you intended this business to have been done this morning, but your letter came too late to hand for that purpose. I shall send the detachment to our advance guard, there to remain with their boats for crossing them, hid till night, then shall embark them for Long-Island, where they may be reconnoitring till day-light. I shall be obliged to your Excellency to send us some person to finish our gate.

I am, sir, your most obedient,

WILLIAM MOULTRIE, Col. 2d Regiment.

To General Lee.

June 10, 6 o’clock P. M.

SIR: I am just returned from an excursion into the country. As the large ships are now over the bar, and as your bridge must be finished, I would wish you would lay aside all thoughts of an expedition against Long-Island, unless your scouts bring such intelligence as almost to insure a successful stroke. I am, sir, yours,

CHARLES LEE.

To Colonel Moultrie, Sullivan’s Island.

June 10, 1776, 8 o’clock.

SIR: AS the Commodore’s ship has passed the bar, and as it is absolutely necessary for your and the common safety that the bridge of retreat should be finished this night, I would have you, by all means, to lay aside all thoughts of the expedition against Long-Island, unless you receive assurances from your scouts that you may strike an important stroke. Yours,

CHARLES LEE, Major-General

To Colonel Moultrie.

June 11, 1776.

SIR: As the main body of Horry’s Regiment are at Point Haddrell, Mayham and Coutirier’s companies should be included in the detachment to be sent to the main.

CHARLES LEE.

To Colonel Moultrie.

June 11, 1776.

SIR : I was much surprised that this morning the Engineer should make a report to me that a bridge of retreat was impracticable, as I understand that a few days ago yourself and the other Field Officers gave it as your opinions that it might be effected. If I had boats, I should send them according to your request, but they are not to be had. The flats, ropes, and anchors, were sent in consequence of your former opinion. As I think your security will be much greater by posting a considerable body of Riflemen on the continent than on the Island, I must desire that you will immediately detach four hundred of them to the continent. They are to post themselves, or rather extend themselves, from the left of Point Haddrell towards Long-Island, by which means they will be able to prevent the enemy from erecting works to cut off your retreat. I would order the whole body off the Island, but apprehend it might make your garrison uneasy. You must order this body to be alert in patrolling, and if there is not natural cover in this range, they must throw up artificial ones. I request that this order may be instantly obeyed. I am, sir, yours,

CHARLES LEE.

To Colonel Moultrie.

I had rather you would make up this detachment five hundred. I hope the point of your Island, opposite to Long-Island, is secured against the enemy lodging there. I have ordered boats to be found, if possible.

C. L.

Charlestown, June 13, 1776.

SIR : As I am extremely solicitous for the honour and safety of you and the troops under your command, and as I am myself persuaded that your danger or safety depends entirely on the strength or weakness of the corps stationed on the other side of the creek, I must request that when the necessary works proposed are finished, you will detach at least another hundred men to strengthen this corps. I wish you would send me an exact state of your ammunition, that you may be supplied accordingly. His Excellency the President complains that several boats have been lost at your station. As so much depends on these boats, I must desire that you will put them under a sufficient guard. Oblige the officer commanding the guard to give a receipt for their number, and be accountable for them. I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES LEE.

To Colonel Moultrie.

Haddrell’s Point, June 15, 1776.

SIR: I have stationed Brigadier-General Armstrong at this place. You are to make all your reports to him, and in all respects to consider him as your commanding officer. I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES LEE.

To Colonel Moultrie.

Sullivan’s Island, June 16, 1776.

SIR: Colonel Thompson is now with me, and informs me that he has taken particular notice of the movement of the enemy. He observed about ten o’clock two hundred Grenadiers and a small battalion, (which he imagines came from Dewee to cover the landing of the rest,) where they posted themselves, about one mile from our advanced guard, and waited until about seventeen hundred men were landed. They then marched off to Dewee’s Island. He observed every six men carried something like a tent. They are still landing as fast as the boats can bring them. Colonel Thompson begs that he may have at least his own men which are over with you, (one hundred,) without whom he cannot undertake to prevent their landing on this Island, should they attempt it. We are all in high spirits, and will keep a good look-out to prevent a surprise. Colonel Thompson requests as a favour, if you have time, that you would come over and take a ride on the Island to observe what a length of ground we have to defend. I am yours, &c.,

WILLIAM MOULTRIE, Col. 2d Regt.

To General Armstrong.

Haddrell’s Point, June 16, 1776.

DEAR COLONEL: I shall do my utmost to comply with yours and Colonel Thompson’s request respecting the residue of his regiment. No passage over, unless you can send some boats in the morning. I wish the situation of the bridge may not be fatal to us, as we must assist each other. Let Mr. De Brahm be early at work there, as it must be defensible. Does not the movement of the enemy towards De-wees’s look like an intention to use one of the creeks towards Haddrell’s, probably Bolton’s landing? I expect General Lee early here to-morrow. Dear Colonel, be vigilant, keep your troops alert. I see no reason why you may not also reinforce Colonel Thompson; nay, if they appear indeed to land on Sullivan’s, it must be done, and the point at the Island where they may best land prudently and vigorously defended at all events. Let the Colonel know this.

May Heaven attend you all.

JOHN ARMSTRONG.

To Colonel Moultrie.

June 21, 1776.

SIR: I am extremely concerned to hear that the traverse which I had ordered to be thrown up, and which is really of the greatest importance, should be so illy executed as to threaten a speedy fall; surely Mr. De Brahm, the Engineer, must be acquainted with the degree of talus necessary in all works. For God’s sake enjoin him to correct the evil before it is too late. At any rate devise the means of preventing its ruin. I must likewise express my concern when I am told that your gunners are suffered to fire at the enemy when it is almost impossible that their fire should have any effect. I must desire you, sir, that you must establish it as an eternal rule, that no piece of ordnance, great or small, should be fired at a greater distance than four hundred yards; but all orders will be in vain unless you make an example of the first who disregards your orders. Is Bellamy with you? Has be begun the second bridge? I hope you will keep him on the Island until he has finished the work.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES LEE.

To Colonel Moultrie.

P. S. Those two field-pieces at the very end of the Point are so exposed that I desire you will draw them off to a more secure distance from the enemy; in their present situation, it appears to me they may be carried off whenever the enemy think proper.