Sir: I would inform your Excellency that on tuesday the 17th Instant about five oclock after noon there was draw'd up before the Town of Falmouth two ships one sloop & an armed schooner of War and the 18th about Nine oclock in the morning fird on the Town and in a short time the town was set on fire by the Ships and by twelve or one oclock near three Quarters of the town was in flames some of the Men from the Ships Landed and the Militia being Rais'd for the defence of the Town drove them back to the Ships & one Baptist John Armstrong Fled to Lieut. Josiah Libby who commanded a party of men & surrendered himself to them and says he chooses to fight for America. I now send him to head Quarters to be examined by your Excelency & say what service he shall be put to I send him by Mr Charles Morris & Jonathan Libby two of the men he fled to.2
From your most Obedient Humble Servt
Reuben Fogg
Scarborough October 20th 1775
P.S. I hope yr Excelency will be more fully informd of the unhappy affair than I am capeably off at present.
1. Mass. Arch., vol: 164, 163.
2. Ibid., "[This prisoner was received by Washington who referred the case to the Provincial Congress. This latter body set the man at liberty.]"
