The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG, June 27.

Extract of a letter from a General officer, dated camp, Middle Brook, June 13, 1777.

"As I fear I should not have an opportunity of writing you after to-day, for some time to come, and knowing your anxiety for our safety and success, have sat down in order to tell you what is on the carpet, and if the alarm guns do not fire before I finish, shall be happy.

We have been encamped on this ground about 20 days, had just got all our old warriors drawn together, and began to live in a most social manner; Sir William, that disturber of man's peace, could not endure to hear of our happiness, he is likely to give us some trouble in a day or two, indeed I look for it every moment. Our intelligence says their waggons are now loaded, and every preparation making to move suddenly from every circumstance Philadelphia is their object.

We are watching their motions, and are preparing to move at one minute's warning. Our game will be to act on their flanks and rear, and am much mistaken if we shall not hang exceedingly heavy on his hands.

They have assembled all their troops at Brunswick, and a formidable fleet; they have New York, Long Island, Staten Island, Amboy, and the communication from thence to Brunswick; are drained in a great measure of troops. Howe has come over himself, and is determined to put his much talked of plan in execution. If we can give him a rap over his fingers it carries the campaign; I have the greatest hopes this may be done, as our army are in the highest spirits, and well found with every necessary implement for the purpose; it is now as well appointed as any army in the universe, and it is a pleasure and honour to belong to it, every thing goes on with the greatest regularity, troops well clothed, well armed, and the greatest abundance of good provisions, the hospital is furnished with every accommodation necessary for the sick (of which thank God we have but few) the ablest surgeons on the continent employed to attend them. And in short, so different are we circumstanced, to what we have been used to, that the continental army is visited and admired by thousands from all parts of the world. Shall this valiant, free, and independent continent, fall a sacrifice to British tyranny, or the want of men under these circumstances? Avert it heavens!

Shall the Americans be called poltroons? The want of men to drive this hostile foe to the devil, gives too much room for the epithet.

If ever Virginia relaxes from her former spirited conduct, through a supineness of soul, may she feel the worst! I am told it will not be the case, which has roused my drooping spirits, and your countrymen, now in the field, will exert every nerve to keep the cruel enemy at bay, till our reinforcements get up.

The American cause greatly depends on the events of this campaign; every exertion in it is necessary to make it preponderate, both in the cabinet as well as the field. Lose no time in completing your deficiencies.

We have sent numbers of officers on the recruiting service; find them men by some means or other.

Business in the fighting way accumulates; the drum sounds to arms; Adieu."