Minutes taken at a Court-Martial Held and Assembled on board His Majestys Ship Somerset off Billingsport in the River Delaware on the 26^th: of November 1777 To enquire into the Conduct of Captain Francis Reynolds and his Officers &c^a. relative to the Loss of His Majestys Ship Augusta in the Delaware on the 23^d. of October 1777.

The order for Tryal dated the 22^d. of Nov^r. 1777 was read The Court was duly Sworn first, then the Judge Advocate agreeable to Act of Parliament.

The Court having ordered all persons intended to be produced as Evidences, should withdraw, Captain Fra. Reynolds being called, deposed.

On the 22^d. of October 1777 the Augusta passed the lower Cheveaux de frize, about 4  ^o.Clock that afternoon I perceived the Galleys to keep a very heavy fire on the Eastern Shore, which I then conceived to be flanking a party of Hessians going to assault Red Bank, some time after I was confirmed in this opinion by observing Musquetry fired, on which I thought it my duty to comply with Lord Howes instructions in giving every Assistance to the Hessians:¹ I immediately hoisted the Topsails and sent an Officer to each of the other Ships acquainting the Captains that my intention was to go as near the upper Cheveaux de frize as possible, in order to draw the fire of the Galleys from the Hessians, and I desired they would do the same, which they complied with; in turning up, and just as we were about coming to an Anchor, the Ship took the Ground; before we could get an Anchor out to heave her off, the Flood tide was done; She lay perfectly quiet all night, during which time we were employed in getting out an Anchor, and got in the End of one of the Roebuck's Bower Cable, to heave her off in the morning as soon as high Water; We also started all the water in the ground Tier we could come at, and at high water we began to heave in order to get the Ship off, but Unfortunately the wind being Northerly in the Night, which had Chequed the Flood, we hove without any Effect, on which Lieutenant Barker (one of the Agents) went down with orders to bring up some small Craft in order to get her off the next Tide—soon after daylight the Rebel Galleys and Floating Batterys began to fire on us, which we returned occasionally—about eleven o.Clock, as I was on the Quarter deck with the Master & His Nephew M^r. Reid, I thought I heard an odd Crackling kind of Noise, I sent M^r Reid into the Cabin to see what it was, he returned and told me, the Ship was on fire, I found the Sides, after-part of the Ship, and above the Cabin all in flames, every means were then used to put it out but without any Effect; The fire becoming more general, my attention was then to save the people.

Question from the Court.		Can you tell what was the occasion of the Fire?
Answd		No.
Questn		Are you satisfied with the Conduct of your Officers and Ships Company during the Fire?
Answer		Yes, I have nothing to lay to their Charge, as they used every means to extinguish it.
Questn		Was the Augusta engaging when the Fire was discovered?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was it with her Weather Guns or Leeward ones?
Answd		With the Weather Guns, the wind being fresh on the Beam.
		Lieutenant Edward Edwards Sworn.
Questn		Inform the Court what is your opinion relative to the Fires breaking out in the Augusta?
Answd		I do not know the occasion, being Quartered in the Waist, and the Fire being in the Cabin.
Questn		Was every possible means used by the Captain, Officers and people to extinguish the Fire?
Answd		Yes; for without the Assistance of Fire Engines, the Situation of the Fire was such, it could not be put out.
Questn		Was the Augusta Engaged at the time of the Fires breaking out?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was it with her Weather Guns or Leeward ones?
Answd		With her Weather Guns.
		Mr: Robert Reid the Master Sworn.
Questn		Do you remember what time the Augusta took fire?
Answd		About 11 o.Clock in the forenoon, on the 23d. of October 1777.
Questn		Do you know by what means She took fire?
Answd		I do not.
Question		Was every Means taken by the Captain, Officers and people to extinguish the Fire?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was you Engaging at the time the fire was discovered?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was it with her Weather Guns or Leeward ones?
Answd		With her Weather Guns.
Questn		Do you remember to have seen or heard the explosion of any Powder on the Decks of the Augusta, previous to, or at the time of the breaking out of the Fire?
Answd		No.
		Lieutenant Hugh Broughton Sworn
Questn		Do you remember what time the Augusta took fire?
Answd		About 11 o.Clock in the forenoon on the 23d. October 1777.
Questn		Do you know by what means She took fire?
Answd		I do not.
Questn		Was every means taken by the Captain, Officers, and Ships Company to extinguish the Fire?
Answd		I believe there was.
Questn		Was the Augustas Engaging at the time the Fire was discovered?
Answd		Yes, we were
Questn		Was it with her Weather Guns or Leeward ones?
Answd		With her Weather Guns.
Questn		Do you remember to have seen or heard the explosion of any Powder on the Decks of the Augusta, previous to, or at the time of the breaking out of the Fire?
Answd		No.
		Captain John Barclay of the Mariner Sworn.
Questn		Do you remember at what time the Augusta took Fire.
Answd		About 11 o.Clock in the forenoon on the 23d. October 1777.
Questn		Do you know by what means She took Fire?
Answd		No.
Questn		Was every means taken by the Captain, Officers & people to extinguish the Fire?
Answd		I believe so, when I first saw it.
Questn		Was the Augusta Engaging at the time the fire was discoverd?
Answd		Yes, She was, with her Weather Guns.
Questn		Do you remember to have seen or heard the explosion of any Powder on the Augusta's decks, previous to, or at the time of the breaking out of the Fire?
Answd		No.
Questn		Did you receive any orders from Captain Reynolds after the fire broke out?
Answd		Yes, to go on board the different Ships for Boats and Assistance to save the people, which orders I complied with.
		Mr. John Reid Midshipman Sworn.
Questn		Do you remember at what time the Augusta took Fire?
Answd		About 11 o.Clock in the forenoon, as nigh as I can recollect, on the 23d. October 1777.
Questn		Do you know by what means She took Fire?
Answd		I suppose by her Wads.
Questn		Was every means taken by the Captain, Officers, and People to extinguish the Fire?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was the Augusta engaging at the time the Fire was discovred?
Answd		Yes, we were Engaging with our Weather Guns.
Questn		Do you remember to have seen or heard the explosion of any Powder on the Augusta's decks previous to, or at the the time of the breaking out of the Fire?
Answd		No.
		David Eaton Seaman Sworn.
Questn		Do you remember at what time the Augusta took Fire?
Answd		About 11 o.Clock in the forenoon on the 23d. October 1777
Questn		Do you know by what means She took Fire?
Answd		No.
Questn		Was every means taken by the Captain, Officers and Ships Company to extinguish the Fire?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was the Augusta Engaging at the time the Fire was discovred?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was it with her Weather Guns or Leeward ones?
Answd		With her Weather Guns
Questn		Do you remember to have seen or heard the explosion of any Powder on the Augusta's Decks previous to, or at the breaking out of the Fire?
Answd		No.
		Mr. John Harpur, Boatswain Sworn.
Questn		Do you remember at what time the Augusta Took Fire?
Answd		About 11 o.Clock in the Forenoon on the 23d. October 1777.
Questn		Do you know by what means She Took Fire?
Answd		No, I cannot tell.
Questn		Was Every means taken by the Captain, Officers and People to Extinguish the Fire?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was the Augusta Engaging at the time the Fire was discoverd?
Answd		Yes.
Questn		Was She Engaging with her Weather Guns or Leeward ones?
Answd		With her Weather Guns.
Questn		Do you remember to have seen or heard the explosion of any Powder on the Augusta's decks previous to, or at the time of the Fires breaking out?
Answd		No?

Sam^l. Landon
appointed to be officiate
as Deputy Judge Advocate

At a Court-Martial Held and Assembled on board His Maj^s. Ship Somerset off Billingport in the River Delaware on the 26^th. November 1777

The Court in pursuance of an Order from the Viscount Howe Vice Admiral of the White and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships & Vessels in North Arnerica directed to Captain George Ourry of His Majestys Ship Somerset proceeded to enquire and examine into the Cause of the Loss of His Majestys Ship Augusta on the 23^d. October 1777 in the River Delaware, and having heard Captain Francis Reynold's Narrative of the Transactions delivered and also heard the deposition of several of the Officers & Ships Company relative to the fact, we are unanimously of opinion that her loss was occasioned by accidentally taking fire in Action with the Rebel's armed Vessels, not by any Neglect, or bad dicipline in the Ship, and also that every possible means were used to extinguish it And We do therefore entirely acquit Captain Reynolds his Officers & Ships Company from having in any Respect failed in their Duty—And they are all hereby Acquitted accordingly.