n to Richmond, the capital of
Virginia--a distance of no less than one hundred and forty miles from
the Capes of Virginia. He defeated all the forces sent against him, and
arriving in that city, destroyed or brought off large quantities of
stores, provisions, ammunition and some guns and stand of arms,
returning to Burds Landing with the loss only of three killed and
fifteen wounded. This was one of the most important expeditions
undertaken into the interior of the country, for all the stores I have
mentioned were destined for the supply of the southern army of the
rebels opposing Lord Cornwallis in the Carolinas. It was followed up on
the 12th by an expedition headed by Colonel Simcoe, who with his own
corps surprised two hundred rebel militia and killed or took prisoners
about fifty of them. On the 14th the troops moved to the town of
Smithfield, where they captured forty hogs-heads of tobacco. On the
15th the troops evacuated Smithfield, and the squadron moved down to
Newportneuse. On the following day that very active officer, Colonel
Simcoe, was engaged in a skirmish with the rebels, the result of which
was that he made prisoners of an officer and fifteen privates of a
militia regiment. The occupation of Portsmouth had now, I found, been
determined on. It stands on a southern branch of that estuary called
Hampton Roads, into which James river empties itself. Between it and
Smithfield is the Nansimond river with Mackey's Mills situated on its
bank, about half-way up, while higher still on the West Branch was the
house belonging to Mr Elbank, where I found Miss Carlyon on the night I
and my party so narrowly escaped being cut off. The moment the above
information reached me, and I ascertained the direction the army was to
march, I became alarmed lest they should pass near Mr Elbank's house
and take possession of it. I knew too well what had occurred on former
occasions, and if it was known to have been occupied by Colonel Carlyon,
it would too probably be destroyed, and the inmates alarmed and
inconvenienced, if not insulted and injured. I had every reason to
believe that Miss Carlyon was still there with her friends, unless our
visit to the place had been a warning to them to quit it. What could I
do to save her? I thought rapidly over the subject. I was not long in
coming to a resolution. I must find some means of communicating with
her. Could I trust any one with the message? No--at every risk I mu