Sir
I arrived here at 1 PM. Capt: Wollfes1 Spies Returned at 3 with Information that two of the Galleys2 are lying at the South End of Cumberland, they Must have desscovered our advancing as by the Signs at the House they must have been Here Yesterday, Capt Wollfe Has Repeated orders with two Different Expresses, to Return, he Judges it Prudent to Return to the North end of Tolbut till further orders3 it would be imprudent in me to Advance, any thing but a lookout boat which shall be sint, should you here any Heavy Artillary red youll Please to order more Shot & Amunition as allso Provision, as I will stand till forsed or ordered to the Contrary. I had a Boat in Readiness to send off Nassaw Inlet should you appear off—as I expected,4 every thing shall be done to forward the Service that is in my Power—if I am to return you’ll Please to send to one to me your Particular orders for so doing— I am [&c.]
Jno. Mowbray
Thompsons House
On Amelia
L, UkGrNMM, Admiral Viscount Keith Papers, KEI/2/2.
1. Capt. William Wulff.
2. Georgia Navy armed galleys.
3. Wulff’s recall orders came from Brig. Gen. Augustine Prevost, who informed Elphinstone that he had issued them in a letter of 19 July. On being informed—incorrectly—that Elphinstone was contemplating offensive operations that would require Wolff’s detachment, Prevost cancelled the orders. UkGrNMM, Admiral Viscount Keith Papers, KEI/2/2. By “Tolbut,” Mowbray is referring to Talbot Island. See also Capt. A. Shaw to Lt. Wright, 18 July 1778, Keith Papers 1: 112; and Prevost to Elphinstone, 19 July 1778, Keith Papers 1: 116.
4. Contrary to Mowbray’s expectation, Elphinstone did not move to Nassau Inlet with Perseus but remained off St. Johns River.
