American Theater, June 1 to August 15, 1778
Aout 1778. Dimanche 9. Au jour tems brumeux et couvert, petit vent au SSO. Le Général a envoyé ordre au Protecteur1 et à la Provence2 de profiter ce matin du jusant pour sortir du chenal de l'Ouest et se tenir en croisière en dehors de Rhode island. á sept heures une quinzaine de bateaux plats sont arrivés à bord envoyés par les Américains avec lesquels on étoit convenu que... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
Le Général Americain ne trouvame pas que nous fussion s mouillés de maniere à proteger efficacement la descente de ses troupes, m’envoya des pilotes, pour me prier de me poster plus en avant;1 aussitôt je m’apareillai et me preparai a faire feu sur une batterie qui m’avait dit être sur notre Chemin, nous Cheminames dans le N. Sans voir bruler une amorce, je rangerai la batterie. D’... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
les englais ayent hier au soir abandonner la coste les americain on comancer le matin leur déscente sans rencontrer aucun ostacle du moment que jai était imformér par mr. Sullivan de son mouvement du desir qu’il aves de me voir apparellier avec les autres fregattes jai mis a la voilles.1 je suis moullié avec les fregattes que comandent mrs de st cosme2 est de Bonneval3... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
hier en soir jai recu la lettre que vous m’avois fait lhonheur de mecrirent en conse-quence des ordres que jai de m[r.] le comte d’estaing avec les autres freg[attes] de proteger est favoriser vostre de[scente] mes je dois vous observer qu’il ser[ait] neces-saire de me faire preveni[r un] peu plus davance pour pouvoir prendre des mesurent justes cependant après la lettre que je vient de recevoir... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
d’après les avis que vous mavés fait L’honneur de me faire passer, ce matin je viens de mouiller, en dedans de la premiere pointe, avec les deux autres frégattes que sont sous mes ordres.1
j’usse été mouiller, beaucoup plus avant pour favoriser votre déscente, que jai appercu, se faire, fort au nord de lendroit ou je mis, si mes pilotes americains ne mavaient assurés, que ce point cy... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
The Moment a Fleet appeared which I had every reason to suppose was Your Lordships, I dispatched Lt. Saumarez1 who was on the Spot to give you the earliest Account of our Situation.
Capt. Harmood2 will acquaint Your Lordship particularly of every thing you may wish to be acquainted with.
The Toulon Fleet under the Command of the Count D’Estaing entered... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
[Augt 1778]
Sundy 9
[Crew Ashore on Rhode Island]
at 5 the Enemys ships came too in a line of Battle ahead extending from the Ferry on Connanucut to the North pt of Gold Isle. at 8 AM collected the people erected Tents in the Navy Encampment a Numr of Sml craft passing frm Connanicut to the Enemys ships
Modt Winds... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
[Extract]
[Newport, R. I.]
9th Augt [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... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
[August 1778]
Sundy 9.
Rhode Island Light house NbW about 4 Leagues
at 5 saw sail in ye. NE at 10 am ye. adml.1 made ye Sigl. for seeing the Land
Modt. and Cloudy 1⁄4 Past 12 made sail at 1⁄2 Past Do. short. sl. The Commo.2 made ye. sigl. to Tack D... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
[August 1778]
Sunday 9th.
The Land bearing North 6 Leagues.
Am all the Fleet in Compy. Shortened Sail at 5 AM the Somersets1 Sigl. for a Sail to the NoWd. the Apollo’s2 to Chace. made Sail. the Apollo made the Signal of Distress the Admirals3 Signal for her to rejoin the Fleet the Land No. Six.... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
At 10 OClock last night the Inclosed Letter came to hand from General Sullivan with one addressed to myself, a Copy of which I do myself the honor of transmitting.1 The Enemy seem determined that none of their ships of War shall fall into the Count D’Estaings hands.
Yesterday I received a Letter from Genl Maxwell dated at 9 OClock A.M. on the 7th at Elizabeth Town... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
On my arrival heare, I found A Capt Bell Sent by the Board of War for the Marmaids Stores &c. Inclosed you have a Coppy of his Orders1 & our Answer, we have asur’d him that as fair as we Can, we will Safe keep, all the Stores &c. till we have orders from our Executive Body; or the Court of Admerelty; of this State; to whome we hold our Selves aCountable. we Shall be... Continue Reading
Date: 9 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
WANTED, at the Navy Board, Men’s Shoes made well and strong, also good Yarn Stockings, for which Cash will be given, at their Office, in Milk Street.
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
I have only time to inform your Excellency & the Congress1 that the Count De Estaing & myself had fixed upon This morning Day Break to make our Landing upon the Island preparatory to which the Fleet came through Newport Harbor on Saturday night & Silenced two of their Batteries The Enemy Supposing that we should Land in the night & cut off the Communication between the... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
The Count De-Estaing and myself were by Agreement to land our Forc[e]s here this Morning but I having received Intelligence early Yesterday Morning that the Enemy had abandoned the north End of the Island entirely in Consequence of the French Fleets coming up the River thought it best to push over without Loss of Time the whole of my Troops which accordingly was done— Almost immediately after our... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
Nothing could give more pain than to hear by Colo Fleury1 that your Excellency was displeased at our Landing the Troops on Rhode Island before the day prefix’d, I couldn’t possibly have been ready if there was this appearance of an oposition on the part of the Enemy before the day agreed on, if then but some Inhabitants and Deserters from the Island informed General Green... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
[Augt 1778]
Mondy 10
[Crew Ashore on Rhode Island]
at 5 AM Enemys ships frm ye back of Connanicutt joind ye rest at 8 do saw Numr of Ships of[f] Pt Judith at 10 the Enemys ships made Sail past our Batterys a heavy fire on both sides they hauld round Brentons Ledge under an easy Sail—
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
[August 1778]
Monday 10
[crew ashore on island of Rhode Island]
Do. Wr. [Mod & Hazey] People employed Occasionally AM all the French Ships sailed out of the Harbour Fired on the Batterys as they passed which the Batterys returned.
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
At day break the British fleet discovered at anchor nearly in the same position as yesterday Evening.
Thick weather. Wind N.W, and appearance of rain.
Several movements observed in the French fleet. D’Estaing1 appears to be making a disposition to receive Lord Howe, in case the wind should admit of his coming in; and is endeavouring to place his ships in such a manner as to bring the... Continue Reading
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
L’escadre Va appareiller pour aller combattre l’ennemy ; il est ordonné au Vau. Le protecteur de faire Voille, pour Sortir par la passe qui le mettra plutôt dehors, & de proportionner sa Voilure a celle de L’escadre pour la Suivre, & ne pas La depasser.
Date: 10 August 1778
Volume: Volume 13
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