Sir:
Agreeable to Your Excellency's orders have sent an Express to you daily since I recd. your last by Capn. Hearon, have not had the pleasure of hearing from these Six Days past, and militia are collecting at New Bern, and in Dobbs. In Pitt I have ordered them to collect the whole of the militia in that County & Skirmish in their front to Neuse where they are to join me. Should they not cross through that County they will be on their left flank & be at Neuse before them, where we shall make some little opposition. I doubt it will be little as I have but little expectation of the militia fighting unless it is across the river. The British parties to the So. ward remain where they were when I wrote to you last. Genl. Lillington has kept Captn. Coleman with the men under his Comd. in the Wilmington District, tho' I had given him orders to go to New Bern. Last Wednesday was heard a very heavy firing to the No. ward, Shall be glad to hear where it was If Your Excellency can inform me.