[York] Tuesday, November 4, 1777
Resolved, That Congress have an high sense of the merit of Commodore Hazlewood, the commander of the naval force in Delaware river, in the service of the commonwealth of Pensylvania, and of the officers and men under his command, in their late gallant defence of their country against the British fleet, whereby two of their men of war were destroyed, and four others compelled to retire; and that an elegant sword be provided by the Marine Committee, and presented to Commodore Hazlewood....
The Marine Committee reported, "that they have received a letter from the navy board at Bordentown, dated the 27 October last, informing them of orders given by General Washington to scuttle the frigates in the river Delaware,1 in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, and that having taken the same into consideration, they are of opinion, that the frigates should be lightened as much as possible, and either run into some adjacent creek or hauled as high upon shore as may be without ballast, and a battery constructed with the guns of the Washington on the most convenient ground, to cover the frigates from the enemy; that the frigates should be charged properly with combustibles, and a careful watch employed under a vigilant officer to burn them rather than let them fall into the hands of the enemy; and lest this should fail, that a sufficient number of small craft should be sunk in the channel below the frigates, effectually to obstruct the enemy from moving them down the river, if they should happen to gain possession of them; and a battery constructed in the most convenient manner to cover the obstructions and prevent the enemy from removing them; that all the vessels, of whatever kind, should be run up as high above the batteries and obstructions aforesaid as possible, and the most effectual precautions taken immediately on the approach of the enemy;" Whereupon,
Ordered, That a copy of the said report be sent to General Washington for his approbation, and if he approve the same, that a detachment of troops be sent to assist in the construction and management of the batteries aforesaid.
