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. 5
TO COLONEL JOHN LAURENS, AT PARIS.
New Windsor, 9 April, 1781.
MY DEAR LAURENS,
Colonel Armand, who was charged with the delivery
of many letters to you from the Marquis de Lafayette,
imparting to his friends and the ministry of France
your mission, unfortunately arrived at Boston after you
had sailed. By him I gave you an account of the revoltof part of the Jersey troops, Arnold's expedition to
Virginia, Leslie's arrival at Charleston, and such other
matters as occurred after your departure.
Since that period several interesting events have
happened; some favorable, others adverse. Among
the former may be reckoned Morgan's brilliant action
with Tarleton; among the latter, the advantages gained
by Lord Cornwallis over General Greene. The official
accounts of these I enclose to you. Cornwallis, after
the defeat of Tarleton, destroyed his wagons, and made
a violent effort to recover his prisoners, but, failing
therein moved- equally light and rapidly against General
Greene, who, though he had formed a junction with
Morgan, was obliged to retreat before him into Virginia. Whether from despair of recovering his prisoners, of bringing Greene to a general action, or because he conceived his own situation critical, I do not
take upon me to determine; but the fact is, that here
commenced Cornwallis's retrograde movements, and
Greene's advance from the Roanoke to the place of
action.
condition and strength of the forts at Lloyd's Neck and Treadwell's
Bank. He then returned, and proceeded to Newport, where he found
Count, de Rochambeau disposed to assist in the expedition, if it could
be made practicable; but, all the armed French frigates being then absent on different destinations, it was not possible at that time to provide the proper naval force.
A*