their boats, and pushed for the Island: but Captain Smith, very prudently passing the tender, pursued them so close, that before they could reach the shore, he exchanged a few shot with them, and took part of them prisoners. The enemy's lookouts, perceiving our men close upon the lower part of the Island, cried out, "The Shirtmen are coming," and scampered off. The pilot-boat made no resistance.

General Lewis then ordered two hundred men, under Colonel McClanahan, to land in the Island; which was performed as expeditiously as our small vessels would admit of. On our arrival, we found the enemy had evacuated the place with the greatest precipitation, and were struck with horrour at the number of dead bodies, in a state of putrefaction, strewed all the way from their battery to Cherry-Point, about two miles in length, without a shovelful of earth upon them; others gasping for life; and some had crawled to the water's edge, who could only make known their distress by beckoning to us. By the small-pox, and other malignant disorders which have raged on board the fleet for many months past, it is clear they have lost, since their arrival at Gwin's Island, near five hundred souls. I myself counted one hundred and thirty graves, or rather holes, loosely covered over with earth, close together, many of them large enough to hold a corporal's guard. One, in the middle, was neatly done up with turf, and is supposed to contain the remains of the late Lord of Gosport. Many were burnt alive in brush huts, which, in their confusion, had got on fire. In short, such a scene of misery, distress, and cruelty, my eyes never beheld; for which the authors, one may reasonably conclude, never can make atonement in this world.

The enemy left behind them, in their battery, a double fortified nine-pounder, a great part of their baggage, with several tents and markees, besides the three tenders, with their cannon, small arms, &c.; also, the anchors and cables of the Dunmore, Otter, and many others, to the amount, it is supposed, of twelve or fifteen hundred pounds. On their leaving the Island, they burnt some valuable vessels which had got aground. Mr. John Grymes's effects on the Island have fallen into our hands, consisting of thirty-five negroes, horses, cattle, and furniture. Major Byrd, on the approach of our canoes to the Island, was huddled into a cart, in a very sick and low condition, it is said, and carried down to Cherry-Point, where he embarked. The second shot the Dunmore received cut her boatswain in two, and wounded two or three others; and she had scarcely recovered from the shock, when a nine-pounder from the lower battery entered her quarter, and beat in a large timber, from the splinters of which Lord Dunmore got wounded in the legs, and had all his valuable china smashed about his ears. It is said his Lordship was exceedingly alarmed, and roared out, "Good God, that ever I should come to this!" We had our information from one of his people that came ashore after the engagement, who was taken by our scouts; he likewise said that many were killed in the fleet, which had sustained some thousand pounds worth of damage. The Fowey and Roebuck were the lowermost ships; besides which, there were one hundred and large odd sail of vessels, which took their departure on Thursday afternoon, and are supposed to have gone into Potomack. In this affair we lost not a man but poor Captain Arundel, who was killed by the bursting of a mortar of his own invention, although the General and all the officers were against his firing it. His zeal for the service lost him his life.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED WILLIAMSBURGH, VIRGINIA,

JULY 13, 1776.

A battery of two eighteen-pounders was opened on the enemy's fleet on Tuesday morning, whilst another of four nine-pounders played on their works and camp on Gwin's Island, In a short time, the whole fleet was forced to tow out of reach of the battery; their fire ceased after a few rounds; their camp was thrown into confusion; and in the night, before we could procure boats to carry over our men, they removed all their tents except one, their cannon except one, and all their stores, &c. There were three tenders in the haven, which attempted to prevent our passage. Their works were still manned, as if they meant to dispute their ground; but as soon as our soldiers put off in a few canoes, they retreated precipitately to their ships. The tenders fell, into our hands; one they set on fire, but our people boarded it and extinguished the flames. The enemy burnt two small vessels, and the night following, a very large ship, supposed to be the Dunmore, for she was very much damaged, having received four eighteen-pound shot through her sides, and a double-headed one through her stern, which raked her. Her mate was killed, a sailor had his arm taken off, and Lord Dunmore had his leg wounded by this shot. The fleet has sailed from the Island, which we are in quiet possession of. From their works, and preparations for others, and stock of cattle left on the Island, it is evident they left it much against their inclination, and long before they expected it. We found one hundred and fifty graves and twelve dead negroes lying in the open air. They have had a dreadful fever amongst them, and the small-pox. I wish our Army may not catch the infection. The Roebuck was at the mouth of Rappahannock. The Fowey and Otter did not choose to come to the assistance of the Dunmore, which, unfortunately for her, had changed stations with the Otter, and by this means came into the jaws of our battery, which was concealed. We did not lose a man.

LIST OF SHIPS IN LORD DUNMORE'S FLEET, JULY 10, 1776.

Roebuck, a forty-four-gun ship, Commodore Hammond commander.

Fowey, a twenty-gun ship, Captain Montagu commander.

Otter, a ten-gun sloop of war, Captan Squires commander.

Dunmore, a frigate-built ship, mounting four six-pounders on one side.

William, a ship with two four-pounders of a side, a part of the 14th Regiment on board.

Anna, a ship, barricadoed, with a part of the 14th Regiment on board.

Dun Luce, a ship, occupied by the Queen's Loyals, a regiment of ditto raising.

Grace, a ship belonging to and occupied by Mr. Fleming and family.

Levant, a store-ship, in which Governour Eden has taken a passage.

Brigantine Fincastle, belonging to and occupied by Niel Jamieson.

Brigantine Dolphin, belonging to and occupied by Hector McAlister.

Brigantine Maria, occupied by John Allason and family.

Brigantine Fanny, occupied by Dr. McCaa and family.

Brigantine Betsey, occupied by Captain Boynoe and family.

Ditto, occupied by Doctor Coakley and family, sometimes with negroes.

Ditto, occupied by Mr. Feener and family.

A Spanish snow, prizemaster, supercargo, captain, and crew, on board.

Brigantine Helena, belonging to Roger Steuart, occupied as a prison for prisoners.

Brigantine William and Charles, from Barbadoes, on board three hundred hogsheads rum and one hundred hogsheads sugar, sent in by the Governour of Barbadoes to Sir Peter Parker.

Snow Unicorn, on board of which is blacksmith's shop.

Brigantine Hammond, occupied by Mr. John Hunter and Mr.Sprowles's family.

Schooner Thomas, occupied by William Calderhead and family.

Schooner Charlotte, occupied by William Hargisdes and family.

Sloop Campbell, occupied by Mr. Farmer and family.

Sloop Peace and Plenty, belonging to and occupied by Mr. Eilbeck.

Sloop Lady Augusta, belonging to and occupied by Captain Lowes.

Sloop Lady Gower, a tender, John Wilkie commander.

Sloop Lady Stanly, a tender, William Younghusband commander.

Sloop Lady Susan, a tender, Briger Goodrich commander.

Schooner Gage, a tender, belonging to the Roebuck.

Sloop Fincastle, of twelve guns, belonging to the Otter.

Sloop Lady Gage, a tender, belonging to the Fowey.

Seven sloops, occupied by Messrs. Spedden and Goodrich's families.

Two schooners, occupied by John Brown and family.

Ship Logan, belonging to and occupied by Mr. Logan and family.