To John Jay from Egbert Benson, 30 September 1781
From Egbert Benson
[Poughkeepsie, [30 September]1 1781]
Dear Sir,
You will observe I have deferred my Letter til the last day of the Month, in hopes that I should have had it in my Power to communicate Intelligence as agreeable as it would have been important—
(When I wrote last2 Genl: Washington with the Allied Army was in the lower part of West Chester County, waiting, as it was generally supposed, the Arrival of the French Fleet from the West Indies in order to commence Operations against New York— I had scarcely dispatched my Letter, when We were informed that the whole Army was moving into Jersey,3 and the Arrival of Count De Grasse in the Chesapeak a few days after unfolded the Design of this Movement, and it was then discovered that the Capture of Lord Cornwallis with his Army in Virginia was it’s Object— Our Army made a rapid March to that State and reached the Head of Elks, where they embarked the 8th: Inst:, and at this time they have compleatly surrounded his Lordship, who occupies Gloucester and York, the former on the north and the latter on the South side of York River, and his Strength is estimated at 6000 regulars and 2000 Negroes; indeed it is the only operating Army of the Enemy on the Continent, as they have not more than competent Garrisons at New York, Charlestown, and Savannah, the only Places they now hold within the Territory of the United States— Whether this Change from the supposed intended Plan of Operations for the Campaign, was the Effect of Choice or Necessity, I will not determine, but should the present Enterprize prove successful it must inevitably produce Consequences decisive in our Favor— This Movement of the Army reflects the highest Honor on our General, as neither the Country, nor the Enemy at New York, knew his Design til he had crossed the Delaware— Cornwallis was certainly unapprized of his Intentions, or he would doubtless have seasonably retired to South-Carolina— Genl: Washington’s Force, French and Americans, is at least 15000 regular Troops,4 and Count De Grasse has with him in the Chesapeak, including the Squadron heretofore at Rhode-Island, 35 Ships of the Line,5 and the British have about 20 at New York, so that there is scarcely a possible Releif for Cornwallis—)
On monday next our new Legislature meet, and the Election of Delegates will be as interesting as any other Business of the Session— It is difficult to form even a remote Guess who will be elected, tho’ I think it probable there will be a Change, not so much from a Dislike to the Persons who compose the present Delegation, as to meet the Wishes of the Inhabitants of that part of the State which is not within the Power of the Enemy, who have expressed their Uneasiness that the State should be represented wholly by Refugees6
Possibly before this reaches You Mr: Robt: R Livingston may have informed You that he is appointed by Congress Minister for foreign Affairs— Should Mr: Livingston accept this Appointment and resign the Chancellorship I imagine it will in the first instance be offered to Mr: Duane—7
Your Father and the rest of the Family here are in status quo; a disagreeable Incident however has happened— Mrs: Jay is gone to the City of New York on a Visit to her Freinds—8 She went by the way of New Jersey and it is suggested without the Permission of our Governor, and as the Commissioners for Conspiracies have always dealt with Persons, Citizens of this State, who have gone under such Circumstances, She will find it difficult to return with Impunity— Except a Regret at this Affair the Family are comfortable and happy— Master Jay, the Solace of his Grandpapa, is still here— My best respects to Your Mrs: Jay— I am sincerely Yours
Egbt: Benson
ALS, NNC (EJ: 7507). Endorsed: “ . . . Recd. 7 Decr. / ansd. 8 Do.”
1. Benson misdated this letter 30 Oct.
2. No letters from Benson to JJ between 4 Sept. 1779 and 30 Sept. 1781 have been found.
3. On 21 Aug., Washington’s army crossed the Hudson, then, feinting toward Staten Island, struck out southward across New Jersey.
4. The combined Franco-American forces numbered approximately 14,845, of whom 8,845 were American. Ward, The War of the Revolution, 2: 886–87.
5. De Grasse had 24 ships of the line and six frigates, combined with the Newport fleet of about eight ships of the line commanded by comte Melchior Saint-Laurent de Barras. Ibid., 2: 885.
6. On 26 Oct. 1781 the New York State legislature elected its new congressional delegation of James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra L’Hommedieu, and Benson himself. This delegation was identical to that of 1780 with the exception of Benson, a Dutchess County lawyer, who replaced Alexander McDougall, a “refugee” from British-occupied New York City—a slender victory for the longtime upstate residents. Benson did not attend Congress in 1781 or 1782. , 17: 892; 21: 1132.
7. For RRL’s election as secretary for foreign affairs, see his 20 Oct. 1781 letter to JJ, below. RRL retained his position as chancellor.
8. Frederick Jay, a member of the New York State legislature, had requested General Washington’s and Governor Clinton’s permission for his wife’s visit to friends and relatives in Yonkers, behind British lines. Clinton deferred to Washington’s judgment, but it is unclear whether the general granted permission. For Frederick Jay’s letter to Clinton and the governor’s reply, see , 7: 116–17.