White Plains [N.Y.] August 9th. 1778
Sir
At 10 OClock last night the Inclosed Letter came to hand from General Sullivan with one addressed to myself, a Copy of which I do myself the honor of transmitting.1 The Enemy seem determined that none of their ships of War shall fall into the Count D’Estaings hands.
Yesterday I received a Letter from Genl Maxwell dated at 9 OClock A.M. on the 7th at Elizabeth Town, containing the following paragraph.— “I have to inform your Excellency that early yesterday morning Lord Howe sailed out of the Hook with his whole fleet of Armed Vessels. They were out of sight in the afternoon and were supposed to be going for Rhode Island—No troops or Transports supposed to be with them.” His Letter also had the following Nota bene—“No British fleet arrivd yet that we can hear of.”2 General Maxwell’s information respecting Lord Howe’s sailing from the Hook was stated in such pointed and positive terms, that I thought it my duty to communicate it to Count D’Estaing, and accordingly I dispatched an Express with it, in a very little time after I was advised on the subject, subjoining a copy time of this Nota bene.3 I have the Honor to be &c
Go. Washington.
Df, DLC, George Washington Papers, Series 4. Addressed at foot: Honble. Henry Laurens, Esq/&c &c &c.” Docketed: “August 9th. 1778./To Congress.”
1. The letter, Maj. Gen. John Sullivan to Washington, 6 Aug., is above. The second letter referred to, presumably a letter from Sullivan to Laurens, has not been found.
2. On 4 Aug. Washington had ordered Brig. Gen. William Maxwell, a native of northern New Jersey, to “keep a vigilant watch upon the motions of the Enemy upon Staten Island, and upon their fleet in the Bay” and to inform Washington if “any considerable number are preparing for sea.” GW Papers, Rev. War Series, 16: 252–53.
3. See Washington to comte d’Estaing, 8 Aug., above.
