His graceful manners and witty speeches provoked universal admiration [runs the pen of a contemporary].  He was the youngest and smallest man present.  His hair was turned back from the forehead, powdered, and queued at the back.  His face was boyishly fair, and lighted up with intelligence and genius.  Washington, grave, elegant and hospitable, sat at the side of the table, with the accomplished Count de Rochambeau on his right.  The Duke de Luzerne occupied a seat opposite.  General Knox was present, and so was Baron Steuben.

Shortly afterward, Hamilton attended a council of war, at Washington’s invitation.  The squadron of De Grasse was approaching the coast of Virginia.  For the second time, Washington was obliged to give up his cherished scheme of marching on New York, for it was now imperative to meet Cornwallis in the South.  The Chief completely hoodwinked Clinton as to his immediate plans, Robert Morris raised the funds for moving the army, and Hamilton obtained his command.  To his high satisfaction, Fish was one of his officers.  Immediately before his departure for the South he wrote to his wife.  He had attained his desire, but he was too unhappy to be playful.  A portion of the letter is as follows:—­

A part of the army, my dear girl, is going to Virginia, and I must, of necessity, be separated at a much greater distance from my beloved wife.  I cannot announce the fatal necessity without feeling everything that a fond husband can feel.  I am unhappy;—­I am unhappy beyond expression.  I am unhappy because I am to be so remote from you; because I am to hear from you less frequently than I am accustomed to do.  I am miserable because I know you will be so; I am wretched at the idea of flying so far from you, without a single hour’s interview, to tell you all my pains and all my love.  But I cannot ask permission to visit you.  It might be thought improper to leave my corps at such a time and upon such an occasion.  I must go without seeing you—­I must go without embracing you:—­alas!  I must go.

The allied armies moved on the 22d of August and arrived within two miles of the enemy’s works at York Town, on the 28th of September.  Hamilton’s light infantry was attached to the division of Lafayette, who joined the main army with what was left of his own.  Laurens was also in command of a company of light infantry in the young French general’s division.  He had acquitted himself brilliantly in France, returning, in spite of all obstacles and the discouragement of Franklin, with two and a half million livres in cash, part of a subsidy of six millions of livres granted by the French king; but he felt that to be in the field again with Washington, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Fish was higher fortune than successful diplomacy.