[19º..18' Nth Latt]1
15th [April 1778] At Day Break We2 saw two Sail Bareing SEbS Distance 2 Leagues We Gave Chase Under a Moderate Sail At 9 oclock P.M.3 Came Up with them they at First Shew French Colours to Decoy us when we Came in About half a Mile of us4 the[y] Ups with English Colours We had Continental Colours Flying We Engaged the Ship Admiral Kepple5 as Follows When We Came in About 20 Rods of her We Gave her a Bow Gun She Soon Returned us a Stern Chaise & then a Broad Side of Grape and Round Shot Capt Orders Not to fire till we Can See the white of their Eyes We Got Close Under their Larbard Quarter they Began Another Broad Side & then We Began & held Tuff & Tuff for About 2 Glasses & Then she Struck to Us at the Same time the Defence6 Engaged the Cyrus7 who as the Kepple Struck Wore Round Under our Stern We Wore Ship & Gave her a Stern Chase at which She Immediately Struck. The Loss on our Side was One Killd and Six Wounded one Mortally Who Soon Died.8 Our Ship was hulld 9 times with Six Pound Shott Three of which Went through Our Birth one of which wounded the Boatswains yoeman the Loss on their Side was two Killd & Six wounded their Larbourd quarter was well filld with Shott one Nine Pounder went through her Main Mast. Imployd in the After-noon Takeing out the Men & Maning the Prise The Kepple Mounted 20 Guns 18 Six Pounders & two Wooden Do with about 45 Men, the Cyrus Mounted 16 Six Pounders with 35 Men Letters of Marque Bound from Bristol to Jamaica Laden with Dry Goods Paints &C.
Log-Book of Timothy Boardman, pp. 51–52.
1. The bearing is taken from "Sailing Directions on Second Cruise," Ibid., p. 54. Latitude 19° North is in the latitude of the Leeward Is.
2. Connecticut Navy ship Oliver Cromwell, Capt. Timothy Parker, commander.
3. Obviously an error for "A.M."
4. That is, "them."
5. British letter of marque snow Admiral Keppel, Abraham Brown, commander.
6. Connecticut Navy ship Defence, Capt. Samuel Smedley, commander.
7. British letter of marque ship Cyrus, Christopher Deake, commander.
8. Capt. James Day, Connecticut Marines.