07/31/2026
An American Moment, 250 years ago, July 31, 1776. Ship Dunmore, in Potowmack River, Virginia to Lord George Germaine.
It is by the West Indies that the Rebels receive all their information; it is first sent to the British West-India Islands, and from thence conveyed to St. Eustatia, with which place the Rebels have a constant in*******se, and are supplied by the Dutch with powder and ammunition of every kind, as well as all sorts of dry goods, rum, and sugar…
…it is impossible for Captain Hamond (who does all in his power) without more assistance, to prevent them from running small craft, and sometimes larger, into the numerous ports of these two Colonies; they are now become so formidable, even by water, in this Bay, that they have actually drove all our tenders up to the fleet, and Captain Hamond does not think it safe to trust one of his Majesty's sloops alone in the Bay;
We are now anchored in the river, and I hope to-morrow will clear us of everything but the ships-of-war and the transports; but where we are to go, or what we can do next, to render service to his Majesty, I own I am puzzled to know, and I find there is now not even a chance of our receiving any assistance. I really am at a loss what to determine on, for next month it will become very unsafe for the ships to keep the Bay, and I do declare I know not where we can go with our present force to make a harbor of any tolerable safety; for we no sooner appear off the land, than signals are made from it, when the coast is covered with men, and if we come to anchor within cannon-shot of either shore, guns are immediately brought to bear upon us, which it is not in the power of the ships to dislodge, as the shoals will not permit them to get near enough.
American Archives, Peter Force, Series 5, Vol. 2, 165.
© 2026 Clifford Olsen/1776 American Moments
