From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 19 May 1780
To Major General Lafayette
Hd Qrs Morris Town 19th May 17801
I impatiently wait my Dear Marquis to know the result of the arrangements you were to make with Congress.2 The time slides away so fast and we have so little before us, that every moment is infinitely precious and ought to be improved.
We talked of a Proclamation to the Canadians—If it is not already done, I think it ought not to be delayed. It should be in your own name, and have as much as possible an air of probability. Perhaps it will be more plausible to have two different kinds struck—one intimating to them that the arrival of a french fleet and army in the River St Laurance to cooperate with these states is to be expected by the way of Rhode Island where they are to touch for to answr some importt purposes.3 and dwelling on the happy opportunity it will afford them to renew their ancient friendship with France, by joining the allied arms and assisting to make Canada a part of the American confederation, with all the privileges and advantages enjoyed by the other members; cautioning them by no means to aid the enemy in their preparation for defending the Province. The other proclamation should be drawn on the supposition of the fleet and army being already arrived—and should contain an animating invitation to arrange themselves under the allied banners. In both proclamations you should hold yourself up as a French and American officer charged both by the King of France and by Congress with a commission to address them upon the occasion. It may indeed be well to throw out an idea that you are to command the corps of American troops destined to cooperate with the French armament. The more mystery in this business the better. It will get out and it ought to seem to be against our intention.4
In a memorandum you left with Col. Hamilton, you mention pilots to be sent to Cape Henry to conduct the fleet to Rhode Island.5 This does not appear to me necessary; as there will be pilots ready at Rhode Island to take the fleet into the Harbour and every Navigator can answer the purpose to the entrance of the Port—If however you think it will be expected that pilots be ready at Cape Henry, you can apply to the Marine Committee who can easily provide them.6 I am with all Affection & sincerity—yrs truly.
I forgot to observe that something might be addressed to the savages—I mentioned to you when here the inserting a paragraph in the papers—somewhat to this effect. “We have it from good authority that the Marquis De La Fayette brings the important and agreeable intelligence of a very considerable naval and land force, intended to be sent by his Most Christian Majesty to the succour of these states—and that the Campaign will open with a combined operation against New York. This there is every reason to hope with proper exertions on our part will put a happy period to the war; nor can there be any room to doubt, that the glorious opportunity will be effectually improved—This instance of the friendship of our ally is a new claim to the lasting affection and gratitude of this Country”7—I think such a paragraph will be useful as the people will be roused by it, while the enemy by the address to the Canadians & other demonstrations pointing another way may be distracted by attending to different objects & weakened8—You will judge by appearances how far it may be agreeable to Congress.
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW enclosed the recipient’s copy, which has not been found, in his letter to Lafayette of 20 May.
1. GW wrote the dateline.
2. Lafayette left Morristown for Philadelphia on 14 May and arrived the next evening (see Elbridge Gerry to John Wendell, 16 May, in , 15:137–38). He communicated to Congress and to French minister La Luzerne the contents of his dispatches, including his instructions from the French court regarding a French expeditionary corps and the supply needs of that force. He also addressed GW’s desire for the establishment of a plenipotentiary committee for the purpose of rapidly requisitioning men and supplies from the states (see Lafayette to GW, 27 April, n.2, and GW to James Duane, 13 May, n.8, and 14 May; see also Lafayette to La Luzerne, 17 May, in , 3:20–24). For La Luzerne’s response following exchanges with Lafayette, see his letter to Congress of 16 May, printed as an enclosure to Samuel Huntington to GW, 29 May.
3. GW wrote the previous seventeen words in the left margin of the draft.
4. GW and Lafayette intended these proclamations to deceive the British commanders into believing that Canada, rather than New York City, was the allied objective. On 25 May, Lafayette wrote from headquarters to La Luzerne “that in order to mislead the enemy on the aim of our expedition, General Washington wishes me to draft a proclamation to the inhabitants of Canada. This document will be printed in the greatest secrecy, but we shall take care to pass it on to New York. As for the other copies, except for the one for New York, they will be thrown in the fire on the arrival of the French troops; thus I can say all that I please in a work destined never to appear.
“If you approve of this idea, and if you are willing to send me a stamp with the arms of the king on it, it could help to deceive the enemy’s spies even more. … If you reply to me on this subject it should be through a private and very secure means” (, 3:35).
Lafayette’s sole proclamation included many of GW’s suggestions. Lafayette named himself commander of the expedition and urged Canada to join with the United States to “strengthen the bonds of the close friendship that unites them forever with France.” The benefits of union for the inhabitants of Canada included religious freedom and an opportunity to draft a constitution. The French king called on the inhabitants of Canada “to join the armies united for this felicitous revolution,” improve relations with “the savages,” and obtain “all of the information that can contribute to our success” (English translation of undated French broadside, in , 3:36–39; see also GW to Benedict Arnold, 4 June).
GW wrote David C. Claypoole from headquarters at Ramapo, N.J., on 30 June: “I return you the Proof sheet of the Proclamation committed to you by General Arnold, with some corrections. You will be pleased without delay to have five hundred copies struck off and forwarded to me. This you will conceive is a business of great importance and ought to be conducted with great secrecy and dispatch” (LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, PWacD: Sol Feinstone Collection, on deposit at PPAmP). The enclosed proof sheet has not been identified, but there is a hand-corrected proof sheet of the proclamation (in French) in ViU: Nourse Family Papers.
Philadelphia printer David C. Claypoole (c.1757–1849) became co-publisher of John Dunlap’s semi-weekly The Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Advertiser in October 1780. Claypoole alone published the paper from January 1781 to September 1784. GW had Claypoole’s paper delivered to his headquarters at Newburgh, N.Y., and he requested that issues be sent to Martha Washington at Mount Vernon (see GW to Claypoole, 7 Aug. and 19 Sept. 1782, both DLC:GW; see also GW to Clement Biddle, 16 May 1785, in 2:560–61). Claypoole continued publishing newspapers in Philadelphia until October 1800.
5. The memorandum has not been identified.
6. For the directives to place pilots at both Cape Henry, Va., and Rhode Island to assist the squadron carrying the French expeditionary army, see GW to Thomas Jefferson, 15 May, and n.3 to that document, and to William Greene, 23 May.
7. This paragraph has not been identified in newspapers. A circular letter dated 19 May from Congress to state governors announced France’s decision to send an expeditionary force (see , 15:154–56). That circular or related notices appeared in newspapers, including The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser (Philadelphia) for 23 and 30 May.
8. GW wrote the previous thirty-three words in the left margin of the draft.