When our people were engaged in taking the stock, &c. from Noddle's and Hog-Islands, the king's troops made an attack upon them. On Hog Island, the combat began about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and continued almost incessantly till midnight. The attack was made with cannon, swivels, and small arms, from an armed schooner, sloop, and eight or ten barges, upon our people, who had small arms only, but were very advantageously posted by Colonel [Israel] Putnam who got to them just in season to station and command them properly. He placed them in a ditch, up to their waists in water, and covered by the bank, to their necks: The Schooner, sloop and boats full of men, came within 12 or 15 rods of them, and gave our people a fine opportunity to place their shot well. About midnight the fire ceased a little, and our people retreated to the mainland, where they were soon after joined by Capt. [Thomas Waite] Foster with two field pieces, which were planted on the way of Winnesimit ferry. At day light the combat was renewed, ー as the schooner passed the ferry way, she was briskly attacked by our people, with the field pieces and small arms, which soon clearing her deck, she drifted on shore, where our people set fire to her, and she blew up, notwithstanding the utmost endeavours of the people in the boats, &c. to tow her off, and save her from destruction ー In this they exposed themselves much to our fire, and suffered greatly. When they found the schooner was lost, they with difficulty towed off the sloop, much disabled, and retired to their den; and thus ended the combat, at about 7 o'clock in the morning. In the afternoon, (Sunday) our people got out of the wreck, 12 four pounders, 6 swivels, and every thing else that was valuable, without molestation; they afterwards removed or destroyed from both the Islands, all the stock, &c. viz. about 5 or 600 sheep, 30 horses, about as many cattle, a large quantity of hay, and burned all the barns and houses.

All this was done in sight, and as we may say, under the noses of the whole fleet and army at Boston, without molestation. ー The killed of the enemy (viz. Gen. [Thomas] Gage's crew of enemies to the English constitution) they themselves allow to be more than 100, besides wounded; others, who have good opportunity to know, say, their killed and wounded, exceed 300, and I believe they have suffered as much as in their precipitate flight from Lexington, on the memorable 19th of April. Our killed none! wounded, three! Heaven apparently, and most evidently fights for us; covers our heads in the day of battle, and shields our people from the assaults of our common enemies. ー What thanks can speak our gratitude.