October 18th
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“I entreat your Excellency by the first good conveyance, to represent the propriety and necessity of this Measure, to the Commanders in the West Indies; that by one great, decisive stroke, the Enemy might be expelled from the Continent, and the Independence of America established.”
Chevalier de La Luzerne
New York Public Library
To Chevalier de La Luzerne
Head Quarters, New Windsor, 13 June 1781
Sir,
His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau* having requested me to forward the Dispatches herewith transmitted, by the safest possible conveyance, I now do myself the honor to send them by a Gentleman of the Quarter Master General’s Department.
Having been made acquainted by the Count de Rochambeau with the design of the Count de Grasse to come to this Coast with his fleet**; I cannot forbear expressing to your Excellency my ardent wishes that a body of land Forces might also attend this Naval Armament: as, I am apprehensive, such a decided superiority of Men may not be drawn together by us, by the time the Count de Grasse will be here, as to ensure our successes against the Enemy’s most important Posts; as his continuance in these Seas may be limited to a short period; and as the addition of a respectable Corps of Troops from the West Indies would in all human probability, terminate the matter very soon in our favor. If these should likewise be your sentiments, and if this Plan should not interfere with the intentions, and interests of His Most Christian Majesty elsewhere, I entreat your Excellency by the first good conveyance, to represent the propriety and necessity of this Measure, to the Commanders in the West Indies; that by one great, decisive stroke, the Enemy might be expelled from the Continent, and the Independence of America established at the approaching Negociation. I have the honor to be With the Most perfect respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble [Servt]
G:o Washington
* French general whose combined force with Washington’s Continental army delivered the decisive victory of the war at the Battle of Yorktown.
** Count de Grasse’s arrival precipitated the Battle of the Capes (5 September 1781), instrumental to the victory at Yorktown.
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