[1777. August] 6 Wednesday: Fair pleast Weather Early AM Saw the Man of War in Chace — She continued Chace all Day. — At 7 Saw a Sail a Head & at 8 came up & took her. She was a Brig from Cork in Ballast — Gave her to the Prisoners & Sent her away. — Soon after Saw another Sail and Stood for her, came up & took her being a fine Brig from Cork for Lisbon Laden with Butter & Beef sent her Home by Capt Gray. — She was formerly an American Privateer called the Montgomery mounting 18 Guns, taken & carried in to Gibralter.2 Capn Fibby Comander. She had several Laidys on Board, boun[d] to Lisbon, whom we determined to take on Board us, & together with all our other Prisoners land them (as they were effectionatly desireous of it) on the British Shore. — But at 3 P.M. Saw 2 Brigss, which we bore away for; & not knowing what they might prove to be, ordered Capt Gray to keep away from us, on a westward Course Out Oars (being a small Breeze) & rowed towards them. —They kept near each other & hove too, and formed in a Posture of Battle to receive us. — Every Thing being prepared for Battle we advanced — one of them gave several Shott which we took no Notice of 'till we came nigh enough to give her 2 Broad Sides — She continuing her Fire. — By our well directed Fire She was compelled to Strike to us, & earnestly beg of us to desist our Fire on her. — Our Capn then ordered to bear away for the other Brig; which orders were immediately complyed with. — We then charged the other with an incessant Fire for almost 3 Glasses — She returned our Fire for Some Time with Spirit, but being disanabled wore off, The other which fell a Stern, & notwithstanding She had fairly Struck to us; yet Seeing her Partners Fire, She worried us with her Bow-Chacers: But did us no Dam age. — But now our Officers began to think of the Man of War which had been in Chace all Day; & was now reasonably expected to be near up with us; therefore being dark, they rightly judged it best to give over the Assault for this Night; least falling in "between three of them, we must be obliged to submit; & so altered our Course.
The Engagement lasted abqut 3 Glasses, in which Time Capt Coles, (to his eternal Honour be it remembered) with all the other Officers behaved with the greatest Magnanimity & Bravery possible. The Seamen & Marines also, with remarkable Unanimity, good Order, & Heroism Seemed to vie with each Other, which Should excel in their several Departments.
Then must our parent State confess,
That we their freeborn Sons excel;
In Courage, & true Excellence
Our British Foes, tho' they act well.
Coles with his braver Officers,
His Men both martial, bold & brave
through the marvellous Goodness of God not one Life was lost on our Side; our 1st Leiut. was wounded by a Cannon Shott in both his Thighs, just above the Knees One or two of the Men were very slightly wounded. — Our Brig recd Several Shotts in her Hull, Rigging &c. but the Damage was inconsiderable. — What the Enemys Loss & Damage was cannot be assertained; by the best probable Conjectures it must be considerable: As One of our Maintopmen was siting upon the Chest in Main Top containing their Ball &c &c for their Swivels & Blunder busses one of the Enemys doubleheaded Shott came &Struck part of the Trussle-Trees upon which the Tops is Supported, & directly under the Chest where on he Sat; the uper Head of the Shott Struck the Bottom of the Chest, tore it all in Pieces - elivated the Person, & discharged the Contents of the Chest upon Deck, without any Damage to any Person.
