Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-04-15
GEN. WASHINGTON.

His MoYcmonts Against COrnwaIlis.
 But to complete the chain of incidents which finally entangled Cornwallis in the fatal Yorktown meshes, we must cross into the camps of the Americans and their friends the French. Wash- ington, who, with 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 1781. He could do little to assist the South, and saw no flattering prospects of achiev- ing anything decisive In the North. The only ray of hope that flashed through the clouds was the probability that Tn the course of the summer large French fleet would appear upon the American coast, with whose assistance something might be effected. But even here so many contingencies were in- volyed that success still seemed an ag- grayating uncertainty. A campaign, Eseverthgl ss, was arranged. On the 2,d of May, Washington met Count de Eochambeau, commanding the French allies at Newport, in conference at Wethersiield, Ct, where it was agreed that tue French should join the Americans on the Hudson, and an at- tempt be made to capture New York ciby. A request was sent later to tho Count de Grasse, Admiral of tEe expected fleet 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- iags in regard to it. At the same con iers nee the project of marching to Vir- ginia was alluded tc, but 1t was held that that State could be relieved quite as cifectually by attacking Clinton in the North, and preventing him from sending further reinforcemcnts South ward. Still, everything depended upon De Grasse. Without him the year would probably close with matters continuing statu quo; with him a great blow might be struck somewhere, and that somewhere was now the problem. AL though Washington had committed himself at the Wethersheld conference to an attnck upon New York, and ex- pected the cooperation of the French Admiral, We find, as the summer ad- vanced, and the situation in Virginia changed by the retirement of Corn wallis to the sea-coast, that he recoQ- nized the possibility of change of plan on his own part, and this before De Grasses final destination and intentions were known. By the I'd of August he had informed La Fayette of the con .tingenoy that might take him to Vir- gina, where they could unite in falling upon Cornwallis and he had sounded r.. D.. M l., A.. A
 from Philadelphia, from which we are to infer-as, indeed, one of his letters authorizes thesnference-that, even had De Grasse come to New York, Wash iugton 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 epi- sode of the war, was an alternative plan already maturing in Washington's mind before word came from De Grasse that he should not sail further north than Virginia.
 De Grasse's 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 New York, did not reach Washington until Aug. IA. At once the latter turned his entire attention to the descent upon Coruwallis. Demonstrations had been made against New York in July with q serious intent, but now they were con- ducted as feint. It was of the greatest importance that Clinton should not sus- poet the intended march until Washing. ton was well on his way southward. The plan remained Q profound secret with both the American and French chiefs. The troops were put on the move again toward the city as if for an attack, and whom they turned about and crossed the Hudson at Kings ferry, late in August, the feint was still kept up on the Jersey side for day or two, when the entire force headed for the Chesapeake. On the 2d of September the American wing, two thousand strong-four thousand having been left to guard the Hudson, under Heath-marchcd through Phila- dclPhia, followed the next day by the French contingent which delighted Congress and the citizens with its ill., spiring music and brilliant appear. hnce. Here the news was received that De Grasse had arrived in the Chesa- penke with powerful fleet, and Wash. iugton pushed on with the .liveliest an t,cipatiOns of success. The troops took the straight road to the head of the Elk and Baltimore, and, after a short delay embarked ill transports for the James In spite of the fatigues of the march
 hey were all in good spirit, with hardly sick man among them, and seemed tC rc1lilc the probable dccisiye rcsi:lts O