To Gouveneur Morris:

New Windsor, December 10, 1780.

Dear Sir:

It gives me please. at all times to know the Sentiments of others upon points of public utility; those however which you have delivered relative to an enterprise against the enemy in New York, exhibit strong evidence how little the world is acquainted with the circumstances, and strength of our Army.

A Small second embarkation took place about the middle of last Month; if another is in contemplation to take effect at the reduction of our force (which I think exceedingly probable) it is too much in embryo to form more than conjectural opinions of it, at this time; but I will suppose it large, and that not more than 6,000 regular troops will be left behind. Where are the Men; Where are the provisions; Where the Cloaths; the everything necessary to warrant the attempt you propose, in an inclement Season?

Our numbers, never equal to those of the enemy in New York.

Our State lines, never half compleat in Men, but perfectly so in every species of want, were diminished in the Field, so soon as the Weather set in cold; near 2000 Men on account of Cloaths, which I had not to give, nor ought to have given (supposing a surplusage) to the levies, whose dismission was near at hand. And now, to save the Man who is a permanent Soldier from starving I am obliged in place of calling in the aid of Militia for new enterprises to dismiss the levies on account of the Provision. Under this description of our circumstances, (which is not high coloured), And when to it is added that instd. of getting Lumber from Albany for building Barracks on York Island in the manner, and for the purposes you mention that we have neither money nor credit adequate to the purchase of a few boards for Doors to our Log huts. When every ounce of Forage that has been used all the latter part of the Campaign, and a good deal of the provision, has been taken at the point of the Bayonet. When we were from the Month of May to the Month of Sepr. collecting Militia that out to have been in the field by the middle of July, and then obliged to dismiss them for want of Supplies. When we cannot dispatch an Officer, or common Express upon the most urgent occasion for want of the means of support; and when I add but this is a matter of trivial concern because it is of a personl. nature that I have not been able to obtain a farthing of public money for the support of my Table for near two Months, you can be at no loss as I have before observed to discover the impracticability of executing the measure you suggested even supposing the enemy’s numbers were reduced to your Standerd, but which by the way neither is, nor will be the case, till the reduction of our Army takes place, the period of which they know as well as we do, and will, I have little doubt, govern themselves accordingly. An Earnest desire however of closing the campaign with some degree of éclat led me to investigate the means most thoroughly of doing it and my wishes had so far got the better of my judgment that I had actually made some pretty considerable advances in the prosecution of a plan for this purpose when alas! I found the means inadequate to the end and that it was with difficulty I could remove the army to its places of Cantonment where it would be well for the Troops, if like Chameleons, they could live upon Air, or like the Bear, suck their paws for sustenance during the rigour of the approaching season.