[Extract] To the Honorable, the General Assembly
Gentlemen.
... A Letter from the Governor of Virginia of the 23d. of February, respecting the Ship Caswell was delivered me a few days ago1 And a pay roll of the Crew belonging to the said Ship with the Captains remarks on the usefulness of a Tender,2 these I also lay before you for Consideration; And think it necessary to Acquaint you that Captain Wilson informed me he had one hundred & forty five Men on Board the said Ship, that the Ship was properly fitted to proceed to Ocacock3 Bar and waited my orders,
But as I was not fully Acquainted with the Contract made by the Commissioners of this State with the State of Virginia in Respect of the two Gallys4 Sayed to be Built at the Joint expence of the said States, I could not tell how far I might be Justifiable in giving Capt. Wilson Orders, therefore only advised him to proceed with his Ship immediately to Ocacock and protect the Trade in the best manner in his power untill he heard further from me; And that in the mean Time I would lay this Business before the Legislature— The defenseless Condition of Ocacock and the recent Behavior of the Enemy there, shew the necessity of a Speedy determination in the Measures you shall think proper to take
Rd Caswell
New Bern 15th. April 1778.
LS, Nc-AR, Revolutionary War Collection. Docketed: “Message from His Excelly./to Genl. Assembly/respectg. sundry Resolves/of Congress: Letters &c &c,/15 April 1778."
1. The letter from Gov. Patrick Henry has not been found.
2. The payroll and the letter from Capt. Willis Wilson have not been found, but on 29 Apr. the General Assembly sent to the Senate for approval a resolution to issue a warrant on the state treasurers to cover "the additional pay voted by the General Assembly in December, 1777" that was due the crew as demonstrated in the “payroll.” NCSR, vol. 12:. 637. On the same date, the House empowered John Easton to "purchase a small fast sailing vessel and rig and fit her to serve as a tender to the Caswell.” Ibid., p. 636.
3. That is, Ocracoke.
4. Virginia Navy galleys Caswell, Capt. Willis Wilson, commander, and Washington, Capt. Goodrich Boush, commander.
