316 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 



No. 13. 



[In Arnold's hand-writing.] 

 [Endorsed,] 



Copy of a Council of Wac, held Sept. 6th, 1780. 



At a Council of War, held in Camp Bergen County Sept. 6th, 1780. 



Present — the Commander-in-Chief. 



The Commander-in-Chief states to the Council, that since he had the honor 

 of laying before the General Officers, at Morristown, the 6th of June last, a gen- 

 eral view of our circumstances, several important events have occurred which 

 have materially changed the prospects of the Campaign. 



That the success expected from France, instead of coming out in one body and 

 producing a Naval Superiority in these Seas, has been divided into two Divisions, 

 the first of which only consisting of seven ships of the line, one forty-four and 

 three smaller Frigates, with five thousand land Forces, had arrived at Rhode 

 Island. 



That a reinforcement of six ships of the line from England having reinforced 

 the Enemy, had made their Naval Force in these seas amount to Nine Sail of the 

 Line, Two Fifties, two forty-fours, and a number of smaller Frigates, a Force 

 completely superior to that of our Allies, and which has in consequence held 

 them Blocked up in the harbor of Rhode Island till the 29th ult., at which 

 Period the British Fleet disappeared, and no advice of them has since been re- 

 ceived. 



That accounts received by the Alliance Frigate, which left France in July, an- 

 nounce the Second Division to be Confined in Brest with several other Ships by 

 a British Fleet of thirty-two Sail of the hue, and a Fleet of the Allies, of Thirty- 

 six, or thirty-eight Ships of the line ready to put to sea from Cadiz to relieve 

 the Port of Brest. 



That most of the States "in their answers to the requisitions made of them , give 

 the strongest assurances of doing every thing in their power to furnish the men 

 and supplies required for the expected Co-operation. The effect of which, how- 

 ever, has been far short of our expectations, for not much above one-third of 

 the Levies demanded for the Continental Battallions, nor above the same pro- 

 portion of Militia have been assembled, and the Supplies have been so inade- 

 quate that there was a necessity for dismissing all the Militia, whose immediate 

 services could be dispensed with to lessen our Consumption, notwithstanding 

 which the Troops now in the Field are severely suffering for want of Provision. 



That the army at this Post and in the vicinity in operating Force consists of 

 10,400 Continental Troops and about 400 Militia, besides which is a Regiment of 

 Continental Troops of about 500 at Rhode Islsnd left there for the assistance of 

 our Allies, against any attempt of the Enemy that way, and two Connecticut 

 State Regiments amounting to 800 at North Castle. 



That the Times for Service for which the Levies are Engaged will expire the 

 first of January which, if not replaced, allowing for the usual Casualties, will re- 

 duce the Continental Army to less than 6000 men. 



That since the state of the Council above referred to, the Enemy have brought 

 a detachment of about 3000 men from Charles Town to New York, which makes 

 the present operating Force in this Quarter between Ten and Eleven Thousand 

 men. 



