New London Augt 31. 1775 PM. 6. Clock
Honble Sir
Majr [Jonathan] Latimers detachment reached Ston harbor Last evening about sunset, & by that time there was 800 Men under Arms, the Canonading ceased above 5 C. yesterday the Enemy had 4 men kiled, & one lost a hand ー of the Colenys Troops 2 wounded, one of wch sd Mortaly.
This morning about 9 Clock the Rose Capt. [James] Walace 3 tenders & 4 small prises stood out of the harbor & came too under N W. part of Fishers Island and are probably now there ー At 2 Clock last night recd from Colo [Jabez] Huntington 2 bbs Powder its now in my Store & shall be husbanded in best manner for the Publick.
Its uncertain who gave the first fire at Stonington, its most probable to me that on the Cutters takeing prises in the Road, & going to take more at the Wharfs, high words arose & they persisting Imagine our Troops fired & kiled the above men, as the Cutters imedeately after probably fired on the Town, & then pushed out to the Rose without watch hill, & on giveing her accot of the matter they all stood in to the harbor, & Canonaded violently, about 12 Cl. a Flag went on board to know why he fired on them, & his reply was that he was on the defencive, for they had fired on his boats, & shewd the dead men there on his Deck, & the wounded man, as soon as the Flag returned Canonading was renewd
This is the best Accot I can colect, but its hard to come at the truth therefore must conjecture, as circumstances appear ー Majr Latimere ask's me when to call back his Troops, & advised him to do it to morrow, if the Ships dont appear off Stonington in the morning, and its not probable they will, and don't expect they'l come into this port, however shall keep a good look out. Yr [&c.]