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Dear Brother ー My last was from Norfolk some time ago ー after staying there three weeks I returned home to Belville, but was oblidged to come back on a sudden to avoid being assassinated which I was threatened with, for it seems the Chairman of the Committee of Currituck apprehensive of my raising a strong party there in favour of Goverment had wrote to the Committee of safety for the District of Edenton, expressing his fears, wishing me dead and desiring some method might be taken suddenly ー accordingly some rascalls were influenced to waylay me as it was known they could not raise a party sufficient to attack me at my own house without alarming and giving me time sufficient to collect my friends, having once before failed in an attempt of A publick nature they saw this method impracticable and therefore had recourse to one still baser ー however I had a few hours nottice and was able to save myself by flight

When I arrived here the Earl of Dunmore Governour of this province offered me protection with him on board the Shipping where himself and others were oblidged to save themselves ー I chose rather to go to Cape Fear where Governour Martin was on board the Cruiser but his Lordship expressing his earnest wishes that I should stay with him and not having it in my power to go to Cape Fear I have remained in this Country ー

A few companys of the 14th regiment to the amount of 130 privates having been sent here for a kind of Guard to his Lordship and he having with them and the assistance of some volunteers defeated a party of the Rebells at Kemps Landing in Princess Ann county he thought proper to build a Stockade Fort at the Great Bridge to prevent the Rebells from other parts of the Country coming to this Town and the adjacent countys, and to give time for drawing Lines of Defence round Norfolk ー however as the Rebell Army advanced to the Great Bridge, being stopped by the Fort encreased dayly in numbers and were bringing cannon to attack it, his Lordship thought proper to direct an attack to be made upon them, but they having had the precaution to entrench themselves on the other side of the Bridge and the troops being oblidged to march the attack along a narrow causeway flanked by the Rebel Works, they were oblidged to Retreat into the Fort after losing a considerable number of their small body, ー amongst the Slain was a Charles Fordyce Captain of Grenadeers a Gentleman exceedingly regretted by all who knew him ー this Company at the head of which the Capt attacked was almost entirely cut off ー I had a particular affection for him which commenced at the affair at Kemps and should probably have shared his fate at the Bridge had the Govemour permitted me to go upon that Expedition but 'twas thought more expedient that I should attend to the works throwing up round Norfolk which were under my care as Engineer

This unfortunate attack which was made in the morning about sunrise dispirited most people ー The troops and volunteers evacuated the Fort the same day after dark and marched down to Norfolk, all thoughts of defending the Town were given up the Soldiers are gone on board two Transports and tho.se who have dared to be active in supporting Government are under the necessity also of taking refuge in vessels such as had not that in their power are left to the mercy of the Rebells who have taken possession of the Town ー a single Regiment a few weeks ago would have reduced this colony to a sense of its duty. God only knows when it will be done, now ー we have heard no news from home for a long time

Tell Pate that his Mother, Brother and Sister with Mrs Aitchison and her little ones and Mrs Ellegood with hers are sent over to the Eastern shore and we hope they are safe there Mr Aitchison and Collonel Ellegood went to see them Landed and we look for them back in the Vessel Mr Parker & Mr Stephenson to whom the Governour has given a Lieutenants Commission are in the Arundell a schooner given us for our reception ー

It is impossible as yet to give you any account of what I am to do ー I know not what is become of William McCormick I hope that he is safe and that our two ships are got out of the Country I hear that the Rebells have destroyed all my property at Belville to the amount of many thousand pounds, and that our negroes are oblidged to sculk in the woods, there are amongst them near thirty children and three women with sucking infants at their breasts

I inclose you some papers and hope my next will afford you more agreable news ー Remember me kindly to all my friends ー if you write to me let it be under cover to the Govr of Virginia or of North Carolina, I am &ca