Major John Clark, Jr., to George Washington, November 12, 1777

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Transcription

M^r Jacobs House Nov^r: 12^th: 1777 8 o Clock A.M.

[Extract]
My dear General

This will inform you I left New Castle Yesterday Evening, at which place their lay about one hundred sail of Men of War & Transports, chiefly of the latter, one large Ship of Force at the mouth of Christiana—Day before Yesterday thirty five sail of Transports hove in sight & soon after taking advantage of the Flood, moved up & joined the Fleet at Chester—The Inhabitants say they had no Troops on board same Day nine Hessians came on shore to bury a Hessian Captain who died of the Wounds he received at Brandywine; and informed the inhabitants they had between two & three thousand Troops on board & woud land Yesterday—I have also received information that all the Transports have Orders to hold themselves in readiness to sail with six Weeks provision exclusive of what they had....The Militia of the Delaware State have taken 5 or 6 Shallops trading with the Enemy & a considerable quantity of Cash (solid Coin) about 20 prisoners....¹ I am [&c.]

Jn^o. Clark Jun^r

P.S. A pilot Boat was going to New Castle when I came away, probably to pilot the Shipping up—

J C

L, DLC, George Washington Papers, Series 4. Six sentences of text are not printed here. They relate to Clark's spy in Philadelphia, his correspondence with Col. Christopher Greene, and to Benjamin Jacobs, the bearer of this letter. Addressed at foot of page: "His Excellency Gen^l Washington." Docketed: "Major Clark./ 12^th Novem: 1777./Answ^d. 13^th.."

1. The capture of these vessels took place in Duck Creek, Del. See Brigadier General James Potter to George Washington, 12 Nov., above.

Document Information

Date

1777 November 12

Volume

Volume 10

Series

American Theatre from October 1, 1777, to December 31, 1777

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

Major John Clark, Jr., to George Washington, November 12, 1777

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