Having marched without informing Clinton of his movements (communications between the two British commanders was by sea and extremely slow, sometimes up to three weeks), Cornwallis sent word of his northward march and set about destroying American supplies in the Chesapeake region.
Efter at være marcheret uden at meddele Clinton om sine bevægelser (kommunikationen mellem de to britiske ledere foregik over havet og var ekstremt langsom, nogle gange op til tre uger) sendte han besked om sin march nordpå og gik i gang med at ødelægge amerikanske forsyninger i Chesapeake området.