[1776] the Night before their March Exp=
-resses came from
Newport that
the Enemy were Seen of that Port &
that it was expected that they were
about to land, this occasiond
coun-
-ter Orders for them to take
Provi=
dence in their Way -- I myself
had to the
First of April [1776] acted
in
the Regiment to which I belonged
Viz in Coln
Cary's Regt
of Melitia
but their time being expired &
having in the Night Evening before an
Invitation to take the Place of
one Lieut Shaw of Coln
Baileys
Regt & having a desire
to be farther
instrumental in so glorious a
Cause, & finding my acceptance
of the Office would be agreeable
to the officers I readily agreed
to it, & Lieut.
Coln Jacobs went
the next Morning to
Cambridge
for the Generals approbation
which if I could obtain I was
to follow the Regt; We found the
Genl very busie in
wrighting
dispatches & c, that he
could not