Off Wecomoco Mouth May 28th 1776
Gentln
Two hours since I wrote you, Since which have discovered five Sail of Topsail Vessels which had been at An Anchor off Windmill point one of them Wears A broad pendt 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 Commadore fire A Gun the Signal for Weighing. I am now halling my Wind down the Bay, to make all the discovery I can & expect momently to be chas'd but depend on my heals, Shall as soon as Satisfied [of] their Number & the Course they Steer make the best of my way up. I am Gentln yrs to Commd
James Nicholson
Since Writing the Enclosed have discovered the Ships under way. I have stood into floods Bay. the Commadore still continues at an Anchor If I find it Necessary the Country shou'd be Alarmd I will fire A Gun every 15 Minutes as I [come] up the Bay without which they need not [torn.]
1. Red Book, XIII, Md. Arch.