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The whole Army which lately occupied Boston is now embarked, & lying at the Mouth of the Harbour, it is said we go to Halifax to wait for the Reinforcement from Home, what then will be done, God knows. On the 2d of this Month the Rebels began to bombard & cannonade us in the Town of Boston, they threw Shells & Shot for three succeeding Nights into the Town, without doing much Execution, only wounded four Soldiers & a Baker's Boy, two of the former are since dead, this they did to amuse us while they took Possession of & strongly fortified the Heights of Dorchester, in one Night they raised two very strong Works, which if finished totally commanded the Town. Genl How embarked part of the Troops & made them fall down the Harbour to attack them opposite Castle William, while another Party in flat bottomed Boats were to have attacked on the other Flank commanded by the Gneral in Person, this was to have been on the 5th, but a violent Gale of Wind prevented the Troops landing, it continued about 24 Hours, when it ceased, their Works were so far advanced that the Attack was given up, They had at least 10000 Men on these Hills, which 3000. were to have attacked, it must have been a very bloody Affair, and if successful would probably have dispersed their Army, I have no doubt it would, as there was not a Shot to have been fired but from the Artillery till you got into their works, the Men were not allowed to load, but depend entirely on their Bayonets. The Onset was to have been in the Night, our not being loaded would have prevented any Confusion among our own Men from irregular Firing, & if they got in with their Bayonets the Carnage must have been very great. The Elements having frustrated this Attempt it was not possible to stay in Boston without having our Men destroyed Piecemeal, while they could very little annoy the Enemy. We embarked the 17th without the Loss of a Man, the Rebels not daring to stir out of their works, nor attempt coming into Town for sometime after we left it. It was a beautiful Sight to see an Army of about 7000. Men embark in the face of one of 60000. without being molested, if they had fired a Shot the Town would have been burnt. By a Cruiser come in Yesterday from the Southward it is said the Rebels have destroyed their Towns on the Coast & drove their Cattle up the Country (this is hearsay). George Gillespie.

P.S. March 25. The Gale which has blown for some Days is now much abated, & part of the Fleet getting under Sail, viz. the Light Horse & the Emigrants from Boston, hope we shall soon follow.