Correspondants: Col. Dayton, Gen. Sullivan, Lt. Col. Smith, John Parke Custis, and Lund Washington. The orginals of all 5 letters were captured by the British in June, 1781, and forwarded to Sir Henry Clinton, who ordered copies made. Ironically, no. 2 to Sullivan mentions an obstacle "which I dare not commit to paper, for fear of the same misfortune which has already happened to some of my letters." It bears a docket inventory mark allegedly in Clinton's hand. Letters 1 (28 May 1781), 2 (29 May 1781), 5 and 6 speculate about British military intentions, especially with regard to the destination of the fleet that had left New York on the 13th. Nos. 1 and 2 also mention supply and recruitment problems of the American army. Number 3 (30 May 1781), to Smith, differs slightly from that quoted in Fitzpatrick, vol. 22, which does not mention this letter's capture, nor does it include the following P.S.: It is by no means improbable that the Campaign in this quarter may be as active as to the southward. Letters 4 and 5 (both 31 May 1781), chiefly personal in nature, mention a conference with Rochambeau and warn of the possibility of an intended invasion and a consequent need to evacuate Mount Vernon. Each letter, uniformly watermarked with Britannia and countermarked WC, is mounted on larger sheet. Provenance: Formerly in the collections of the William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan.