[Extract]
[No. 34]

Being informed that the Rebels had procured some Cannon from North Carolina, and that they were also to be reinforced from Williamsburg, and knowing that our little Fort [at the Great Bridge] was not in a Condition to withstand any thing heavier than Musquet Shot, I thought it advisable to risque Something to save the Fort, as the loss of it was not only exposing the well disposed People of this part of the Country, to the resentment of the Rebels, but the moment they pass that Bridge, we must expect to be cut off from every supply of Provisions from this Colony; Captain [Samuel] Leslie who commands the detachment of the 14th Regiment now here, Marched on Friday the 8th Instant after dark from this, to reinforce the Garrison at the Fort, with orders from me, if on his Arrival there he found no Material change, to order two Companies of Negroes to make a detour, and fall in behind the Rebels a little before break of Day in the morning, and just as Day began to break, to fall upon the rear of the Rebels, which I expected would draw their attention, and make them leave the breast work they had made near the Fort, he was then with the Regulars, the Volunteers and some recruits to sally out of the Fort, and attack their breast work; he accordingly arrived at the Fort in the Night unperceived by the Rebels, the Negroes by some mistake were sent out of the Fort to guard a pass, where it was thought the Rebels might attempt to pass, and where in fact some of them had Crossed a Night or two before, burnt a house or two, and returned; Captain Leslie not finding the Negroes there, imprudently Sallied out of the Fort at break of Day in the morning, the Rebels as I suppose having got intelligence of his design were prepared to receive him from behind their Trenches, and kept a very heavy fire upon them; Notwithstanding that the advanced Guard forced their way up to the breast work, but being much weakened by the incessant fire of the Enemy, and discouraged by the loss of Captain [Charles] Fordyce (who fell at the Breast Work) were obliged to retire to the Fort, with the loss of three Officers killed and one Wounded, who was made a prisoner, 14 Privates were killed and 43 Wounded, a return of which is inclosed (No 4); Captain Fordyce's bravery and good conduct (who fell with his hand on the breast work) would do honor to any Corps of any Country, His loss is most Sincerely lamented by all who knew him; Lieutenants Napier and Leslie who were the other two Officers that fell, were both very deserving young Men and are realy a loss to their Corps; the greatest praise is due to both Officers and Soldiers of the 14th for the undaunted Spirit they shewed on this occasion.

This loss having so much weakened our before but very weak Corps, and Captain Leslie being much depressed by the loss of Lieutenant Leslie, his Nephew, and thinking that the Enemy elated with this little advantage they had gained over us, might force their way a Cross the branch, either above, or below, and by that means Cut off the Communication between us, determined to evacuate the Fort, and accordingly left it soon after it was dark, and returned with the whole to this place; The Rebels however remained at the Bridge for a day or two.

This Town standing on a Neck of Land and by that means pretty easily made defensible against an undisciplined Army determined the few remaining Inhabitants (most of whom are Natives of Great Britain) to throw up a breast work and to defend themselves, for which I had supplied them with the few Arms I had, but this work not being quite finished when the News of this little advantage the Enemy had gained, threw them all into dispair, and they at present give themselves up as lost, but their transitions from hope to despair are very quick, should any assistance (which God grant) they possibly may be induced to return to their Trenches, when they may soon put themselves in such a Situation as will make it very difficult for the Enemy to force them.

The Rebels when reinforced at the Great Bridge to the number of Sixteen or Eighteen hundred, or as some say two thousand, advanced to Norfolk, where they arrived the 14th in the Evening. All who were friends to Government took refuge on board of the Ships, with their whole families, and their most valuable Effects, some in the Men of War, some in their own Vessels, others have chartered such as were here, so that our Fleet is at present Numerous tho' not very powerfull. I do assure your Lordship it is a most melancholy sight to see the Numbers of Gentlemen of very large property with their Ladies and whole families obliged to betake themselves on board of Ships, at the Season of the year, hardly with the common necessarys of Life, and great numbers of poor people without even these, who must have perished had I not been able to supply them with some flour, which I purchased for His Majesty's service some time ago.

In the first part of this letter I informed your Lordship of the Collector and Comptroller of the lower District of James River being arrived here, when the Rebels came to Norfolk they embarked on board a Brig which I had requested Captain Squire to Seize to prevent both her and the Salt with which she was loaded from falling into the hands of the Rebels, in consequence of this Step, to such distress are they now reduced on Shore for this most essential Article of Life (especially in this quarter of the Globe) that they now give fifteen Shillings per Bushell for what they used to give only Ten pence or a Shilling; this Brig lay within Musquet Shot of the Town of Norfolk when the Rebels entered it and she being very weakly manned and not being able immediately to weigh her Anchor, the Rebels boarded her, made the two Officers prisoners, and bawled the Brig into one of the Wharfs, but we soon afterward burnt her when they had taken out but a Small proportion of the Salt.

Immediately after the Rebels took possesion of the Town of Norfolk, they came down and fired twelve or fifteen Shot at the Otter Sloop of War, next morning Captain Squire informed me, he had sent a Flag of Truce on Shore to know if these Shot were fired by orders or not, they Answered in the Negative, ³ He then at my desire sent another Flag of Truce on Shore to know if they meant to allow His Majesty's Forces to be supplied with fresh provisions, to which they Answered, that their orders were from the Honorable Convention, that they should do every thing in their power to prevent His Majesty's Troops from being supplied with any of the Necessarys of Life. ⁴