Letter from Colonel Scott to Captain Southall

v4:292

Norfolk, December 17, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I have just time to inform you that we have got possession of the most horrid place I ever beheld; I mean Norfolk. Almost all the inhabitants fled on board the ships. Flags are continually passing, asking water, provision, or to exchange prisoners. Duty is harder than I ever saw before. Our guards have not been relieved for forty-eight hours. The men-of-war fell down last evening about four miles, and left a brig, with five thousand bushels of salt, behind; which our guard took, and brought to the wharf; but have not got one bushel on shore yet. We have got on board the vessel Mr˙ Cary Mitchell.