No. 6.
[headquarters Providence Augt. 2d. 1778.]
My Dear Sir
a number of matter have occured to me Since my Last, which I beg leave to mention to your Excellency. I wish to Know whether you have any brass field pieces to Land with your troops or horses to draw them; if you have none, I will Send you the number of pieces & horses you will please to mention; it will perhaps be necessary For your Excellency to be on horseback with Some aide de camps, for which purpose I suppose you have not horses; these Should therefore be Sent on board some Small vessels that may follow the Ships of war with forage to keep them till we are ready for Landing; you will please to Let me known your pleasure on this head. I would also beg Leave to Suggest that it might be of advantage to Your Land forces & marines to Encamp them on the Shore at Tower hill for a day or two, as they have been long at Sea, this will refresh them & give them the use of their legs, render your Ships less crouded & of course your men more healthy. Your men in this Situation will be perfectly Safe from any attempt of the Enemy. if you have not Tents, this cannot well be done; you will consider of & order as you Think proper. Your Excellency will pardon these hints as they only proceed from an Earnest desire to render your Troops as healthy & as possible. The boats are now ready but I thought best not to send them till I know whether your Excellency was in want of the horses & field pieces. I also wish where you would have them Sent, whether on board the fleet or any part of the Shore; if you think proper to Land your Troops, they may with Safety be left under their care, without being Sent on board, & perhaps the Sending boats down on this Side & landing your troop while our preparations are making at Tivertown, May serve to amuse & Distract the Enemy of these things your Excellency will please to Judge & give me your Opinion. There is another matter which you will please to Let me know your pleasure upon. Suppose while we are on shore a fleet Should come in sight before the Island is completely conquered, or Some other matter should turn up, which may call for your Excellency's presence onboard the fleet, under whose command would you wish your Troops to be put in your absence. Major general Green commands the right wing of our army, The Marquis de Lafayette the Left;1 you will please to let me know your pleasure in case Such Event Should take place, perhaps the marquis being of their own nation & of course better able to distinguish those who behave with remarkable bravery may be most agreeable; I shall wish to Know that I may gratify your wish in this point; if you do not chuse Either but that one of your own officers should Command them in your Excellency's absence, I Shall cheerfully acquiese or if you think it best to divide them to right & Left, I shall act accordingly. while your Excellency thinks proper to remain with your [dear ?] Troops, I shall be Exceeding happy in the Thought that I have so Brave and Experienced an Officer in the art of war to cooperate with me & act against the common Enemy, but as it is possible for Such an Event to take place, I wish to know Your pleasure that I may act accordingly. The maquis de La fayette waits upon your Excellency with the letter2 accompanied by John Brown Esqr. and Colo. Nightingale3 which the marquis will be Kind Enough to Introduce to your Excellency; They are Gentlemen of great wealth, probity and honor. any article you may want taken care of or business performed while in this place, you may with great safety intrust to their care. The marquis will be kind Enough to Explain to you—many Things which I have not time at present to commit to writing. Your Excellency will add full faith to what he Says to you on my part.
I have the honor to be [&c]