From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol II. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859.
August 24.—The last division of the Portsmouth garrison arrived last evening at Yorktown, in Virginia. Gloucester Point is strongly fortified, where Colonel Dundas commands, having with him the 80th regiment, that of the Hessian Prince Hereditaire, and Colonel Simcoe’s. The rest of the army are encamped immediately in front of the town. At eight o’clock last night all the light infantry and the legion, marched towards Williamsburgh. It is conjectured they have fallen in with a certain Lieutenant-Colonel Innes before this, who commands the advance corps of the Marquis de la Fayette’s people. He has been very busy of late in collecting vast numbers of cattle for the American army, and it is not improbable that the Colonels Abercrombie and Tarleton before sunset may release a tolerable portion of them, if they can only overtake that body of freebooters. The marquis’s main body is about twenty miles from Williamsburgh; a party of four hundred of them have been routed, about twenty killed, and as many made prisoners by Colonel Tarleton.1
1 Extract of a letter from an officer, dated Yorktown, Va., August 24, in Rivington’s Gazette, September 1.