450 Journal and Correspondence

Original

[Hammond to Council]

Gen^t At a meeting of Cap^t Thomas Mullikins Company
of Militia the 15^th Ins^t he resigned his commission as did also
M^r Belt Mullikin the 2^cl Lf^t The Comp^y then unanimously
made choice of M^r Vachel Gaither the 1^st Lf^t for their Cap^t M^r
Absolom Anderson the Ensign for their 1^st Lef^t M^r Stephen
Basford for 2^d Lf^t & M^r Thomas Fowler Basford for their
Ensign whom they desired me to recommend to your Honours
to be commissioned which I now do as they are Gen^l very
agreeable to the Comp^y
I am Gen^l respectfully y^r Humble Servant.
28^th May 1776. Rezin Hammond

Original.

[Nicholson to Council.]

Ship Defence Wecomoco May 28^th 1776.
Gentlemen. I did myself the pleasure [of] writing p^r Cap^t
Pitt informing of the situation of the Enemy down at Norfolk,
since which have been Join'd by Cap^t Boucher and a Brig he
had in Convoy, from the certainty he has of the Tenders being
so numerous about the Cape, he is now hailing the Brig up a
Creek in this River, and there to lay untill a more favourable
opportunity. For want of the assistance of a Tender (my own
having sprung her Mast) I did not go lower down the Bay
than Rappahanock, where the Bay appears quite clear, Cap^t
Boucher & myself intend down this Even^g for the purpose of
making discoveries, and should the vessels not be already
sail^d would recommend they should be held in readiness until
I return & send or bring you advice; But shoud you think
proper to send them before or shoud they be already sail'd,
you may depend upon my utmost care of them.
I am Gentⁿ y^r most
oblidged Hum^l Serv^t &c. James Nicholson

Original.

[Nicholson to Council.]

Off Wecomoco Mouth May 28^th 1776.
Gentⁿ Two hours since, I wrote you, since which have dis-
covered five sail of Topsail vessels which had been at an
anchor off windmill point one of them wears a broad pend^t
suppose the Commadore. she & another Capital ship is now
under way standing up the Bay we apprehend there may be a
fleet under Windmill point at anchor as we heard the Com-
madore fire a Gun the signal for weighing. I am now hailing
my wind down the Bay, to make all the discovery I can &