Details
FISH, Nicholas (1758-1833), Lt. Colonel, Continental Army. Autograph letter signed ("Nich. Fish"), to and unidentified correspondent, Head of Elk, 7 September 1781. 4 pages, 8vo, creases repaired, tape remnants.
CONFRONTATION AT YORKTOWN: "WE ARE NOW...ON OUR WAY TO YORKTOWN IN VIRGINIA...WE ARE MORALLY CERTAIN OF SUCCESS"
A fascinating, exuberant letter from one of Washington's most seasoned and aggressive officers, who participated in the famous assault on Redoubt No.10 at Yorktown. He mentions Washington, Lafayette, de Grasse, Rochambeau, Cornwallis and others; and reveals the high morale in Washington's troops as they march to their climactic confrontation with Cornwallis: "We are now...on our way to Yorktown in Virginia, where Lord Cornwallis has established himself with about four thousand men. It is highly probable that he has taken a judicious position, and that he will be indefatigable in fortifying strongly; but from our vast superiority in numbers, and by a few weeks regular approaches, I think we are morally certain of success."
"The arrival of the Fleet and army under Count de Grasse...was announced to us in this day's orders, and it was communicated to me yesterday, by a French officer from the Fleet, who called...for information where to find our Head Quarters on his way to General Washington with the important Dispatches. The Fleet consists of eight and twenty line of Battle Ships, and a number of Frigates, which added to the Rhode Island Fleet, will amount to six and thirty sail of the Line...This Fleet has landed [3,000] French troops...under the Command of the Marquis de Lafayette, with which, and the [2,500] American troops before under his Command, he has commenced a Blockade by Land, the Fleet forming a Blockade by Water. The present Force now on their March under Genl. Washington consists of [2,500] Americans commanded by Major Genl. Lincoln, and [4,500] French commanded by Count de Rochambeau, all of which added will make an aggregate of [12,500] regular troops against above [4,200]." Fish hopes such superiority in numbers will remove the necessity for any direct assaults against Cornwallis. He closes with instructions for distributing his estate "in case I should fall in this enterprise...." On Fish's distinguished service from 1775 to the end of the war, see DAB.
CONFRONTATION AT YORKTOWN: "WE ARE NOW...ON OUR WAY TO YORKTOWN IN VIRGINIA...WE ARE MORALLY CERTAIN OF SUCCESS"
A fascinating, exuberant letter from one of Washington's most seasoned and aggressive officers, who participated in the famous assault on Redoubt No.10 at Yorktown. He mentions Washington, Lafayette, de Grasse, Rochambeau, Cornwallis and others; and reveals the high morale in Washington's troops as they march to their climactic confrontation with Cornwallis: "We are now...on our way to Yorktown in Virginia, where Lord Cornwallis has established himself with about four thousand men. It is highly probable that he has taken a judicious position, and that he will be indefatigable in fortifying strongly; but from our vast superiority in numbers, and by a few weeks regular approaches, I think we are morally certain of success."
"The arrival of the Fleet and army under Count de Grasse...was announced to us in this day's orders, and it was communicated to me yesterday, by a French officer from the Fleet, who called...for information where to find our Head Quarters on his way to General Washington with the important Dispatches. The Fleet consists of eight and twenty line of Battle Ships, and a number of Frigates, which added to the Rhode Island Fleet, will amount to six and thirty sail of the Line...This Fleet has landed [3,000] French troops...under the Command of the Marquis de Lafayette, with which, and the [2,500] American troops before under his Command, he has commenced a Blockade by Land, the Fleet forming a Blockade by Water. The present Force now on their March under Genl. Washington consists of [2,500] Americans commanded by Major Genl. Lincoln, and [4,500] French commanded by Count de Rochambeau, all of which added will make an aggregate of [12,500] regular troops against above [4,200]." Fish hopes such superiority in numbers will remove the necessity for any direct assaults against Cornwallis. He closes with instructions for distributing his estate "in case I should fall in this enterprise...." On Fish's distinguished service from 1775 to the end of the war, see DAB.