[New Castle, Del.] Tuesday, 18th. June.
After a Gust of Wind, attended with Thunder & Lightning, usual in this country, the morning was pleasant & cool. The Wind likewise changed to the Northwards, wch favored the Descent of the Vessels, which have been going down for several Days.
About 8 o'clock this morning, the last Detachment of the Troops, consisting of about 5000 men, closed the Evacuation of Philadelphia & the Embarkation to the Jersies from Gloucester Point, about 2 miles below the Town, which was effected without the least molestation from the Rebels. The Precaution was taken to destroy the Bridge wch led over the marshes to Gloucester Point. The Bridge over Schuylkill formed of cut masts, was destroyed a few Days before; and another Bridge, for the same Place, constructed formerly by the Rebels, was burnt at Mud Island.1 In coming down, the Vigilant2 ran ashore upon the Spit opposite Mud Island, wch occasioned some Delay; though it was a happy Circumstance for a Detachment of about 180 men, whose Retreat was cut off from Billingsport by a Party of 500 Rebels, & who were taken off by the Flat-Boats, however injurious the Delay was to the Sinking of the Vessels, filled with Stones, to obstruct the two narrow Channels,3 which Business was not so well effected by the strong Flux of the Tide.