To the Honble Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay
Since my last, acquainting your Honors with the Intelligence I had receiv'd, concerning the Enemy's Design of invading this Place, we have found the reality of it. Last Wednesday the 13th Inst appear'd in Sight three Ships, a brig and a small schooner coming from the Westward, and standing in for the Harbour; & soon after came to an Anchor at the Mouth of the River; One of them was a large Ship, suppos'd to be the Rainbow of 44 Guns, the Mermaid 28, the Vulture 14, and the armed Brig Hope 16 Guns.
Conceiving great Hopes of taking us by Surprize, the Hope stood immediately up the River attended by a Sloop and twelve Boats, till they came opposite to a small Battery we had about 2 miles below the Falls, mann'd with about Twenty men with small Arms and one 2 pounder. The Enemy attempted to land there with six Boats and a Number of Men but were repuls'd by our People with some Loss. Early on Thursday Morning, being foggy, thick Weather, they landed on a Neck of clear'd Land, a little below the Battery, in hopes of cutting off the Retreat of our small Party, but Col: Foster who commanded there, took such Precautions in that point as render'd their Hopes abortive, & secur'd his retreat. The Enemy then took Possession of the Battery & burnt two Houses and barns thereabouts, and soon after the Brig stood up the River together with the Sloop and Boats above mention'd, till they came fairly in Sight & within good Shot of the Falls, not expecting to meet with any Resistance, but seeing Continental Colours flying, and two Breastworks fill'd with Men, one of them having two 2 pounders, the other one 2 pounder and six swivels, they began to think of retreating and accordingly got the Boats ahead to Tow the Brig down. This was about Sunset; I instantly detach'd Major Stillman with thirty Men to attack the Boats & harrass the Enemy in their Retreat; The Major proceeded by Land till he got abreast of the Brig and Boats about a Mile and half below the Falls and began a heavy Fire, which was warmly return'd for some Time from the Brig with Cannon and small Arms; The Affair Continued in this Posture till they came opposite the Battery which they had taken at first where the Brig came to an Anchor, the Boats not being able to keep any longer ahead, because of the incessant Fire of our People, which as the River is pretty narrow, must do considerable Execution among the Boats; Next morning she got under way again with the Boats ahead, and were again attack'd by our Men on both Sides of this River, but finally got out of reach of Small Arms & run aground so that she was left dry at Low Water; Our People got one of the 2 pounders down & began to play upon her in this Position, and Hull'd her several times: It is very unfortunate that we had not one or two good Pieces of Cannon, as by that Means the Brig must have struck to us. However having lighten'd her with the help of the Sloop, she got off the next high Water & drop'd down to the other Ship & this Morning the whole came to Sail & went out, except the Milford; Their Destination is unknown to us as yet but I shall take Care to inform your Honors as soon as I can procure any Intelligence thereof.
I must beg Leave to Request an immediate Supply of Ammunition and Provisions, as what I brought with me will fast but a little while, having been oblig'd to expend a good deal in this three days Siege. In all them attacks our Loss is only one man kill'd and Capt Farnsworth of my Regt wounded but hope he will do well. Great Praise is due to Col: Foster and the Militia under his Command, who gave me all the Assistance I could desire and behaved Extremely well, as also to Major Stillman, and the rest of the Officers and Men belonging to the two Regiments now raising.
It happen'd Extremely well for us that Mr Allan and Mr Prebble had arriv'd here with about 40 Indians who were of great Service to us and assisted us greatly.
The Enemy's Loss in all these Attacks must have been pretty considerable, though we cannot at present come at any Certainty of it —
For further Particulars I refer you to Lieut Col: Campbell who has been very alert on this Occasion, & given us all the Assistance in his Power from the Western Settlements —
I am with due Respect [&c.]
