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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from George Sackville Germain, Viscount Sackville to Henry Clinton
Sackville, George Germain, Viscount, 1716-1785
March 07, 1781
Volume 17, Pages 990-991

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LORD GEO. GERMAIN TO SIR HENRY CLINTON.

Whitehall, 7th March, 1781.

Sir:

Since my Letter to you of the 7th Feb'y, I have received your Dispatches, numbered from 113 to 117 inclusive, and laid them before the King. The Revolt of the Pennsylvania Line and Jersey Brigade, though not attended with all the good Consequences that might have been expected, are certainly Events of great Importance and must have very extensive Effects both in reducing Washington's present Force and preventing its being recruited by new Levies; and, as I doubt not, you will avail Yourself of his Weakness and Your own great Superiority to send a considerable Force to the Head of the Chesapeake, as soon as the Season will permit Operations to be carried on in that Quarter. I flatter myself the Southern Provinces will be recovered to His Majesty's Obedience before the long promised Succors (none of which are yet sailed) can arrive from France, and Mr. Washington unable to draw Subsistance for his Troops from the West Side of Hudson River, be compelled to cross it and take Refuge in the Eastern Provinces. I am very anxious to hear of Lord Cornwallis' Progress since General Leslie joined him. I have no doubt his Movements will be rapid and decisive, for His Lordship appears to be fully impressed with the absolute necessity of vigorous Exertions in the Service of this Country in its present Circumstances. The Success of General Arnold's Enterprise up James River, which the Rebel News Papers confirm, must greatly facilitate His Lordship's Operations, by cutting off Greene's Supplies and obliging the Militia to return to take care of their own Property. Indeed, so very contemptible is the Rebel Force now in all Parts, and so vast is our Superiority everywhere, that no resistance on their Part is to be apprehended that can materially obstruct the Progress of the King's Arms in the Speedy Suppression of the Rebellion; and it is a pleasing, tho' at the same time a mortifying, reflection, when the Duration of the Rebellion is considered, which arises from the View of the Return of the Provincial Forces you have transmitted, that the American

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Levies in the King's Service are more in number than the whole of the Enlisted Troops in the Service of the Congress.

GEO. GERMAIN.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton.