2. That Porter did not tell all, is evident in the narrative of Luther Little, who was a seaman on board the captured sloop. Little's account reads:

After we had taken the powder and ball, and other articles for which we had orders, we proceeded on our return to North Carolina. The news of our expected arrival had been noised abroad, and the King's tender lay within the bar in wait for us. When we reached within a few miles of the bar, it became calm. Twelve pilot boats from Ocracoke came off to us, and informed us that the tender was coming out to take us. We loaded the twelve pilot boats with powder and they pushed off for Ocracoke, and arrived safe. The balls, which were in kegs, we hove overboard. By this time the tender made her appearance; it being calm, with their sweeps they rode alongside us, and ordered us all on board; made prize of the sloop, and ordered her to Norfolk, where lay the English fleet. The pilot on board the tender begged the Captain to discharge him. He refused, telling him he should keep him for a coasting pilot. He pleaded that he had a wife and eight children dependent on him, and begged hard for his release, which, through the influence of a lady on board, was finally granted. When the pilot and his crew went to take the boat, I mingled with them, and walked orderly on board without being observed, and immediately took one of the oars and went hard to rowing. The Captain and the rest of the crew were taken to Norfolk, prisoners.

The pilot boat landed at Ocracoke, where I found that the pilots who took the powder ashore, had embezzled ten casks; which induced me to borrow an old musket, and keep guard over it that night .. I had eaten nothing the whole day; at ten in the evening I discovered a light in the woods about half a mile's distance. I directed my course, by a foot path, to the light. When I got near the house, a large dog issued from it, and jumped upon my shoulders, and I feared would have torn me in pieces. I tried to coax him, by patting him, but he still hung to my clothes, until I reached the door. There I knocked and called loudly; two women came to the door, who appeared the only inmates; they said it was a wonder the dog did not tear me to pieces. Here, for the first and last time in my life, I begged for something to eat. They gave me some hominy and milk, for which I was thankful. After requesting them to detain the dog until I was clear, I returned to the powder, which I faithfully guarded the remainder of the night.

The next morning the pilots finding they could plunder no more of the powder, agreed to carry it up the Pamlico river, to the several County Committees for whom it was destined; myself accompanying them. We landed this powder in three Counties. I was invited by the several committees to take up my abode with them while I stayed; I gladly accepted their invitations, having left everything I had on board the sloop taken by the British. I stayed chiefly with the overseers of the plantations.

The Journal of American History, XI, 409-420.