Everything perfectly quiet last night. This Morning a considerable number of men were observed about Howland's ferry. In the course of the day a great many small arms were fired on the opposite shore. The almost continual irregular firing of small arms for the last two days, where such numbers of people are assembled, are strong indications of their making some attack soon.

A Jew named Isaac Goodman came over last night from the Bristol side, and was brought to Gen^l Pigot's¹ quarters about one oClock this morning, where he gave the following account—That he left Providence yesterday morning in the Packet for Warren, and came from thence in a Canoe with a man who was going to Bristol;—that after they got round Papasquash [Popasquash] point and got near Hog Island, he told the man he would give him his watch if he would put him ashore on Rhode Island; which he accordingly did near Arnold's point, and went off without being discovered by our Sentries, as it was dark. He says the Rebels have collected a very formidable force, and intend to attack us very soon. Nine or 10,000 men are now assembled in the vicinity of Howland's ferry for that purpose. That during the Summer a great number of flat boats have been built at & near Provi­dence, and that within a short time, near 300 boats of different descriptions, but most of them flat boats and Scows, have been brought from Providence to Warren, from whence they have been carried over Warren Neck into Kikemuit river, beyond Mount Hope. That most of them are now in Quaket pond (or Wanton's Cove)² near Rowland's ferry. That they intend making three attacks—One at Howland's ferry, another at Fogland's ferry, and the third at Easton's beach. That two fire ships came down from Providence yesterday Morning, and are now anchored near their Frigate, which is The Providence, Cap^t Whipple; and that they are to come down the first fair wind, supported by the Frigate, and endeavor to burn our Frigates, while theirs gets out, and the attack is made on the Island.³ That they have near 40 pieces of Cannon at Howland's, which are to be brought over in Scows. That this Expe­dition has been concerted for some months, during which time they have been making preparations for it. That 3000 of the troops are Militia of Connecticut, who crossed lately from Warwick to Warren, and from thence by Kikemuit River to How­lands. That they keep a strong guard every night in the Redoubt at the point of Rowland's neck. That our last deserters told them we had not above 2000 men on the Island, and that they might easily force us. That they have exact intelligence of everything doing on the Island, and that some Rebels were lately at the house of a person who conveys information to them. He added that the troops they have as­sembled are all Militia, except about 70 Continental troops and some Artillery, and that they are engaged until the end  of October. That many of them were induced to come upon this expedition by the hopes of the plunder of Newport, which was promised them. General Spencer has the Chief Command. He mentions several other particulars with great accuracy and confidence; and declares they give out that we are to be attacked very soon.

In consequence of the abovementioned information, General Pigot thought proper to postpone the attempt against Bedford [in Dartmouth], and ordered the troops destined for that service to disembark, which they did at one o'Clock this day, and marched to their respective Encampments. The Wood cutting party was also dis­embarked and joined their Corps.

Bedford was the object of the Detachment under the Command of Lieu^t Colonel Marsh.⁴ The Rebels having several Privateers there, and also some West India ships which had been taken by  them, our troops were to have taken or destroyed them, and spiked up the Cannon upon a Battery at the entrance of the Port. The force for this service was 400 of the 43^rd, 100 of the Flank Companies of the 54^th, 120 of the Wood party; 2 Frigates, and the Kingsfisher.

It certainly was a very fortunate circumstance that the Jew came in at  the  time he did, and that the wind was not quite favorable for the fleet to sail at the time ap­pointed; otherwise it would have gone out with 600 troops; and the Rebels perceiv­ing it, would probably have chosen that time for making the attack. And as the Kings­fisher was to have gone from her Station,⁵ the part of the Island where one of the attacks was to be made, would have been left exposed....