June 1777 Friday 13th
St Augustine S33.52 W 74 Leagues at 9 AM Saw A Sail to the NW Gave Chace at 11 Bent A New Main Topmast Staysl In Co HMS Perseus Light Airs & fair Wr In Chace at 1 PM Died Nathl Sargent of the Small Pox ½ past 1 PM Cape Romain bore N½E 3 or 4 Leagues at ½ pt 2 fired 2 Shot & bt too our Prize Schooner. the Perseus fired Several Shot at the other Sail being a Privateer,2 at 7 Committed the Boddy of Nathl Sargent to the Deep
Saturday 14th
at Noon Charlestown Lighthouse bore NWbN 6 or 7 Leagues — In Co HMS Perseus. Modte & fair Wr Bent the Bt Br Cable at 4 PM In Chace of A snow at 7 Charlestown Lighthouse bore NbE 3 Leagues Sent the Prize Schooner & our boats Armed after the Snow which Lay a Grounded Saw the Snow Hoist out their Boat & the Crew go on Shore at 8 PM our Boats Boarded him & Set him on Fire he was Laden with Lumber
Sunday 15th
at 4 AM the Snow Still on Fire3
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/4197.
2. Apparently the American privateer on which H.M.S. Perseus fired had retaken the prize schooner. Thus, Galatea was recapturing her.
3. "Two of the Enemy's Frigates and a Tender have been hovering off this Coast for some Days past. A Brigt. from the Missisippi for Jamaica with Lumber, that had been taken some Weeks ago off the Havana, by a Philadelphia Letter of Marque, was chased ashore by them between this Bar and Stono Inlet on Saturday last; the Tender and Boats boarded the Vessel, after she had been abandoned, and set her on Fire. They have not been seen from Town since Sunday," South-Carolina and American General Gazette, June 19, 1777.
