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[p161] CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN
Gen. Sir HENRY CLINTON, K.B.
COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
AND
Lieut. Gen. Earl CORNWALLIS.

PART IV.
RELATIVE TO OCCUPYING AN HARBOUR FOR LINE OF BATTLE SHIPS.

N U M B E R   I.

Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters, New-York, July 8th, 1781.

[Received July 21st, 1781, from Captain Stapleton.]

My Lord,
I am this moment honoured with your Lordship's letter by Ensign Amiel of the 30th ultimo, and am very happy to be informed you have had an opportunity of destroying such a quantity of arms and public stores, the loss of which must be very heavily felt by the enemy.

[p162] By your Lordship's answer to my letters of the 11th and 15th ultimo, (which are the only ones you acknowledge the receipt of, and in which I made a requisition for some of the corps serving in the Chesapeak, if you could spare them,) I am to understand that your Lordship does not think, that with the remainder (which would have amounted to at least four thousand, supposing even that you sent me three thousand,) you could maintain the posts I had proposed to be occupied at York-town, &c. so necessary in every respect to cover our fleet, and give us entire command over the entrance of that bay. I therefore think proper to mention to your Lordship, that whatever my ideas may have been of the force sufficient to maintain that station, and the corresponding one on the Gloucester side, your Lordship was left the sole judge of that sufficiency to the whole amount of the corps under your immediate orders in Virginia; nor did I mean to draw a single man from you until you had provided for a respectable defensive, and retained a small corps for desultory water expeditions; for my requisition was made after the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the 26th of May; from which I apprehend that you had no immediate operation of your own to propose, and did not think it expedient to adopt the one I had recommended to General Phillips. But I confess I could not conceive you would require above four thousand in a station wherein General Arnold had [p163] represented to me (upon report of Colonel Simcoe) that two thousand men would be amply sufficient; and being strongly impressed with the necessity of our holding a naval station for large ships as well as small, and judging that York-town was of importance for securing such a one, I cannot but be concerned that your Lordship should so suddenly lose sight of it, pass James-river, and retire with your army to the sickly post of Portsmouth, where your horses will, I fear, be starved, and a hundred other inconveniences will attend you: and this, my Lord, as you are pleased to say, because you were of opinion that it exceeded your power, consistent with my plans, to make safe defensive posts there and at Gloucester. My plans, my Lord, were to draw from Chesapeak, as well for the sake of their health, as for a necessary defensive in this important post, such troops as your Lordship could spare from a respectable defensive of York, Gloucester, or such other station as was proper to cover line of battle ships, and all the other services I had recommended; but I could not possibly mean that your Lordship should, for this, give up the hold of a station so important for the purposes I designed, and which I think La Fayette will immediately seize and fortify the moment he hears you have repassed James-river; for though I am to suppose the enemy will be as little able to defend it with five thousand as your Lordship judges yourself to be, and of course may be for the [p164] same reasons dispossessed, I should be sorry to begin with a siege the operations I am determined to carry on in Chesapeak whenever the season will admit of it; I will therefore consult Rear-admiral Graves on this subject, and let your Lordship have our joint opinion in consequence.

With regard to Portsmouth, your Lordship will have seen by my former letters and the papers in your possession, that when I sent General Leslie to the Chesapeak, I only wished for a station to cover our cruising frigates and other small ships; that General officer thought proper to make choice of Portsmouth, and had, I doubt not, good reasons for so doing. But it has ever been my opinion that if a better could be found, especially for covering line of battle ships, it ought to have the preference; and I think, if Old Point Comfort will secure Hampton-Road, that is the station we ought to choose; for if Elizabeth-River is at all kept, a small post for about three hundred men at Mill-Point, would be my opinion answer. But as to quitting the Chesapeak entirely, I cannot entertain a thought of such a measure, but shall most probably on the contrary send there, as soon as the season returns for acting in that climate, all the troops which can possibly be spared from the different posts under my command. I therefore flatter myself, that even although your Lordship may have quitted York and detached troops to me, that you will have a sufficiency to re-occupy it, or [p165] that you will at least hold Old Point Comfort, if it is possible to do it without York.

I find by the intercepted letters you sent me, that La Fayette's continentals, when joined by Stuben and Wayne, do not altogether exceed one thousand eight hundred, and that if he could collect a numerous militia, he had but few arms to put into their hands, and those your Lordship I see has effectually destroyed. It likewise appears that although Greene may himself come to the Northward, his corps is to remain in South Carolina. I therefore suppose your Lordship has recollected this, when you sent orders to Brigadier-general Gould to bring the 19th and 30th regiments to this place, especially as you tell me you still continue in the most painful anxiety for the situation of that province.

I am sorry Lord Rawdon's health should oblige him to return to Europe. I think it is highly proper that either your Lordship, General Leslie, or General O'Hara should go to Charles-town, but I can by no means consent to your Lordship's going thither, before you hear further from me, for very essential reasons which I shall not now trouble your Lordship with.

I am very unhappy to hear of the unfortunate move of our friends and its consequences, as related by Lieutenant Haggarty; those under the influence of Mr. Alexander were desired by me not to rise, and they seemed contented to remain quiet [p166] until operation came to them. But it is probable they have no arms to defend themselves; I should imagine that if a station could be found in their neighbourhood, which was safe and tenable, and arms could be given to them, it might be the means of saving many of them: your Lordship will, however, as being upon the spot be the best judge how far this may be proper or practicable, for as I know nothing of the district where this is supposed to have happened, or what their numbers, I cannot say how far it may be expedient to give them assistance. Your Lordship has, I believe, many spare arms in Chesapeak, and there are likewise a considerable number in Charles-town, but if any should be wanted from hence, I will spare as many as I can.

As your Lordship must be sensible how necessary it is I should have frequent and accurate returns of the state of the troops under my command, I am persuaded you will pardon me for requesting you to order that returns are prepared, and, if possible, sent to me every fortnight of the troops under your Lordship's immediate orders in the Chesapeak, and as accurate ones as can be procured of those in Carolina, and the other southern posts.

By the letters brought to me from the Minister by the last packet, I understand that three battalions originally destined for this army, are to accompany Sir George Rodney in case De Grasse comes on this coast, from whence I am to conclude he will be certainly [p167] followed by that Admiral. I am likewise told that nearly two thousand two hundred German recruits and auxiliary troops may be hourly expected to arrive here.

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

N U M B E R   II.

Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated Head-Quarters, New-York, July 11, 1781.

[Received July 21st, 1781, from Captain Stapleton.]

My Lord,
I am just returned from having a conference with Rear-admiral Graves, in consequence of your Lordship's letter of the 30th ultimo, and we are both clearly of opinion that it is absolutely necessary we should hold a station in Chesapeak for ships of the line, as well as frigates; and the Admiral seems to think that should the enemy possess themselves of Old Point Comfort, Elizabeth River would no longer be of any use to us as a station for the frigates, therefore judges that Hampton-road is the fittest station for all ships, in which your Lordship will see by the papers in your possession, I likewise agree with him. [p168] It was moreover my opinion that the possession of York-town, even though we did not possess Gloucester, might give security to the works we might have at Old Point Comfort, which I understand secures Hampton-road.

I had flattered myself that after giving me as nearly three thousand men as you could spare, your Lordship might have had a sufficiency not only to maintain them, but to spare for desultory expeditions; for I had no other plans in view than to draw for the defence of this post, and operation in its neighbourhood, such troops as could be spared from your army, after leaving an ample defensive to such stations as your Lordship might judge proper to occupy; and a small moving corps for desultory water expeditions during the summer months, in which no other might be proper in that unhealthy climate. But as your Lordship seems to think that you can in no degree comply with my requisition for troops, and at the same time establish a post capable of giving protection to ships of war, and it is probable, from what you write me, that you may have repassed James-river and retired to Portsmouth; I beg leave to request that you will without loss of time examine Old Point Comfort, and fortify it; detaining such troops as you may think necessary for that purpose, and garrisoning it afterwards. But if it should be your Lordship's opinion that Old Point Comfort cannot be held without having possession of [p169] York, for in this case Gloucester may perhaps be not so material, and that the whole cannot be done with less than seven thousand men, you are at full liberty to detain all the troops now in the Chesapeak, which I believe amount to somewhat more than that number: which very liberal concession will, I am persuaded, convince your Lordship of the high estimation in which I hold a naval station in Chesapeak, especially when you consider that my whole force in this very extensive and important post, is not quite eleven thousand effectives; and how far I may be justified in leaving it to so reduced a garrison, time will show.

I am as much mortified as your Lordship can possibly be at the necessity there is at present for leaving you upon the defensive in Chesapeak; and your Lordship will do me the justice to observe that I have for some months past been myself content with a starved defensive, from the desire I had to give your Lordship as large an army for offensive operations as I could. Therefore, until the season for recommencing operations in the Chesapeak shall return, your Lordship, or whoever remains in the command there, must I fear be content with a strict defensive; and I must desire that you will be pleased to consider this as a positive requisition to you not to detain a greater proportion of the troops now with you than what may be absolutely necessary for defensive operations, &c. as before mentioned. When, therefore, your [p170] Lordship has finally determined upon the force you think sufficient for such works as you shall erect at Old Point Comfort, and the number you judge requisite to cover them at York-town, and for the other services of the Chesapeak during the unhealthy season; you will be pleased to send me the remainder. Your Lordship will observe by this that I do not see any great necessity for holding Portsmouth while you have Old Point Comfort: for, should a station on Elizabeth-river be judged necessary, I think Mill-point will answer every necessary purpose for covering frigates, &c.

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

N U M B E R   III.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated Portsmouth, Virginia, July 26, 1781.

Sir,
I received your cyphered letter of the 11th instant, on the 20th, in consequence of which the expedition was detained; and on the 21st I was honoured with your dispatches of the 8th and 11th instants, delivered by Captain Stapleton, the contents [p171] of which, I will confess, were to me as unexpected as, I trust, they are undeserved.

As a subordinate officer, I think it my duty to obey positive orders, or in exercising discretionary powers, to act as much as possible conformable to the apparent wishes of my superior officer, combined with the evident good of the service; and in my late conduct I hope I have not deviated from those principles; for, permit me to remark, that I cannot discover in the instructions to General Phillips, and the substance of private conversations with him, (extracts of which I take the liberty to enclose) to which I am referred, nor in our former correspondence, any trace of the extreme earnestness that now appears, to secure a harbour for ships of the line, and your assent to my engaging in operations in the Upper Chesapeak, if I could have brought myself to think them expedient, would, if I had doubted before, have convinced me that securing a harbour for line of battle ships was not with you a primary and immediate object. In my letter of the 26th of May, I informed your Excellency, that after destroying the stores at Richmond and the adjoining country, I should move back to Williamsburg, keeping the army in readiness to comply with your further instructions. I arrived at that place on the 25th, and on the 26th of June I received from Ensign Amiel your dispatches of the 11th and 15th of the same month, being the first letters that [p172] I had received from you since my arrival in Virginia. In the first you tell me, that New-York is threatened to be attacked by a very numerous enemy, and, therefore, wishing to concentrate your force, you recommend to me to send a body of troops to you, as I can spare them, in the order mentioned in a list, unless I have engaged in operations in the Upper-Chesapeak; and in the dispatch of the 15th, taking for granted that I have not engaged in those operations, you require the embarkation of those troops may begin with the greatest dispatch. After a full compliance with this requisition, the force left under my command would have been about two thousand and four hundred rank and file, fit for duty, as will appear by the returns, which in a post adapted to that number, I hoped would be sufficient for a defensive, and desultory water expeditions. You mention Williamsburg and York in your letter of the 11th, as defensive stations, but only as being supposed healthy, without deciding on their safety, -- Williamsburg having no harbour, and requiring an army to occupy the position, would not have suited us. I saw that it would require a great deal of time and labour to fortify York and Gloucester, both of which are necessary to secure a harbour for vessels of any burthen; and to effect it, assistance would have been wanted from some of the troops then under embarkation orders, which, when New-York was in danger, I did not think myself at liberty to detain for [p173] any other purpose than operations in the Upper Chesapeak, and supposing both places fortified, I thought they would have been dangerous defensive posts, either of them being easily accessible to the whole force of this province, and from their situation they would not have commanded an acre of country. I, therefore, under these circumstances, with the most earnest desire to comply with what I thought were your present wishes, and to facilitate your intended future operations in Pennsylvania, did not hesitate in deciding to pass James-river, and to retire to Portsmouth, that I might be able to send you the troops required. And I was confirmed in the propriety of the measure, when upon passing James-river, I received your dispatch, informing me that for essential reasons you had resolved to make an attempt on Philadelphia, and directing me to embark with the greatest expedition the same body of troops, with stores, &c. for that purpose. Having likewise executed this order with the utmost exertion and alacrity, I must acknowledge I was not prepared to receive in the next dispatch from your Excellency a severe censure of my conduct.

Immediately on the receipt of your cyphered letter, I gave orders to the engineer to examine and survey Point Comfort, and the channels adjoining to it. I have likewise visited it with the Captains of the King's ships now lying in Hampton road. I have the honour to inclose to you copies of the report [p174] of the Engineer, and of opinions of the Captains of the navy on that subject, with which my own entirely concurs. And I likewise transmit a survey of the peninsula, made by Lieutenants Sutherland and Stratton. From all which, your Excellency will see, that a work on Point Comfort, would neither command the entrance, nor secure his Majesty's ships at anchor in Hampton road. This being the case, I shall in obedience to the spirit of your Excellency's orders, take measures with as much dispatch as possible, to seize and fortify York and Gloucester, being the only harbour in which we can hope to be able to give effectual protection to line of battle ships. I shall, likewise, use all the expedition in my power to evacuate Portsmouth and the posts belonging to it, but until that is accomplished, it will be impossible for me to spare troops. For York and Gloucester, from their situation, command no country; and a superiority in the field will not only be necessary to enable us to draw forage and other supplies from the country, but likewise to carry on our works without interruption.

Your Excellency having been pleased to disapprove of my going to South Carolina, I have sent General Leslie, who sailed on the 25th instant, in the Carysfort, to take the command there.

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

[p175] Inclosed in No. III.

Extract of the Instructions of his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, to Major-general Phillips, dated New-York, March 10, 1781.

"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 think forcible, you must, after stating those objections, decline it, till solid operation take place in the Chesapeak."

Extract of the Substance of several Conversations that his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton had with Major-general Phillips, on the Subject of Operations in the Chesapeak, before his Embarkation on his Expedition thither, dated April 26, 1781.

"With regard to a station for the protection of the King's ships, I know of no place so proper s York-town, if it could be taken possession of, fortified, and garrisoned with one thousand men, as by having one thousand more at a post somewhere in Elizabeth-river, York and James rivers would be [p176] ours, and our cruizers might command the waters of the Chesapeak. Troops might likewise be spared from these posts to carry on expeditions during the summer months, when, probably, nothing can be risked in that climate but water movements. But if the heights of York, and those on Gloucester side, cannot be so well and so soon fortified as to render that post hors d'insult before the enemy can move a force, &c. against it, it may not be adviseable to attempt it. In that case, something may possibly be done at Old Point Comfort, to cover large ships lying in Hampton-road (which is reckoned a good one, and not so liable to injury from gales at N.E. as that of York, particularly in winter.) If neither can be secured, we must content ourselves with keeping the Chesapeak with frigates and other armed vessels, which will always find security against a superior naval force in Elizabeth river. As our operations in proper season may re-commence in the Upper-James; perhaps a station might be found at the entrance of the narrows of that river that may be of use in future day, and held with a small force. James-town seems a proper spot for such a station, as does the place where the narrows and windings begin."

[p177] Inclosed in No. III.

Copy of the Report of Lieutenant Sutherland, Engineer, dated Billy Ordnance Transport, Hampton Road, July 25, 1781.

[Pgs. 177-178. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 6, Note G, p406.]

[p179] Inclosed in No. III.

Copy of the Opinions of the Commanders of his Majesty's Ships in Chesapeak, relative to Old Point Comfort, dated Richmond, Hampton Road, July 26, 1781.

[Pg. 179. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 6, Note G, p408.]

[p180] N U M B E R   IV.

Admiral Graves to Earl Cornwallis, dated London, off Sandy Hook, 12th July, 1781.

[Pgs. 180-181. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 6, Note H, p409.]

[p181] N U M B E R   V.

Earl Cornwallis to Admiral Graves, dated Portsmouth, July 26, 1781.

[Pgs. 181-182. See Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 6, Note H, p410.]

[p182] N U M B E R   VI.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated York, in Virginia, August 12, 1781.¹

Sir,
I received the inclosed letter last night from Governor Bruete: one to the same effect arrived two days ago from him, directed to the Commanding Officer of the Navy, and was immediately forwarded to the Admiral by the officer stationed near the Capes.

I embarked the eightieth regiment in boats, and went myself on board the Richmond very early in the morning of the 29th; but we were so unfortunate in winds as to be four days on our passage. The eightieth landed on the night of the 1st at Gloucester; and the troops which were in transports on [p183] the morning of the 2d at this place. I have since brought the seventy-first and the Legion hither, and sent the regiment du Prince Hereditaire to Gloucester. The works on the Gloucester side are in some forwardness, and I hope in a situation to resist a sudden attack. Brigadier-general O'Hara is hastening as much as possible the evacuation of Portsmouth: as soon as he arrives here, I will send to New-York every man that I can spare, consistent with the safety and subsistence of the force in this country.

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

N U M B E R   VII.

Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. to Earl Cornwallis, dated New-York, August 11, 1781.

[In Cypher.]

[Received August 16, 1781.]

My Lord,
I am honoured with your Lordship's dispatches of the 24th and 27th ultimo, which were delivered to me by Captain Stapleton on the 1st instant, which I shall defer answering to a safer opportunity.

I have the pleasure to inform you, that the fleet from Bremer-lehe is this day arrived with two thousand five hundred German recruits.

[p184] I hope before this meets your Lordship you will so far have established yourself on the Williamsburg Neck, as to have been able to embark the troops you can spare me for operation here -- In which case I have no doubt Captain Hudson will have given every assistance to forward them to us as soon as possible. And if they are not already sailed, I beg that the Queen's Rangers may be the second corps you send me; and that your Lordship will please to recollect my wish to have such a proportion of General Arnold's boats, and artillery men and stores as you can spare. And as you have three engineers, I beg that Lieutenant Sutherland may be sent to this place, as also Captain Fage of the artillery. The French and rebels shewed themselves the other day in front of our lines to the amount of eleven thousand.

A man goes from hence through the country to your Lordship with a proposal to liberate the Convention troops -- for which he says he will only want a frigate and some transports to receive them. -- Lest any accident should happen to the runner that carries this, a duplicate of it is sent by him in cypher.

H.C.

[p185] N U M B E R   VIII.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated York-town, 16th August, 1781.

Sir,
This morning I received your cyphered letter of the 11th instant, by the runner.

I did not imagine that my letter of the 26th July would have given your Excellency reason to be so sanguine as to hope, that by this time any detachment could have been made from hence. The evacuation of Portsmouth has employed one engineer, and a number of labourers and artificers; and with every exertion by land and water, I do not expect that business to be completed before the 21st or 22d instant. Since our arrival we have bestowed our whole labour on the Gloucester side; but I do not think the works there (after great fatigue to the troops) are at present, or will be for some time to come, safe against a coup de main with less than one thousand men.

After our experience of the labour and difficulty of constructing works at this season of the year, and the plan for fortifying this side not being entirely settled, I cannot at present say whether I can spare any troops, or if any, how soon. But when the garrison of Portsmouth arrives, and the engineer's plan is completed, I shall apply to Captain Hudson for a frigate to carry my report of the state of things [p186] here, and to bring your Excellency's commands upon it. I have received your Excellency's dispatches of the 15th and 26th ult. which I shall answer by the first safe opportunity.

I beg that your Excellency will be pleased to order it to be notified to the port of New-York that Portsmouth is evacuated, to prevent vessels going into that harbour.

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

N U M B E R   IX.

Earl Cornwallis to Sir Henry Clinton, K.B. dated York town, Virginia, 22d August, 1781.²

Sir,
Portsmouth having been completely evacuated without any interruption from the enemy, General O'Hara arrived here this day with the stores and troops; and a great number of refugees have accompanied him from the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Princess Anne.

The engineer has finish his survey and examination of this place, and has proposed his plan for fortifying it; which appearing judicious, I have approved of, and directed to be executed.

[p187] The works at Gloucester are now in such forwardness, that a smaller detachment than the present garrison would be in safety against a sudden attack; but I make no alteration there, as I cannot hope that the labour of the whole will complete that post in less than five or six weeks.

My experience there of the fatigue and difficulty of constructing works in this warm season, convinces me, that all the labour that the troops here will be capable of, without ruining their health, will be required at least for six weeks to put the intended works at this place in a tolerable state of defence. And as your Excellency has been pleased to communicate to me your intention of re-commencing operations in the Chesapeak about the beginning of October, I will not venture to take any step that might retard the establishing of this post: but I request that your Excellency will be pleased to decide whether it is more important for your plans that a detachment of a thousand or twelve hundred men, which I think I can spare from every other purpose but that of labour, should be sent to you from hence, or that the whole of the troops here should be employed in expediting the works.

My last accounts of the enemy were, that the Marquis de la Fayette was encamped in the fork of the Pamunky and Matapony with his own detachment of Continentals, a considerable body of eighteen-months men, and two brigades of militia under [p188] Stevens and Lawson; that he had armed four hundred of the seven hundred Virginia prisoners lately arrived from Charles-town, and expected to be joined in a short time by General Smallwood with seven hundred eighteen-months men from Maryland; and that Generals Wayne and Morgan having returned from the other side of James river, were likewise on their march to join him.

There being only four eighteens and one twenty-four pounder here, more heavy guns will be wanted for the sea batteries at this place, and we are likewise in want of many other artillery and engineer's stores, the returns of which I take the liberty to inclose.

It is proper to mention to your Excellency, that you may make your arrangements accordingly, that there are only about six hundred stand of spare arms in the Chesapeak; and that our consumption of provisions is considerably increased by a number of refugees lately come to us, and by negroes that are employed in different branches of the public service.

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

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Notes:

¹ Editor's Note: Excerpted in Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 6, Note K, p412. [ back ]

² Editor's Note: Excerpted in Tarleton's Campaigns, Chapter 6, Note K, p413. [ back ]