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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Charles Scott to Southall
Scott, Charles, 1739-1813
December 17, 1775
Volume 11, Page 353

Extract of a Letter from Col. Scott to Capt. Southall, dated Norfolk, Dec. 17.

Dear Sir,

I have just time to inform you that we have at last got possession of the most horrid place I ever beheld; I mean Norfolk. Almost all the inhabitants fled on board the ships. Flags are continually passing, asking water, provisions, or to exchange prisoners. Duty is harder than ever I saw before, our guards have not been relieved for forty-eight hours. The men of war fell down last evening about a mile, and left a brig with five thousand bushels of salt behind, which our guards took, and brought to the wharf. We have got on board the vessel Mr. Cary Michel.

Col. Howe and Col. Woodford have enterd Norfolk with their forces. Lord Dunmore had abandoned the town, and several of the tories had fled on board their vessels, with all their effects; others of them are applying for forgiveness to their injured countrymen.