The whole Fleet consisting of 250 Sail left New York with a northerly wind, which lasted them —only a few hours, so that it was the 31st before they reached the Mouth of the Delaware. I had been apprized of their coming and stood out to Sea to meet them, when a consultation was held between the Admiral& the General on the expediency of landing the Troops up the Delaware, or whether they should proceed on to Chesepeake Bay with the Fleet, and land the Army at the head of it in the N Et branch. The Arguements used against the Delaware were chiefly, that as General Washington, by the long passage of the Fleet from New York, had got his Armyroler the Delaware before the Fleet arrived, great opposition was expected to be given to the Troops at landing at Newcastle or Wilmington the places intended. That the Enemy expecting the, Fleet to come into the River had made uncommon preparations to annoy the Men of War & Transpts with Fire Ships & fire rafts, and had besides a considerable number of Row Galleys, Xebecks & Floating Batterys, which in the Narrow Navigation & rapid tides of the River might do great damage among the Transports: that by going to the Head of Chesepeak Bay the Troops would be put ashore without any molestation, have time to recover the Horses after the fatigue of the Voyage before they entered on Service, and where the Transports could remain in perfect security for any length of time that might be found necessary. In the Delaware you was expected, and the Enemy was in force & had made preparations to receive you; In Chesepeak Bay you was not expected, the Enemy could throw no obstructions in your way and it encreased the distance to Philadelphia only 17 Miles.

As I was present at this conversation I could not help expressing my surprize at the bare mention of Chesepeak Bay, upon which my Ld H (in confidence) told me "that the General's wishes & intentions were first to destroy the magazines at York & Carlisle before he attacked the Rebel Army or looked towards Philadelphia; and therefore it was of a great object to get to westward of the Enemy."

As I had for some time past reason to expect the Armament was in­ tended against Philadelphia, and had of course made some preparations for the guidance of the Fleet up the River, I could not help contending for the propriety of pushing up as far as they might go with perfect safety from any thing that was to be apprehended from the Enemy. I confessed that carrying all the Fleet as high as Newcastle would subject them to insult & danger from the Enemy's Row Galleys & fire Vessels, but that by advancing the Men of War only to Newcastle, the Transports would be perfectly secure at Reedy Island. The Admiral I think seemed to incline to the Delaware, but the General saying "he was from the beginning for making the landing in Chesepeak Bay", and the wind at that time being quite favorable for going to the Southward, the resolution was accordingly taken; but not untill the Quarter Master General was consulted as to the State of the Forage who reported, that sufficient remained for 14 days.