January 1-December 31, 1781 81

[Rd. Hooe, Alex", to Gov. Lee.]

Yesterday Morning we had the agreeable report of a french fleet
arriving in Hampton road — afterwards we had the mortification to
hear it was a British fleet & what favor'd that disagreeable account
was an express from the Governor about 3 o'Clock in the afternoon
ordering 1/4^th of the Militia of this County to be Marched instantly to
Williamsburg!! without assigning any cause. However this days
Post clears up our fears & doubts by handing us the agreeable intelli-
gence contain'd in the Papers w^ch I have the Honor to enclose Your
Excellency.
These Papers might perhaps have reached Annapolis Tomorrow
but the News is so very interesting & important that I conceive it to
be my indispensable Duty to forward it to you by express. I have
the pleasure to add that by information brought by two Gent from
the Southward the Militia of this State are turning out with uncom-
mon alacrity. Those of our County meet Tomorrow and from the
present Spirit, I am of opinion the whole instead % might be Marched
as Volunteers if that number had been demanded. The Gent above
mention'd tell us 'tis the prevailing opinion that Cornwallis cannot
come much farther forward & that both he and Arnold must with
their Armies fall into our hands.
Virginia has now an opportunity and I trust there is still virtue
and Spirit enough in her to Stroke a happy stroke & in favor of all
confederated America. That I may shortly be able to hand you a
still more pleasing account of this Business is Sir, the most Ardent
wish of Your Excellency's most ob^t Serv^t
The Travellers above mention'd say there is 4 Ships of the Line
& 6 frigates

February 21
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 40

[James Mercer, St. JameS^ts, to Col. Robert F. Hooe, Alexandria.
(By Post)]

The inclosed hand Bill arrived here yesterday noon and with it
such a variety of accounts that I thought it adviseable to decline
sending you a special messenger there, hoping that this Days Post
private Letters, or Travellers might enable me to give you such a
Detail as might authorize the executive of Maryland to act upon.
It is now one o'Clock & I am confident that I am now master of the
best Intelligence to be had & such as I can venture to relate as fact —
to wit — Lord Cornwallis is at the Moravian Town in North Carolina
(about 25 miles from the Virginia Line) his force about 2500.
General Green arrivd on the 10^th at Guilford Court house in North
Carolina (about 60 miles S^o East of Hillsborough where he was
joined by General Morgan, the number of General Greens Army not
mentioned but said to be 2700 men. It is certain that Green was
retreating his Reasons so political that we are not to supose him in
danger from his movements he says he will not fight, as he must
6

February 20
Red Book
No. 28
Letter 45