Onboard the Warren off Patuxet Decembr 8th — at 6 oClock in the Evening
Sir
Captain Hacker in the Sloop Providence went down this afternoon below Prudence, and a Ship gave him Chace but she run onshore — he saw one Ship down by Dutch Island and one off Hogg Island — and Mr [William] Barron 2 return'd from Rhode Island, and says the Enemy landed at 8 OClock this Morning 8000 Men and took possession of the whole Island without Opposition, and he thinks have got most of the Stock how many of our Men are got off he can't tell —
I think if the Galleys are Mann'd they would be of Service down here — Capt [Samuel] Chace [Jr.] is up Tanton River 3 if the Men could be prevail'd upon to come here they would be of Service as it is not likely they will go far out of Protection of the Ships — I am Sir [&c.]
Esek Hopkins
1. Letters to the Governor, vol. 9, 1776-1777, R.I. Arch.
2. Barron was master of the Continental ship Providence.
3. Chace commanded the Rhode Island privateer Oliver Cromwell.