[Extract]

This weather is extremely unfavorable for the Rebels, if they mean to make an attack on us....

A man who says he was a Marine on board The Fox Frigate, when she was taken, and has been confined on board The Rebel Galley,¹ above three weeks, made his es­cape from her, and came over to us last night. He positively asserts that the Rebels intended to land below Fogland ferry the night of the 19^th, but that finding we had discovered their boats in motion, and the wind rather against them, they put it off. He says one man was killed, and another had his arms shot off in one of their boats as they passed our battery. That many of their boats have since returned to Quaket pond,² where they now have about 200 of all descriptions. That they were in their boats again the night of the 26^th, and intended to land near Howland's bridge; but the wind rising a little, with some rain, the attack was given over. That they have about 9,000 men assembled for the attack of the Island, and have a good many Cannon. That the time for which the greatest part of thier men are engaged expires the last day of this Month; and that he heard some of the Officers of the Galley say, orders had been given not to send any more provisions to Howland's ferry. He says the Gal­ley mounts 2. 18 p^rs 2. 9 p^rs 4-6p^rs 2. 4 prs, and 10 Swivels, and that there are but 22 persons on board her, all of whom except one, call themselves Officers.