At a Council of War held at the Camp at New Providence, in the State of North Carolina, the 25th November, 1780, Consisting of
The Council being assembled, the Commander in Chief acquainted them
That—The want of Provisions and Forage in this Camp—The advanced Season of the Year—The almost total Failure of the Herbage—The entire want of a Magazine of Salted Meat and the Uncertainty of providing it—The increasing Sickness and the unwholesome Situation of the Camp—The want of any proper accommodation for the sick—The want of Hospital Stores and proper Comforts necessary for sick and deceased Soldiers—The probability of a Reinforcement being sent from the Enemy at New York—The Invasion of Virginia, and the apparent Prospect of Sir Harry Clinton's supporting that Invasion and Commanding a Co-operation with Lord Cornwallis—The State and
Strength of this army compared with that of the Enemy, and the Expectancy of Reinforcements coming to our Army, are the motives which induced him to assemble the Council of War and to request their Opinion of the Movements and the Position the Army ought to take in the present circumstances.The Council having fully deliberated upon the matter before them—And the question being put, What Position the Troops ought to take? Whether at or near Charlotte, or at the Waxhaws, or in that Neighborhood, The Junior Member, Lieut. Colonel Washington, gave it as his Opinion—That at or near Charlotte should be the present Position of the Army, to which every other member of the Council assented but General Smallwood, who was for the Army's moving to the Waxhaws, taking post there for three weeks, and then returning to Charlotte.