Dear Sir

I have only time to inform your Excellency & the Congress¹ that the Count De Estaing & myself had fixed upon This morning Day Break to make our Landing upon the Island preparatory to which the Fleet came through Newport Harbor on Saturday night & Silenced two of their Batteries The Enemy Supposing that we should Land in the night & cut off the Communication between the out posts & the Town Evacuated all their works on the North of the Island & Retired to Newport Early Saturday Even^g I was informed of this Early in the morning of yesterday & to prevent their Reoccupying the works I immediately threw the whole Army Across & Sent word to the Count to Land his Men & Join us.² but before the word Message could reach him & before our Army was Compleatly over a British Fleet of twenty Nine Sail appeared Standing for Newport Close in with Seconnet Point. This prevented the Count from Sending me any troops he took them all on Board & this morning went out to Engage the Fleet but on the Appearance of the French Squadron they fled I saw the Count in Chase of them but at Eleven of Clock This must Retard my movements Some Respects & Render our operations more tedious if nothing worse The Circumstance was Exceeding unfortunate Even if it does not Delay the Count a Day I am very fearful it may work a Delay till a British Fleet of Sufficient force may arrive to put an End to the Enterprize Congress may Rest assured that I Shall Endeavour to Surmount Every Difficulty & Effect the Design of the Enterprize with as much Expedition as possible I have the Honor to be [&c.]

PS I have the pleasure to Inform Congress that great numbers of volunteers have Joined me General Hancock³ is with me on the Island with a number of Gentlemen of the first Character.−