Sir, Great Bridge 5th Decr. 1775
After my Letter of yesterday, I recd. an Acct. from Capt. Taliaferro, that the Boat intended for him to cross in could not be got off till day light, & desired my further Instructions. I had sent Capt. Nicholas with 42 men to reinforce Taliaferro & on Rect. of his letter, order’d Colo. Stevens to take the command of the whole, they crossed about midd night, & got to the Enemys centinals without being discover’d, one of them challenged & not being answer’d, Fired at our party, the fire was returnd by our men, & an over Eagerness at first, & rather a backwardness afterwards, occation’d some confusion, & prevented the Colos. plan from being so well executed as he intended, however, he Fired their Fortification & House, in which one negro perished, killed one dead upon the spott, & took two others prisoners (who’s Examination I now enclose you, this party (consisting of 26 Blacks & 9 Whites) escaped under cover of the night, he allso took four new Muskets. my Instructions mention proceding against Slaves taken in arms, according to the rules of War, I believe the Unanimous opinion of the officers would have been to make an Immediate Example of them, but considering you inform me in yours of the 1st Inst. that a counter proclamation to that of Ld Dunmore would be out in a few Days, & wishing to have the express commands of your Honble. Boddy, now sitting, in a matter of so much importance as Life & Death, I thought proper to postpone any step of the sort, ’till I am further Instructed.
These instructions, I would likewise wish, might point out my conduct in many other things, that could be fix’d by the wisdom of your councills, much better then left wholly to my discretion—we have likewise confined here negro Tom belonging to a man in Carolina, has been Run away two years, I have inform’d his master, that upon proving his property, & paying all charges his slave shall be deliver’d—
Charles, belonging to —— Montgomery of Portsmouth, taken by our scouts, a very suspicious Fellow, & from what appear’d upon his examination, upon no good in this neighbourhood, he continues under Gaurd in Irons—Will who says he belongs to George Corby of black Water (Norfolk County) remains confined till further orders—Capt. Wim. Hodges (who’s instructions from Ld Dunmore I enclosed to the Honble Mr. Page), his character as to political princables, is very bad, & if I am rightly inform’d, deserves to be punished, except his insignificancy should excuse him, he is confined till further orders—John Ryal, a Baker taken in a Boat with 400 lbs. Flour & 12 1/2 Bushs. Salt coming up this River, is said to be an Enemy to our cause, & has Baked & assisted the ministerial Troops since they took part here, these articles being much wanted by us, & supposing they were intended for the Enemy, are made use of & the person confined ’till further orders—
Colo. Wells is this moment return’d from Carolina & brings a Letter from Colo Vail (a coppy inclosed) likewise informs that the cannon are not mounted, no powder with the party but 300ls. on this side, in possession of a Mr. Lamb, who will deliver it to Vail upon his march, the mens arms but Indifferent,
no kind of Furniture to the Cannon, he says they have Accts from Genln, from Philada. that our Troops are in possession of Bunker Hill, but with a considerable loss, that a Vessell informs, 50 or 60 sail was seen within these few Days off Newbern, supposed to be Transports with Troops. Colo. Jarvis with 12 men arrived here last night from the above party
I am just inform’d that Batchellers Mill Dam upon Deep creek is gone, so that our Waggons cannot pass without a Bridge, this is 10 miles from here on the Road to Suffolk, & wheather it was destroy’d by the Tories, or went by accident is uncertain, the people inform my messenger that Ld Dunmore has promised to send a party there in a few Days to take post. I have dispatch’d two Horse men to inquire into the Truth of this matter, & reconnoiter the Water Courses &c & an officer & 25 men march Immediately to repair the Damages, & take post there, this Country between this & Suffolk is so exposed to several Water courses, that there will be an absolute necessity to Establish two or three posts upon the Road, as the Inhabitants are all Tories & when the Fort over the Bridge is reduced, a strong party must gaurd this Important pass. all these reasons induce me to advice what I recommended yesterday. some 4lb. shott with 3 or 4 the best mounted cannon of that size (with swabbers, Ram Rods & c) I would likewise advise to follow with the Greatest Expedition. The want of that necessary article for the Soldiery, Shoes, begins to be sevearly felt by some, & will shortly be so by that whole, unless a speedy supply arrives.
I mention’d this to Mr Page upon my first crossing James River. The bearer brings you one of the Balls taken out of the cartirages found upon the negro Prisoners, as they were extremely well made & no doubt by some of the non comd officers of the Regulars, will submitt it to the Convention, by who’s orders this Horrid preparation was made for the Flesh of our Country men, the others is prepared in the same manner, likewise all that have been found in the House &c—I have never suffer’d a soldier of mine to do a thing of this kind—nor will I allow it to be done for the future, notwithstanding this provocation, we are much at a loss for a good Glass. I’m told there is very fine ones at the College, which would be of great service. This part of the country affording no such thing. I am with much Respect
Sir
Your obedt humble servt
Wm. Woodford
Examination of negroes George and Ned taken prisoners by Colo Stephen’s detachment December 5th 1775 before the field officers.—
Negro George belonging to Mr. Donaldson at Suffolk informs that he left Norfolk yesterday with 55 Black and 2 white men; that he thinks there are 400 Blacks in that town, besides soldiers and Tories; That a tender went down the river to meet a ship & a snow which the soldiers told him were expected from St. Augustine with troops to the amount of 4 or 500; That the entrenchment at Norfolk was nearly compleated, and that they were to begin to mount their Cannon yesterday on the works, twelve peices.—That there are in the fort at the bridge about 30 Whites & 90 blacks; The fort is commanded by one Cunningham; They have six peices of Cannon on Carriages in the fort, and he believes plenty of amunition and provision. That last saturday there were about 30 head of Cattle & 50 sheep driven into Norfolk by the county people and put into an inclosure. That in general they are plentifully supplied with fresh provisions from the market in Norfolk.—That all the blacks who are sent to the fort at the great Bridge, are supplied with muskets, Cartridges &c and strictly ordered to use them defensively and offensively.—That the officer who commanded the party from which he was taken last night, is named Wodross.—That negro Ned taken Prisoner with him the said George, entered as a Volunteer into the service.—
Examination of Negro Ned taken prisoner by Lieut Colo. Stephens’s Detachment December 5th 1775
Negro Ned, belonging to Mr. Newton of Kemps Landing, upon his Examination, informs that a Ship & snow arrived at Norfolk on friday last with soldiers. That he came from Norfolk yesterday with twenty odd Blacks & three whites.—That all the Blacks who are at any time sent up to the fort at the Great Bridge are supplied with Muskets Ammunition &c. and ordered to use them against us.
