Yesterday our Congress directed that the cannon on the battery should be removed, and last night it was put in execution. The man of war's folks had got intelligence of it and sent the barge to watch; our people had removed 9 or 11 (it is uncertain which) of the cannon without molestation; then a man in the stern of the barge made a false fire ー this happened about half past 12 last night. The barge's people then fired ball, upon which ours (who had got together) were ordered to fire, which they did, and continued it till the barge got out of reach. From the cries and shrieks of the people on board it is thought some of them were much wounded. While the small arms were firing the man of war began ー she first fired a single ball; then a ball and grape shot, afterwards several guns, (I don't know what they were loaded with) and then a broadside; we had more guns and another broadside before all was over, however our people effected their purpose and got away all the cannon that was mounted, I believe about 20 in number. As we had nothing but small arms we could do no damage to the man of war, and she did very little to us. A house next to Roger Morris's and Black Sam's, at the corner by the Exchange, each had an eighteen pound ball shot into their roofs; some other houses suffered a little, but the principal damage was sustained by some small buildings adjoining to the Battery. No lives were lost, and but very few of our people wounded that I can learn of, and those but slightly. It was very distressing to see women and children moving half naked at midnight.
