Richard Henry Lee to Patrick Henry

The anxiety at Williamsburg cannot be greater than it is here to have a particular account of our late glorious success in the North. For nine days past, we have hourly expected the arrival of a Messenger with Gates’s Magnificent Inventory, and in order to a quick transmission of it, we have detained, and still keep Colo. Masons Express. We now learn that Colo. Wilkinson D. Adjutant Gen. is on his way with this long wisht for Capitulation by which Gen. Burgoyne and his Army have surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Until I can furnish you the authentic detail, I will entertain you with the relation of our late success on the Delaware below Philadelphia. It must be obvious to you how important to the enemy it is, that they shd. get their fleet up to the City, for this purpose they have made many efforts which have been repulsed with considerable injury to their Ships, and loss of Men. The last attempt was the most powerful and was as follows - With 1200 Hessian Grenadiers led by Colo. Count Donop they attack’d Red Bank, a post held by a party of Troops under Colo. Green of Rhode Island, nearly opposite to Fort Island on the Jersey Shore. The attack was made by Storm, and they had passed the Abbatis, gained the Ditch, and some of them, with Donop & his Aid Major at their head, had passed the Pickets, when they met so warm a reception as to be driven back and forced to retire with great precipitation, leaving the Count and his Aid with 70 wounded in our hands, and upwards of 70 dead on the spot. 300 muskets with swords &c. &c. are taken, one Lieut. Colo. & some inferior Officers of the enemy are among the slain. The routed party returned to Philadelphia, crossing Delaware opposite the City. An attack was likewise made on Fort Mifflin by several Ships of War and by the Batteries on Province Island, which was continued long and with great violence. At length the Ships retired and two of them getting a ground (a 64 & a 20) were quitted by the people after having set fire to them. They blew up with a terrible explosion. Thus the enemy were defeated and disappointed in this general attack. Whether they will renew their attempts I cannot tell, but it is probable they will. That you may have a better idea of this important passage I have inclosed you a draught made by Capt. Loyeaute of Gen. Coudrays Corps of Artillerists, the same Gentleman whom we have recommended for the Command of our Batn. of Artillery.

¹ He is an Artist in the business of Artillery and not unacquainted with the art of the Engineer, and will most assuredly benefit our Country much in this necessary department. I pray you Sir to interest yourself in procuring the appointment of this Gentleman. At all events it is proper that an answer be speedily sent here that the Gentleman may not be unnecessarily delayed. There has been pains taken to get this Officer in other States, but we have prevailed with him to give Virginia the preferance. The United States have a very considerable quantity of field Artillery at present, 30 pieces of which are laying idle at Charles Town in S. Carolina. Suppose Virginia was to direct their Delegates to apply to Congress for 6 or 8 of these pieces² & if they are granted to us, let them be brought to our Country, where for the present they may serve to instruct the Men with, and be ready for use next Campaign if we should be visited, which I very much incline to think will be the case, since the enemy have been so baffled in the North as must, I think, discourage future efforts in that quarter. Capt. Loyeaute is of opinion that it would be quite proper to have that number of Field pieces at the least, for the purpose of instruction, as well as for use in war. There are so many places in our Country that require to be fortified, and the use of Artillery is become so very important in war, that I think we cannot be too well and too soon acquainted with this branch of the Art of War. These Officers of Gen Coudrays Corps have only leave of absence from the Court of France for 2 years, and I think it will be very unwise in America not to profit from this circumstance so as to acquire knowledge of a necessary Art which they understand so well, and which we are quite ignorant of. Monsr. Loyeaute speaks English pretty well, and improves daily.³ The impatience of the Express will not suffer him to remain here any longer, and therefore we are not able to confirm the Northern News. This is the first moment of fair weather since Sunday morning, it having been constant and heavy rain for 4 days and nights past, which has prevented all intercourse with the Army or from the North. We shall send an Express to you immediately on receiving an authentic account from Gen. Gates, which I hope will be the case in a short time.

I am dear Sir most affectionately yours,

Richard Henry Lee.

Octr. 30th. 1777 10 o’clock in the morning.