July 1776 Friday 12
Anchor'd in St Mary's River. at 2 (A M) heard the Drums beat which we imagin'd were the Troops, fired 1 Gun & kept every body under Arms. Fresh Gales and Squally weather with rain, The Surgeon came on board & acquainted me that the Sick People were sheltered in Mr Wrights Fort, & that the Rebells had concealed themselves in the Marsh below the Landing and had fired on our Boat & had shot Jno Sn[o]dden dead & wounded Alexr Gray; had taken Mr [Peter] Beachop 2d Master & Pilot with Lieutenant Beacher of the 16th Regt & 3 of our Seamen Names John Wisdall, Christr Howard & William Harland, The Rebells stripped the killed & Wounded as well as Prisoners robbed the Hospitall of every Article of Clothes Bedding and Provisions belonging to the Sick, Carried off all the Arms & Ammunition, Burnt the Cutter and added every Insult to distress ー In the night they marched off with the prisoners, kept the Schooners Co under Arms, fired several Guns and small Arms as Signals to bring to Boats ー At 8 the Pilot [boat] returned,
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/4330.