De Grasse's fleet returned the West Indies, where" in April, 1782, it was totally defeated to by the British Admiral Rodney, de Grasse himself being made prisoner. Washington resumed the chief command of the army in the Highlands at the (Mid of March, 1782, making his headquarters at Newburgh. Rumors of British desires and preparatory measures for peace now began to arrive. Sir Henry Clinton was removed from the command of the British forces in America, his successor. Sir Guy Carleton, reaching New York on the 6th of May. The next day he sent to Washington a communication announcing the readiness of the British ministry to negotiate a peace on the basis of the independence of America. But the plain interpretation of this letter was that Great Britain wished to treat with the United States alone, ignoring France in the matter, and congress was unwilling to listen to such a suggestion. Moreover, the English government refrained from making any offer for a cessation of hostilities, and thus

REVOLUTION

a state of war still existed, notwithstanding the complete inactivity on both sides. For several months Oarleton diligently cultivated his amicable correspondence with Washington. Dr. Thacher records in his Military Journal that on the 25th of July the regiment to which he was attached was sent to occupy the post at Dobbs Ferry. " Flags are passing and repassing from this post to New York and back every day," he writes under date of August 5. In this uncertain posture of affairs, and amid the general regret excited by the news of the French disasters at sea, Washington received intimations that Carleton was preparing to dispatch a large portion of his New York command to the West Indies for the purpose of conquering several of the French islands. He thereupon advised Rochambeau (still in Virginia) to march to the Hudson and again effect a junction with the American army in Westchester