[WASHINGTON] 1781 Period Copy re: Destouches's Failure

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  Copy manuscript letter, originally sent by George Washington, to Lund Washington. New Windsor, Connecticut, 28 March 1781. 1 page, folio. Docketed to verso. 

   

  A period fair copy of a known letter sent by George Washington (1732-1799) to his cousin Lund Washington (1737-1796), who acted as Mount Vernon's steward during the Revolutionary War. Most importantly, Washington writes regarding the British Expeditionary Fleet, which had sailed for Virginia on 20 March 1781 to reinforce the now British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold's forces. The docketing to verso indicates that it was "Inserted in Rivington's New York Paper," indicating that the period copy was probably made after the letter was intercepted by the British and published in the Loyalist Rivington's Loyal Gazette, much to Washington's chagrin. 

   

  He writes, in part: "We have heard nothing certain of the two Fleets since they left their respective ports—we wait with impatient anxiety for advices from Chesapeake, and the Southern Army—God send they may be favourable to us—a detachment from New York has made two or three attempts to put to Sea (for the purpose, it is said, of reinforcing either Arnold or Cornwallis) and as often returned—My last acts from New York mention another attempt on the 25th; but whether with truth, or not, it is not in my power to say. It was unfortunate—but this I mention in confidence—that the French Fleet & detachment did not undertake the enterprize they are now upon, when I first proposed it to them—the destruction of Arnolds Corps would then have been inevitable before the British fleet could have been in a condition to put to Sea. Instead of this the small squadron, which took the Romulus & other Vessels was sent, and could not, as I foretold, do any thing without a Land force at Portsmouth."

   

  Early in 1781, Washington learned that a vast French flotilla -  28 ships of the line - was headed across the Atlantic to reinforce the smaller French squadron already riding at anchor off Newport, Rhode Island. Simultaneously, turncoat Benedict Arnold had established a stronghold in Portsmouth, Virginia, in January. Seizing the opportunity to both capture the fleet and execute Arnold, Washington persuaded Charles René-Dominique Sochet, Chevalier Destouches (1727-1793), commander of the French Fleet in Newport, to quickly dispatch to Arnold's small army in Chesapeake Bay in February 1791 after a storm disabled the British Long Island fleet. He simultaneously dispatched a land force of 1,200 light infantry towards Virginia, under the command of Lafayette, to oppose Arnold and reinforce Portsmouth. Destouches left Newport on February 8 to attack Arnold, but returned just 11 days later, having captured only the HMS Romulus. 

   

  Destouches again attempted the mission to prevent the British entry into the Bay on March 8th at Cape Henry, a 10-mile wide entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. This time, he had his full fleet and was carrying 1,200 troops, no doubt to prevent a repeat of the previous disaster. Two days later, Arbuthnot got wind of Destouches' mission and left in his modern copper-clad in pursuit. Despite the time difference in departure, Arbuthnot's involvement raised the concern of Washington, who wrote to Lafayette on March 11th: "I think the French had so much the start that they will first reach that Bay, but as there is no accounting for the delays and accidents of the sea I have given you this notice..." Artbuthnot's faster fleet arrived at Cape Henry slightly before Destouches on March 16th; there, the two fleets exchanged broadsides. The French destroyed the British fleet within an hour, but Destouches pulled away to the last. The battered British ships were unable to pursue; however, this victory was merely tactical, for Arbuthnot was able to pull into Chesapeake Bay the following day and hold there to assure the arrival of reinforcements for Arnold. As before, Destouches's entire mission was thwarted. 

   

  Washington was unhappy with the result, of course, but tactfully wrote a letter of thanks to Destouches for the "Minute detail which you are pleased to give me on the Action of the 16th inst. between the Squadron of his Most Christian Majesty under your command and that of the British under Admiral Arbuthnot. 'Tho you have not been able to accomplish the object which you had in view, you have merited the thanks of every American by the boldness of the attempt, and by the gallantry and good conduct displayed through the whole course of the engagement..." 

   

  He expressed his disappointment privately and candidly in this fair copy of the letter sent to Lund. Intercepted by the British, this letter was published in Rivington's Loyal Gazette, printed by James Rivington in British-held New York from 1777-1783, and much to Washington's embarrassment. Washington was compelled to issue an apology and clarification. 

   

  [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Separations along old folds. Neat repairs to verso. 

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