Philadelphia, 25 August, 1777.
Yours of August 12th and 13th came by this morning's post. A letter from
Chesapeake Bay, dated yesterday morning, informs that the enemy had not
then landed. This morning, General Nash, with his brigade of North
Carolina forces, marched through the town with their band of music,
their train of artillery, and their baggage wagons, their bread wagons,
travelling forges, etc. General Washington's army encamped last night at
Derby. Sullivan's division is expected along in two days. Our
intelligence of the fleet has been as good as could be expected. They
have been six weeks at sea.
If our people do not now turn out and destroy Burgoyne's gang, root and
branch, they may justly be reproached as lost to honor and to virtue. He
is completely in our power. Gates writes to Congress that Burgoyne is
lessened twelve hundred men by the Bennington action.