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.

322 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET.50.
P. S. Although the campaign does not promise
much activity, yet I shall wish you to keep me as
regularly and accurately informed of the state of your
department as possible, noting the strength, movements,
and position of your own army, and that of the enemy. It may also be essential for me to be made acquainted with the resources of the country and every
thing of a military or political nature, which may be
interesting to our future plans and operations.*
TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN LAURENS.
Head-Quarters, 10 July, 1782.
MY DEAR SIR,
The last post brought me your letter of the 19th of
May. I must confess, that I am not at all astonished
* According to the proposal of Count de Rochambeau, a conference
was held at Philadelphia respecting the future operations of the campaign. The two commanders met there on the 15th of July. As no instructions had been received from the French court, it was not in the
power of Count de Rochambeau to give any decided information as to
the time a French fleet might be expected on the coast from the West
Indies, or its strength when arrived. He had reason to suppose, however,
that it would come to the northward; and, as the sickly season was approaching in Virginia, he had put his troops under marching orders about
the 1st of July, and expected they would reach Baltimore before the end
of the month. It was agreed, therefore, that the French army should remain a few days at Baltimore, till further instructions or intelligence
should be received, and that, unless special reasons might appear to the
contrary, the army should continue its march northwardly, and join the
American forces on the Hudson. This plan was thought advisable,
moreover, to prevent Sir Guy Carleton from sending detachments from
New York to Jamaica, where they might be turned against the French
in the West Indies.
An elaborate memoir, pointing out various plans of a campaign, was
presented by General Washington to Count de Rochambeau, who forwarded it to the French court. Immediately after the interview General Washington returned to Newburg, where he arrived on the 27th of
July.