On the 18th of April the first Transport of the Irish Fleet joined me; and they continued to drop in every day after this by single Ships to the 3d of May, when Commodore Sir Peter Parker with the Bulk of his Fleet at last made his appearance. It seems he did not leave Cork before the 13th of february ー and the Reasons for this extraordinary delay he can best explain; but Sir Wm Howe was assured by the Minister the Armament should sail from thence by the first of December. There were however several Ships still missing, nor did the last of them join us before the 31st of May.

Our first Care after the arrival of the Fleet, was to land the Troops, who stood much in need of that Refreshment after being so long cooped up in Transports, particularly the 46. Regt which was very sickly. But how to employ them afterwards to the best advantage for the Kings Service was a Subject which required much Consideration. The advanced Season of the Year and the depressed State of the Kings Friends in the two Carolinas, forbad our looking to the Southward; and as I was expecting every moment to receive the Commander in Chiefs Summons to join him I became apprehensive that I should not have time to put my Chesapeak Scheme into any Sort of Train. I proposed however, as soon as the Fleet could be got in readiness for Sailing, to proceed to Virginia, and there wait Sir Wm Howes ultimate Directions. But Sir Peter Parker having in the mean time procured Intelligence from whence it appeared the Rebel Work on Sullivans Island (the Key to Rebellion Road & Charles Town) was in so unfinished a State as to be open to a Coup de Main & that it might be afterwards held by a small Force under Cover of a Frigate or two; and [I] having about the same time received a private Letter from Sir Wm Howe, in which he seemed to intimate a Wish I could get possession of Charles Town, without expressing any Hurry for my joining him; I was tempted to accede to the Commodores Proposals for a joint attempt upon that Island. For tho' neither the Season of the Year, the orders under which I acted, the short Time allowed me, nor the Number of Troops I had under my Command, would warrant an Expectation of suddenly getting hold of Charles Town and keeping it afterwards with the small Garrison I was at liberty to leive there; yet I thought Sullivans Island, if it could be seized without much loss of time, might prove a very important acquisition and greatly facilitate any Subsequent Move we should be in a Condition to make in proper Season against that Capital. Preparations were accordingly made for reimbarking the Troops, and on the 31st of May the Fleet sailed to the Southward.

Within a few Leagues of Charles Town Harbour we were joined by the remaining Transports, which having separated from Sir Peter Parker were driven into an English Port and sent after him under Convoy of the Ranger Sloop. I received a Letter by this Ship from the Secretary of State dated the 3d March; signifying to me His Majesty's Commands "not to engage in any attempt whereby the Troops under my Orders might be exposed to great Loss, or the Service to the northward disappointed; and to proceed immediately to join Major General Howe with my whole Force, if, upon the arrival of the Armament at Cape Fear, I should be of opinion (upon mature Consideration of all Circumstance) that Nothing could be soon effected that would be of great & essential Service and advantage." However the Commodore and General officers, whom I consulted on this occasion, agreeing with me in opinion that the Object before us promised very great advantages & was likely to be accomplished without much delay, we determined to proceed upon it, now we were so near the Port.