Cornwallis.
August, 1780.
[93] [About the 22d of Oct. 1780, a British fleet made its appearance in the Chesapeake, having on board some three thousand troops, under the command of General Leslie. Different detachments were landed near Portsmouth, Hampton, and on the bay-side of Princess Anne. The whole force was subsequently collected at Portsmouth; but Leslie, probably disappointed in his expectation of forming a juncture with Cornwallis, suddenly re-embarked for South Carolina. On the 29th of the following December, Arnold made his appearance, with twenty-seven sail of vessels, within the Virginian capes, and commenced his invasion. On 26th of March, 1781, he was superseded in his command by General Phillips, who joined him at Portsmouth with some two thousand troops.—Ed.]
[94] TO LORD CORNWALLIS.
Portsmouth, Virginia, November 4th, 1780.
My Lord,—I have been here near a week, establishing a post. I wrote to you to Charleston, and by another messenger, by land. I cannot hear, for a certainty, where you are: I wait your orders. The bearer is to be handsomely rewarded, if he brings me any note or mark from your Lordship.
A. L.
[95] [Probably addressed to General Gates.]
[96] [After the battle of Camden—August 16th, 1780—Congress removed General Gates from the command of the Southern army, and placed General Green at its head. In December, 1780, he assumed the command.]
[97] [One of the Convention prisoners, in Albemarle.]