will have full 11 306 effedtive rank and file under his orders. April 5th, 1 78 1. "After the redudion of Charles-town, Lord Cornwallis informed me, that he thought the force I left with him fully competent to the defence of South, and moft probably the redu(ftion of North Caro- lina. I had, therefore, at that time no other intention (threatened as we were, by the ex- pected arrival of a French fleet and army in Rhode-Ifland) than to fend an expedition into Chefapeak, merely by way of making a N diverfion l§r i'i 98 APPENDIX, diverfion in his Lorddiip's favour, until more folid operation might take place. Which I was in hopes that adequate reinforcements from Europe, would have enabled me to un- dertake early in the prefent year. Events, however, notwithftanding the very glorious exertions which were made at Camden, al- tered Lord Cornwallis's fituation fo much as to make it necellary for him to call the corps I had fent to Chefapeak with General Leilie, (and which I had put under his Lorddiip's orders) to a nearer co-operation. Being, therefore, ftill defirous to fecure a port in that bay to cover the King's frigates which might be ading there; and at the fame time wifliing to give Lord Cornwallis every afllft- ance in my power; I fent thither another detachment, under the orders of Brigadier- general Arnold ; which, though not fo con- fiderable as the former met with the fulleft fuccefs, and will, I doubt not, have greatly aided the movements of the army in Caro- lina. 1 1 A P P K N 1) 1 X. 99 Hna. General Wafliington having detached a hody of troops to the fouthward, and the French having embarked in their Heet, ano- ther from their army at Rhode-illand, with an apparent intention of interrupting our operations in Virginia, and the Carolinas; I was induced to fend to the Chefapeak ano- ther expedition (drawn principally from the elite of my army) under Major-general Phil- lips. All thefe feveral detachments, your Lordfliip will perceive are adling, either with or in favour of Lord Cornwallis. But, as General Wafliington's letter to Mr. Harrison (a copy of which your Lordlhip will fee amongft the intercepted letters inclofed) inti- mates, that there will not be oppofed to his Lordfliip, above two thoulimd continentals more than General Green had with him be- fore; I am led to hope that, when his Lordfliip has eftablished himfelf in North- Carolina, a very confiderable portion of his army may be fpared to affift in carrying into execution loo A P P K N D 1 X. execution fuch further operations, as Lord Cornwallis may have to propofe; or the whole or fuch part as (hall be found pradi- cable of thofe I had defigned, and accordingly explained to Major-general Phillips, in fome converfations I had with him before his de- parture. « If an attempt upon the forts in the high lands fhall not, on mature deliberation, be thought advifeable,and nothing elfe offers in this quarter; I fhall probably reinforce Ma- jor-general Phillips, and dire