Camp Hillsborough 12^th Sep^t. 1780.

A number of your Officers having unfortunately fallen in the hands of the Enemy in the Action of the 16^th ultimo, remain prisoners of War; and having lost all their baggage are in the greatest want of Cloaths and money to support them.

I have the pleasure to inform you that the Officers and men of this Regiment, with the whole of the Regular Troops behav�d with the firmness and Intrepidity which would have ensured us a Compleat Victory, had not the scandalous conduct of the Militia, left us to oppose the Torrent of superior numbers; the particulars of which I beg leave to refer you to Captain McKennan who waits on you for your Assistance in procuring Cash and other necessaries to render the situation of the Prisoners comfortable.

Mr. Roche, Pay Master being amongst the Prisoners, Mr. Quenouault is appointed to do the duty in his stead, and will wait on your Excellency in a few days for Cloathing and stores for such of the Troops as remain with the Brigade. The loss of Men will render it necessary to reduce the Brigade and incorporate the whole into one Regiment, of which your Troops will form two Companies. The Supernumerary Officers in this case will be ordered to the Delaware State to be employ�d in such manner as you may direct.

M. Gist.

Governor of the Delaware State

Pr. Favor of Capt. McKennan

Source: Delaware Archives: Military, Volume I (Wilmington: Public Archives Commission of Delaware, 1911), 622-23.

Submitted by Lee Boyle