George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

[484] last days of April, with a force of fourteen hundred

Chap. XXIV.} 1781. May.

and thirty-five men, all told, he left Wilmington for Virginia. Clinton replied:¹ ‘Had you intimated the probability of your intention, I should certainly have endeavored to have stopped you; as I did then as well as now consider such a move likely to be dangerous to our interests in the southern colonies.’ He had just received from the secretary this mes-

April.

sage: ‘Lord George Germain strongly recommends it to Sir Henry Clinton either to remain in good humor, in full confidence to be supported as much as the nature of the service will admit of, or avail himself of the leave of coming home; as no good can arise to the service if there is not full confidence between the general and the minister.’² But, instead of resigning, he hastened to warn Germain: ‘Operations in the Chesapeake are attended with great risk, unless we are sure of a permanent superiority at sea. I cannot agree to the opinion given me by Lord Cornwallis.’³ ‘I tremble for the fatal consequences which may ensue.’⁴

But the subordinate general had from Wilmington written to the secretary, ‘that a serious attempt upon Virginia would be the most solid plan;’⁵ and Germain hastened to instruct Clinton: ‘Lord Cornwallis's opinion entirely coincides with mine of the great importance of pushing the war on the side of Virginia with all the force that can be spared.’⁶