Camp Rocky River, October 13th, 1780.
Sir:
Yesterday I received intelligence of a party of the Enemy marching out of Charlotte towards Biger's ferry on Catawba, consisting of 800, with one field-piece. I have waited till this morning to have this account officially confirmed, but am not fully convinced of the truth of it yet. We have a report by a man of Veracity, just arrived from within 6 miles of Charlotte, that the Enemy have evacuated Charlotte, & that last night at ten oClock the rear of the Army passed Barnet's Creek, five miles Beyond Charlotte, on the Road to Bigger's ferry. This account agrees with a piece of intelligence received about midnight, by 5 Tories who deserted in the evening, that the Enemy were just ready to march at that time. Colo. Davie was yesterday evening in the neighbourhood
of Charlotte with a sufficient force to gall the Enemy in the Rear. I cannot account for Colo. Davie's not sending me accounts, unless he is so busyly ingaged on their Rear as to neglect this.