The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

ET. 49.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 353
M. de Tilly's expedition was only in part successful.
He entered the Chesapeake, but Arnold drew his
vessels so high up the Elizabeth River, that they
could not be reached by the French line-of-battle
ship; and one of the frigates ran aground, and was
set afloat again with difficulty. As M. de Tilly could
not remain long in the Chesapeake without the hazard of being blockaded by a British force, he put
to sea and arrived at Newport after an absence of
fifteen days.
Although the British had repaired their damaged
vessels, yet by the junction of M. de Tilly an equality
was restored to the French; and M. Destouches, in
conformity to the recommendation of General Washington, resolved on an expedition to Virginia with
his whole naval force, to which Count de Rochambeau added eleven hundred troops, commanded by
Baron de Viomenil. The French were pursued by
Admiral Arbuthnot with all his blockading squadron,
and overtaken near the Capes of Virginia, where an
action; ensued, which terminated with nearly equal
honor to both parties. The object of the expedition
was thus defeated, unless it was a part of M. Destouches's purpose to bring on a naval engagement,
which is not improbable. The fleet returned to Newport without attempting to enter the Chesapeake.
The moment Washington received the intelligence,
that M. de Tilly had sailed to the southward, he
detached twelve hundred men from his army to proceed by land to the Chesapeake and cooperate with
the French against Arnold. At the head of this detachment he placed the Marquis de Lafayette, being
influenced in his choice both by a political motive,
and by his confidence in the ability and bravery of
that officer. The appointment was complimentary to
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