[Great Bridge] December 13, 1775
We have scouting parties down the Bay, to give intelligence of the arrival of any vessels, or any other event, either to our advantage or otherwise. From the officers commanding those parties, we have received certain intelligence that a man of war, either of thirty-six or forty guns, is within the Bay, and on her way to this place, with a large brig, supposed to be a store ship, both full of men. 2 This may probably give us something to do, and I hope we may execute it properly.
1. Force Transcripts, LC.
2. H.M.S. Liverpool, a 28-gun frigate, convoying a brig loaded with ordnance stores, anchored off Norfolk on December 21, 1775. See the journal of H.M. Sloop Otter of that date.