Charles Cornwallis letter to Henry Clinton, 16 August 1781

Sir, Yorktown, Aug. 16 1781.

I did not imagine that my letter of the 16th July would have given your Excellency reason to be so sanguine as to hope, that by this time any detachment could have been made from hence. The evacuation of Portsmouth has employed one engineer and a number of labourers and artificers ; and with every exertion by land and water, I do not expect that business to be completed before the 21st or 22nd inst

After our experience of the labour and difficulty of constructing works at this season of the year, and the plan for fortifying tins side not being entirely settled, I cannot at present say whether I can spare any troops, or, if any, how soon.

I have &c.,

Cornwallis.