Navy Board [Charleston]
Monday 4th.. November 1776.
The following Letter was wrote to Capt. Pickering |
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Navy Board Chas Town So Carolina |
4th Nover. 1776—
Captn. Thomas Pickering
The Commissioners of the Navy having received Intelligence that a Ship & Sloop belonging to the subjects of Great Britain are Loading at St Marys River which is guarded by two small Vessels from St Augustine You are without delay to proceed off the Port of Sunbury in Georgia where if no Pilot Boat should be off & the weather will permit send your Boat on Shore with an Officer to the Committee there to get a Pilot Acquainted with St. Marys River & Immediately proceed to the said River where You will endeavour to Take or Destroy the Cruizers & bring off the Vessels Loading provided they belong to the Subjects of Great Britain Ireland &c -in doing which it is apprehended You will Meet with no difficulty
The following Letter was wrote to the Committee of Sunbury
To the Committee at Sunbury
Gentn —
Having received intelligence that two Vessells are Loading at St Marys Covered by Two small armed Vessels The Commissioners of the Navy have given directions to Captn Pickering of the Vessel of warr Defence, to Call off your Port & require Your assistance to obtain a Pilot for St Marys River which they will be glad that You will procure for him as speedily as Possible & render him any other .service which he may require after which he has directions to Proceed to St. Marys River in quest of the cruisers and Vessels Loading
By Order of the Navy Board
Edward Blake first Commissioner
Ordered That the Pilot Boat Hibernia be this day discharged from the Public Service