1From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 21 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will have been informed by the Chevr de la Luzerne of the ardent wishes of these United States to see the Fleet under your command in these Seas—will have been told of the advantages which would in all probability be the result of such a movement—how essential it would be to make an early communication of your approach, and that you would be met off Sandy Hook with such details...
2From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 17 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the dispatches received from your Excellency by the Frigate La Concorde it has been judged expedient to give up for the present the enterprise against New York and to turn our attention towards the South, with a view, if we should not be able to attempt Charles town itself, to recover and secure the States of Virginia—North Carolina—and the Country of South Carolina and...
3From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 24 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I take the earliest Opportunity to inform your Excellency—that by a Letter which the Count de Rochambeau has received from Newport—The Count de Barras has taken a Resolution to join your Fleet in the Cheasapeak for which Purpose he intended, if the Winds should prove favorable, to depart from Newport on the 21st instant, This Information is communicated to your Excellency, that you may take...
4From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 6 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored by your Excellencys Favor of the 2d Instant—& do myself the Pleasure to felicitate you on the happy Arrival of so formidable a Fleet of his most Christian Majesty, in the Bay of Chesapeake, under your Excellencys Comand—this happy Event, I hope will be improved to the most salutary Purposes, for the united Interests of both Nations. Expecting to have the Honor of a personal...
5From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 15 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor to receive your Excellencys Letter of the 4th of this Month—soon after my Arrival at this Place—I am at a loss to express the Pleasure which I have in congratulating your Excellency on your Return to your former Station in the Bay—And the happy Circumstance of formg a Junction with the Squadron of the Count DeBarras—I take particular Satisfaction in felicitating your Excellency...
6From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 20 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that some American Vessels, with salted Provisions on Board, for the Use of the Troops of my Army, have taken the Benefit of the Convoy of the Squadron of Count de Barras, & are Arrived in the Bay—I Will be obliged if your Excellency will be pleased to order those Transports to proceed up this River, near to Burrel’s Ferry & let them report to me, that they may receive my...
7From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 22 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter for your Excellency and the Copies of others to Count De Rochambeau and myself have this moment come to my Hands. I deem the intelligence they contain of so much importance that I have thought it proper to transmit them immediately to your Excellency by the Baron Closen one of the Aides de Camp to the Count de Rochambeau. I have the honor to be with the highest Respect and...
8From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 25 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I cannot conceal from your Excellency the painful anxiety under which I have laboured since the receipt of the letter with which you honored me on the 23d inst. The naval movements which your Excellency states there as possible, considering the intelligence communicated to you by the Baron De Clossen, make it incumbent upon me to represent the consequences that wd arise from them—and to urge a...
9From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 27 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am much indebted to your Excellency for the instant Communication with which you have honored me, of the Dispositions that you have determined for your Fleet. The Resolution that your Excellency has taken in our Circumstances proves, that a great Mind knows how to make personal Sacrifices to secure an important general Good—fully sensible of those wch your Excellency has made on the present...
10From George Washington to François-Joseph-Paul, comte de Grasse-Tilly, 1 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I should have had the honour of acknowledging sooner the note which Your Excellency transmitted by the Marquis de lafayette—but an expectation of being able to accompany my answer with interesting intelligence induced me to defer it to the present moment. With regard to the Station which Your Excellency has determined for the Main-fleet, the reasons which you are pleased to communicate prove...