Philadelphia Feby. 6th 1780 [1781]
My dear Sr.
Yours of the 26th I received last night with a Postscript informing me of Arnolds having bent his force towards your River.1 If his intentions are really what he has declared them, and he executes them it will heighten the Black of his Character and make it approach to Miltons discription of that of Hell a Darkness Visible. But, my dr Sr., are we to be surprized at these things? have we not been told by the British Commrs. as early as - - ’78, that they wd. ravage and lay waste our Towns and Coasts, and have we made any one preparation for defending ourselves? have we good, strong and well Constructed forts at the entrance of all our Rivers, or at least in the most commanding and narrow passes of them, with a good Galley or two mounting 36 pounders to flank them? have we proper boats arranged in case of necessity for throwing men rapidly from one Side of the River to the other? have we waggons, Carts, & draught Cattle enrolld to be calld out in Classes as the militia are, in case of alarm to enable an army to take the field and move with speed and conveniency? have we a regularly organized militia of Infantry, Cavalry & artillery, arranged under experienced Genl. officers with the Superintendance of Arsenals and Magazines erected in convenient Places, sufficient to arm and equip one tenth part of the Militia at a moments warning and march them to a given Point? These preparations I had the honor to propose to the Assembly in May last, through Col. Innis then a Member, they were then thought unnecessary; I have now repeated them to you with the most ardent wish that you wd use your Influence with the next assembly to have them or something effectual adopted. No stone has been left unturnd to procure the aid you speak of; and I have some (tho faint) hopes that it is now executing - but I much fear that we must be much more weakened before we have effectual aid from that Quarter.
The Revolt of the Pennsylvania line is at length finally terminated, about 1,200 remain in service but the whole are either discharged or furloughed for a short time, that their tumultuary disposition may subside, and some preventatives be applied to a future measure of that sort.
The Jersey line followed their Example, but were nippd in the Bud of Revolt, a large detachment march against them, and they were instantly brought to unconditional Submission, their leaders hangd on the Spot, by their followers and a thorough contrition and return to duty was the immediate consequence. I hope mutiny has had its course and will now subside - but does not these events strongly impress on the minds of every well wisher to his Country that it is necessary the Citizens of America shd. turn their thoughts from Party animosity and Private gain to replenishing the Public Coffers with the Sinews of War and opposition. I can hardly here help repeating two lines of a severe Satire that has lately appeard agt. our Publick measures.
"An army naked, and unpaid,
The Public lean on foreign Aid."
No news Authentic from Europe, but that Portugal has acceeded to the armd Confederacy; England determined to push the War in America, spight of every other Consideration-its Minister has a Garbled House of Commons completely to his mind. Count Vergennes has had some communications with Mr. A. to whom he made advances, passing over Dr. F for an explanation of our Act of 40 for one (18 March last) in behalf as he said of the Subjects of his master trading to America. Mr. A. fully answered (but did not Satisfy) him in a Manly, firm and rational manner-the Arguments of the latter were so close and conclusive in vindication of the Justice and Judicious proceedings of the Councils of America that the former beat the Charrades, and returnd again to the Usual Channel of his Communication, not without some marks of displeasure at being so unexpectedly foild. This is all the European news; Congress have come to a resolution to demand of the States, power to lay Duties not exceeding 5 per Ct. on all foreign Imports, to raise a fund for a loan for carrying on the war, the necessity of which is apparent, and that it be general is not less so. Tis for this reason Congress desire to have the power vested in them, to avoid procrastination & partial impositions. Genl. Parsons has lately (25th ult) attacked the Enemies lines at N.Y., Burnt the Huts of Delancys Corps, killd about 100, taken between fifty & Sixty Prisoners, destroyd their Bridges of Communication over Harlaem River, burnt their Magazines of forage, and taken two or three Hundred Cattle and Horses with the loss of about 13 killd and as many Wounded. I have the Honr. to be with my best respects to my Friend Yr Brother
Arthur who with yr Son is I expect by this time with you Yr. most obedt Sert,
Theok. Bland
Receiver’s copy, Lee Family Papers, University of Virginia.
1 For Lee’s January 26 letter imploring Bland to "press every motive and strain every nerve, to procure an adequate naval aid" for the capture of the forces under Gen. Benedict Arnold, see Campbell, The Bland Papers, 2:57 - 58.
2 For "the report [concerning Parson’s New York attack] . . . made to Congress by the Genl.," see Samuel Huntingtonâs first letter to Washington, February 9, 1781, note.
3 Not found.