May 1776 Monday 27
Cape Henlopen W½ So 3 Legs ½ past 7 A M gave chace to 3 sail to the S W. fresh Gales and hazey made the chace to be [a] Ship a Brig and a sloop arm'd Vessels belonging to the Rebels2 ½ past 10 they hove too, cleard Ship and stood toward them. at 11 the Rebels made sail and stood in for the shore Shoal Water off Cape May. Do gave chace ー First and midle parts fresh Gales and hazey, at 1 gave over chace and Wore Ship the Rebels having got into Shoal water where we could not follow them, being then in 4 fm Cape Henlopen WSW. 4 leagues Shortned Sail.
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/548.
2. The Continental ship Reprisal, Lambert Wickes; Continental brig Lexington, John Barry, and Continental sloop Hornet, William Hallock.