14^th. [November] I went down this morning our works have rec^d. but very little dammage from the Enemys fire, one of the floating batterys was brought down & carried near the Enemys Works last night, but the seamen were obliged to abandon her in the Morning after loosing a man, tho' this piece of work was long in constructing & Carried 2. 32 pdrs, She is not proof against grape 5 deserters came over with an arm'd boat from the Rebel ships.¹ They inform'd me that the Works on Red bank are very strong.—however that there are ground near it which will command it, that is not Occupied. that the works of mud island is much damaged. that the rebels in it are desperate & that W[ashing]ton is to give each man £10s Extr^a. who will continue on that duty till the 10 Decm^r. there is now a 13 in. Mortar in front of our lowest battery & a medium 12 pd^r. on a wharf between the pest house & main Bat­terys. I now saw the Vigilant move up, she got over a little bar about Carpenter Island. If the wind is favourable, a very formidable attack is to be made tomorrow—