Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ne C 2292 : Letter from Sir Henry Clinton, to H.F.C. Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle under Lyne; 17, 20 & 23 Sep. 1781
Digby may arrive soon, 5 ships will give us
a decided superiority. The French have landed
3800 'tis said, Washington marches with about
6 or 7000, Lafayette had before 2000, this is
all regular force, they have armed a numerous
unpractised Militia. Every exertion must be
made to save L.C. anyway, I hope the Adm[ira]l
will take us all on board, we may assist in
the brush he may have with the French fleet,
and then if he succeeds land us to try for a junction
with Lord Cornwallis. The Admiral must not
only open the door of Chesapeak but go in
with us and remain to cooperate and feed us,
for should we land without provisions, even
join Lord Cornwallis and obtain a victory we
could not subsist and Washington will scarcely
be able to do so even, altho he now commands
the waters of the Chesapeake and has the
exertion of the whole country for him.
If the navy shall not be able to assist
us in a direct move to save L.C--- I must
commit what troops I can spare from this
important post to such indirect operations
as I shall judge best, but I should despair of
relieving his Lordship.
