[Roebuck, Delaware Bay, Monday 22d April, 1776]
... two Sloops & two schooners came down the Bay under an Easy Sail and steard through the Cape May Channel: as soon as they were fairly clear, so as not to be able to return before I could get round the overfalls, I weighed & gave them chace. They put right before the wind, which was westerly, and after running about 12 Leagues I took one of the schooners, which was bound to St Eustatia Laden with Flour & Hams, 2 the others escaped on account of the Night coming on; and being little wind I came up with them very slowly. I had the mortification to learn from my Prize that the two Sloops were New York Pilot Boats, very fast sailers, that had been fitted at Philadelphia as Privatiers, and carryd 4 Carriage Guns & 30 Men each. As I could not get within Six miles of them before dark, I thought it in vain to pursue them any farther,3 and made the best of my way back to the Delaware ...