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. 61
correspondence with Arnold.* By an account, which
I have just received from New York, General Robertson goes to succeed General Phillips.t You may have
something to apprehend from his age and experience,
but not much from his activity. In a letter, which I
wrote to Baron Steuben on the 16th instant, I desired
him to inform you, as I did not know at that time
where you might be, that I had good reason to believe
a detachment of between fifteen hundred and two
thousand men had sailed from New York a few days
before. I now have it confirmed, and I think you may
either look for them in the Chesapeake or further southward.
Your determination to avoid an engagement, with
your present force, is, certainly judicious. I hope the
Pennsylvanians have begun their march before this
time, but I have no information of it. General Wayne
has been pressed, both by Congress and the Board
of War, to make as much expedition as possible, and
extraordinary powers are given to enable him to procure provisions. I am, with very sincere regard, &c.t
* After the death of General Phillips (May 13), the command of the
British army in Virginia devolved on Arnold. He sent an officer to Lafayette with a flag and a letter. As soon as Lafayette saw the name at
the bottom of the letter he refused to read it, and told the officer, that he
would hold no intercourse whatever with Arnold; but with any other officer he should be ever ready to reciprocate the civilities, which the circumstances of the two armies might render desirable.
+ This intelligence was not accurate.: This letter was intercepted and published by the enemy; and also
another letter to Lafayette of the same date, containing the substance
of the interview with Count de Rochambeau at WVeathersfield, and the
proposed plan of the campaign.
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