To us it is of interest, because it shows Washington in one of the sharpest and bitterest experiences of his life.

Let us see how he met it and dealt with it.
From the day when the French landed, both De Rochambeau and Washington had been most anxious to meet.

The French general had been particularly urgent, but it was difficult for Washington to get away.
As he wrote on August 21: "We are about ten miles from the enemy.

Our popular government imposes a necessity of great circumspection.

If any misfortune should happen in my absence, it would be attended with every inconvenience.