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.

PARTII.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 359
TO MAJOR-GENERAL McDOUGALL.
Valley Forge, 5 May, 1778.
DEAR SIR,
I have written pressingly to General Heath and
General Putnam to forward the recruits of Massachusetts and Connecticut to the North River, with all
possible despatch. If they arrive there during the
continuance of your command, you will be pleased,
agreeably to former orders, to send on immediately
those belonging to the regiments that are here.
I very much fear that we, taking it for granted, that
we have nothing more to do, because France has acknowledged our independency and formed an alliance
with us, shall relapse into a state of supineness and
perfect security. I think it more than probable,. from
the situation of affairs in Europe, that the enemy will
receive no considerable if any reinforcements. But
suppose they should not, their remaining force, if well
directed, is far from being contemptible. In the desperate state of British affairs, it is worth a desperate
attempt to extricate themselves; and a blow at our
main army, if successful, would have a wonderful effect
upon the minds of a number of people, still wishing
to embrace the present terms, or indeed any terms
offered by Great Britain. It behoves us therefore to
make ourselves as respectable as possible, that, if the
enemy continue in their detached state, we may endeavour to destroy them by piecemeal; and that if, on
the contrary, they collect themselves, they may not fall
heavily upon us in some quarter. I cannot help thinking, from a late uncommon movement of their shipping,
that they have something of this kind in view. Near
two hundred sail of light transports have gone down
the Delaware within a week past. New York is too