From George Washington to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, 15 May 1780
To Major General Benjamin Lincoln
Head Qrs Morris Town May 15th 1780
My dear sir
I have duly received your favor of the 9th of last Month, containing an account of the Enemy’s movements till that period.1 Since the receipt of this I have seen a Copy of a Letter from the Honble Mr Gervais, one of the Council, as low down as the 15th—and was happy to find by it that their Batteries, though they had been opened some days, had done You but very little damage;2 and I was made still more happy yesterday by a report from New York, that You were all well on the 1st Instant.3 God grant it may have been true & that you may maintain your Post. As obstructing the passage of the Cooper was of some importance—I wish that You may have accomplished it.4
I have the pleasure to acquaint You, that the Marquiss de la Fayette arrived within a few days past in an Express Frigate from France, which he left the 20th of March.5 At that time Britain had formed no alliances that were known—nor does the Marquiss seem to be under the least apprehension of her being able to do it. The Marquiss comes the Messenger of other good news—and on which I congratulate You. His Most Christian Majesty of his great magnanimity and regard for us, has determin⟨ed⟩ to send a very respectable Armament of Land & Sea forces to our succour. I expect that it will arrive early next month6—and persuade myself that it will be the means of giving You certain & effectual relief. I wish my Letter may get safe to hand, as the communication of this important event must have a pleasing influence on the minds of the Troops—and will enable You with the more facility to persevere in your determination of defending the Town to the last extremity. Adieu. I remain with every wish for your success—& happiness Yr Affect. Hb. sert
Go: Washington
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Harrison noted at the end of the draft: “Four Copies of this sent to Govr Rutledge—in 2 Letters duplicates” (see GW to John Rutledge, 16 May, and to Samuel Huntington, 19–20 May).
1. In his letter to GW of 9 April, Lincoln described threatening British siege operations at Charleston, South Carolina.
2. GW is referring to a letter from South Carolina privy council member John Lewis Gervais to Henry Laurens dated 17 April (see Board of War to GW, 9 May, source note).
3. This report has not been identified, but newspapers circulated this intelligence. The Connecticut Journal (New Haven) for 25 May printed an item dated 17 May: “By accounts from N. York we learn, that nothing material had happened at Charlestown before the first inst.”
4. In order to prevent British warships from severing a line of communication with the South Carolina mainland, Lincoln had made plans to close the main channel of the Cooper River. The Americans successfully obstructed that channel, but the barrier failed to block a secondary one between Shute’s Folly and Mount Pleasant (see Lincoln to GW, 24 March and 9 April; see also Samuel Huntington to GW, 22 April, n.2, and , 131–32).
5. For Major General Lafayette’s departure from France aboard the frigate Hermione and his arrival in Boston Harbor, see his letter to GW of 27 April. He reached Morristown on 10 May (see GW to James Duane, 13 May, n.8).