Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ne C 2645 : Letter from General Sir Henry Clinton, New York [U.S.A.], to H.F.C. Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle under Lyne; 11 Jul. 1778
train &c. &c and the division of the Army
which convoyed them extended 12 miles at the
time he began his attack upon my rear guard.
It was necessary to meet him with what
I had. I had two inducements, to give time to
my baggage to get into safety, and the hopes
of meeting his whole army in a critical
situation passing the defiles which I know
separated him from his avant guarde. I
soon succeeded in the first, and as I ran
not the least risk of committing myself I was
tempted to try the last. Your Grace will see by my
publick letter how near I was to success - Nothing
but the intolerable heat prevented; the Thermometer
at 94 in the shade, is not a climate for troops
to act with Vigour in at noon day, but some
power more appeared in troops: our first
object was fully answered, & I really believe
