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.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 133
of Charleston (neither is it necessary at this time) to
enter into a detail of the proper mode of attacking it,
or of the probability which we should have of succeeding. For these we will refer you to Brigadier-General
Duportail, commander of the corps of engineers in the
service of the United States, who will have the honor
of presenting this. That gentleman, having been in
Charleston as principal engineer during the greater part
of the siege, and in the environs of it. as a prisoner of
war a considerable time afterwards, had opportunities
of making very full observations, which he judiciously
improved.
A variety of cases, different from those we have
stated, may occur. It is for this reason we have
thought proper to send General Duportail to your Excellency. He is fully acquainted with every circumstance of our affairs in this quarter, and we recommend him to you as an officer, in whose abilities and
in whose integrity you may place the fullest confidence. We would observe, that it will be very essential to the despatch of the business in contemplation, for you to send up the Elk River, at the head of
the Chesapeake Bay, all your frigates, transports, and
vessels proper for the conveyance of the French and
American troops down the bay. We shall endeavour
to have as many as can be found in Baltimore and
other ports secured, but we have reason to believe
they will be very few. We have the honor to be,
with the greatest respect, attachment, esteem, &c.*
* This letter was signed jointly by General Washington and Count de
Rochambeau. It will have been seen by the preceding letters, that the
thoughts of General Washington had for several days been turned towards a southern expedition, instead of an attack on. New York; and
the arrival of the reinforcement of Hessians in that city on the 11th had
added still stronger motives for this change of plan. After receiving in
telligence from Count de Grasse, therefore, that he should sail directly
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