They are all Americans and had been taken by the Enemy at Sea, Bennet Hawkins & Scott in the Sloop Sally, Hamilton [sic James Scott] and Allston in the Brigt Friendship

The Bristol of 50 Guns commanded by Sir Peter Parker, greatly damaged in her Hull, large Knees & Timbers shot thro' and smashed ー if the Water had not been very smooth it would have been impossible to have kept her from sinking ー all the Carpenters in the Fleet had been called to her Assistance ー

Mizzen Mast shot away

Main Mast badly wounded by three several Shott ー Foremast by two ー

Rigging Sails & Yards much damaged

The Captain of the Commodore lost his left Arm above the Elbow ー he was sent yesterday (30th June) to England in a Brigt ー the Commodore's Breeches torn off ー his Backside laid bare, his Thigh and Knee wounded ー he walks only when supported by two Men

44 Men killed & 30 wounded, among whom were many Midshipmen, & petty officers, 20 of the wounded dead since the Action ー talked in the Fleet, that the two large Ships would go over the Bar again, and proceed to English Harbour in Antigua to be repaired ー

The Bristol when lightned as much as possible draws 18 Feet 7 of Water ー

Experiment of 50 Guns on two Decks all 12 Pounders a slighter built Vessel, than the Bristol, exceedingly damaged in her Hull, several Ports beatin one ー her Mizen Mast hurt ー but uncertain of Particulars ー

Killed 57 of whom the Capt was one ー wounded 30, several since dead ー draws when lighted 17 Feet Water ー the general opinion that neither of these large Ships will go safely over the Bar again ー

Solebay ー 28 Guns 2 Men killed 4 wounded ー
Active ー 28 ー Lieut killed 4 wounded ー
Acteon ー 28 ー Sphynx 20 ー Syren 28 all got aground ー the first in coming up ー the two latter in running away ー the Sphynx cut away her Bowsprit ー the Syren got off ー Acteon (by the assistance of a friendly English Seaman) remained fast ー burnt & blown up by her own People ー

While she was on fire, Mr Millegen one of our Marine officers, & a Party of Men boarded her, brought off her Colours ー the Ship's Bell, and as many Sails & Stores as their Boats could contain ー

The Thunder Bomb lay at a considerable Distance throwing Shells at the Fort, & by overcharging had shattered the Beds and damaged the Ship so much as to render it necessary for her to go into Dock before she can act again.

The Friendship, a hired armed Vessel of 26 Guns of various Sizes, covered the Bomb, as did the Syren, who also fired very briskly at the Fort Recochet Shots ー

The whole Fleet badly manned & sickly ー particularly the Syren's Crew and 2/3d short Allowance of Provisions & Water ー they have had no fresh Meat since their Arrival (1st of June)

Lord Wm Campbell had been very anxious for the Attack, & proposed to take all the Forts with only the Syren & Solebay ー

Lord Cornwallis has the Cheif Command of the Land Forces ー he and General Clinton are both ashore with the Troops at Long Island ー his Lordship some Time ago had urged Sir Peter Parker to attack on the Sea Side, otherwise he would march up, attack and take the Fort and complain of Sir Peter's Tardiness ー the Commodore replied, Lord Cornwallis might march his Troops when he pleased ー but the Fleet required fair Wind; the first that happened, he would proceed against the Fort ー the Genl at that Time beleived we had no Troops out of Garrison, but he was soon better informed ー being since repulsed & drove back with Loss ー he remained quiet and left the Commodore to enjoy the Glory of being defeated alone [This must have been a mistake, from Lord Cornwallis's having the command when the fleet left Cork, in Ireland]²

The Negro Pilot Sampson who is exceedingly caressed, was on Board the Commodore, & put down with the Doctor out of Harm's Way ー

When the Fleet sailed from Ireland, the Number of Troops was about 4000, but 11 Transports had been seperated from the Rest, & not since heard of ー

The former Deserters from on Board the Ranger Sloop who had seen all the Land Forces, said the Amount was from 1300 to 2000 at most ー

Between 9 & 10 O'Clock the Night of the Action, the Commodore & the other Ships began to steal away ー they made no piping, nor waited to heave up their Anchors, but slipped their Cables. ー

The Commodore has only 1 anchor & Cable left.

About 2 O'Clock on Friday (when the Fort was waiting for a Supply of Powder) some of the Men of War's Men mistaking the unavoidable Silence for a Surrender, cryed out, the Yankees have done fighting ー others replied, by God we are glad of it, for we never had such a Drubbing in our Lives ー we had been told the Yankees would not stand two Fires but we never saw better Fellows ー all the Common Men in the Fleet spoke loudly in Praise of the Garrison ー brave fine Fellows ー

The Seamen in general are desirous of getting on Shore to join the Americans ー

One Mr Neil, a Deserter from Col. [Christopher] Gadsden's Regiment had informed the Commodore, that before he left Fort Johnson, he had spiked up all the Cannon, & that the Fort might be easily taken. ー

A Report in the Fleet that no Quarters would be given to the Americans, & that £5000 had been offered for Genl Lee.

True Copy

John Hancock