Letter from Captain Leslie to General Gage

v4:349

Norfolk, Virginia, December 1, 1775.

SIR: The 28th of last month, the Rebels attacked the wooden fort mentioned in my former letter of the 6th of November, built to secure the pass at the Great-Bridge, and have continued firing small-arms at it in an irregular way ever since, without any other consequence than that of slightly wounding two or three of our men. The fort is defended by Lieutenant Wallace, one sergeant, one corporal, and twenty-five private men of the Fourteenth Regiment, some volunteers, and a good many negroes. Two four-pounders were sent to them yesterday; therefore I take it for granted that the Rebels will not easily get possession of that post unless they bring artillery against it; of which, by all accounts, they have not any at present.

I do myself the honour to enclose your Excellency this month' s return of my detachment , as also a letter from Lord Dunmore , in answer to an application I made to his Lordship for a passage for the non-commissioned officers of the two companies of the Fourteenth Regiment, now at Boston.

The officers here, of the Fourteenth Regiment, having requested that I would apply to your Excellency for their bat and forage money, I beg you will be so good as to give directions for the payment of it as soon as convenient.

As a number of women and children belong to my detachment, and there is no method of providing for them but from the King' s stores, I hope you will be pleased to grant them the same indulgence here as I am told they have at Boston.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

SAMUEL LESLIE,
Captain Fourteenth Regiment Infantry.