[Extract]

I have hitherto been silent about our Governor's Operations, but I cannot help saying something of them, as they are marked with almost every Species of Cruelty that a wicked Mind coud Suggest; After pillagg the Plantations on the Rivers for some Months past, taking Negroes, burning Houses, & the like Depredations he hoisted his Standard & issued a Damned, infernal, Diabolical proclamation declaring Freedom to all our Slaves who will join him, & obliged great Numbers to take an Oath that they will arm themselves & assist him with their Lives & Fortunes. Most of the Scotch have joined him & a great Number of Negroes: he is now entrenched with a Body of Men at the Great Bridge to prevent our Men from geting to Norfolk. he has tis said 500 Whites & as many Blacks. our Men in Number about 700 under Colo Woodford are entrenched within a few hundred Yards of his Party, & several Skirmishes have happened in which he lost 28 Men, our Loss is not more than 2 or 3. Colo [Robert] Howe from Carolina wth abt 600 Men & a good Train of Artillery are daily expected to join Woodford, when a general Engagement may probably happen.