MR. PRINTER,

For the satisfaction of the public, I shall endeavour to give you as true an account of the late matters at this place as I am able.

Last Wednesday night [October 25] a party of men from the tenders went on shore, and robbed several houses on Mill Creek, nigh Hampton. We heard of this the next morning, and observed the tenders at anchor, no great distance from the place where several vessels had been sunk in the channel of Hampton river, to prevent their surprizing us. The channel was not completely stopped, and we imagined, from their situation they intended to prevent our compleating the work, or perhaps might intend to land, to be at their old trade. However, to observe their motions particularly, captain [George] Lyne, in the minute service, rode round nigh where the tenders lay, and left orders for his lieutenant (Mr. Smith) with 30 men, to come over to him, by crossing one of the branches of Hampton river. In a short time after captain Lyne had fixed himself on the point, lieutenant Smith was over with the men, and then two vollies of musquetry were discharged from the tenders, and answered by captain Lyne from his post by a rifle, which was answered by a four pounder from one of the tenders; then began a pretty warm fire from all the tenders. Captain [George] Nicholas, observing this, soon joined about 25 of his men. The fire of our musquetry caused the tender nighest to us to sheer off some distance. The fire consisted of 4 pounders, grape shot &c. for about one hour. Not a man of our's was hurt. Whether our men did any damage is uncetain. They could not get nigher than 300 yards. Some say they saw men fall in one of the tenders. After waiting under cover nigh the shore, and finding they would not land, the men were ordered to retreat to the woods, to try whether that would not induce them to land; but all in vain as long as we stayed. The men were then marched into Hampton, and about 5 o'clock in the afternoon some of them landed, and burnt Mr. Edward Cooper's house. In the night they cut a passage through the vessels that were sunk, and the next morning, about 8 o'clock (which was about half an hour after colonel Woodford and captain Bluford arrived with a rifle company) 5 tenders, to wit, a large schooner, 2 sloops, and 2 pilot boats, passed the passage they had cleared, and drew up a-breast of the town; they then gave 3 chears, and began a heavy fire. Colonel Woodford immediately posted captain Nicholas with his company on one side of the main street, and captain Bluford with his riflemen on the other, who were joined by the town company of militia; captain Lyne with his company was ordered to march to the cross roads just out of town to sustain any attack that might come from James or Back river. The colonel had been informed that men were landed from both these rivers. The musquet and rifle balls soon began to fly so thick that few men were seen upon the decks. The engagement continued very warm for some time. At length they began to cut and slip their cables, and all cleared themselves, except one, which was boarded and taken by some of our men. They took in her the gunner and 7 men, 3 of whom were wounded, 2 mortally (both since dead), 1 white woman, and 2 negro men; lieutenant Wright, who commanded the prize, after receiving a ball, jumped overboard, and it is thought he was not able to reach the tenders. Several more jumped overboard; but it is not known what is become of them, or what damage is done on board of the other tenders. In those 2 different actions, Mr. Printer, officers and soldiers of the regular, minute, and militia, acted with a spirit becoming freemen and Americans, and must evince that Americans will die, or be free!