No. 9.
[headquarters/Providence Augt. 5th. 1778.]
My dear Count
The Letter1 which you did me the honor to send me by the Marquis de la Fayette came to hand last night 12.°C. Previous to his return, I had Sent your Excellency four field carriages for Six pounder & afterward in a boat two brass four pounder, had your Excellency's Letter arrived before, I Should have sent four brass pieces but I hope what I have Sent will be Sufficient [for] what cannon you can mount upon the carriages [&] if they should not be sufficient, you will please to let me know & I will Send two more: Major Sylvester Gardner will Supply your Excellency with the necessary horses For them & For your family: The boats are already sent foreward. I have consulted the general officers about me, respecting one wing of the army desembarking with your troops: they are of opinion that it will be but to send Your Excellency a detachement of the army as Soon as Enough troops are in, to warrant the measure, I will Endeavor to put them under good officers, The General command of them your Excellency will please to accept. I Should be very happy to have Sent the marquis, with a wing of the army to have Joined your Excellency, but that would weaken the other wing & render it unable to make a Landing, besides it it would Leave me but one major general, and I am certain the presence of the marquis cannot be so much Wanted where So Experienced & brave officer as the Count d'Estaing Commands. My plan of Landing with the main body from Sepowet as a place near Bordenpoint arises from the convenience of Keeping up an easy communication in our rear from Tivertown Shore where all our magazins & stores are deposited; your Excellency making a Show of landing your troops at the time we begin to Land, will devide the attention of the Enemy, if they should throw their whole forces against us you will please to Land your troops & by a Quick march fall upon their rear, the Flanking division & light corps will move forward & gain their flank & when your Excellency comes up with your troops, the Enemy will find himself surrounded on all Sides, Should they turn their whole forces to prevent your Landing, we Shall move across the Island to attack them in rear, facilitate your landing & by pushing on the Light corps & flanking divisions Surround them on all Sides[.] The more Effectually to distract them, I shall adopt the method your Excellency did me the honour to propose by making Feints in Several other places at the Same Time. I would not wish your Excellency to make your Landing till you find the Enemy are about to attack us, for should the forces be Equally devided & both Land at the same time, the Enemy might by a Sudden & desperate attack upon one party, put it to rout & then by turning upon the other get a compleat victory, to prevent which I wish to have one party Strong Enough to make good the Landing under the fire of your frigates at all Events & that as Soon as they are attacked your Excellency should push your troops on the Enemy's rear & if possible cut off their retreat to their Lines near the Town. I have in the map Inclosed2 your Excellency by the marquis, marked the places where I shall Embark with the Letter A the place of desembarkation with the Letter B, & the place where I wish your Excellency to Land with the Letter C. Your Excellency will Judge of the best spot to answer the purpose & act accordingly—I think we Shall be able to Land you a considerable reinforcement but I cannot determine the number at present as many of the Troops have not yet arrived. I admire your Excellency's plan of bringing your Ships to attack the Town on many points at the Same Time. This event throw the Enemy into the greatest confusion & insure us Success, I think Sunday morning at day break will be the time for the descent, Should any obstacles appear, I will give your Excellency—immediate notice. Should your Excellency be unfortunately called to oppose a maritime Ennemy, I will immediately detach the marquis de La Fayette to take command of the French troops & those who are detached from us. I cannot Suppose that it was in the power of the Enemy to Sink So many vessels as to prevent your Excellency From forcing your passage in the Middle chanel & Even if that was the case, your fleet may be coming around Connonicut, come down upon the Town without difficulty in the Course of twenty four hours.3 we will wait a day or two rather than Loose the great advantage arising from the fire of the fleet. I Thank your Excellency for the useful hints & instructions in your letter of yesterday & wish your Excellency to make those observations respecting an operation which may occur to you, it will, as you justly observe, lessen the real danger; I Shall do my Self the honor to communicate every thing to your Excellency which may occur to me. I am in hope the Bricks & massons as they were Sent from here Sunday night last with twenty Thousand bricks. I wish your people to Try for water at Bessets mill, where they will find it in plenty. I have ordered three or four vessels to be Loaded here with fresh water & Sent down to you I hope the water will be to you by fryday morning I have the honor to be [&c.] Signé Jno. Sullivan.
P.S. if I find my-Self able to make a larger detachment to you perhaps I may find it in my power to Send the marquis with them Signé JS.