Displaying 1 - 9 of 9
The vigilance of my guards has occasioned the enemy to abandon their lines at Portsmouth. This, and some fire rafts I was preparing, has likewise occasioned the fleet to go off. They have thrown over their salt, burnt the most indifferent of their small craft, and are all now below Craney island, except four ships, which are opposite the distillery, but under way likewise. One of the 14th...
Date: 22 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
The enemy were reinforced about 3 o'clock this morning with (as they tell me) every soldier of the 14th regiment at Norfolk, amounting to 200, commanded by Capt. Leslie; and this morning, after reveille beating, crossed the bridge, by laying down some plank, and made an attack to force our breast-work, (the prisoners say the whole number amounted to 500, with volunteers and blacks) with two...
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
A servant belonging to major Marshal, who deserted the other night from col. [Charles] Scott's party, has completely taken his lordship in. Lieutenant Batut, who is wounded, and at present my prisoner, informs, that this fellow told them not more than 300 shirtmen were here; and that imprudent man catched at the bait, despatching capt. Leslie with all the regulars (about 200) who arrived at the...
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
I must apologize for the hurry in which I wrote you yesterday, since which nothing of moment has happened but the abandoning of the fort by the enemy. We have taken possession of it this morning, and found therein the stores mentioned in the enclosed list, to wit, 7 guns, 4 of them sorry, 1 bayonet, 29 spades, 2 shovels, 6 cannon, a few shot, some bedding, a part of a hogshead of rum, two or more...
Date: 10 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
L. Col. Stephen [Edward Stevens] arrived at Kemp's Landing last night, and agreeable to my orders, sent a party to secure every person in that neighbourhood that had left Norfolk since the battle of the Great Bridge... I have had a number of people from thence today, whose stories disagree. They bring two petitions, one from the poor inhabitants of Norfolk, the other from the distressed...
Date: 12 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Sir, I wrote you last night; since then nothing material has happened; we still remain in the same situation. This morning a midshipman, with a flag of truce, arrived from the Otter. That and our answer you have enclosed. All the principal Tories, with their families and effects, have retired on board the ships of war and other vessels in the harbour, of which there is a very large fleet. What...
Date: 15 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Your favour of the 14th came safe to hand last night, and I should esteem myself wanting in duty and respect to your honourable body if I did not take the earliest opportunity to express the high sense I have of the great honour done me by your resolution of the 13th instant, 2 and to assure the Convention that I consider my country's approbation of my conduct a sufficient reward for...
Date: 17 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
About a quarter past 3 on Monday afternoon [January 1] the whole fleet began a heavy cannonade, which lasted 7 hours, without any intermission, and indeed continued, off and on, till last night, since which we have been tolerably quiet. Under the fire of their ships, they landed in many places, and set fire to the houses on the wharves. In these attempts, many of them, we are certain, were killed...
Date: 4 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
We have had a party, these ten days, upon Tanner's creek, who yesterday had a brush with a tender's boat attempting to land at [Andrew] Sprowle's plantation; they beat her off and killed one man.
8 o'clock at night. About 4 this afternoon, another heavy cannonading began from the Liverpool and Otter, during which the enemy landed and set fire to some houses that remained unhurt, near to what is...
Date: 21 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3