May it please your Excellency:
Since I had the honoure of being with you at Colo. Hendersons, have recd. Orders from Genl. Sumner to return to Edenton District, in Order to superintend the recruiting Service apprehending Deserters & delinquents, receiving and forwarding on the residue of the draughts from the Edenton district &c. &c. Any Orders or Commands Your Excellency pleases to lay On me Shall be Cheerfully Obey'd. as far as in my Power.
I presume before this comes to hand you will be informed that 2500 British Troops of Foot, have lately embarked at Portsmouth convoy'd by 40 Saill of Transports, their Destination unknown but supposed to be New York.
The Marquis De la Fayette & the Troops under his Command are at Richmond, except Genl. Wayne who hath the Command of a Detachment of considerable Force & is on his Way to Join Colo. Parker.
The Remainder of British Troops are at or near Portsmouth, except a few who guard a Post at Jericho, Mackey's Mills &c. It is said about 700 of them were a few days past at South Quay, where they destroyed Houses in which were a considerable Quantity of private Stores then detached a Party to One Manings 8 or 10 Miles from the Pitch Landing, where they Destroyed two Houses by fire, a Dwelling & Store House of Said Manning; in which were considerable property of sundry Merchants, particularly of Baker & Blow.
It's said the whole consisted of 150 Barrels Sugar, a Quantity of Rum & 9 wt. of Ship Rigin, from which place they returned towards Suffolk.Having nothing further to add, with the highest esteem and respect