Dear Sir:

I have the honor of reporting to you the arrangements making & to be made in this State to repel the invading foe who now occupy the Ground from Portsmouth up the Western Branch of Elizabeth River to Suffolk in Nansemond in small Parties. I also enclose the best intelligence I have been able to procure respecting their Strength, taken from a Sergeant who left them the 27th Ulto. Small as it is, the deranged situation of our Military Departments will procrastinate our operating against them in force till the Militia is assembled, Officer'd & Arm'd, in doing which I find difficulty. The Executive have called on all the Supernumerary & resign'd Officers to head them, who readily take an active part on this occasion, and fall into Command agreeable to their former Rank. Genl. Muhlenburg has passed down the South side of James River with 800 Men, new Levies, 120 Loudon Volunteers & 80 old Soldiers of Gibson's Regt.; these I hope will stop their depredations till I can succour him with a force that is assembling here, with whom I shall march the moment I can get them tolerably Arm'd. Genl. Nelson is forming the Militia, Rendezvousing at Williamsburg, & this day writes me 450 were incorporated. Three Hundred of the Maryland Line arrived here to day & are order'd on to reinforce your Army. I congratulate you on the pleasing change our operations have taken under your immediate Directions, and am fully satisfied it will considerably affect the present invasion of this State, as I am certain their intentions were to cover Lord Cornwallis's operation thro' No. Carolina. His favourite plan, suggested to Sr. Henry Clinton, & a requisition made of 2,500 men to take Post at Portsmouth, all corroborate to confirm my opinion.