March 1778 Monday 23
Moored off Billings Port in the River Delaware Fine Wr: [AM] Sent a party of Marines and an Officer onshore to do duty at Billingsport. hulld ship & Boot toped with White Lead & Tallow. Sent our Boats Anned up the Creek.1 to bring out some small Craft belonging to the Rebles—2 Moored off Billings Port in the River Delaware Do: Wr: PM finding Several Men belonging to a Brig onshore plundering the Inhabitants. we took them onbd: and Confined them,
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/331, fol. 122.
1. Mantua Creek, N.J.
2. On 24 Mar. the Journal records that "our Boats brought too small Boats down the Creek and Anchored them alongside us." Ibid. These possibly were Pennsylvania Navy armed boats (half galleys) that had operated as privateers in the lower Delaware during the winter.
