Gentlemen
On Monday evening last [March 25] a Man of War and her Tender came within the Pitch of our Cape and anchored ー as you have been informed by last express ー the Pilot Boat stationed near Lewes Creek's mouth did not discover the signal at the Light House, nor See the Ship that evening as it was near dark before she came to the Pitch of the Cape, And when the Alarm Guns were fired the People on Board the Boat, altho' they heard them very plain, imagined as they said that we were cleaning the Guns with a proof charge: Tuesday morning the Man of War's boat took My Pilot Boat, the wind being light and Northerly and Ebb Tide ー but before they boarded her the hands in the Pilot Boat left her and Rowed on Shore at the Broad kill in their Skiff. ー The same day the Man of War with their Tenders and Boats took a Small Sloop then laying in the Road belonging to Egg harbour in ballast the People of whom left her first in their Boat. they also took two other small sloops from Philadelphia One to Synnepuxon the other to North Carolina and on Wednesday sent them on shore in their own small Boats, Stripped and scuttled the afsd three Sloops and set them adrift, by these People we learned that it was Captain Hammond of the Kings Ship the Roebuck of forty four guns They made another Tender of the Pilot boat, sent her out took a NewEngland Sloop Bound to Philadelphia for Corn and that night laying to Near the Cape the hand at helm falling a Sleep let the Pilot Boat run on the Beach when the third Lieutenant their Pilot and two Sailors left her, went on the Cape and were taken on Thursday by our men. ー We stripped the Pilot boat of every thing of value and found Ten Musquets and five Pistels which had been hove over the side where the boat lies ー On Friday and Saturday they took nothing-On friday the Sloop Hornet appeared near Indian River and sent on shore and got a Pilot, but we have not seen her Since and the same evening the Brig [Lexington] Capt Barry came down under Cape May And on Sunday Morning went out ー The Ship and Tender put out w Sea also after the Brig but returned on Sunday evening into the road 2 ー We have been Day & Night on Guard both on the Cape and at Lewes and Pilot Town ー The Several Companies of Militia from ali Parts of the County who live within twenty or five & twenty miles of Lewes came in as soon as they could be expected seemed all quite unanimous and hearty in the Cause determined to defend their Country. there has been near 1000 Men in at times the last Week so that we were obliged to discharge Many of them not having Occasion for half the Number. We prevailed on those lived at a distance to leave some of their Best of their Arms (for Numbers of them want Firelocks) which are not to be purchased,
On Saturday last Capt [Charles] Pope's Company of the Delaware Batalion of regular Soldiers came down from Kent all well equipped-How long the Ship intends to Stay here we cannot learn ー If any thing Material should happen, I shall endeavour to let you know it. I am, Gentlemen [&c.] Henry Fisher To the Committee of Safety in Phila. pr Mr Ed wards
P S from what I Can Learn from the Prisoners that we have got you may dayly Expect Several Large ships, therefore, I hope, that you may be upon your Gaurd as, from what I Can Learn that they are to Come up your River ー The Leiutenant & other Prisoners will be sent up to you to Morrow by land, or Else it shall Caust me A fall.
Henry Fisher [Endorsements] Lewistown April the 2,1776
Four O Clock-To the Gentlemen that Keep the Stage Horses you are Required to let the bearer Mr Saml Edwards have them as he is one of the Stationed Pilots therefore Can Relate matters more Particular than I Can Write-H.F.
Cedar Creek April 2d 1776. 6 0 Clock Thomas Evans. Dover Tuesday 10 Minutes after Nine O Clock Arive Dispacht at 10 0 Clock Apl 2d Battle Cantwell bridge Tuesday fifty two Minutes after one Dispached 10 Minutes after Two April 2d 1776 Math Delany Wilmington Tuesday 38 minutes after 7 Oclock Arrived Express and Dispacht 55 Minutes after 7 Oclock April the 2d 1776 ー Thos Kean