Head Quarters, New Windsor, January 2, 1781.
Sir: I have been honored with your Excellency's favor of the 21st: ulto, in which Congress have been pleased to refer, the propriety of granting Genl. Starkes request to them, to me. His Health is undoubtedly so much impaired, that he has been able to do but very little duty the preceding Campaign, and retirement, for a time, seems therefore necessary. Congress will either direct his return to the Army at a certain period, or they will leave it at large, as they may judge proper.
I beg leave to call the attention of Congress to my letter of the 28th: Novemr. last from Morris Town, in which I mentioned Colo. Scammells desire to quit the Office of Adjutant General. I had not, at that time, his letter on the subject with me. I now inclose a Copy of it, 83 in which his reasons for
[Note:Scammell's letter of Nov. 16, 1780, is in the Washington Papers . A copy is filed with Washington's letter in the Papers of the Continental Congress .]
I have at length, thro' a Channel on which I can depend, gained an account, as accurate as circumstances will admit, of the embarkation which sailed from New York on the 20th. ulto. It consisted of about sixteen hundred Men, and was chiefly composed of detachments from the British, German and provincial Corps. The Queens Rangers is said to be the only intire Corps. Arnold commands, which, my informant says, gives disgust to many of the other Officers. The destination was not reduced to a certainty, but from the preparations, and the Refugees who embarked in the fleet, it was generally thought to be to the southward. 84 I have the honor etc.
[Note:The expedition under Arnold was to replace the British force withdrawn from Virginia by General Leslie, to whom Cornwallis suggested an advance into North Carolina after Ferguson's defeat at King's Mountain. Leslie moved by water and instead of going into Cape Fear River continued south to Charleston, S.C., and marched overland to join Cornwallis. Arnold reached Hampton Roads on Jan. 4, 1781. His instructions were to take post at Portsmouth, Va., and destroy the American magazines of supplies wherever practicable with safety. Clinton sent Colonels Dundas and Simcoe with Arnold, as officers of experience and much in Sir Henry's confidence, with whom Arnold was to consult before undertaking any important move.]
P.S. Capt. Mitchell of the Jersey line has marched with a Company to relieve Colo. Butler at Wyoming. 85
[Note:In the writing of Tench Tilghman.]