September 26th [sic 27th]. — Early this morning appeared in sight over Gloucester Point below the town, two frigates, five galleys, and a sloop, beating up towards the town. I had the honour to command two 12 pounders and two howitzers. I had everything ready to receive them in a little time. My guns were drawn down on the bank entirely exposed. I received the disagreeable orders not to fire at the ships until they fired at me, which made me extremely uneasy. They came very near us; they still came nearer — within 300 or 400 yards. A shot was fired from one of my guns at them. They hoisted rebel colours, and soon after began to fire. This gave me pleasure for then I could fire with safety. We began a brisk cannonade from all our guns; it was returned by them with both round and grape shot, and their galleys, which were at a greater distance, kept up a fire upon us likewise, and fired many good shots though fortunately they did no harm. One of the frigates called the Delaware came within musket shot of our guns, and fired several rounds of grape. We plied her very close and threw her crew into such confusion that they neglected the management of the sails, and after a few more badly directed shot, she ran aground close to our guns. We still kept up the fire, and in a short time she struck her colours. We hailed her and desired her crew to come ashore, which they did, and a party of men was sent on board her. Our fire now was immediately bent upon the other frigate and the row galleys, and our shot was so well plied that they were obliged to put about and stand down the river very much disabled. It was Commodore Alexander's frigate we took; she mounted twenty-two 12 pounders and six 6-pounders, and had on board 152 men who were all landed given in charge to the Provost; they lost but very few people and we not one. One of the galleys was obliged to run ashore on the Jersey side to prevent her from sinking. The frigate was set on fire during the action by our shots, but happily we soon put it out. The same afternoon a number of rebel sailors entered voluntarily on board of her to fight on our side. Strange work! She was very soon got off into the channel and made ready for action. We expect every hour to be at it again, for there are no less than 13 row galleys and other vessels to the tune of 26, about eight miles below us, and as soon as our ships can pass the obstacles in the river we may expect them up. A great number of the rebel ships are likewise above the town. Sometime in the afternoon a schooner attempted to pass the town downward. In a very few shots we dismasted and so disabled her that she ran ashore just opposite the town, but as we lacked boats to send to her, they carried, her away in the night after unloading her. Thus ended the insolent attempt of their boasting Commodore, with two frigates and five galleys, each carrying a 32 or 24 pounder, opposed only by four 12 pounders and two howitzers, three of those being drawn up on the bank without the least covering.