My dear Friend,

I Promised to give you a short account of our transactions ー We embarked with a part of Col. [Thomas] Marshall and [Josiah] Whitney's Regiment late on Thursday evening [June 13] for the lower harbour, under the command of Major [Paul] Revere. The whole expedition directed by General [Benjamin] Lincoln. Capt. [Joshua] Swan for Petticks Island, Major Revere and Capt. [Thomas] Melville for Nantasket: Capt. Balch for Hoff's Neck and Capt. [John welsh] Edes for Moonhead, and Capt. [Edward] Burbeck of the Continental Train with 500 men for Long-Island head. ー The night proved very unfavourable, by being a flat calm. The Continental troops from their nearness and the advantage of the tide reach'd their destination in season. From our distance and the tide against us half the way we did not arrive here till after sunrise. We expected to have found a breastwork erected; but to our surprise not a sod had been rais'd and not 100 men to support us. Tide of flood had been made and we could not get the vessel near enough to land the cannon. The Major reconnoitred and found the enemyies vessels all busy, we having no boats proper to unload, were obligated to attempt it in a flat-bottom'd one. We got a field piece on shore, but in getting one of the heavy cannon into the boat, which was entirely insufficient for so great a weight, fill'd and did not recover it till low water. The other piece with great difficulty we got on shore and mounted, which had like to have been too late. The continental train began firing, and the ships immediately got under way and anchored opposite the Light-House. ー Capt. Swan arrived at Petticks Island about two in the morning, expecting, as we did, to find a work ready for his cannon. He went on shore, but to his great mortification found not a soul there, nor any work thrown up: and having no small arms on board, but such as his officers had, he waited till day-light, and then sail'd for the Braintree shore to cover the ordnance he had on board. By order of the General he came down to us, and was much assisting in getting up our cannon on Quaker Hill, and giving them a grand salute. The Commodore lay foremost, and after firing the second shot he blew up the Light-House, and on our fourth round the whole fleet got under way a second time. Some of our shot we have no doubt struck him, as all the Boats in the fleet were sent to towe him off. He fir'd but one shot: but we pelted him till out of reach of our cannon. Thus we have got rid of a nest of scoundrels the very day two years they block'd the harbour up.

On Sunday afternoon [June 16] we saw a ship and a Brigt. standing in for Light-House channel, chased and fir'd upon by 4 privateers, who frequently exchang'd broad sides. We suppos'd them to be part of the Scotch fleet, got every man to his quarters, and carried one 18 pounder to point Alderton, purpose to hinder their retreat, should they get into the road, opposite where we had 3 18 pounders. About 5 o'clock the privateers left them and stood for the southward, when the ship and brig crowded all their sail for the channel. Our orders were not to fire till the last got a breast of us. In tacking she got aground just under our cannon; when we hail'd her to strike to this Colony: They refus'd, and we fir'd one 18 pounder loaded with round and cannister shot, when she struck and cried out for quarters. We ordered the boat and Captain on shore, and then fir'd at the ship; but being quite dark, we suppos'd she had struck. By this time the privateers came up. A Capt. of the Highlanders in the Brigt's boat came on shore. Some time after the ship got under way and stood for the narrows;when a fine privateer Brigt. commanded by Capt. Harding of New-Haven, (Who we hear came in this bay on purpose to meet our old friend Darson [George Dawson]) and 5 schooners gave chase. The brig came along side, when a hot engagement ensu'd, which lasted three quarters of an hour, when the ship struck. The Brigt. floating took advantage of the confusion and attempted to follow, both supposing the enemy in possession of Boston. We found them from Scotland, with Highlanders to join General Howe. The ship had on board 114, the Brigt. 74. The former lost in the engagement Major Menzie[s], 8 privates and 13 wounded. The latter I killed by the privateers in the day ー The privateer Brigt. had 3 wounded, one suppos'd mortally.