September 6th
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“As no circumstance cou’d possibly have happened more opportunely in point of time, no prospect cou’d ever have promised more important successes, and nothing but our want of exertions can probably blast the pleasing prospects before us.”
Battle of the Capes, 1781
U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command
GENERAL ORDERS
Head Quarters, Head of Elk, 6 September 1781
It is with the highest pleasure and satisfaction the Commander in Chief announces to the Army the arrivals of the Count de Grasse in the Chesapeake with a very formidable Naval and Land force; at the same time he felicitates them on this auspicious occasion he anticipates the glorious Events which may be expected from the combined Operations now in contemplation.* As no circumstance cou’d possibly have happened more opportunely in point of time, no prospect cou’d ever have promised more important successes, and nothing but our want of exertions can probably blast the pleasing prospects before us. The General calls upon all the gallant Officers, the brave and faithful soldiers he has the honor to command to exert their utmost abilities in the cause of their Country and to share with him (with their usual alacrity) the difficulties, dangers and glory of the present Enterprize. The Commanding Officers of Corps are to cause abstracts to be immediately made for a Months pay of their respective Commands, excluding any infamous characters who may have been so far left to the sense of Honor, the pride of their professions and the love of their Country as to desert the standard of freedom at this critically interesting period, those men only are to be comprehended who are present with their several Corps.
Major Platt is appointed Division Inspector to the Division Commanded by Major General Lincoln and is to be respected and obeyed accordingly.
* Count de Grasse’s arrival precipitated the Battle of the Capes, instrumental to the victory at Yorktown (October 1781) which effectively ended the Revolutionary War.
The Battle of the Capes was one of the most important naval battles in world history. On September 5th the British and French Fleets clashed. In the aftermath, the British withdrew to New York and the French blockaded the Chesapeake Bay. This was crucial to the American-French victory at the Battle of Yorktown; the British land army was unable to receive reinforcements and supplies, nor could it retreat. — NPS1
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