The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-10-20
GEN. WASHINGTON.
Egis mOYomonts Against Cornwall

AalG movements Against COFnTVaIIiSs
But to complete the chain of incidents
which finally entangIed CORVALLIS in
the fatal Yorktown meshes, we must
cross into the camps of the Americans
and their friends the French. Wash
ington, who, with a wretchedly clothed
and often but half-fed army, had been
sustaining the cause Of the Revolution
through SIX anxious years, never felt
the embarrassment of his situation more
than in the early part Of the year 1871.
He could do little to assist the South,
and saw no fattering prospects Of achiev-
ing anything decisive in the North.
The only ray of hope that flashed
through the clouds was the probability
that in the course Of the summer q large
French fleet would appear upon the
American coast, with whose assistance
something might be effected. But even
here so many contingencies were in
vOlved that success still seemed an ag-
gTavating uncertainty. A campaign,
nevertheless, was arranged. On the
23d of May, Washington met Count de
Rochambeau, commanding the French
allies at Newport, In conference at
Wethersfeld, Ct, where it was
agreed that the French should JOIN the
Americans on the Hudson, and an at
tempt be made to capture New York
city. A request was sent later to
the Count de Grasse, Admiral of
the expected feet In the West
Indies, to cooperate by entering the
harbor. This was WashingtOn's plan,
while it would seem that ROchambeau,
although yielding to him, had misgiv-
ings ia regard to it. At the same con-
ference the project Of marching to Vir-
ginia was alluded to, but it was held
that that State could be relieved quite
as effectually by attacking Clinton in
the North, and preventing him from
sending further reinfOrcements South !
ward. Still, everything depended upon !
De Grasse. Without him the year would |
probably close with matters continuing |
8tGtu QuO ; with him q great blow |
might be struck somewhere, and that |
somewhere was now the problem. Al |
though Washington had committed /
himself at the Wethersfield conference |
to an attack upon New YORK, and ex-
pected the cooperation Of the French .
Admiral, We find, as the summer ad-
vanced, and the situation in Virginia
by the retirement of Corn
wallis to the sea-coast, that he recog-
nized the possibility of a change Of plan
on his own part, and this before De
Grasses final destination and intentions
were known. By the Cd OF August
he had informed La Fayette of the con-
tingency thut might take him to Vir-
ginia, where they could unite in falling
upon Corvallis and he had sounded
Mr.. Robert Morris as to transportation
from Philadelphia, from which we are
to infer-as, indeed, one of his letters
authorizes the,nference-that,e even had
De Grasse come to New York, Wash
ingtOn was ready to suggest his sailing
back to the Chesapeake, while the army
would move to the same point. In
other words, the march upon Corn
wallis, perhaps the most splendid cpl
sOde of the var, was an alternative plan
already maturing in WashingtOn's mind
before word came from De Grasse that
he should not sail further north than
De Grasses announcement that he
would be in the Chesapeake about the 1st
Of September, and that he expected to
meet the allied army there and not at T
New York, did not reach Washington
until Aug. IA. At the latter turned
his entire attention to the descent upon
CORVALLIS. Demonstrations had been
made against New York in July with
serious intent, but now they were CON
lucted as a feint. 1t was Of the greatest |
that Clinton should not sus- {
Dect the intended march until Washing
5On was well on his way southwark. The (
plan remained q profound secret with /
both the American and French chiefs.
The troops were put on the move again
iOward the city as if for an attack. and
when they turned about and crossed the !
Hudson at Kings ferry, late in August, {
he feint was still kept up on the Jersey =
iide for day or two, when the entire ]
Orce headed for the Chesapeake. On
ihe 2d Of September the American wing,
5wO thousand sTong-fOur thousand
having been left to guard the Hudson,
lnder HeGth-mNrched through Phila- {
lelphia, followed the next day by the
French contingent, which delighted
Congress and the citizens with its in
.piring music and brilliant appear
mce. Here the news was received that !
De Grasse had arrived in the Chesa- }
,eake with a powerful fleet, and Wash }
ngto9y pushed on with the iyeliest an