And still this American army, thus refreshed in spirit and joyous in the hope of speedy and final victory, _had not been missed from New York by General, Sir Henry Clinton_. Another fast-sailing frigate was speeding through the Narrows, past Sandy Hook, southward, once more to appeal to Lord Cornwallis to come to the rescue of imperiled, beleaguered New York. On the second day of September, the American army made its third formal entry into Philadelphia, amid glad acclaims of welcome, and sharing with the people in the spirit of one great jubilee. At that very hour, _another courier vessel_, in chase of the former, left New York with a message for Cornwallis, which failed to reach him until the fifteenth. It was in cipher, and read as follows: NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 1781. Mr. Washington is moving an army to the southward, with an appearance of haste; and gives out that he expects the coöperation of a considerable French armament. Your Lordship, however, may be assured that if this should be the case, I shall endeavor to reënforce your command by all means within the compass of my power; or, make every possible diversion in your favor. P.S.—Washington, it is said, was at Trenton, this day, and means to go in vessels to Christiana Creek, and from thence by Head of Elk, down Chesapeake Bay also.... Washington has about four thousand French, and two thousand Continentals, with him. On the following day, the French army, having taken a day for cleaning arms, uniforms, and accoutrements, made a dress parade through the American capital. Every gorgeous trapping of their brilliant, sentimental outfit was proudly displayed before the wondering and delighted populace. Contemporary writers could not sufficiently describe the “magnificence of the parade, and the convulsions of joy that animated the entire population.” And yet, one eminent French officer, in describing the march of the American army on the previous day, said: “The plainly dressed American army lost no credit in the steadiness of their march and their fitness for battle.” On the same day, Washington received despatches from Lafayette. One, dated August 21st, reported that “the British troops were fortifying Gloucester, across the river from Yorktown.” Others were as follows: “A small garrison remains at Portsmouth”; “I have written to the Governor, to collect six hundred militia upon Blackwater”; “I have written to General Gregory, near Portsmouth, that I am advised that the enemy intend to push a detachment into Carolina; to General Wayne, to move to the southward and to have a column ready to cross the James at Westover; and that my own army will soon assemble again upon the waters of the Chickahominy.” Reference has already been made to Washington’s receipt of Lafayette’s letter of August 8th, announcing the occupation of Yorktown by Cornwallis.