Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette to George Washington reporting on his activities and strategy fighting Cornwallis in Virginia - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC05467
From Archive Folder	Documents Relating to 1781
Title	Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette to George Washington reporting on his activities and strategy fighting Cornwallis in Virginia
Date	8 July 1781
Author	Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834)
Recipient	Washington, George
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Reports on his activities and strategy fighting Cornwallis in Virginia. Notes that he has avoided general actions and adds laconically that "His Lordship [Cornwallis] seems to have given up the Conquest of Virginia." Explains that the American forces were smaller, a fact they had to keep secret. Discusses military movements. Docketed and dated by someone named Jared Sparks.
Subjects	Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History France Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Continental Army
People	Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834) Washington, George (1732-1799)
Theme	The American Revolution; Foreign Affairs
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide The inclosed Copy, my dear General, will give you an account of our affairs is this quarter - agreably to your orders, I Have avoided a general action, and when Lord Cornwallis's movements indicated it was against His interest to fight, I Have ventured partial engagements - His Lordship seems to Have given up the Conquest of Virginia it Has Been a great secret that our Army was not superior and was most generally inferior to the Ennemy's Number as Returns were swelled up as generally Militia Returns are But we Had very few under arms - particularly lately, and to Conceal the lessening of our Numbers I was obliged to push on as one who Had Heartly wished a General engagement - our Regulars did not exceed 1500 - the Ennemy Had 1,000 Regulars 800 of whom Mounted - they thought we Had 8000 men - I never encamped in a line and there [2] was a greater difficulty to come as our Numbers Should, as I presume it will, a detachment Be sent to General Greene I shall [strikeout] Move the Pennsylvanians and Virginians first - The Pennsylvanians I know Have great objections - But Common sense points [inserted: out] the Expediency of this Arrangement which Had already Been made By General Greene - I am afraid Congress will Be applied to on the Occasion and Request you will inforce my opinion Adieu, My dear General, I am going Confidentially to write you By a safe Hand, and shall only add the expectations of My Affection and Respect Lafayette [docket] Letter from Lafayette to Genl. Washington. Written in June, 1781. notes (by Jared Sparks)

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