[On board the Ship Dunmore off Norfolk]
January 4th. 1776
[Extract]
[No. 34]
On the 19th Ulto I was most agreeably surprised by the Arrival of an Officer from Captain [Henry] Bellew, who informed me that the Liverpool, and the Brig Maria were in the Bay; next Morning I went down to the Liverpool with a Pilot who brought her up the day following. After reading your Lordships' dispatches Nos. 21, 22 & 23, which were the first I had received from the 30th of May, I then informed Captain Bellew (who now Commands His Majesty's Ships here) of part of their Contents, and of the Situation of Affairs in this Colony, and of this place in particular; I was, so fortunate as [to] concur with him in opinion, and in consequence thereof, he immediately ordered the King Fisher to the upper end of the Town, the Otter a little below her, and Captain Bellew lay with the Liverpool pretty near the middle of the Town, and I lay with the Ship I am on board of a little below him; Captain Bellew unwilling to Shed the blood of any of His Majesty's Subjects, and much more so that of the innocent, sent a Flag of Truce on Shore with a Note (Copies of which with the Answers is inclosed (No. 5).
On the first Instant Captain Bellew discovering the Rebels parading in the Streets, sent a few Cannon Shot amongst them, his example was immediately followed by all of us, and under Cover of the Cannon, I sent some boats on Shore to burn some detached Warehouses on the lower part of the Wharfs (from whence they used to annoy our boats as they passed) I, at the same time hailed Captain Bellew to beg he would send his boats to burn the Brig with the Salt, which he did immediately, the Vessels from the Fleet to shew their Zeal for His Majesty's Service, sent great Numbers of Boats on Shore, by which means the fire soon became general on the Wharfs, the wind rather blowing off Shore would have prevented the fire from reaching any farther than the Wharfs, but the Rebels so soon as the Men of War ceased fireing, and our People came off, put the finishing Stroke to it, by Setting fire to every House, which has given them employment for these two days past, they have also burnt many houses on both sides of the River, the property of individuals who have never taken any part in this contest, in Short from every transaction they appear to me to have nothing more at heart, than the utter destruction of this once most flourishing Country, Conscious I suppose that they cannot long enjoy it themselves, they wish to make it of as little use as possible to others; We had only one man killed and two or three Wounded, the loss of the Enemy, as they say, are eighteen killed, and between forty and fifty wounded, but from other Accounts I think their loss must be much more considerable, they still keep constantly firing upon us when ever an opportunity offers, they are imprisoning every Man that they even suppose wishes well to Government, nay the Ladies who have dared to write or Speake disrespectfully of them, have not been exempted by them.
Your Lordship will see by the inclosed Paper (No 6) the correspondance that has passed relative to the exchange of Prisoners, but I am persuaded from all I can learn, or see, that they mean to adopt Adams's plan of securing as many Prisoners as possible, and Setteling no Cartel.
In my letter No 32 I informed your Lordship of Several Vessels being sent by the Rebells to the West Indias for Gun Powder, and it being reported that a certain John Goodrich of this place, had sent out a Vessel of his, with his Son William in her on that errand, and having also intercepted the inclosed letter (No 7) from a Mr [Robert]Sheddon, Son in Law of the said Goodrich, I had him and John Goodrich junr another son immediately apprehended, from whom I learn that their brother William Goodrich was arrived in their Fathers Vessel in Ockrocock in North Carolina, with Powder, for the Rebels of this Colony, which was to be brought from thence to Williamsburg over land; I took every Step in my power to intercept it, but my want of force prevented my effecting it. Mr Sheddon having exculpated himself to my Satisfaction, from having any concern in this affair or of being privy to it, and that his only motive for writing the inclosed letter, was to prevent as far as lay in his power the ruin his friends had involved themselves in, I therefore discharged him; A few days afterwards Mr Sheddon brought me a letter from John Goodrich, his father in Law, declaring his Sincere repentance of what was past, and his earnest desire of returning to his duty, and begging I would permit him to see me. I accordingly appointed a time and place to meet him, he then discovered to me the whole affair, and declared that he and his Son had no other motive for engaging in this business but the prospect of a good freight for their Vessel; and if I would permit him, he would himself go to St Eustatia and bring me the balance of the Money they had received from Mr Robert Carter Nicholas, the Treasurer of this Colony, for the purpose of purchasing of Gun Powder, which his Son had lodged in the hands of a Certain Van Dam a Merchant there, and that he would either bring it to me in Bills or Powder, as might be most agreeable, and as a Security for the performance thereof, he desired I would apprehend his Son William, whom he would order to be at a place fixed upon, where I should send for him, which I accordingly did, and as soon as I had him in Custody, took his Deposition (a Copy of which is inclosed (No 8) as is also a Copy of his Account with the Colony (No. 9).) I then granted his father the inclosed Pass (No.10) who Set out immediately on his Voyage, but hapning to fall in with a Tender belonging to the Kings fisher, Commanded by a Mr Jones Master of the above Ship, he did, without paying the least regard to my Pass, for which he says he had his Captains orders, Seize Mr Goodrich and his Vessel and after detaining them many days brought them in here; I made not the least doubt but from this detention the Rebels would have got information of the matter and have sent a Vessel out to have procured the Powder, however I was determined nothing should be wanting on my part, and being fully Satisfied that this poor family had been drawn into this from their ignorance of the Consequences, I sent the Son William on the same business (in a Tender belonging to the Otter Sloop of War) who has orders from me to purchase what Powder and Arms he can (both of which were much wanted here) and to bring the Surplus in Cash, if any; Your Lordship will see how the Rebels are supplied with Arms and Ammunition by the inclosed papers which is the principal reason for my sending them, and that your Lordship might also see how little confidence can be put in the Assertion of our Allies the Dutch.