The sun., 1898-10-23
LETTER FROM LAFAYETTE
Quaint Document Now in the Pos
session of General John ).
Berry, Of Baltimore.
WRITTEN TO GOVERNOR LEE
The Frenchman Was just About to
Start In Pursuit of Benedict Ar.
mold and Wrote From Head
quarters Along the Elk
River.
WRITTEN TO GOVERNOR LEE


from Marquis de Lafayette, which is still
in good state of preservation.
The writing is small and very difficult
to decipher, and the Ink is faded too,
which makes it all the more difficult
now to tell just what Lafayette wrote
from Elk River, Cecil county, on March
5, 1881.
He was then rendezvousing his army
at the head OF Elk River. He had gone
to France and gotten money and had
come back again and equipped soldiers.
When this letter, which is addressed to
Governor Thomas Sim Lee, was written
LAFAYETTE was about to start in pursuit
OF Benedict Arnold.
"ELK, March 5, 1851.
"S1R:
"Your Excellency's letter Of the Sd
inst, enclosing one from 1t. Jonvon,
has been safely transmitted, and l beg
leave most respectfully to present my
thanks for the succor which you are
pleased to promise in this important ex-
pedition.
"On my arrival at this place, had the
honor of addressing letter to your Ex
celency, wherein reported the circum
stances under which found myself, and
took the liberty of urging the necesslt' :
of Immediately to send here every vessel
that might be found in the bay.
"Your Excellency will lave also found
in ny ,etter some remarks, which from
the nature of the expedition became inn
portant-arned vessels to protect Us,
10 ,kout and dispatch boats to get ana
carry inte'i.enues, scows to land the
artillery, aud Il sutticiency Of boats tu
land at once the whole detachment.
'Snch are the art lies in which We are
niue deficient, and will absolutely want
all lei mt ssis ance.
''Sume ui the Vessels that are sent &c
this place have, | am afraid, found d
way of hiding themselves in the creeks,
which, unless precautions are taken tt
chase them up, may prostrate our ex'
pectations.
From a conviction that the number
of vessels ordered here will not exceed
our wants for this first detachment,
should on this account, most earnest ly
request your Excellency that every yes.
sci found hereafter in the bay De speedily
sent to the head OF the Elk.
''Bnt another motive adds to the i'm
portance of the measure, and | have the
honor to inform your Excellency that
General Waine, with "a detachment from
the Pennsylvania line, S soon expected
at the head Of the Elk, from whence he
. is to Join me ds soon as a sutficiency o.
vessels may be got in readiness. The 6O(
barrels of bread will be of great service
to us-30O more would finish to make uI
fnr ha la
tachment, to which, if 300 barrels o
meat and a portion OF rum were added il
would insure a sufficient stock for the
troops that are at present with me. The
getting of live cattle would be extremely
agreeable. But | cannot being unac
quainted with the lower part of Mary
land and Virginia. pretend to judge Of &
proper manner to forward them. Pro>i
sions are articles Of such Importance that
any aid obtained from this State must
be of great weight in the state of oul
operations.
"On my arrival at this place directed
that return be made Of articles deficient
in the artillery and engineer departments
Enclosed have the honor to end a copy
OF this leurn. Want OF money is great
obstacle to every preparation made by
our army and we seldom can complete
such necessaries which Europeans con,
slider as essential even to the thoughts OF
undertaking an expedition.
"A copy Of this paper has been en-.
cl sed to Gen. ra Gist o ping that some.
thing could be found al Baltimore, but
ny chief dependence is in the aid |
solicit from your Excelency and this
State.
81 have no artficers, and it would be
necessary that number of them be or.
dered for the expedition. Whatever
articles among those above mentioned
could b. got in readiness might either
come up to this place, or wait for the
time of our passage to Annapolis.
But intend to embark and sail, 60
soon as vessels can be got; should some
other articles be unable to join us on the
way, they might be ordered to come after
us with all possible dispatch. Our de.
tachnent has been in readiness since the
time of our arrival. The troops under
General Waine may be soon expected.
But the number is entirely unknown to
me, and depends upon lat they may
be able to oculItct.
Arnold has 1900 regular troops, ex
elusive Of officers and sergeants. The At
gln ship, and the two irigates, will fur.
ulsh hIm with 900 sailors who are excel.
lent for batteries. He must have som,
line Ai!n him, and from time he had
to iortify the p ,sltlnn think his works
must be respectable.
''rhe present detachment 10 excellent
but small. The number Of Pennsl T.
vanlans and the time of their arrival is
enlirrDy uncertain. A large quantity ot
militia wilt be necessary to achieve g
purpose to which we are at present SO in
adequate, and do not know what mum.
ber may b. got from Virginia.
"a body OF militia and every CONT
Mental soldier have marched under Baron
de Stubens. What your ExcelIency ano
Council would think on this matter,
would be happy to know, and would be
lleve that armed vessels and transports
with provisions could be in the Potomac
have the honor to send yonr Excel.
lency letter from the President of Con
gress, and with the highest respect have
the honor to be
"Your ExcelIency's most obedient anc
humble servant, LAFAYETTE"
His EXceIencv, Governor Lee, &c. y