[October 23, 1775 to February 13, 1776]
On my arrival at Balt[imore] I found the whole country had taken up arms against the Injustice of England, my heart soon caught the flame; there was then fitting out at Philadelphia a small Squadron of Vessels under Commodore [Esek] Hopkins & orders had been given to fit out two small Vessels from Balt. one a sloop of ten guns called the Hornet commanded by Capt Wm Stone (a Bermudian by Birth) I immediately offered myself & was received as Master's Mate, a few days afterwards the American Flag was sent from Commodore Hopkins for our Sloop, early the next morning I put it on a staff, & with drums & fifes beat up for Volunteers & in one day engaged the crew for our Vessel, this was the first flag of the U States & the first time it was seen in the State of Maryland & which I had the honour of carrying. The latter end of Novr 1775, we sailed in company with the Wasp Schooner to join Comr Hopkins in the Delaware & proceeded to Sea without seeing any thing of the Enemy, who were laying in Hampton Roads we, in a few days joined the fleet then at Anchor at the mouth of the Delaware, consisting of the Alfred of 30 Guns, the Comr Ship Columbus of 30 Guns, the Cabot Brig, of 16 Guns, the Andrew Doria, Brig of 14 Guns, the Providence Sloop of 12 Guns, The Fly tender, our Sloop Hornet of 10 Guns, & the Schr Wasp of 6 Guns.
