St. John's Post [E. Fla.]
20th. July 1778 6 o Clock P.M.
Sir
I received three of your letters this moment & I have heard Capt. Wulff1 is on his return therefore no harm done, to Settle every things I propose to have the honor to meet you at the Bluff2 tomorrow morning, Mr. Moncrieff3 will accompany me I d'ont believe nothing is to be done now, the Provitions are in the River & the Rascals4 have left our Provinces & retired behind the Satilla.5
Most of the Troops are now here want to go in town6 to provide themselves with Cloath & necessarys however they shall not move until I return
As we are not numerous enough to undertake any offensive in the present circumstances when they are all armed in the Neighbouring Provinces,7 my opinion is that we better wait for a better opporturnity I have the honor to be [&c.]
Prevost-
L, UkGrNMM, Keith Papers, KEI/2/2. Addressed at bottom of page: "Honble G. Keith Elphinstone." Docketed: “Perseus/General Prevost's Letter/signifying Captn. Wolffs/return &ca./20th: July 1778."
1. Elphinstone's letter to Prevost of 19 July is above; the other two letters have not been found; Capt. William Wulff had command of a detachment at Cowford, present-day Jacksonville, on St. Johns River.
2. That is, Hester's Bluff.
3. Capt. James Moncrief of the Royal Engineers.
4. The "Rascals" were the American expeditionary force commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert Howe and Georgia Governor John Houstoun.
5. The "Satilla" is the Great Satilla River.
6. By “town," Prevost means St. Augustine.
7. That is, Georgia and South Carolina.
