YORKTOWN: BATTLE OF VIRGINIA CAPES A fine content letter, a contemporary copy of a letter from Col. Jean Baptiste Obrey de Gauvoin, a French officer on the staff of Lafayette to one Major Campbell, 2pp. legal folio [n.p. though near Yorktown], Sept. 23, 1781 describing the unfolding situation at Yorktown: "Now my dear friend what do you think of our Situation, for my part I find it as hopeful as possible, there is only thirty seven French Ships of the Line in the [Chesapeake] Bay, not Brigades included, I don't know what Mr. Rivington [Rivington's Gazette, loyalist paper] will say about it, he told that the French Fleet did consist of twenty three Sail, frigates & small Vessels included. The poor Man is much mistaken. The Count de Grasse has brought with him one Ship of 110 Guns, four of 84 guns, Nineteen of 74 Guns, two of 50 Guns, two 44 gun Frigates, two 34 Gun Frigates, and one Cutter of 18 Guns, which have made their Junction with the Fleet from Rhode Island. We have in the Bay twenty British Vessels, two of them are the Irish and Richmond Frigates, and twelve others are armed from Sixteen to twenty Guns. General Washington will have ten thousand French Troops, five thousand Continentals, and as many Militia as he will call for, a large train of brass Artillery, with an immense quantity of Ammunition, so I am confident that we shall be able to give a good account of his Lordship [Cornwallis]. The British Squadron has presented itself at the entrance of the Bay, it did consist of twenty two ships of the Line, at the time the Count de Grasse had all his Boats with 1500 Sailors employed in landing the Troops, but without waiting for them he cut his Cables and put under Sail, he engaged the British, who kept the wind all the while, but from the moment the Wind shifted, the Enemy crowded all their Sail, and the Count did not chuse [sic] to follow them for fear of going too far from the Bay which at that Moment was the main Object. He had left four ships to block Cornwallis in the Bay, and since that time he has bee joined by the Fleet from Rhode Island. It is told that Admiral Digby is expected from England with eight Ships of the Line, but let them come as many as England can spare, they shall find their match- There was never such a Fleet in any part of the World as that we have here - Europe excepted. The best understanding subsists between our Generals and the Admiral who is determined to spare nothing to insure our Success. The Troops coming from the head of Elk are Landing as fast as possible, so we will now noon near York, it is much to be lamented that the means of transportation were so difficult to be got, without that our operations should be already begun, but I hope that it shall not be long. I will send you what can interest you. Farewell my good friend be certain that there was never an Operation undertaken with more smiling prospects and more powerful means ..." A most descriptive letter. Small losses at center barely affecting text, usual folds otherwise very good. $600-800