[Extract]

Sir, My Country having Honour'd me with the Command of the Continental Battalion ordered to be raised by the General Congress for the Protection and Defence of this Colony (tho' I fear too partial to my poor Abilitys) it becomes my duty to inform your Excely of the State of our Province as far as it concerns the Service, as well as of the Troops to be immediately under my Command. ー

Our Province has a front along the Sea Coast of above One hundred Miles, covered by a Range of Islands, divided from each other by eight Rivers from the Main Land, which makes as many good Inlets & Harbours, most of them capable of receiving any Frigate, & as some Say much Larger ships. ー Our settlements extend back to the Northwest above two hundred Miles, in other parts to the southward not above Ten, and very thinly Inhabited, indeed this large Space of Land altogether has not more than three thousand Men, chiefly in the back Country, and many disafected & doubtful in our Cause, especialy the Men of the greatest property among us. ー Our slaves will be above Fifteen 15 m thousand Souls, mostly within twenty Miles of the Sea Coast, and makes above 35 m Tierces of Rice Annualy besides many other articles of provision which with our fine harbours makes the Security of this Colony tho' weak in itself, of the Utmost Consequence to the whole Continent of America. ー And we have every reason to think our Enemys intend to make it a place of general Rendezvous & Supplys. ー We are bounded south by the Garrisoned Province of East Florida who have now, as I am well informed five hundred regulars in St Augustine & 1000 more expected there daily from Europe. ー On the West of us is the Province of West Florida, the Numerous Nations of the Creek, Chactaw, & Cherokee Indians besides lesser Tribes Supposed to have at least Ten thousand Gun Men, brave, intrepid & eager for war, whom [we] will have the Utmost difficulty to keep at peace with us, as we want every article of their Usual supply, and now furnished them in great plenty from the two Floridas. ー Our Metropolis is Situated in the North Corner of the Province upon a Bluff or Sand Hill thirty feet high or more above the Water and fifteen Miles up the river Savannah, from the Inlet of Tybee where five ships of warr, the Syren, the Scarborough, the Raven, the Tamer & Cherokee, besides Tenders are now Lying & two large Transports having, it is said, above 300 Men on board & expecting more in daily, with what design, whether for this Colony only, or Carolina, or both together, we are not yet informed. Our Province has declared itself in a State of Alarm, and resolved not to Supply the Men of warr with provision, and ordered a draft of half the Militia to the Town of Savannah to oppose the Landing of any troops. ー

Savannah, in Georgia 16th Feby 1776