Vice Admiral Richard Lord Howe to Philip Stephens, February 20, 1777

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Eagle Off New York
February the 20th 1777.

Number 24.
Duplicate
Sir,

I have received their Lordships Commands of the 31st of August, to inquire into the Truth of the Facts stated in a Letter from Lord George Germain, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of the 16th of the same Month; Into the Conduct of Officers commanding such of His Majesty's Ships as were stationed in Nantasket Road, or appointed to cruize in the Bay of Boston, since the Evacuation of that Town by the Army; Into the Causes which so long operated to prevent the stationing of a small Squadron in the Delaware, pursuant to their Lordships Orders of the 6th of July 1775; And into the Motives which induced the Removal of the Roebuck and Liverpool from that River, when at length it had been thought fit to station them there: Upon which Inquiries I am directed to report the several Facts to their Lordships for His Majesty's Information. — I have therefore the Honor to represent, that upon the Receipt of those Commands, I communicated the several Particulars to the Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham; Desiring that I might be furnished with such further Lights on the Subject of the appointed Inquiries as he could supply in Addition to the Copies of his Instructions and Correspondence delivered on my Arrival to take the Command of the Fleet at this Port.

From the Accounts of his Lordships Proceedings and Contents of the Letters from the Captains present the Copies of which several papers are herewith enclosed, I collect, in relation to the Steps taken for preventing the Capture of Transports sent from Europe after the Evacuation of Boston — That Directions had been previously given by his Lordship for the Swan and the Bolton Armed Vessel to be withdrawn from Rhode-Island, for increasing the Number of Cruizers to be employed in conducting such Transports in Safety to Halifax.

V. Admls Letter
Boston 8th Marh 1776.
Lre 23d March.
Chatham
Centurion
Lively
Kingsfisher
Tryal
Dispatch Schooners
Order 27th March —
Lively
Niger
Fowey
Swan
Hope
Bolton Armed Vessels.
Dispatch Schooner
Disposn 22d Marh
Disposn 24th May.

Disposn 6th July.
Capt Banks
Lre 27th Novr

That on preparing to depart with the Fleet after the Troops were embarked for Halifax under Convoy of the Ships of War named in the Margin, He left Orders with Captain [Francis] Banks to remain in the Renown, with such others of the smaller Cruizers as his Lordship could spare from the Service of attending the Removal of the Lively Army to Halifax, and employ them to cruise before the Kingsfisher Port of Boston, and in the Track of such Transports as might be bound there with Supplies to conduct them to Halifax in Safety. In the Orders to Captain Banks is explained, that those small Cruizers were to consist of Lively the Ships and Vessels stated also in the Margin. But by the Vice Admiral's Return of the Disposition of the Fowey Fleet at this time, it appears that the Lively, Fowey and Dispatch were first to proceed with his Lordship to Halifax; And that the Swan and Bolton were then still at Rhode Island.
By a later Return, the Milford (in place of one of the other Frigates) and the Hope, were the only Ships remaining on the Station besides the Renown; With the Addition of the Rose then cruizing off the Entrance of Boston Bay. But this last having been withdrawn to at Capt Banks tend the Fleet to New York, as specified in the subsequent Return, the three former Ships constituted the future Guard upon the Port of Boston: The Halifax placed in the same Station in the Return, having never joined the Renown.

The particular Appointments of the other Ships first appropriated for the same Service being shewn in this last Return, I take no further Notice of them. It may however be necessary to observe for the clearer understanding of the Facts; That, tho' the last Return is dated the 6th of July, the Day preceding the Date of the General's Letter giving Advice of the Capture of the two Transports on which the Inquiry appears to be directed in this Instance, it is not therefore to be inferred as the Vice Admiral's Meaning that the Renown, Milford, Hope and Halifax were then actually upon the Station: These Returns purporting only to state of the Ships not present, the Circumstances according to the latest Information had concerning them.

Captain Banks's Motives for quitting Nantasket Road the 14th of June, are expressed in the Extract of his Journal annexed; And further explained in his Letter of the 27th of last November. A Difference that will be observed therein regarding the Number of Transports represented to have been taken to Halifax, is an Inaccuracy that seems to be an Effect of the short Notice he had to prepare an Answer to a Requisition of this interesting Nature; being then advanced to Sandy Hook, and in Expectation of putting every Hour to Sea under the Orders of Sir Peter Parker for Rhode Island.

The Capture of the two Transports before-mentioned happened a very few days after Captain Banks had left Nantasket Road. But as the further Information necessary upon this Point regards the Proceedings of the Milford, and the Commander, Captain Burr, lately dying at Halifax before I had an Opportunity of seeing him, I would not longer postpone the Answer upon the other Parts of the appointed Inquirey, on that Account.

In relation to the Facts state, respecting the Use that has been made of the Harbour of Boston as an Asylum for the Rebel Cruizers and their Prizes, their Lordships knowing the Nature and Circumstances of the Port, will be apprised of the Impossibility to prevent an Enemy from profitting greatly by the Advantages of such a Situation.

The Navigation of the Delaware, according to the best Intelligence I have yet obtained, is attended with many similar Difficulties. The Anchorage being much confined at the Entrance, and scarce practicable (the Coasts being in possession of an Enemy) in those Months during which the Ice forms in the River.

The first Operation I can trace from the Papers enclosed, respecting the Order by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for a small Squadron to be stationed in the Delaware for the purpose expressed in Lord Dartmouth's Letter of the 6th of July 1775, is contained in Lord Shuldham's Instructions to Captain Hamond, who was then at Halifax under Orders from Vice Admiral Graves "to proceed in the Roebuck to Virginia:

Lord Shuldham
Order 17th Jany 1776.

V. Adml Graves
Order 25th Decr 1775.

Lord Shuldham
Lre to Mr Stephens
15 Janry 1776.

Being to employ the Ships he should find there, as he should judge best for the King's Service on that Station; and to guard the Entrance of the Delaware, until the Navigation of the River was open He was then to repair to the Delaware in the Roebuck, with a Twenty-Gun-Ship or Sloop; to prevent any Supplies being received by the Rebels, and to annoy them by every Means in his Power. Leaving a sufficient Force in Chesepeak Bay." The particular Charge respecting the Armed Craft and other Obstructions prepared by the disaffected Inhabitants of Philadelphia for preventing the Passage of the Ships of War up the River, appears to have been first communicated to Vice Admiral Graves by Lord Shuldham; As signified in his Lordship's Letter giving Advice of his Arrival at Boston, and stating the Disproportion of his Force to the various Services for which he would be to provide.

Do Lre 28th Jany
Disposn 29th Jany —

Capt Hamond's
Lre 5th March
Extract of Capt
Hamond's Journal

Extts Lord Shuldham
Lre to Capt Hamond
of the 11th April
Do to Mr Stephens
the 16th of April —
Extts of Captain
Hamond's Journal

Capt Hamond's
Lre of the 28th Novr
Do — Do —

Disposn 6th July.
Lord Shuldham's Lre
to Mr Stephens
10th of May
Disposn 6th July.
Order 27th April
Lre 25th Novr

It appears that Captain Hamond sailed the 14th of January for Virginia, where he remained with the Liverpool, Otter and King'sfisher, employed upon various Services, until the Beginning of March : The reduced State of the Squadron obliging him then to send the last to make the several Deficiencies known to Lord Shuldham. Being prevented from leaving Chesepeak Bay so early as he intended, by the unforeseen Delay of the Otter which had been detached for a particular Service further into the Bay, he prepared to sail for the Delaware with that Sloop and the Liverpool on the 20th of the same Month; In Expectation of meeting the Reinforcement he had previously requested of Lord Shuldham. But being pressed by the earnest Remonstrances of the Earl of Dunmore, he was induced to leave those two Frigates for the Purpose expressed in his Lordship's Representations. He arrived off the Delaware the 25th of March; — and continuing upon that Station in the mean time, was joined the 30th. of April by the Fowey; And two Days after by the Liverpool, which he had sent for from Virginia, -His Motives for returning to Virginia, — and further Proceedings stated in the Narrative of his Conduct enclosed, regard the Removal of the Roebuck only, from the Delaware. For the Liverpool was continued upon the Station after the Departure of the Roebuck, and does not appear to have been withdrawn, until that Removal was rendered necessary to procure a further Supply of Water and Provisions. I found the Liverpool, which had been since ordered off Rhode Island, and the King's fisher that was appointed to replace the Glasgow and supposed so late as the 6th of July to be still in the Delaware , were both with the Fleet at Staten Island upon my first Arrival in this Port. The Orpheus appeared to have been rather appointed for the necessary and more general purpose of cruising between the Port of New-York and Entrance of the Delaware , than confined to the particular Guard of the last.

The Extracts of Lord Shuldham's Letters and Disposition of the Ships enclosed, will together explain his Lordship's Sentiments of his Inability to have afforded a more ample Provision for the Service of the Delaware, under Circumstances therein described.

I am, with great Consideration, Sir [&c.]

Howe

[List of papers enclosed]

Eagle off New York 20 Febry 1777.	Schedule of Papers transmitted to the Secretary of the Admiralty with the Dispatch No 24.
Dates
25th December 1777. —	Copy of an Order from Vice Admiral Graves to Captain Hamond of the Roebuck.
15th Janry 1776. —	Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
17th — — —	Copy of an Order from Rear Admiral Shuldham to Captain Hamond of the Roebuck.
19th — — —	Extract of a Letter from Secretary of the Admiralty.
28th — — —	Extract of a Letter from Secretary of the Admiralty.
26th February —	Extract of a Letter from Secretary of the Admiralty.
5th March — —	Extract of a Letter from Captain Hamond of the Roebuck to Rear Admiral Shuldham.
8th — — —	Extract of a Letter from Secretary of the Admiralty.
22d — — —	Copy of an Order from Rear Admiral Shuldham to Captain Wallace of the Rose.
23d — — —	Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
27th — — —	Copy of an Order from Rear Admiral Shuldham to Captain, [Francis] Banks of the Renown.
11th April — —	Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to Captain Hamond of the Roebuck.
16th — — —	Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
16th April 1776 —	Copy of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
Do — — —	Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
18th — — —	Copy of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
19th — — —	Copy of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
27th — — —	Copy of an Order from Rear Admiral Shuldham to Captain [Charles] Hudson of the Orpheus.
10th May — —	Extract of a Letter from Rear Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
15th — — —	Copy of a Letter from Captain Hamond of the Roebuck to Captain [Henry] Bellew of the Liverpool.
20th — — —	Extract of a Letter from Vice Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
2d June — —	Extract of a Letter from Vice Admiral Shuldham to the Secretary of the Admiralty.
25th November —	Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham to Vice Admiral Lord Howe.
27th — — —	Copy of a Letter from Captain Banks of the Renown to Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham.
28th — — —	Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham to Vice Admiral Lord Howe.
Do — — —	Copy of a Letter from Captain Hamond of the Roebuck to Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham.
[Nov. 28]
— — — — —	Copies of the Dispositions of the American Squadron, transmitted to the Secretary of the Admiralty, between the 29th of January and 6th July 1776.
— — — — —	Extract of Captain Hamond's Journal in Roebuck.
— — — — —	Extract of Captain Bank's Journal in the Renown.