No. 13. [In Arnold's hand-writing.]

[Endorsed,]

Copy of a Council of War, 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 general 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 Enenvy, 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 2Sth ult., at which Period the British Fleet disappeared, and no advice of them has since been received.

That accounts received by the Alliance Frigate, which left France in July, announce the Second Division to be Confined in Brest with several other Ships by a British Fleet of thirty-two Sail of the line, and a Fleet of the Allies, of Thirtysix, or thirty-eight Ships of the line ready to put to sea from Cadiz to relieve the Port of Brest.