[Extract]
[Newport, R. I.]
9^th Aug^t [1778] Fine weather. Wind S.S.W.

All quiet last night, and no appearance of the Rebels this morning. The French Fleet at day break in the same position they were after coming in yesterday. Many small craft plying about in the Narraganset passage. Some small vessels in the Bay. One or two of them came down as low as Codrington’s Cove; but a few shots being fired at them from Tomini hill; they went off.

The troops employed this morning in pitching their tents, and assisting, with all the Carriages that could be got, in removing provisions and Stores to the upper part of the town.

About 12 o’Clock a fleet hove in sight to the Southward; 10 Sail of large ships were first discovered. The number encreased continually until half past one, when 35 sail, large and small were counted, standing directly for the harbour with a fair wind. At 1 o’Clock it became certain that the fleet in sight was that under the Command of Lord Howe from New York; and L^t Knowles, Agent of Transports, with Captain Lumm, and Captain Barry,¹ in two boats, were immediately sent off to give Lord Howe information relative to the situation of the Enemys fleet, and the state of the Garrison; and also to know what assistance he wished to have from the Garrison, and how we could cooperate with him. The spirits of the whole Garrison were at this period elevated to the highest pitch, being convinced that if the wind continued in the same point, (and the Fleet was then advancing fast) the British fleet would enter the harbour before night, and that we should be the joyful spectators, or perhaps assist in the destruction or Capture of the French fleet.

From the first appearance of the British fleet, the French were busily employed in re-embarking the men they had landed on Connonicut. Many signals were made by The French admiral,² and his ships began to place themselves in a position to oppose the greatest possible fire upon the line of entrance to the harbour.

One of the French ships3 went out of the Naraganset last night or very early this morning, but on discovering the English Fleet, she crouded all the sail she could make and returned back into that passage.

The wind continued favorable for Lord Howe ‘till towards Evening, when it died away. Appearance of a great Thunder Storm gathering in the N.W. quarter.

At 6 in the Evening the British Fleet came to, and anchored about 7 miles S.W. from the entrance of the harbour.

We are now Spectators of two powerful fleets at anchor within a few miles of us, whose operations will probably decide our fate. That of the Enemy consisting of 12 Ships of the Line and 4 Frigates, in actual possession of the harbour. The British fleet blocking up the harbour, inferior with respect to size of the ships, but so superior in Actual force and spirit, that we have no doubt Lord Howe will atchieve a glorious Victory if he can either force his way into the harbour, or induce the Enemy to fight at Sea. . . .

All our Batteries are manned by Seamen, who have tents made of Sails at all their posts. . . .⁴