Philadelphia Sepr. 15. 1776
My dear Col.
I acknowledge myself greatly indebted to your goodness, for which, tho' I despair of ever making full returns, yet I shall endeavour to show my gratitude by such partial payments, as my time & abilities will admit of.
I cannot think the apprehensions of our Council, without foundation; for whether the Enemy is successful or not at N. York, there is reason to believe they will make some attempt upon some of the southern states and we know that our people, upon the least removal of danger, are too apt to relapse into supineness & inattention. We find from experience that regulars only can effectually be opposed to the British troops; therefore we are collecting our regular batallions to resist the efforts of the Enemy at N. York and if any sudden attack shou'd be made upon any state, we must depend upon the Militia to impede their progress, untill they can be opposed by some regular troops.
The Militia is not only ineffectual, but beyond measure expensive. Such a number of regulars will therefore be raised for the next campaign, that we shall not have recourse to the militia, but upon extraordinary occasions. Six new Regiments will be raised in Virginia.
You have no doubt, before this, been inform'd that our Generals upon finding Long Island not tenable, have quitted it, after a smart engagement between a party of between 2 & 3000 of our men, & the greater part of the Enemy's Army in which tho we were outgeneral'd, yet the troops behaved so exceedingly well, that Howe has been very cautious in all his movements since. All of which indicate his intention of geting upon the back of our Army, & with their shiping on the front & each side cut off all communication with the Country, in which case we must either fight to a disadvantage or surrender for want of provisions. Our Genl. is taking measures to prevent this; for which purpose the City of N. York, must be evacuated; which is by no means tenable, if the Enemy chuse to direct their efforts agst. it. As the Court of G.B. has ever accompanied Violence with deception, Ld Howe their agent since his arrival, has constantly endeavour'd to make the people believe that he has great powers & earnestly wish'd for peace; & at length carried the matter so far as to desire a conference with some members of Congress in their private capacities. The Congress to show they were not averse to peace, sent a Comtee. of their body to confer with him. They had the honor of three hours conversation with his LdShip & return'd here last Fryday. He acknowledged he had no power to suspend the operations of war, or to offer any terms; but said he had waited two months in England to prevail with the Ministry to empower him to converse & confer with Gentn. of influence in America, that he was sure of the good intentions of the King & the Ministry; & if we woud return to our allegiance, they wou'd revise the late instructions to Govrs. & the Acts of Parliament, & if there was any thing in them that appear'd unreasonable to them, he did not doubt but they wou'd make them easy. The whole affair will soon be publish'd by Congress, which I will send to my friends in Richmond & I shall be glad of Your remarks. All well at Ticonderogo.
Every advice from all parts of the French dominions give us hopes of a speedy rupture with G.B. That event will make us somewhat easy. My best respects to the Ladies & my friend Mr. Carter.1
Believe me, my dear Col. yr. afft. & oblig'd friend,
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Receiver's copy, Virginia Historical Society.
1 On the basis of notes Carter made on the verso of this letter, it would appear that Lee also wrote him another letter on the 17th which has not survived. Carter was apparently attempting to establish the exact date of the battle at Harlem Heights, N.Y., by analyzing conflicting accounts he had received. The pertinent section of his notes reads as follows: "Colo. F. Lees 2 letters 15 & 17. As NY is 100 miles from Philadelphia he could not hear of it nor mention it. His letter 17. says day before Yesterday a firing heard at NY. It might be some commencing manoeuvere for the enemys landing their men." This reference by Lee to "firing heard at NY" was repeated in his letter of the 17th to Thomas Jefferson and undoubtedly referred to the British bombardment and landing at Kip's Bay, N.Y., on the 15th.