Sir

The 19th. of last May I wrote a full account of my Proceedings to that Date ー The 26th the Sphynx and Pensacola Packet returned from Reconnoitring and making Their Observations on Charles Town, the Engineers Report of the State of the Fortifications, and the Works carrying on, added to an Account General Clinton received that the Troops wou'd not be wanted so soon as He expected, made an Attempt on that Place adviseable ー The 21st of May the Sphynx and Pensacola chased a Ship and a Pirate Brig of 18 Guns called the Comet; the Brig got over Charles-Town-Bar and Anchored within Gun Shot of the Ship, which They run on Shore; Lieutenant [Toby] Caulfeld in the Pensacola, mounting only Two Swivels, assisted by the Sphynx's Boats, set Her on Fire, 'tho She was under the Protection of the Brig, a Schooner of Sixteen Guns, and several Armed Vessels, that came down the River to prevent Her from being destroyed, or got off; The Ship was called the St James, Captn Wilson, belonging to Bristol, Laden with Rum and Sugar; She Sailed from Jamaica the 27th of April, and was taken the 18th of May, coming through the Gulf Stream by the forementioned Brig commanded by One Turpin ー The 22d Lieutenant Caulfield took a Sloop close in Shore and Burnt Her; I have mentioned these Circumstances because Captain [Anthony] Hunt thought it incumbent on Him to write to me, and bestow much Praise on Mr Caulfield on this Occasion ー May 30th the Fleet got over the Bar at Cape Fear, and I gave out a Rendezvous by General Clinton's Desire for Bulls Bay, and that Night sent the Sphynx and the Delegate (a Boat belonging to the General) to look in There, to gain Intelligence.

The next Morning we Sailed, and joined the Ranger with Her Convoy, which complete the whole Number of Ships under my Direction, excepting such as Their Lordships have ordered on a different Service. By the Ranger I received Their Lordships Instructions of the 8th of last March ー June 1st We anchored off Bulls Bay, but not finding the intelligence expected, it was determined to move so soon as possible to Charles-Town-Bar. that Night the Sphynx and St Lawrence Schooner, and next Morning the Active were sent off the Bar, to make observations, and remove any Obstructions that might be laid in our Way ー June 2d the Ranger and Delegate went to Sound the North End of Sulivan's Island and Long-Island as far as the Rattle Snake, and next Day from the Northwt of the Rattle Snake to the North End of Long-Island ー June 3d foreseeing what great advantages might be drawn from Arming the Friendship, and having full Authority from the Lords of the Admiralty to Employ Her as an Armed-Ship, I gave Mr [Charles] Hope the first Lieutenant of the Bristol an Order to command Her, and I have the Pleasure to inform Their Lordships, that through the Zeal, activity, and good Conduct of Captain Hope, She was of singular Service ー June 4th The whole Fleet except the Ranger Anchored off Charles-Town-Bar ー The 5th the Delegate covered by the Friendship, sounded the Bar, and Laid down Buoys, preparatory to the intended Entrance of the Harbour to Morrow, by the Frigates ー Ordered the St Lawrence to join the Ranger, and the Friendship to proceed to the Southwd of Long-Island ー The 6th Directed Captn Wills [Willis] to Place the Ranger, St Lawrence and Friendship where General Clinton thought Proper ー The 7th being convinced from the View I had of the Fortification on Sulivans Island, that the Bristols assistance wou'd be absolutely necessary, I directed Captn [William] Williams to assemble the Captains of the Squadron and call before Him all the Masters and Pilots for Their Opinion, whether the Bristol cou'd be got over the Bar, They having reported, that if She cou'd be brought to 17: feet 6 Inchs She might be got Over, I gave immediate Orders, for Her Guns to be taken Out, and The Ship to be lightened for that Purpose; the same Day, all the Frigates and most of the Transports got over into five Fathom Hole, the Prince of Piedmont Victualler struck fast on the Bar, and was Bilged, but all the Provisions were saved; the St Lawrence Schooner and Eight of the smallest Transports joined the Ranger at Spences Creek, which is to the Northwd of Long Island and the Armed Ship took Her Station off the South End ー The 8th a Flag of Truce came off, with a Letter from a Person who stiles Himself Colonel Moultrey, apologising for firing at Our Flag of Truce, that went Yesterday with a Proclamation from General Clinton. June 9th ー the General landed on Long-Island with about 4 or 500 Men ー The 10th The Bristol got over the Bar with some difficulty: ー 15th Gave the Captains my Arrangement for the Attack of the Batteries on Sulivan's Island, and wrote next day to the General to acquaint Him that the Ships were ready; at 5 this Morning the Boats of the Squadron under the Command of Lieutenant [Anthony James Pye] Molloy of the Bristol attacked and forced on Shore, near Stono's Creek a large Sloop mounting ten four Pounders; the Rebels having Scuttled Her, Mr Molloy set Her on Fire, and She Blew up soon after with a very great explosion, being for the most part Laden with Gun Powder, purchased at St Eustatia ー June 21st The Armed Ship not being wanted at Long-Island, came into the Harbour; made the Signal to Unmoor, to cause a Diversion, 'tho the Wind was contrary, imagining that Our Troops were engaging the Rebels, at the North End of Sulivan's Island, this Day the General fixed on Sunday the 23d for Our joint Attack. June 23d made a private Signal to the General, that I wou'd go on the Attack at One O'Clock, but the Wind coming contrary, Hauled down the Signal at 11 ー The 25th the Experiment arrived, and next Day came over the Bar, having been Lightened, and most of Her Guns got Out ー At the same Time made a new Arrangement for the Attack ー June the 27th the wind flattering Us, made the private Signal to the General and got under Way, but were obliged to Anchor, the Wind flying suddenly round to the Northward ー June 28th ½ past Nine informed General Clinton by Signal, that I shou'd go on the Attack Half an Hour after Ten, I made the Signal to Weigh, and about a Quarter after Eleven, the Ships brought up against the Fort (a View of which I now send You) in the following Order; ー The Active against the Three Guns on The Face of the East Bastion, Bristol, against five Guns in the Curtain and the Two on the Flank of the East Bastion; Experiment against the four remaining Guns in the Curtain, and the Two, on the flank of the West Bastion; Solebay against the Three Guns on the Face of the West Bastion ー The Thunder Bomb covered by the Friendship brought the Saliant Angle of the East-Bastion to Bear NWBN, and Colonel James, (who has ever since our Arrival been very anxious to give the best Assistance) threw several Shells a little before, and during the Engagement, in very good Direction ー The Sphynx, Actaeon, and Syren were to have been to the Westward, to prevent Fireships or other Vessels from annoying the Ships Engaged, to Enfilade the Works, and when, the Rebels were driven from Them, to cut of[f] Their Retreat if possible ー This last Service was not performed, owing to the ignorance of the Pilots, who Run the Three Frigates aground; The Sphynx and Syren got off in a few Hours, but the Actaeon remained fast, 'til the next Morning when the Captain and Officers thought proper to Scuttle, and Set Her on Fire; I ordered a CourtMartial on the Captain, Officers, and Company, and They have been Honourably acquitted ー Captain Hope made His Armed Ship as useful as He cou'd on this Occation, and He merits every Thing that can be said in His Favor ー During the Time of Our being abreast of the Fort, which was near Ten Hours, a Brisk Fire was kept up by the Ships, with Intervals, and We had the satisfaction, after being engaged Two Hours, to oblige the Rebels to slacken Their Fire very much; We drove large Parties several Times out of the Fort, which were replaced by others from the Main; About half an Hour after Three, a considerable Reinforcement from Mount Pleasant Hung a Man on a Tree, at the back of the Fort, and We imagine that the same Party ran away about an Hour after, for the Fort was then, totally silenced, and evacuated for near One Hour and a Half, but the Rebels finding that Our Army cou'd not take Possession, about Six O'Clock a considerable Body of People reentered the Fort, and renewed the Firing from Two or Three Guns, the rest being I suppose dismounted. About Nine o'Clock, it being very Dark, great part of our Ammunition Expended, the People fatigued, the Tide of Ebb almost done, no prospect from the Eastward, and no possibility of our being of any further Service, I ordered the Ships to withdraw to Their former Moorings ー Their Lordships will see plainly by this Account, that if the Troops cou'd have co-operated on this Attack, that His Majesty wou'd have been in Possession of Sulivan's Island; But I must beg Here to be fully understood, least it shou'd be imagined, that I mean to throw even the most distant Reflection on our Army; I shou'd not discharge my Conscience were I not to acknowledge, that such was my Opinion of His Majestys Troops from the General down to the private Soldiers, that after I had been engaged some Hours, and perceived that the Troops had not got a Footing on the North End of Sulivan's Island, I was perfectly satisfied that the Landing was impracticable; and that the Attempt wou'd have been the Destruction of many brave Men without the least probability of Success; and This I am certain will appear to be the Case, when General Clinton represents His Situation ー The Bristol had Forty Men Killed, and Seventy One Wounded, the Morning after the Engagement the Mizen Mast fell over Board, and We have been obliged to cut of[f] Twenty Two Feet of the Main Mast, and to Case and Fish the Remainder of it; the Foremast must be also Fished; The Head of the Main Topmast, and Caps of the Bowsprite and Top Gallant Mast shot away, and She is also much Damaged in Her Hull, Yards and Rigging ー The Experiment had Twenty Three killed and Fifty Six Wounded and suffered much in her Hull, Masts, Yards, and Rigging ー The Active, Lieutenant Pike Killed, Six Wounded ー and the Solebay, EightWounded. The Fort has 26 and 32 Pounders, several unlucky accidents concurred to make it difficult to Silence it, The Three Frigates ran aground in endeavouring to get to Their Stations, Our Springs were shot away, and the Tide wou'd not suffer Us for a long Time to carry out an Anchor ー Not One Man who was Quartered at the beginning of the Action on the Bristols Quarter Deck escaped being Killed or Wounded. Captain [John] Morris lost His Right Arm, and received other wounds. The Master is wounded in His Right Arm but will recover the Use of it; I received several Contusions at different Times, but as none of Them are on any Part where the least Danger can be apprehended, They are not worth mentioning. Lieutenants Caulfield, Molloy and [Charles Edward] Nugent were the Lieuts of the Bristol in the Action, They Behaved so remarkably well, that it is impossible to Say, to whom the Preference is due, and so indeed I may Say, of all the Petty-Officers, Ships Company, and Volunteers; at the Head of the latter I must Place Lord William Campbell, who was so condescending as to accept of the Direction of some Guns on the Lower-Gun-Deck; His Lordship received a contusion on His Left Side, but I have the Happiness to inform Their Lordships, That is has not proved of much Consequence ー Mr. Caulfield who acted as my Captain during great part of the Engagement, I appointed the 2nd instant to the Command of the Thunder Bomb, till further Order, in the Room of Captain [James] Reid, preferred to the Sphynx, whose Captain I have appointed to the Active, and Captain Williams to the Experiment, Vacant by the Resignation of Captain [Alexander] Scott, who has lost His Left Arm, and is otherwise so wounded, that I fear he will not recover. Lieutenant Deans of the Thunder Bomb, who was on Board the Bristol some Hours in the Heat of Action, and passed through some severe Firing in carrying my Orders to different Ships, I appointed Second Lieutenant of the Bristol in the Room of Mr Molloy moved to be First ー July 3d Captain Morris, who lost his Arm, and since Dead, having resigned the Command of the Bristol I promoted Captain Caulfield of the Thunder Bomb to be Captain of Her, Lieutenant Molloy to the Command of the Thunder, Lieutenant Deans to be First Lieutenant of the Bristol, andLieutenant Riddall [Ambrose Reddall] (who was first of the Experiment, and Fought Her much to my Satisfaction) to be Second ー I have continued Mr Nugent (whose Deserts are equal to any Promotion He can receive) Third Lieutenant, tho' He acted as such in the Engagement because I had only promoted Him a few Days before, to be a Lieutenant, and the other two Gentlemen have length of Service to Plead, and an unblemished Reputation, which made Them known and respected as Officers before this Period. ー

Agreeable to Their Lordships Order authorising me to appoint Officers to Act, I shall deliver to the Commander in Chief in America when I join Him, a List of such Appointments as I have made, since I was Honoured with this Command, for His determination, All of Them, except Two, have been in Consequecne of vacancies caused by the late Engagement ー I cannot conclude this Long Letter, without remarking, that when it was known, that we had many Men too weak to come to Quarters, almost all the Seamen belonging to the Transports offered Their Service with a truly British Spirit, and a just sense of the Cause we are Engaged in; I accepted of upwards of Fifty to supply the Place of Our Sick; The Masters of many of the Transports attended with Their Boats, but particular Thanks are Due to Mr Chambers, the Master of the Mercury.

All the Regiments will be embarked in a few Days; the first Brigade consisting of Four Regiments will Sail in a Day or Two under Convoy, for New York; the Bristol and Experiment will I Hope soon follow with the Remainder. I have sent Captain Hope to England in the Ranger, with General Clintons Dispatches and Mine, the Friendship being Reinstated as a Transport. I am Sir [&c.]

P:S: Two of the Bristols Lower Deck Guns are quite unserviceable by the Trunnions being shot off ー