Sr

have to Inform are well. hope the Snow Nanny is safe arived Mr Nutter a prize from west Indies² — have been Six days in the windward Island fleet the Convoy 3 Sloops on[e] Ship 22, 12 pounders I have Changld [challenged] the Commodore out everyday, wont Come. if the Alfred Sail equal to the Raleigh should have destroyd greater part of the fleet She Sails very dull Indeed, I had agreed to atackd the Comodore but on the day I in­tended the atack She Could not get up. I was vexd and stood into the fleet alone, passing several Merchant mend, I halld for the weathermost Man of War the Druid of 16 Guns. our Guns were all Hous'd I Run up Close alongside and Complemented her with 13 — being a broadside I first haild them and demanded them to Strike. but it was all a Surprize and they were in great Confusion. we Lay at Musquet Shot alongside 45 minuets fird 12 Broad side, round Grape & duble head. The Guns prove Excellent. we Tore her all topices, a few minuets more would have Sunk her they quited their quarters for 15 minuets before we left her, and but one man was Seen on deck at that time; many was seen fall by our topmen as soon as it was observd the fleet was in Confusion the Comdr Tack'd and Stood right for us I Lay as Long as posible and then made sail and run down for the Alfred. when I shortend Sail to wait for the Comodr who was giving me Chace, he tackd and Stood to his fleet — they lay to all night to repair the Ship. Capt. Hinman & officer underwent great mortification that they Could not get up to asist. I asure you it was a pretty little action I Cannot bestow to much praise on my officers they are Bold and lntriped and Joyne with me in Sentiment despiseing to war against the merchant when Kings ship are in sight. I could have taken as ma[n]y merchant ships as I had a mind. here I leave you to paint to your self my feeling at not being mand. have not 20 men Can find a rope in the Night — the men for what they know behaved with the greatest bravery and fit the guns exceeding well O! for an other goodship — and Goodmen, fame is debard me for want of Strength. I intend to wait a gale and then the fleet will seperate — Love to Mr[s] Thompson & Chilld Compts to friends — our Loss in the action was trifeling. I Lieut. sightly woonded in thigh I Boy. I Boy kild Youngest son of Mills the Sherif­ Sail and Rigging something shot I have Harrassd the fleet ever Since — the Ship is every thing I Could wish. only wants men and Cleaning if you want to read this letter to our friends Coppy it. I have but Just time to Scratch Idias. we are all in Health and Sperits. Inform Congress you have herd from me — I fear they will Consider my Conduct as Rashness, but was ever determind to attack the first Kings Ship I Could fall in with tho I must Confes it was dangerous to go into a fleet so Badly man'd as we are however we are all Safe — Your Sincer Friend
by a prize brigg to Selam

8th day Sept. 1777