Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de (1757-1834) to [Elijah] Vose
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05848 Author/Creator: Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de (1757-1834) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 February 1781 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; free frank; 31.3 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy
Informs Colonel Vose that he will find three days provisions for his troops in Trenton, New Jersey, in addition to boats to accommodate his men on their trip from New Jersey to Virginia to counter British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Gives him advice on the path his troops should take and warns against stopping in Philadelphia, saying "it would have many inconveniences." Advises him to keep in mind the wind and the health of his men when choosing his course. Gives instructions on embarking horses onto the vessels. Postscript written vertically in the margin of page three requests Vose be quick and informs that Benedict Arnold's force is on the other side of the Chesapeake Bay blockaded by a French ship. Free franked by Lafayette.
The recipient of this letter is likely Lt. Col. Elijah Vose, who headed one of the three battalions of light infantry commanded by Lafayette.
Philadelphia February the 28th, 1781
Dear Sir,
On your Arrival at Trenton You will find three days provisions Ready for the troops with Every thing Necessary for their Reception- You will also Have in the course of the Evening a quantity of Vessels which, I am told, will Be sufficient for the whole detachment and on Board of whom some provisions will be embarked- in Order to Add to the certainty of Your total embarkation some flat Bottomed Boats will Be sent up to Trenton But I Hope that the Vessels will Be fully sufficient.
it will I think, Be Better to Have the Baggage and Every Thing But The Men Embarked This Evening- Provided You don't Arrive too late at Trenton.
How far it will Be possible to accommodate the men for the night on Board these vessels I [2] Cannot Ascertain I Wish You will Examine this Matter with [struck: the] Smith and the Commanding oficers of Battalions- in case it was possible it should Be the more proper to go on without Halting to Christen Bridge as we generally Have A Northerly Breeze- But should it Appear to Be Uncomfortable for the men As this must alwais Be our first attention, I Request You will go tomorrow as far as Judy or Chester- But in any case you must not stop at Philadelphia as it would Have many inconveniences.
Your Movements depending on the state of the vessels, that of the Wind, And other Circumstances which I Cannot Foretell, I only wish You will do for the Best Making as great dispatch as possible Consistent with the Health of the men, and that on your arrival at Trenton you will write to me Very particularly What Has Been settled.
[3] As there will not Be a sufficiency of vessels of Horses I Have Requested Colonel Pickenny to send up His order to the Quarter Master Rilating to Horses that Have Been impressed- As to [struck: the] horses Beloning to the officers, Colonel Pickenny will also write to you what He thinks the most advisable for them to do- But Horses Cannot Be Embarked at the Head of Elk, and impressed ones will Be prepared at the point embarkation.
Independent of the express that will Return this evening I wish that so som[e] as the troops embark to tomorrow morning think will come By land to Philadelphia and tell me what [struck: you] [strikeout] are your prospects w/ the time you let out.
The Quarter Master ought also to push with Great Rapidity for the place where the troops will Be intended to land
With the most sincere Ulto [illegible] I
Have The Honor To Be Dear Sir
Your Most obedient
Humble Servant Lafayette
To Colonel Vose
[written on left hand margin of page 3] I Request you will continue to Hold up this idea of the shortness of the Expedition as the preparation of the officers must Be difference from where they should Have Been Had we marched for the Southern Army_ Arnold's force is just on the other side of the Bay and was lately Blockaded By a French Ship
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