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.

zET. 49.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 371
done, as to explain and enforce the practicability and
importance of this plan. By the instructions from his
court, and by his engagements to the Spaniards, Count
de Grasse was bound to return to the West Indies
without delay, and thus it was not in his power to accede to the proposal. It was then suggested, that he
should transport a body of troops to Wilmington, in
North Carolina, and land them there while on his
voyage. To this he at first made no objection; but,
when he- ascertained that there would be a difficulty
in landing the men without running the risk of dividing his fleet, or perhaps of being driven off the coast
with the troops on board, he declined the undertaking.
Lafayette was to command this expedition; and the
purpose of it was to take a British post at Wilmington,
and then march into the interior and unite with the
southern army under General Greene.
The troops commanded by the Marquis de St. Simon
were embarked, and Count de Grasse set sail for the
West Indies. Before his departure, General Washington presented him with two beautiful horses, as a testimony of personal consideration and esteem.
As nothing further could be effected by the allied
forces during the campaign, a detachment of two thousand men, comprising the Continental troops from
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, was put under
General St. Clair, with orders to reinforce' General
Greene at the south. The troops belonging eastward
of Pennsylvania were transported by water to the
Head of Elk, whence they marched to their winter
cantonments in New Jersey -and near Hudson's River.
The French army remained in Virginia till the following summer, the head-quarters of Count de Rochambeau being at Williamsburg.
The prisoners were marched to Winchester in Vir