Onboard the ship Alfred
Capt [Samuel] Nicholas
Lieuts [Matthew] Parke & [John] Fitzpatrick
and the whole company
Onboard the ship Columbus
Capt [Joseph] Shoemaker
Lieuts Miller [sic John Trevett] 2 & [Robert] Cummings
and the whole company
Onboard the Andrea Doria (Brigg)
Lieutenant [Isaac] Craig and thirty six of the men he raised ー
Onboard... Continue Reading
Resolved, That Colo. [Joseph] Reed, Mr. [James] Mease and Mr. Owen Biddle, wait on the Naval Committee of Congress, and obtain of them an Order for all the Russia Sheeting which is not already appropriated to their particular use.
Robert Towers, Commissary, makes the following Report:
That he has deliver'd to Congress, agreeable to the Orders of this Board:
t.
qr.
lbs.
13
3
27
of Lead, rec... Continue Reading
The great demand for fire arms, in order to equip the Boats and Vessels employ'd in defence of the River Delaware, and to supply the Marines on Board the Continental Arm'd Vessels now ready to sail, has occasion'd the necessity of our coHecting all the Arms belonging to the publick in every part of the Province; The Associations in this City have already deliver'd up all that were in their hands... Continue Reading
Decbr 30th 1775 Recd of Captain James Nicholson on Account of Ship Defence fifteen Shillings & Six pence for laying the Hearths in the Rigging lost belonging to Ar[c]hd Buchanan
£.15.6
Thomas Connely
Decbr 30th 1775 Recd of Captain James Nicholson on Acct of the Ship Defence Seventeen Pounds three Shillings and Six pence for eight able Carpenters, & two Boys for fifty th [ree] days work... Continue Reading
An express from Norfolk brings advice that the ships of war had demanded a supply of water and provisions from the town, but as no satisfactory answer had been given by the commanding officer when he came away, he imagined they had fired upon the town, having, whilst on his way, heard several heavy discharges of cannon; and as several other persons have since heard firing in that quarter, it is... Continue Reading
We have just received an account of the taking 14 whites, and 2 slaves, which were on board a tender sent out, as it is thought, to plunder the inhabitants on the seaboard, and to pick up such other base wretches as might be found to join in this accursed trade, as they had 8 stand of spare arms, besides other military stores, on board. On Friday the 22d instant advice was received at Hampton... Continue Reading
A remarkable instance of lord Dunmore's humanity ー
A ship from Cameron, in North Britain, with about 250 Highlanders, consisting of men, women and children, was bound to Newbern in North Carolina, but forced, by bad weather, and other accidents, to put into Norfolk, in this colony. Lord Dunmore, whose troops had a few days before been defeated in the battle at the Great Bridge, forced these poor... Continue Reading
Ship Liverpool, twenty-eight guns, Henry Bellew, commander; sloop Otter, sixteen guns, Matthew Squire, commander; sloop Kingfisher, eighteen guns, James Montagu, commander; sloop, eight guns, Robert Stewart, commander; Lord Dunmore's ship, Eilbeck, force unknown; six or seven small tenders of small force.
The force of Lord Dunmore's, by account of Colonel [Thomas] Elliott: 120 Regulars; 120... Continue Reading
As I hold it incompatible with the Honor of my Commission to suffer Men in Arms against their Sovereingn and the Laws, to appear before His Majestys Ships I desire you will cause your Centinels in the Town of Norfolk to avoid being seen, that Women and Children may not feel the affects of their Audacity, and it would not be imprudent if both were to leave the Town. I am Sir [&c.]
Sir I am too much of an Officer to wish you to do anything Incompatible with the Honor of your Commission, or to recede My self from any point which I conceive to be my duty. Under the force of reciprocal feelings consequences may ensue which each of us perhaps may wish fo avoid. Our Centinels have rec'd orders by no means to offer insult or injury to your Boats or People or to any others that... Continue Reading
The following letter was read and approved of:
Sir ー The seeming apostacy of Georgia, and the ingenuity of some of our associates, in finding out a law for a cloak to their transgressions, are subjects of real grief to us. 'Tis true, there is a resolution of the general committee, that an intercourse with Georgia should be opened, but that resolution was founded upon an assurance that Georgia had... Continue Reading
It is with the greatest Distress of Mind that I have the Task of communicating to you the Event of an unfortunate Attempt that was made to storm the Town of Quebec beween the Hours of two & seven this Morning by four different Attacks, unfortunate indeed when with Bitterness of Soul I inform you that the gallant and amiable General Montgomery was killed the first Fire, as also, his valiant... Continue Reading
I make no Doubt but General Montgomery acquainted you with his Intention of storming Quebec as soon as a good Oppertunity offered. ー As we had several Men deserted from us a few Days past, the General was induced to alter his plan which was to have attacked the upper and lower Town at the same Time he thought it most prudent to make two different Attacks upon the lower Town the one at Cape... Continue Reading
General Montgomery soon arriving from Montreal, and joining the Force under Genl [Colonel] Arnold, with a large body of Men, formed the Blockade of the Town, and began the Seige by raising Batteries against it. 2 ー But impatient of delay, and relying on the superiority of his numbers, the activity and the courage of his men, and knowing that the Garrison was weak, considering the... Continue Reading
Decembr 1775
Tuesdy 19
Remarks [at Quebec] &c
fired several Shot and Shells at the Enemy received two Barrels of Beer ー
Wednsdy 20
Do Weather fired some Shot and Shells at the Enemy ー
Thursdy 21
Fresh Breezes & Squally received 2 Hogsheads of Beer and 506 pound of fresh Beef Modt with snow one of the rebels killd one of the Royal Emigrants with a Rifle peice
Friday 22... Continue Reading
Captain Freeman, arrived this day at Camp from Canada, he Left Quebec the 24th ultmo in Consequence of General Carleton's proclamation, which I have the honor to send you herewith ー he saw Col Arnold the 26th ー and says that he was joind at Point au Tremble by General Montgomery the 1st instant that they were about 2000 Strong & were makeing every preparation for attacking Quebec, that... Continue Reading
However, for reasons aftermentioned 2 Mr Graves directed the Preston to get ready for Sea; and receiving at this time good Information that the Rebels intended to fortify that part of Cape Cod which is near the Watering Place, he ordered the Niger, that arrived Yesterday at Nantasket from England, to proceed to that Harbour and prevent their Erection of any Batteries; and also to... Continue Reading
Decemr
Saturday 30
Boston S. 78.17 W Dee 649 Lgs.
Fresh Gales & Cloudy Mid & Latter Do & Squally
at 8 AM handed Topsail at 11 Thos Munkhouse Struck Dead by Lightening, Walter McNutt Andw Forbes, Jno Pearce, and one of the Prissrs Wounded 2 at 6 PM bent a fore Topsail for a Main T S it being Split
Sunday 31
Boston So 79 W Dce. 703 Lgs
8 AM made Sail Committed to... Continue Reading
Decr 75
Monday 25th
Moored in Boston Harbour
Modte & fair at 4 PM bent the Mainsail, sent the Longboat to weigh the stream Anchor Recd on board 3 Chaldron of Coals & Carpenters Stores.
Tuesday 26th
Do Wr at 1 PM Recd on board a Captain, Lieutenant & 40 Marines,
Wednesy 27th
AM Recd on board two 3 Inch Mortars with shells & Carcasses & 2 Artillery men, empd... Continue Reading
Signals to be made at the Gurnet. ー
In case enemys Ships appear in sight, a flag to be hoisted on the Staff as usual.
If Barges are approaching the harbour you will give notice by firing
If they appear to the northward of the Gurnet you will fire one Gun
If they appear to the southward & Eastward, two Guns in quick sucession
If without the Gurnet you will fire three Guns in quick... Continue Reading