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[Extract.]

Sir:

I have the honour to inform your Excellency of the different occurrences in this department since my last of ye 22d of July.

Until lately the greater part of the enemy's force has been in Summer Quarters on Port Royal Island. From the reports of deserters, and other accounts which corroborate them, they have drawn many of the troops from that post to Georgia, leaving the second battl'n of ye 71st, 3 light companies, and 100 Hessians—in all about 500—for the defense of the Island, round which are stationed the Gallies and the armed ship, Vigilant. To strengthen themselves they are drawing their troops into Beaufort, and are throwing up works at the important passes leading to it.

Our little army, composed of the Continental Battalions of this State, about 90 No. Carolina regulars, Count Pulaski's Infantry,

(his Dragoons being in the country at or near Augusta,) amount to 800 or 900 men, 200 of them stationed at Fort Moultrie, 100 in this town, and 600 in camp at Sheldon. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ Governor Caswell, by his letter of the 8th ultimo, informs Governor Rutledge that not more than 300 Continentals may be expected from North Carolina; the Militia has been draughted so as to add from them the number deficient of 2,000. They are not yet embodied. This will necessarily take up much time, and it will be late before they arrive—an unfortunate circumstance, indeed, as much depends on our taking the field before the enemy receive their expected reinforcements.

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