Rainbow at Halifax 12th July 1777.
Sir
I request You will do me the Favor of acquainting their Lordships that having Permission from the Viscount Howe Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships in America to go on a Cruize with the Ship I command, I in consequence of it, sailed from this Port at 3 o'Clock in the Morning of Sunday the 6th instant; & that same Afternoon at ½ past 4, (Cape Sambro then bearing NE about 12 Leagues distant,) the Man at the Mast head discovered 3 Sail, to which we immediately gave Chace, but from the Distance I could form no Judgement of their Force, or what they were, the Victor Brig was at this Time in Company 3 or 4 Miles astern, & as her Rate of Sailing was inferior to that of the Rainbow, I made the Signal for her making more Sail, to avoid separating from her: at Sun set we had gained so much on the Chace, as to discover they were large Ships, standing as we were on the Starboard Tack, with the Wind at WNW; I judg'd from thence, that they were bound to some of the Ports of New England.
I followed them with all the Sail I could croud, & at dawn of Day next Morning saw them again about 3 Points on the Weather Bow, with a Sloop in Company, the prest Sail I carried all Night, had encreas'd the Distance from.the Victor Brig so much, that She was no longer discernable· from the Mast head: — the Ships we were in Chace of, were about 5 or 6 Miles distant, &. frqm many Circumstances I had no doubt were part of the Rebel Fleet, who had sailed some Time before from Boston under the Command of Manley; continuing the Chace & gaining upon them, they quitted the Sloop, & set her on Fire, going off in a regular Line of Battle ahead, & setting Top Gallant Royals, & every Sail that could be useful to them.
A little after Six we discovered another Sail standing towards the Rebel Ships; she cross'd us on the contrary Tack at about 4 Miles distance, & put about when they could fetch their Wakes; from her not making the private Signal to me, I concluded that she was another of, the Rebel Frigates, & therefore paid no Regard to an English Red Ensign She hoisted, & two Guns she fired to Leeward.
About Ten in the Morning the Enemys Ships went away lasking, & three Quarters of an Hour afterwards I was surprized to see several Shot exchanged between the Sternmost of them, & the Stranger who had last join'd, & whom I had hitherto look'd upon as another of their Fleet, I then hoisted my Colours, shortly after which the two Sternmost of the Rebel Frigates hawl'd their Wind, whilst the headmost kept away about 2 Points from it; this brought the English Ship (which I afterwards found was the Flora,) more abreast of them who pass'd to Windward exchanging a Broadside with. each, & pursuing the Fugitive who from the Alteration 2 or 3 Times of her Course seemed uncertain which to steer; the Flora gain'd fast upon Her, which She perceiving hawl'd her Wind again and soon after wards Tack'd &; stood after her Comrades exchanging a Broadside with the Flora as they pass'd each other.
I was just putting about after the two Ships when I observed this un expected Manoeuvre of the Rebel Frigate, which made me stand on some thing longer before I tack'd hoping to get her within reach of my Guns as She pass'd me. — I accordingly did so, but had not the good Fortune to bring down either a Mast or Sailby my Fire.
I tack'd immediately after her, & soon afterwards saw the headmost Rebel Frigate put about; She passed me just out of Gun Shot to Windward, & appeared a very fine Ship of 34 Guns with Rebel Colours flying; one of the Gentlemen of my Quarter eek had been a Prisoner lately at Boston, & knew her to be the Hancock on board of whom Manley commanded, the Sea Officer in whom the Congress place all their Confidence & Reliance & who is. the Second in Rank in their Navy.
The Ship I had fired upon, I found outsail'd me & soon after my Tacking went away lasking, whilst the other Frigate kept her Wind, I then saw with Concern, that one of the three must unavoidably escape if they steered (thus) different Courses, I therefore judg'd it best to put about and follow the Hancock which appeared the largest Ship. — whilst I was in Stays the Flora pass'd me very near in pursuit of the Ship I had fired upon.
It was about 2 o'Clock in the Afternoon of Monday the 7th of July that I tack'd after Mr Manley who seemed at first rather to outsail the Rainbow, but I understood afterwards that to endeavor making his Ship Sail better, He started all his Water forward & by that Means put her out of Trim. — an Hour before the close of Day He altered his Course & kept away large, we however got so near to Him before Dark as enabled us by means of a Night Glass to keep sight of Him all Night: at dawn of Day He was not much more than a Mile ahead of me, soon after which we saw a small Sail to Leeward, which we found to be the Victor Brig who as we pass'd fired at the Rebel Frigate & kill'd one of the Men at the Wheel, but was not able from bad Sailing to keep up, or come near her, any more: — about 4 in the Morning I began firing the Bow Chace upon her, with occasional Broad sides loaded with Round & Grape, as I could bring them to bear, some of which struck her Masts & Sails: at ½ past 8 I was so near as to hail her & let them know, that "if they expected Quarters they must strike, immediately"; Manley took a few Minutes to consider, & a fresher Breeze just then spring ing up, he availed himself of it, by attempting to set some of the Steering Sails on the other Side, I therefore poured a Number of Shot into Him, which brought Him to the desired Determination, & He struck the Rebel Colours to His Majesty's Ship, a little before 9 o'Clock in the Morning, after a Chace of upwards of 39 Hours.
I sent my first Lieutenant (Mr [Thomas] Haynes) to take Possession & to send the Prisoners on board, She proved to be a Rebel Frigate fitted out by the Congress called the Hancock, of 32 Guns mostly 12 Pounders, & had about 229 Men on hoard; Her Compl is 290 Men; the remr were in the Fox; She is a very Capital & large Frigate, is quite new off the Stocks, & I am inform'd that tho' from her Foulness & their mismanagement ·we came up with Her, yet that She is one of the fastest Sailing Ships ever built.
Mr Manley inform'd me, that the Ship the Flora was in Chace of was His Majesty's Ship the Fox of 28 Guns which He had lately taken on the Banks of Newfoundland, after a very warm Action of 2 Hours, & that the other Frigate was the Boston of 30 Guns, commanded by McNeal — I found Capt Fotheringham late Commander of the Fox & 40 of his People on board the Hancock, but his Officers & some other of his Men were put on board the Boston Frigate, & the remainder sent in a Fishing Vessel they met to Newfoundland.
After taking out the Prisoners I found it necessary from their Numbers being very near as many as my own Ships Company to return to Halifax, where I arrived with my Prize on the 11th Instant.
Manley seem'd much Chagrin'd at his not having engaged the Rainbow, when He found she was but a 40 Gun Ship, as He had all along mistaken Her for the Raisonable whom He knew, was very lately at Louisbourg: — His Capture will be extremely despiriting to the Rebels, as they plac'd the entire Direction of their Navy, in Him.
It is but Justice, to mention the very great Diligence & Alacrity shewn by all my Officers & Men during this very long Chace, & I beg leave to recommend them to their L'ps Notice; Mr Haynes (the first Lieutenant) is deserving of every Commendation I can give Him; Mr Sarni Osborne 8c Mr Edwd Dalton, (the acting 2d, & 3d,) are very worthy of Preferment, tho' they have not yet been so happy to obtain Commissions as Lieutenants.
The 16th of June Governor Arbuthnot & myself receiv'd Advices, that a Party of Rebels (suppos'd about 200) had landed in the River St John's, & were imagined to be an advanced party of a greater Number. — Major Genl [Eyre] Massey consenting to send some Troops to dispossess them, I ordered Capt Hawker of the Mermaid to proceed with all Expedition for St John's River, on board whom some of the Highland Regiment embark'd, the Mermaid was likewise accompanyed by the Gage arm'd Sloop, & the Nova Scotia arm'd Schooner, in the latter of which I sent one of the Mates of the Rainbow, & a small Detachment of Seamen.
By Expresses to the Bason of Minas, & Annapolis [Royal], I directed the Captains of the Vulture & Hope to proceed with all possible Expedition to St John's, & follow the Orders of Capt Hawker; Col. Frankland the Super intendant of Indian Affairs, embarked in the Hope, together with as many Troops from Windsor as She could stow: — a Detachment from Fort Cum berland was likewise ordered, under Brigade Major Stedholm, who was to command all the Troops sent on this Occasion: For the Result of this Expedition, I beg leave to refer their L'ps to (the Copy of) Capt Hawker's Letter to me, which is enclosed herewith.2
I had the very great Satisfaction on my Arrival, to find the Flora, & the Fox, both here; She had retaken the latter, shortly after I pass'd her, without any great Resistance on the Part of the Rebels, of which I judge Capt Brisbane will give their Lordships an Account. I am Sir [&c.]
Manley is an Englishman born at Torbay;3 his Captain (whose Name is [Daniel] Watters) is an American, & one of the best Officers they have. — I have sent them both in the Syren, to Lord Howe, as there is no place here, of sufficient Security to confine them in.
[Endorsed] Rd 20 Augt at ½ past 11 P.M. 26 Sepr Ansd
