‘On the 7th inst. the 15th and 28th regiments landed on a peninsula at the mouth of the river, but the enemy not choosing to shew themselves, the General after reconnoitring the country, reimbarked them. A few days after, the 27th and 33rd regiment went
15 miles up the river, and dispossessed the rebels of a post they had at that place called Brunswick. They took a few prisoners, and had one man killed; after executing this business, they returned to the ships with a seasonable supply of 20 bullocks. On the 15th inst. the 15th, 28th, 33rd, 37th, and 54th regiments landed and encamped near a demolished post opposite to our shipping. The 57th is encamped on the opposite shore, and the 46th is still on board. Part of the rebels are within two or three miles of us, but their strongest post, or chief dependence, is at Wilmington, about 20 miles from hence.'
Subsequent accounts said, a few days after the above dated, the troops reimbarked. At this time the season is against the troops acting in the southern provinces. One regiment (the 46th) was very sickly, owing to the climate. And here it is necessary to observe, that General Howe before he left Halifax, sent a vessel to General Clinton with orders to come to the north ward and join him. It is singular, that General Clinton had no intelligence of the evacuation of Boston, except what he obtained by chance from an American news paper.
The next account from this fleet was important.
Not receiving General Howe's orders to come to the northward, before they left Cape Fear, they went to the southward, for Charlestown, to make an impression there, agreeable to their original orders before they left England.