[Extract]
[Newport, Rhode Island]
5th August.
Thick foggy weather.
Wind S.W.
The weather too thick to admit of our seeing the French fleet....
About 5 this morning the two French ships1 which came first into the Narraganset passage got underway and stood round the N. point of Connonicut, towards The Cerberus Frigate,2 which lay under the W. side of this Island, nearly opposite the opening between Connonicut and Prudence. On seeing them in motion the Cerberus slipped her Cable and endeavored to get down to the town; but finding, that in standing over to Connonicut (as she was obliged to turn down) she must have run across the headmost of the Enemy's ships, which approached fast, Captain Symmons was obliged to run her on shore behind Redwood's, and set her on fire. All the Crew got safe on shore. The ship blew up about 8 o'Clock. One of the French ships stood in and fired some shots at the Cerberus's people, but without effect. She then tacked, as if intending to run down towards the town, which being perceived by The Juno,3 lying near Codrington's Cove, she was set on fire also, and blew up soon after. The Crew were all landed.
The Orpheus,4 Lark,5 and Pigot Galley,6 observing the other French ships coming up between Prudence and this Island, were immediately run on shore; the Orpheus at Almy's point, and the Lark and Pigot at Freeborn's Creek, where, after the Crews had landed, they were set on fire. The Orpheus blew up about 7 o'Clock; the others not till near 12.
The French ships, seeing the service they came upon effected, returned about 9 o'Clock, and anchored off the N. point of Connonicut.
The Explosion of some of our Frigates was very great, particularly that of The Lark, which had 76 barrels of powder in her Magazine. The house of one Wilcox in the Swamp, near which The Lark blew up, was set on fire by some of the burning pieces of wood which flew from her, and was totally consumed in a short time. Some pieces of burnt wood fell in the Redoubt at Windmill hill.
Some books and papers belonging to The Orpheus, were found three miles from the place where she blew up.
It was a most mortifying sight to us, who were Spectators of this Conflagration, to see so many fine Frigates destroyed in so short a time, without any loss on the part of the Enemy.
A great number of small Sloops and Schooners, all Rebel Privateers, have been plying about the whole morning on the W. side of the Island. About 11 o'Clock four of them anchored close off the wreck of The Orpheus, and sent their boats on shore in order to pick up what they could find: about 20 men landed from them, and straggled about on the shore. I happened about that time to be going down the hill on horse back to observe the effect of the Explosion, and was much surprized to see the vessels at anchor with the 13 Stripes flying. I returned immediately to General Smith,7 and got his permission to bring down 2. 6 p's with a party to cover them, which was done in about half an hour. As soon as they saw our Guns unlimbered, they got under way, (their boats having gone off as soon as they saw the Guns coming down) and made off with great expedition under the E. side of Prudence, where they anchored. We fired 28 Shot at them, some which struck them....
The Crews of the burnt ships are at present lodged in Newport. An Encampment is to be marked out for them near the town.