and fifty sail at New-York; that Erls said rum came from on board the man-of-war this week; that Stephens charged the informant not to mention it to some certain friends of his in New-York.

Sworn the 29th June, 1776, before us:

Joseph Baldwin, opposite the King’s stores, tallow-chandler, is brother to the within informant, and will go on any expedition.

List of prisoners sent by Lieutenant- Colonel CARY to Brigadier-General GREENE, June 29, 1776.

Joseph Dorlant and John Hutchins, from Jamaica jail.

John Carman, received powder and absconded in the woods.

Andrew Allen, disaffected person, taken in the woods.

Jacob Lamberson, found with his gun charged.

Benjamin Pedet, in the swamp in the fight, and had powder from man-of-war.

Ezekiel Rainer, in the woods hid.

Richard Smith, in the swamp battle, and had powder from the Asia.

Jeremiah Bedle, a disaffected person.

Daniel Smith, in the swamp battle.

Elijah Rainer, hid in the swamp.

Joseph Bedle, same, disaffected person.

Nathan Smith, received powder from the Asia, absconded in the woods, and appears to know much of the scheme.

Townsend, Wicks, a damned rascal, and the greatest Tory.

William McKoon, Thomas Fleet, John Fleet, Peter Wheeler, Samuel Townsend, declared they would sooner fight for the King than the Congress, and totally deny the authority of that body.

James Coggeshall, gun-stealer, or informer, from Newport.

Henry Dearling, said General Washington was more concerned in the conspiracy than any one.

To Brig. Gen. Greene, Head-Quarters, Long-Island.

Hempstead, June 29, 1776.

June 30, 1776.—Referred to the determination of the Congress of this Colony.

T. MIFFLIN, Brig. Gen.

GENERAL LEE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Charlestown, July 1, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I have the happiness to congratulate, you on a very signal success (if I may not call it a victory) which we have gained over the mercenary instruments of the British tyrant. I shall not trouble you with a detail of their manoeuvres or delays, but defer it to another time, when I have more leisure to write and you to attend: let it suffice that, having lost an opportunity (such as I hope will never again present itself) of taking the town, which, on my arrival, was utterly defenceless, the Commodore thought proper, on Friday last, with his whole squadron, consisting of two fifties, six frigates, and a bomb, (the rates of which you will see in the enclosed list,) to attack our fort on Sullivan’s Island. They dropped their anchors about eleven in the forenoon, at the distance of three or four hundred yards, before the front battery. I was myself at this time in a boat, endeavouring to make the Island, but the wind and tide being violently against us, drove us on the main. They immediately commenced the most furious fire that I ever heard or saw. I confess I was in pain from the little confidence I reposed in our troops, the officers being all boys, and the men raw recruits. What augmented my anxiety was, that we had no bridge finished of retreat or communication, and the creek or cove which separated it from the continent is near a mile wide. I had received, likewise, intelligence that their land troops intended at the same time to land and assault. I never in my life felt myself so uneasy; and what added to my uneasiness was, that I knew our stock of ammunition was miserably low. I had once thoughts of ordering the commanding officer to spike his guns, and when his ammunition was spent, to retreat with as little loss as possible. However, I thought proper previous, to send to town for a fresh supply, if it could possibly be procured, and ordered my Aid-de-camp, Mr. Byrd, (who is a lad of magnanimous courage,) to pass over in a small canoe and report the state of the spirit of the garrison; if it had been low, I should have abandoned all thoughts of defence. His report was flattering. I then determined to maintain the post at all risks, and passed the creek or cove in a small boat, in order to animate the garrison in propria persona; but I found they had no occasion for such encouragement. They were pleased with my visit, and assured me they never would abandon the post but with their lives. The cool courage they displayed astonished and enraptured me; for I do assure you, my dear General, I never experienced a hotter fire—twelve full hours it was continued without intermission. The noble fellows who were mortally wounded conjured their brethren never to abandon the standard of liberty. Those who lost their limbs deserted not their posts. Upon the whole, they acted like Romans in the third century. However, our works were so good and solid, that we lost but few—only ten killed on the spot, and twenty-two wounded; seven of whom lost their legs or arms. The loss of the enemy, as you will perceive by the enclosed list, was very great. As I send a detail to the Congress, I shall not trouble you with a duplicate; but before I finish, you must suffer me to recommend to your esteem, friendship, and patronage, my (though young) Aids-de-camp, Byrd and Morris, whose good sense, integrity, activity, and valour, promise to their country a most fruitful crop of essential services. Mr. Jenifer, of Maryland, a gentleman of fortune, and not of the age when the blood of men flows heroically, has shown not less spirit than these youngsters. I may venture to recommend in these high terms, because the trial was severe. Colonel Moultrie, who commanded the garrison, deserves the highest honours. The manifest intention of the enemy was to land, at the same time the ships began to fire, their whole regulars on the east end of the Island. Twice they attempted it, and twice they were repulsed by a Colonel Thompson of the South-Carolina Rangers, in conjunction with a body of North-Carolina Regulars. Upon the whole, the South and North-Carolina troops and Virginia Rifle Battalion we have here, are admirable soldiers. The enemy are now returned to their old station on this side the bar. What their intention is, I cannot divine. One of the five deserters who came over to us this day, is the most intelligent fellow I ever met with. The accounts of their particular loss and situation are his, and I think they may be depended upon.

For God’s sake, my dear General, urge the Congress to furnish me with a thousand cavalry. With a thousand cavalry, I could insure the safety of these Southern Provinces; and without cavalry, I can answer for nothing. I proposed a scheme in Virginia for raising a body without almost any expense; the scheme was relished by the gentlemen of Virginia, but I am told that the project was censured by some members of the Congress, on the principle that a military servant should not take the liberty to propose anything. This opinion I sincerely subscribe to, when our distance from the sovereign is so small and the danger so remote as to admit of proposing, deliberating, resolving, and approving; but when a General is at a vast distance, and the enemy close to him, I humbly conceive that it is his duty to propose and adopt anything, without other authority than the publick safety. From want of this species of troops we had infallibly lost the capital, but the dilatoriness and stupidity of the enemy saved us. I this instant learn that the Commodore is fixing buoys on the bar, which indicates an intention of quitting the place. It is probable that they will bend their course to Hampton or Chesapeake-Bay.

I am extremely happy, dear General, that you are at Philadelphia, for their councils sometimes lack a little military electricity. I have ordered the Adjutant-General to send you a return—I mean only a return of the strength of this place. I suppose it will be imperfect, for it is an Herculean labour to a South-Carolina officer to make any detail. God bless you, my dear General, and crown you with success, as I am most entirely and affectionately yours,

CHARLES LEE.

I am made quite happy by the resolution of Congress to keep Canada : had it been relinquished, all would have been lost.

Charlestown, July 2, 1776.

SIR: My having early in life engaged in the last war under you, and the present one we are engaged, in appearing