The Ship William off Norfolk
October 22d 1775. ー
[Extract]
(No. 33)
Since I wrote your Lordship we have not been altogether inactive, for on the 15th Instant, I landed with between 70 and 80 Men (which was all we could Spare to take with us) some little distance from this in the Night, and Marched about a Mile and a half up the Country, where we destroyed 17 pieces of Ordinance and brought of[f] two more, that the Rebels had carried from the Town of Norfolk, and concealed there. On the 17th we landed again about eight Miles from this and Marched between two and three Miles up the Country where I had information of a Number of more Guns, and here they had collected about 200 of their Shirt men, who all fled to the Woods, and at this place we found some Small Arms and Ammunition, but could not find the Guns. On the 19th We landed again and Marched about two Miles up the Country, and there destroyed Ten Guns, and brought off Six. On the 20th we landed again and brought off Six more Guns, and Yesterday we landed again and brought off Ten Guns and Two Cohorns, and between fifty and Sixty small Arms and a great quantity of Ball of all Sorts and Sizes, which I believe is all the Military Stores in this Neighbourhood that could be of any Service to the Rebels; I should do manifest injustice to our little Corps if I did not inform your Lordship, that upon all these occasions both Officers and Soldiers behaved with that order and Spirit that does them honor; I can assure your Lordship that landing in this manner has discouraged exceedingly the Rebels, and has raised the Spirits of the friends of Government so much that they are offering their Services from all quarters; on one of the expeditions there were Seven prisoners taken of which Number I have detained two, the one is the Delegate [William] Robinson, the other is a certain Captn [Thomas] Mathews of the Minute men, whose examination I herewith send your Lordship. (No 2).
In my letter No. 32, I informed your Lordship of the situation of the Town of Hampton, the place of residence of His Majesty's Officers of the Customs of the lower district of James River, but the Rebels as I informed your Lordship had possession of it and would not permit the Merchants, or Masters of Vessells, either to enter or Clear out; finding that the Custom House Officers were not permitted to do business there I ordered them by letter to move immediately to this place, where they would be protected by the Men of War, Mr Mitchel the Collector with his books and papers made his escape in the Night and Arrived here Yesterday in the Morning; Mr [Wilson Miles] Cary the Naval Officer declares he is an Officer belonging to the Country and not to the Crown, the other Mr Bradley the Comptroller I expect will come if he can make his escape, if Mr Carey or his Deputy does not come I shall appoint another in his place. I am [&c.]