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Robert B. Taylor to the Governor March 18, 1813


The letter which accompanies this, was intended to be sent by the mail of yesterday, but its contents were of a nature not to be exposed to the eyes of the Enemy, and I did not choose to hazard it across the River. I received at 9 o'clock last night a letter from a respectable gentleman in Nansemond, stating that it was certainly ascertained that a number of " the Enemy had landed at Barrot's Point (on the north side of Nansemond River), and were then on their march through Chuckituck, as he supposed, on their way to Suffolk." The writer and bearer of the note could neither state the number of men or boats, and on enquiry I found that the writer had received his information at second hand. I had no means to aid them if the information had been more direct. I have heard nothing more of it. If, in fact, a party has landed, it is probably only a pillaging one, or, if in greater force, is designed to withdraw my attention and force from hence. To guard against the worst, patrols were ordered to be pushed up the Suffolk road to learn their movements if they should recross the river, and attempt us in reverse.
I yesterday encamped the greater part of the troops which I have allotted to this side the river to cover the rear of Fort Norfolk. Henly's, Taylor's, and Marshall's rifle corps are posted in a wood at the intersection of the Quarantine and Lambert Point Roads and about 3/4 of a mile from our intrenchment on Colly's road. A detachment of 100 men from Clarke and 100 from Sharp's Regiment are stationed at the Barracks near Fort Norfolk with orders to march in on the first alarm. There are no Barracks for them in the Fort, and I can spare no greater force of Musquetry to defend it. The residue of Clark's regiment and 100 of Sharp's are posted at the intrenchment. I am building a bridge which will be completed to-day to throw in supplies just on the rear of the right flank of that intrenchment from Armistead's, which is about midway between the intrenchment on Colly's road and the works at the intersection of Lambert's Point and Princess Anne road. I have ordered Boykin's Regiment to encamp to-day in the rear of Fort Nelson. Our Gunboat force is reduced to ten, the rest have been laid up for want of hands. These ten are not fully manned Commodore Caspin tells me. The Enemy either estimating our capacity to resist more highly than I do, or waiting reinforcements has been more tardy in his operations than I expected him to be.
I have no communication from the General Government, but I saw a private letter yesterday from the Secretary of State, dated the 13th March, which shows that the Government is apprised of the intention to attack Norfolk, and though they know that we are to be "the first on whom the desolating experiment is to be made," they neither write to me or inti mate any intention to aid us.
I am, &c.
P. S. — I have reason to believe that the landing at Nansemond River was only a boat's crew.

Fort Norfolk Documents

1776, 1777, 1779,

1782, 1783, 1789,

1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799,

1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809,

1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819

1820,

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1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859

1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869

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1880,

Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM JANUARY 1, 1808, TO DECEMBER 31, 1835, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED, UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION OF H. W. FLOUENOY, SECRETARY Of THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, AND STATE LIBRARIAN. VOLUME X. 1892