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[p55] CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
AND
Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.

PART II.
RELATIVE TO EARL CORNWALLIS'S MARCH INTO VIRGINIA.

N U M B E R   I.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781.

[Pgs. 55-56. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 5, Note I, p327.]

[p56] (Inclosed in Number I.)

Copy of Earl Cornwallis's Letter to Major-general Phillips, dated Wilmington, April 24, 1781.

[Pgs. 56-58. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 5, Note L, p328.]

[p58] N U M B E R   II.

Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated New York, March 2d, 1781.

Received by Earl Cornwallis in Virginia.

My Lord,
Your Lordship may probably hear that the army and navy in Chesapeak are blocked up by a superior French naval force to that under Captain Symonds. The first account I had of it was from General Arnold, dated the 14th February; and I sent it immediately to the Admiral at Gardiner's Bay. -- A day or two afterwards I had it confirmed that they were part of the fleet from Rhode Island; which I have heard since sailed from thence on the 9th ultimo. Notwithstanding which, I greatly fear he has not sent a naval force to relieve them. Washington has detached some New-England troops under La Fayette and Howe, that way. If so much time is given, I cannot answer for consequences. Portsmouth [p59] is safe, at this season, against any attack from the Suffolk side, but not so from a landing in any of the bays to the eastward of Elizabeth River. -- I have much to lament that the Admiral did not think it adviseable to send there at first, as Brigadier-general Arnold's projected move in favour of your Lordship's operations, will have been stopt: and if the Admiral delays it too long, I shall dread still more fatal consequences. I have troops already embarked in a great proportion to that of the enemy; but to send them under two frigates only before the Chesapeak is our own, is to sacrifice the troops and their convoy.

I enclose to your Lordship all the news I have been able to collect. Ethan Allen has, I think, quitted Congress, and put them at defiance. Your Lordship will see his plan by the News-paper of the 28th February, said to be genuine. Discontents run high in Connecticut. In short, my Lord, there seems little wanting to give a mortal stab to rebellion but a proper reinforcement, and a permanent superiority at sea, for the next campaign; without which, any enterprize depending on water movements must certainly run great risk. -- Should the troops already embarked for Chesapeak proceed; and, when there, be able to undertake any operation in addition to what Brigadier-general Arnold proposes, I am confident it will be done. Major-general Phillips will command this expedition.

[p60] Till Colonel Bruce arrives I am uncertain what reinforcements are intended for this army. The Minister has, however, assured me, that every possible exertion will be made.

I shall tremble for our post at Portsmouth, should the enemy's reinforcements arrive in that neighbourhood before the force, which I now flatter myself the Admiral will order a sufficient convoy for, arrives.

March 8th. I have received a letter from General Arnold, dated the 25th ultimo, wherein he tells me, that the French left him on the 19th. And in another letter of the 27th, he says, he has not the least doubt of defending his post against the force of the country and two thousand French troops until a reinforcement can arrive from New York: and that he proposed to send five hundred men under Colonel Dundas up James River to make a diversion in favour of your Lordship.

The Admiral informs me of the return of the French ships to Rhode-Island, and of their having taken the Romulus, and carried her into that place. But as the Admiral, in his letter of the 2d instant, seems to think that the whole, or at least a great part, of the French fleet sailed for Chesapeak on the 27th, and that he was at that time ready to sail; I flatter myself he is either gone there, or has sent a sufficient force to clear the Chesapeak.

[p61] The troops under General Phillips have been embarked some time, and are now at the Hook waiting for the Admiral, or a message from him: General Phillips commands; and I am sure you know his inclinations are to co-operate with your Lordship; and you will be pleased to take him under your orders, until your Lordship hears further from me.

I have the honour to be, &c.
H. CLINTON.

N U M B E R   III.

Copy of Sir Henry Clinton's Instructions to Major general Phillips, dated Head Quarters, New York, March 10th, 1781.

Received by Earl Cornwallis in Virginia.

Sir,
You will be pleased to proceed with the troops embarked under your command to Chesapeak Bay, and there form a junction as soon as possible with Brigadier-general Arnold, whom, and the corps with him, you will take under your orders.

Should any unforeseen accident prevent your forming an immediate junction with Brigadier-general Arnold, you will, however, exert every endeavour to communicate with him. And as the principal object of your expedition is the security of him, the [p62] troops at present under his orders, and the posts he occupies on Elizabeth River, near the mouth of James River in Virginia, you will, of course, use every means to attain this very material purpose. -- the properest methods to be pursued on this occasion cannot be exactly pointed out to you, but must be left to your discretion.

When you shall have formed your junction with Brigadier-general Arnold, if you find that General acting under the orders of Earl Cornwallis, you will, of course, endeavour to fulfil those orders. -- If this should not be the case; after receiving every information respecting his probable situation, you will make such movements with the corps then under your orders as can be made consistent with the security of the post on Elizabeth River, or you shall think will most effectually assist his Lordships operations, by destroying or taking any magazines the enemy may have on James River, or at Petersburg, on the Appamatox. After which, if it should be thought necessary, you will establish a post, or posts, at such stations on James River, as shall appear best calculated to open the way for, and secure the safety, as far as possible, of a rapid movement of troops to give jealousy for Upper James River, and to interrupt the course of supplies to the Carolinas.

The object of co-operation with Lord Cornwallis being fulfilled, you are at liberty to carry on such desultory expeditions for the purpose of destroying [p63] the enemy's public stores and magazines in any part of the Chesapeak, as you shall judge proper.

If the Admiral, disapproving of Portsmouth, and requiring a fortified station for large ships in the Chesapeak, should propose York Town or Old Point Comfort, if possession of either can be acquired and maintained without great risk or loss, you are at liberty to take possession thereof: but if the objections are such as you shall think forcible, you must, after stating those objections, decline it, till solid operations take place in the Chesapeak.

As to whatever relates to the people of the country, their being received and armed, or being more for the King's service that they should remain quietly at their houses, or respecting the oaths that should be offered to them, or for your general conduct in matters of this kind, I refer you to my Instructions to Major-general Leslie, and Brigadier-general Arnold, copies of which will be given to you.

And concerning your return to this place, you will receive either my orders or Lord Cornwallis's, as circumstances may make necessary.

'Tis presumed your Lordship will be able to spare troops to station at Portsmouth, &c. but should that not be the case, you are at liberty to leave either the regiment of Prince Hereditaire or the seventy-sixth, or both, for that purpose, under any officer, being a general officer, Lord Cornwallis may choose to appoint; but if it should be an officer of your own [p64] appointing, with the rank of Lieutenant-colonel; I think Lieutenant-colonel Dundas, as being acquainted with the spot, should remain.

It is probable, whenever the objects of this expedition are fulfilled, and that you have strengthened the present works, and added such others as you shall think necessary, that you may return to this place. -- In which case, you must bring with you Brigadier-general Arnold, the Light Infantry, Colonel Robinson's corps, or the seventy-sixth, and, if it should be possible, the Queen's Rangers.

The moment you have communicated with Lord Cornwallis, and heard from his Lordship, you are to consider yourself as under his Lordship's orders, until he, or you shall hear further from me.

Most heartily wishing you success,
I have the honour to be, &c.
H. CLINTON.

N U M B E R   IV.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Petersburgh, in Virginia, 20th May, 1781.

[Pgs. 64-66. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 5, Note Q, p340.]

[p67] N U M B E R   V.

Sir Henry Clinton to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-York, May 29th, 1781.

[Received July 12, 1781, from Lieut. Col. Macpherson.]

My Lord,
I had the honour of writing to your Lordship by Lord Chewton, who sailed from hence in the Richmond the 4th instant, to join you at Wilmington; but your Lordship's departure from thence will have prevented his meeting you there, and I hope he has since then joined you in the Chesapeak.

When I first heard of your Lordship's retreat from Cross Creek to Wilmington, I confess that I was in hopes you had reason to consider Greene so totally hors de combat as to be perfectly at ease for Lord Rawdon's safety. And after your arrival at Wilmington I flattered myself that, if any change of circumstances should make it necessary, you could always have been able to march to the Walkamaw, where I imagined vessels might have passed you over to George-town. I cannot therefore conceal from your Lordship the apprehensions I felt on reading your letter to me of the 24th ult. wherein you inform me of the critical situation which you supposed the Carolinas to be in, and that you should [p68] probably attempt to effect a junction with Major-general Phillips.

Lord Rawdon's officer-like and spirited exertions, in taking advantage of Greene's having detached from his army, have indeed eased me of my apprehensions for the present. But in the disordered state of Carolina and Georgia, as represented to me by Lieutenant-colonel Balfour, I shall dread what may be the consequence of your Lordship's move, unless a reinforcement arrives very soon in South Carolina, and such instructions are sent to the officer commanding there, as may induce him to exert himself in restoring tranquillity in that province at least. These I make no doubt your Lordship has already sent to Lord Rawdon, and that every necessary measure for this purpose will be taken by your Lordship in consequence of them, should he remain in the command. But as there are many officers in the regiments coming out who are older than Lord Rawdon, I have to lament the probability of his being superseded in it, as I can scarce flatter myself that any of them will be possessed of the knowledge requisite for conducting operations in Carolina without having ever served in that country, or be so competent to the command there as officers of more local experience. I therefore beg leave to submit to your Lordship the propriety of sending either Major-general Leslie or Brigadier-general O'Hara to Charles-town, to take the command of the troops in that [p69] district; which in the present critical situation of affairs in the Southern Colonies, will certainly require an officer of experience, and a perfect knowledge of the country. Had it been possible for your Lordship in your letter to me of the 10th ult. to have intimated the probability of your intention to form a junction with General Phillips, I should certainly have endeavoured to have stopped you, as I did then, as well as now, consider such a move as likely to be dangerous to our interests in the Southern Colonies. And this, my Lord, was not my only fear; for I will be free to own, that I was apprehensive for the corps under your Lordships immediate orders, as well as for that under Lord Rawdon: and I should not have thought even the one under Major-general Phillips in safety at Petersburg, at least for so long a time, had I not fortunately on hearing of your being at Wilmington sent another detachment from this army to reinforce him.

I am persuaded your Lordship will have the goodness to excuse my saying thus much; but what is done, cannot now be altered: and as your Lordship has thought proper to make this decision, I shall most gladly avail myself of your very able assistance in carrying on such operations as you shall judge best in Virginia, until we are compelled, as I fear we must be, by the climate, to bring them more northward. Your Lordship will have been informed of my ideas respecting operations to the northward [p70] of the Carolinas, by my instructions to the different General officers detached to the Chesapeak; and the substance of some conversations with General Phillips on that subject, which I committed to writing and sent to him with my last dispatch, with directions to communicate it to your Lordship. By these your Lordship will observe that my first object has ever been a co-operation with your measures; but your Lordship's situation at different periods, made it necessary for me occasionally to vary my instructions to those General officers according to circumstances. They were originally directed to assist your Lordship's operations in securing South and recovering North Carolina; their attention was afterwards pointed to the saving South Carolina; and now your Lordship may possibly think it necessary to employ your force in recovering both or either of those provinces, by either a direct or indirect operation. With respect to the first, your Lordship must be the sole judge; with respect to the last, you have my opinions, which may however probably give way to yours, should they differ from them, as they will have the advantage of being formed on the spot, and upon circumstances, which at this distance I cannot of course judge of: I shall therefore leave them totally to your Lordship to decide upon, until you either hear from me or we meet.

I should be happy to be able to ascertain the time when our reinforcements may arrive; but as I have [p71] received no letters from the minister of a later date than the 7th of February, I am at a loss to guess how soon we may expect them. As I had judged the force I sent to the Chesapeak fully sufficient for all operations there, even though we should extend them to the Experiment (Mentioned in the conversations referred to) at the Western Head of Chesapeak about Baltimore, &c. and your Lordship will perceive that it was Generals Phillips and Arnold's opinion, they were sufficient for even that on the Eastern; (which however might certainly require a much greater force,) it is possible that the additional corps your Lordship has brought with you, may enable you to return something to me for this post: but I beg your Lordship will by no means consider this as a call; for I would rather content myself with ever so bare a defensive, until there was an appearance of serious operations against me, than cramp yours in the least. But (as I said in a former letter) I trust to your Lordship's disinterestedness, that you will not require from me more troops than are absolutely wanted; and that you will recollect a circumstance, which I am ever aware of in carrying on operations in the Chesapeak, which is, that they can be no longer secure than whilst we are superior at sea. That we shall remain so, I most sincerely hope; nor have I any reason to suspect we shall not: but at all events, I may at least expect timely information will be sent me of the contrary being likely to happen. [p72] In which case I hope your Lordship may be able to place your army in a secure situation during such temporary inconvenience; for should it become permanent I need not say what our prospects in this country are likely to be. The Admiral being now off the Hook, gives me an opportunity of communicating with him by letter; and I have in the [?most] pressing terms requested his attention to the Chesapeak, having repeatedly told him, that should the enemy possess it even for forty-eight hours your Lordship's operations there may be exposed to most imminent danger. General Robertson has also endeavoured to impress him with the same ideas; but until I have an answer in writing I cannot be sure that he will, as I do, consider the Chesapeak as the first object. For he at present seems rather inclined to lead his fleet to open the Port of Rhode-Island, and to cruise to the northward of Nantucket, for a fleet which he has heard is coming from Europe with a small reinforcement to the French armament, and which I am of opinion is bound to Rhode-Island. I have, however, taken every occasion to represent to him the necessity of hearty co-operation and communication; if they fail, I am determined it shall not be on my side.

The requisitions your Lordship has made in your letter to me of the 20th instant, for horse accoutrements, &c. shall be supplied to the utmost extent of our abilities; and the inclosed extracts of letters [p73] from Leitenant-colonel Innes to his deputy at Charles-town, &c. will explain to your Lordship why they are not more ample.

June 1st. I have this moment received the Admiral's answer to my letter; and I am to suppose from it that he will do every thing in his power to [?guard] the Chesapeak. The copy is inclosed for your Lordship's information. I heartily wish he may continue in this disposition; the necessity of which I shall not fail to urge by every opportunity he may give me of communicating with him.

As I shall frequently send one of my advice boats to your Lordship with any information which may deserve your attention, I hope to hear often from you by the same conveyance. Lord Chewton has a cypher, which was given him for that purpose; but should he not have joined you, we may make use of Colonel Dundas's until he does.

I shall spare your Lordship and myself the pain of saying much to you on the loss of our valuable friend; I feel it too sensibly for expression.

I have the honour to be, &c.
H. CLINTON.

[p74] N U M B E R   VI.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, Virginia, July 24, 1781.

Sir,
I find by your Excellency's letter of the [illegible] of May, delivered to me by Lieutenant-colonel M'Pherson to the 12th of this month, that neither my march from Cross Creek to Wilmington, or from thence to Petersburg, meets with your Approbation. The move from Cross Creek to Wilmington was absolutely necessary, such was the situation and distress of the troops; and so great were the sufferings of the sick and wounded, that I had no option left. I tried many methods of informing Lord Rawdon of it; they all failed. I had left such a force in South Carolina, that, if Lord Rawdon could have had timely notice of the probability of General Greene's moving towards that province, and could have called in Lieutenant colonel Watson, General Greene would not have ventured to have placed himself before Camden.

On the 22d of April I received a dispatch from Lieutenant-colonel Balfour, inclosing a letter from Lord Rawdon of the 13th, apprizing him of General Greene's approach, and saying that he could not hope to get Lieutenant-colonel Watson to him in time; [p75] and that he had then at least fifteen days provision. The fate of the garrison of Camden must have been decided before I could have hoped to have reached the Pedee or Waggamaw. I had then no certainty of being able to get vessels in time to assist in passing the latter. From Wilmington to the Waggamaw is a perfect desert; and indeed in all that [illegible] country [?it is] impossible to subsist in the summer, for want of water to turn the mills.

Had a misfortune happened to Lord Rawdon's corps, I knew that the whole country East of Santee and Pedee would be in arms against us. I therefore did not think that I could, with thirteen hundred infantry and two hundred cavalry, undertake such a march, and the passage of two such rivers as the Pedee and Santee, without exposing the corps under my command to the utmost hazard of disgrace and ruin. If, on the contrary, Lord Rawdon should have effected his retreat from Camden, and have assembled his whole force West of Santee, I was convinced that General Greene could do no effectual mischief but over-running the back country, which I should arrive too late to prevent, and which different corps of the rebels have constantly done ever since the first battle of Camden, exclusive only of the ground on which our forts were constructed. I should therefore have carried back my army to South Carolina, giving every advantage to General Greene's movement, in order to commence a defensive war on the frontiers [p76] of that province, which I have long since declared, both to yourself and to the minister, to be in my opinion impracticable, against the rebellious inhabitants supported by a continent army. In the measure which I pursued, I neither risked my own corps or Major-general Phillips's, being determined to return to Wilmington from Halifax, [?unless I heard] from that officer [illegible] could join [illegible]. [illegible] great quantity of provisions, which I was [?credibly] informed I should find at Halifax, would easily enable me to return. Major-general Phillips could be in no danger, as I had written expressly to him to take no measures in consequence of my letter that could expose his corps to hazard; and indeed I cannot help observing, that in this instance your Excellency seems to think the force of Virginia more formidable than you have done on some other occasions. With the warmest zeal for the service of my king and country, I am conscious that my judgement is liable to error. Perhaps, in the difficult situation I was in at Wilmington, the measure which I adopted was not the best; but I have at least the satisfaction to find, by the intercepted letters of the 14th of May, from General Greene to Baron Steuben, that it was not agreeable to his wishes that I came into Virginia.

I have the honour to be, &c.
CORNWALLIS.

[p77] N U M B E R   VII.

State of the TROOPS that marched with the Army under the Command of Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis.

[p78 is blank]

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