The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter from the Count de Grasse to the Hon. the Chevalier de la Luzerne, Minister Plenipotentiary of France.

"Cape-Henry, September 13, 1781:

Nothing gave me greater pleasure than the approach of the armies under General Washington and the Count de Rochambeau. In order to hasten their arrival I had selected out seven vessels that drew the least water to transport them from the mouth of Elk down Chesapeake Bay. But the moment they were ready to sail to execute this service, I was myself obliged to make preparations for repelling the enemy's fleet which appeared off the entrance of the Bay. I have fought them, and their van has been roughly handled.

I returned to the Bay on the 10th. In the mean time Count de Barras had arrived, and sent up the transports he had with him to bring down the troops, which induced me not to send up the seven vessels above mentioned; and I had only to add to those sent by Count de Barras as many frigates as I could. My putting to sea facilitated the entrance of M. de Barras, and our junction has added much to our strength. I fell in with two of the enemy's frigates, the Iris and the Richmond of 32 guns each. They had been sent by the English Admiral to cut away the buoys of our anchors. They have paid dear for them."