Volume 3

An express arrived last Thursday night [December 7], who informs, that we have taken a little fort belonging to Dunmore, with 40 stand of arms. An honest negro (Caesar, the famous barber of York) being asked what he thought of lord Dunmore's setting negroes free, said, that he did not know arty one foolish enough to believe him, for if he intended to do so, he ought first to set his own free.
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I have hitherto been silent about our Governor's Operations, but I cannot help saying something of them, as they are marked with almost every Species of Cruelty that a wicked Mind coud Suggest; After pillagg the Plantations on the Rivers for some Months past, taking Negroes, burning Houses, & the like Depredations he hoisted his Standard & issued a Damned, infernal, Diabolical... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
It was so late when I receivd your Letter, & I have been so engaged in Business & surrounded by Company that I am scarcely able to tell you that I received it, & by no Means have Time to say how much I am obliged to you for writing it But however much I am pressed for Time I can not conclude without lamenting the unhappy Situation of our Country ー So defenceless is it that I am... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I send you inclosed a printed account of intelligence recd at Headquarters from our camp at the [great] bridge about 20 miles from Norfolk,... Our Army has been for some time arrested in its march to Norfolk by a redoubt, or stockade, or hog pen, as they call it here, by way of derision, at the end of this bridge. Tho', by the way, this hog pen seems filled with a parcel of wild-boars, which we... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Decemr 1775 Elizabeth River [abreast of Norfolk] Wednesday 6 Carried the Troops & Volunteers with our Marines across the River Moderate Weather PM Exercised great Guns & small arms The Troops retd. Thursday 7 Reced Water on board Employd occasionally Friday 8 Fresh Gales & squally Weather  at 6 PM employd carrying [the] Troops. Volunteers & Marines to Ferry... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
The enemy were reinforced about 3 o'clock this morning with (as they tell me) every soldier of the 14th regiment at Norfolk, amounting to 200, commanded by Capt. Leslie; and this morning, after reveille beating, crossed the bridge, by laying down some plank, and made an attack to force our breast-work, (the prisoners say the whole number amounted to 500, with volunteers and blacks) with two... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Captain Squires Compliments to Lord Dunmore, would be much obliged to him for the reading of two Letters he sent him the other night, one directed to Robert Carter Nicholas, the other to Richard Henry Lee, which I will return to your Lordship again Otter Sloop, Saturday Noon [December 9, 1775]. 2 [Dunmore's Reply] Ld Dunmore Compts to Capt Squire, is sorry he can't send him the Letters... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Our troops, with about sixty Townsmen from Norfolk, and a detachment of Sailors from the ships, among whom I had the honour to march, set out from Norfolk to attack once more the Rebels at the great bridge, who had been lodged there some time, and had erected a breast-work opposite to our fort on their side of the river. We arrived at the Fort half an hour after three in the morning, and, after... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Mr. William Parker applied for and obtained a permit in behalf of Mr. [John William Gerard] DeBrahm, for his (Mr. DeBrahm's) nephew, to pass to the Cherokee armed ship, which were produced and read in Council. The Hon. William Henry Drayton reported that he with Capt. [Thomas] Savage had, according to order, inspected into the state of the naval armament of this colony, and delivered in a report... Continue Reading
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Decembr 1775 Saturdy 2d Remarks [at Quebec] &c AM unbent the Sails got down the top Gallt Masts and [unreevd] the Running Rigging at Noon veer'd away on the Best Bower and hauld along Side the Wharf Sailmaker employ'd as before ー First and latter parts Modt & fair Mid fresh Breezes with Snow PM got on Shore the Guns Anchors best Bower Cables and small Bower & Sh[ee]t Cables Sails... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Sunday, Dec. 10th, ー Capt. Benajah Collings arrived last evening from Cape Nichola Mole, he fell as far eastward as Isle Savel [Sable Island], and was in at Canso. He there heard that two armed schooners had been in there and taken several vessels that were New England property, and had been at Island St. John's and took Mr. Higgins in a schooner from England, and carried them off.
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Lexington Decr 10th 1775 } Being interrupted by Company, on the Evengs I had devoted to this Letter, I rose early the next morning intending to fill this sheet, at least, & send it by Mr [Paul] Revere ー I had wrote to the bottom of the preceding page, when a Gentleman called me aside & whispered ー that he had the day before been in a large Company, among whom were Collo [James] Otis, Doct... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Your agreeable favour to his Excellency, came last night to hand; It was very unlucky that the Captn of the ship 2 threw his papers overboard, he deserves to be severely punished, if It is true, that this was done after he was made a prize of, in any other war than the present, he would suffer death for such an action; But we must show him & such as fall into our hands, that... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I wrote you this day to wch refer ー the Cargo by the two prizes to be Laid up in a Secure place if you think the vessells are not Sufficient for that purpose ー Capt [Winborn] Adams 2 will deliver you this, he Says he will take a Cruize while the Sails which he thinks absolutely necessary, are making. You will please to Let Such Sails as he wants, be put in hands imediatly, as we Cannot... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Today the Admiral sent to Mr Arbuthnot a Copy of the Intelligence, which he had received from Captain Hamilton at Quebec, and acquainted him that as that Intelligence had come to Boston, before he had opportunity of sending Orders for the Somersets sailing, he had determined upon keeping her somewhat longer: that he had ordered the naval Contractors Agent, at Halifax, to supply a Quantity of... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I have received your Letters dated Octr 15, 25 & 28 and November 6. 9, 15 with their Inclosures giving me full and satisfactory Accounts of your Proceedings with his Majesty's Ships at Halifax up to the time of Commodore Arbuthnot's Arrival, who acquaints me that on Account of the defenceless State of the Garrison he had kept the Somerset until he received my further Orders. I am extremely... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Decembr 1775 Sunday 10 Moor'd at Rhode Island Modt with some Snow  at 2 A M sent all the Marines & some Seamen on board our Tender  ½ past the Bolton & Tenders weigh'd & went to Cananicut ferry  at 5 observ'd several houses on fire on Cananicut ー Modt & hazey at 1 P M Anchord here the Tenders & Bolton brigg from Cananicut ferrey with a quantity of Cattle & other Stock... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
December 1775 Sunday 10 Moor'd In Rhode Island Harbour Fresh breezes and Cloudy, AM at 4 landed 78 Men Arm'd on the Island of Connanicot to get off Stock  P M at 1 Return'd our Officers and Men, 4 Marines wounded  brought on board 8 Rebel Prisoners.
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
[December 1775] Sundy 10th Moor'd between Long Wharfe and the [Town of Newport] Modt Breezes and hazey weather  Sent the Lieutenant and 1 Petty Officer on Board the Tender the Tenders of the Fleet with Marines and 50 Seamen & Bolton Arm'd Brigg, landed at Cona[ni]cut about 3 in the Morning to get Cattle was attack'd by a par[ty of] Rebels behind Stone wals &c Employd till Day light... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Decr 1775 Sunday 3d Do [Sandy Hook] No 25"00 Wt 89 Leagues Hard Gales & Squally at 1 P M Handed fore & Mizn topsails in Setting the Jib it split & lost most part of it housed the Lee guns found the Jib boom Sprung at 4 brought too the Chase a Snow from Dominica bound to New York the Gale Increasing handed the Courses and lay too under Main staysail a great sea shipped a great... Continue Reading
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3

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