Dear Sir,
The expectation of the pleasure of seeing you, has prevented me hitherto from making a communication of a most important and interesting nature. But circumstances will not admit of further delay, and I must trust it to paper. It seems reduced almost to a certainty, that the enemy will reinforce New York with part of their troops from Virginia. In that case, the attempt against the former must be laid aside, as it will not be in our power to draw together a force sufficient to justify the undertaking. The detachment, which the enemy will probably leave in Virginia, seems the next object which ought to engage our attention, and which will be a very practicable one, should we obtain a naval superiority, of which I am not without hopes, and be able to carry a body of men suddenly round by water. The principal difficulty which occurs, is in obtaining transports at the moment they may be wanted; for if they are taken up beforehand, the use for which they are designed cannot be concealed, and the enemy will make arrangements to defeat the plan.
What I would therefore wish you to inform yourself of, without making a direct inquiry, is what number of tons of shipping could be obtained in Philadelphia at any time between this and the 20th of this month, and whether there could also be obtained at the same time, a few deep waisted sloops and schooners, proper to carry horses. The number of double decked vessels which may be wanted, of two hundred tons and upwards, will not exceed thirty. I shall be glad of your answer as soon as possible, because, if it is favorable, I can direct certain preparations to be made in Philadelphia, and at other convenient places, without incurring any suspicions. There certainly can be no danger of not obtaining flour in Philadelphia, and as you seem to have doubts of procuring salt meat there, I shall direct all that which is to the eastward, to be collected at points from whence it may be shipped at the shortest notice.
You will also oblige me by giving me your opinion of the number of vessels which might be obtained at Baltimore, or other places in the Chesapeake, in the time before mentioned, or thereabouts.
I have the honor to be, &c.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.
Philadelphia, August 2d, 1781.
Sir,
Agreeably to the intimations I made to your Excellency some days ago, it was my intention to have gone to camp yesterday. But an act of Congress of the —— of July, rendered it necessary for me to hold a conference with a Committee of Congress and the Board of War. This was done; and it was determined, that a member of the Board of War should go with me to camp.