[Mann Page, Jr. to John Page
April 15, 1777
[RvW Box 1 Folder 22; MSS. – A.L.S.]]
Dear Brother
I have for some time past been less punctual in writing
to you than I intended, oweing [sic], first to the Small Pox [and] then to
my being detained three Weeks on my Way from Baltimore
to this Place by my Wife's Sickness. I am sorry to hear the
recruiting Business goes on slowly in Virginia, it is the
Case throughout the Continent. We have no Army hardly, on
which Account we are losing the most favourable [sic] Oppor -
-tunity, that could have offered, of destroying the Force
which the Enemy now have in America. I wrote to you by
Mr. Clarkson, [and] then gave it as my Opinion, that the Enemy
would not attack this City, but since that, several Pieces of
Information have induced me to give up that Opinion. In -
- deed there is at this time a considerable Fleet in Delaware
Bay, which has set every Body to work to prevent their
coming up. If the Citizens would exert themselves, all
would be safe; but Toryism, Fear [and] Avarice have totally
obliterated every virtuous Principle. The General thinks
that when they do attack Phila.a their land Army will
cooperate with their Fleet, but that their present Design
is only to cut off the Trade of this River. On Saturday
last we lost a valuable Ship loaded with military Stores
[and] Cloathing [sic] from France. The Captn. fought nobly, [and] at
last ran ye ship aground, [and] after puting [sic] the greater Part of
the Crew, [and] his Papers on Shore, blew her up, but unfortu -
- nately he [and] six of his Crew perished by the Explosion, which
happened by the match burning too fast. A small Affair
happened on Sunday morning in the Jersey. The Enemy
attempted with a considerable Party from Brunswick to
surprize [sic] Genl. [General] Lincoln at Bound Brook, which they had
nearly effected oweing to the Negligence of a Militia Guard.
We lost 2 field Pieces, [and] about twenty five men, most of
them Prisoners. The Genl. [General] [and] his men behaved well. The Enemy
soon left the town; they lost several men.
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We have Accounts from London by the Way of France, dated
early in Feby. that Burgoyne with ten thousand British
[and] German Troops is to attack Virginia early in the
Spring. This I suppose, is a Plan of our good Friend Ld.
Dunmore; which I expect will turn out like his other
stupid Schemes. Accept our Love, [and] present it to our
Sister, I am, dear Brother
Your's affectionately
Philadelphia Mann Page Jun.r [Junior]
April 15th 1777
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