82 Letters to the Governor and Council

February 20
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 45

expect immediate & considerable reinforcements shou'd Cornwallis
pursue him into Virginia. Lord CornwalliS^ts first object we may
certainly say was with a view to cut off Morgans Retreat after the
action at the Cowpens & to recover the bagage & probably the Pris-
oners — but the great Rains allowed Morgan to get off before Corn-
wallis cou'd cross a Stream between them — which permitted the Junc-
tion with Green as mentioned above & a safe conduct of those Pris-
oners which with all others are far advanced into Virginia destined
for the other side of the blue Ridge. I have the great pleasure to
assure you that the Intelligence of the arrival of General Provost in
Cape Fear River is premature, we now certainly know that that
Fleet was from Cha^s Town, with 450 Troops, their object suposed
to be some Stores out far distant but that party have not done any-
thing & from the number of Transports (71) some now supose that
they were intended to act in concert with Cornwallis to influence
the Tories & in Case of CornwalliS^ts disappointment in his pursuit,
to assist his retreat that way to Cha^s Town, but I confess the latter
part of these supositions do not accord with my notions, indeed I
think it impossible from a knowledge of the Geography of that
Country — but be this as it may I cant doubt but it will prove luckey
to the United States that Cornwallis has ventured so far, & the more
he advances the worse, indeed if he penetrates Virginia, he will meet
the fate of Burgoyne — as our Counties there are powerfull in arms
& determined whigs — our Executive has allready taken the most
effectual means to push these men into immediate Service, by ex-
empting from the present Drafts for the Continental Army — all who
will turn out on this occasion. If they do so, (which I cant doubt)
I expect to hand you the good news of his Captivity in my next.
As to Arnold Certain it is that a French Fleet arrived this day
For night in Hampton Road — the best Intelligence says this fleet
consists of a 64 & 2 frigates — it is certain Arnold had forewarning
of their intending here & he has drawn up all his Fleet in Elizabeth
River above the Fort, we can't yet say what may be affected by this
Naval assistance — but we may hope for something good as in conse-
quence of a Conferrence between the French Admiral & Baron
Stueben — all our forces on the north side of James River are ordered
over to the Portsmouth side — we have in Arms at that place about
five thousand men — among them many Rifle men — very proper for
Arnold or Cornwallis & that Countrey with the present Naval assis-
tance, will allow of our acting ag^t either (should their Junction be
attempted) with great advantages & little risque I have but to add,
that the recent arrival of General Weedon who left Richmond on
Sunday, has induced me to reject many Reports well told here, & to
hand you the foregoing as Fact.