Philadelphia, September 3, 1781.

    Sir: From the head of Elk, the Cavalry, Carriages and such Artillery as may be sent by Land, will proceed by the following rout: Lower ferry on Susquehannah; Baltimore; Elk ridge Landing; Bladensburg; George Town, on Potomack river. From hence a rout must be pursued to Fredericksburg, that will avoid an inconvenient ferry over Occoquan, and Rappahannock river at the Town of Fredericksburg. The latter may, I believe, be forded at Falmouth (two miles above Fredericksburg) and the latter [former] by leaving the common rout a little upon the left from George Town.

    >From Fredericksburg, the rout will be by Caroline Court House and Newcastle. I cannot, at this moment, point out the different Marches for want of a sufficient knowledge of the road, and convenient encamping places on it, but Lt. Colo. Gouvion being instructed to reconnoitre these will enable me perhaps to be more particular 'ere the March commences from the head of Elk. I have the honor etc. ²³

[Note:Lieut. Col. William Stephens Smith's account of Washington's traveling expenses (filed in the Washington Papers under Sept. 17, 1781, the date of its settlement shows that the route of Washington and Rochambeau from Princeton, N.J., to Baltimore was to Trenton, Bristol, Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Christiana Bridge, Wormsley's, Susquehanna Ferry, Darling's, Notingham, and Baltimore. An interesting item between the Darling and Notingham entries reads: "to Comfort the Wretched." 8 shillings ]