'Estaing's squadron, arrived at
Philadelphia from Cadiz, on the 23d of March, bringing a letter from
the Marquis de Lafayette, to the President of Congress, communicating
the intelligence. In a few days Sir Guy Carleton informed Washington,
by letter, that he was ordered to proclaim a cessation of hostilities
by sea and land.

A similar proclamation issued by Congress, was received by Washington
on the 17th of April. Being unaccompanied by any instructions
respecting the discharge of the part of the army with him, should the
measure be deemed necessary, he found himself in a perplexing
situation.

The accounts of peace received at different times had raised an
expectation in the minds of those of his troops that had engaged "for
the war," that a speedy discharge must be the consequence of the
proclamation. Most of them could not distinguish between a
proclamation of a cessation of hostilities and a definitive
declaration of peace, and might consider any further claim on their
military services an act of injustice. It was becoming difficult to
enforce the discipline necessary to the coherence of an army.
Washington represented these circumstances in a letter to the
president, and earnestly entreated a prompt determination on the part
of Congress, as to what was to be the period of the services of these
men, and how he was to act respecting their discharge. He urged that,
in discharging those who had been engaged "for the war," the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers should be allowed to take with
them, as their own property, and as a gratuity, their arms and
accoutrements.

His letter produced a resolution in Congress, that the services of the
men engaged in the war did not expire until the ratification of the
definitive articles of peace; but that the commander-in-chief might
grant furloughs to such as he thought proper, and that they should be
allowed to take their arms with them. Washington availed himself
freely of this permission: furloughs were granted without stint; the
men set out singly or in small parties for their rustic homes, and the
danger and inconvenience were avoided of disbanding large masses, at a
time, of unpaid soldiery.

In the meantime Sir Guy Carleton was making preparations for the
evacuation of the city of New York. On the 6th of May a personal
conference took place between Washington and Sir Guy at Orangetown,
about the transfer of posts in the United States held by the British
troops