Rhode Island Harbour, 7th Decr A fine fair wind all last night, and good weather; which continuing this morning, at 4 o'Clock the signal was made for the fleet to weigh, and at 5 the whole was under way, with a fresh wind at S.W. At 8 o'Clock saw Block Island, at 10 Point Judith, which is the S.E. point of Connecticut, and at 12 made the Light House on the S. point of Connonicut Island at the entrance of Rhode Island harbour. The Commodore soon after made the Signal to speak with The Experiment, Capt Wallace; and about 1 o'Clock that ship took the lead, and stood up the Western Channel, between Connonicut, and the Main, followed by the Chatham, and Asia, and then by the transports and other ships according to the form of Sailing given out.
No Enemy appeared on either side as we went up.
About 2 miles from the Light House, the Rebels had a Battery or Redoubt, with 4 Embrazures towards the Channel. But it appeared to be abandoned.
When the leading ships had got as far as the N. end of Connonicut Island, they hawled round the point to the Eastward, and steered down the Middle Channel towards Newport on Rhode Island, keeping near the Rhode Island shore. The rest of the fleet followed in order, and about 4 o'Clock the signal was made to anchor, which was done by the whole fleet at 5 in the afternoon, without the smallest accident, about 4 miles from Newport, between Dyer's Island, and Weaver's Cove, half a mile from the Shore, and immediately off Mr Stoddard's house. As the fleet turned round the N. end of Connonicut Island, we saw three large ships and a Brig, standing up the harbour at the back of Prudence Island, with all sails set. We at first took them to be some of our Frigates which had come up the Middle passage before us; but we soon found they were Rebel frigates, Commanded by Mr Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the Rebel fleet. They went up towards Providence. A Brig laden with Lumber and Poultry, which was too late in coming away from Newport, struck to the Chatham, who fired two shot at her.
No armed Rebels appear on the shore. A few appear on Tammany hill, about 2 miles from the town, where they appear to have a work thrown up, and on which there is a Beacon erected. The Rebel Colours are flying on the Batteries below the town.
As soon as the fleet came to an anchor, eight men came down to the shore near Stoddard's house, on which a boat was sent to them from the Experiment, which returned with four of them; the others rode back towards the town. It appears from this circumstance that the Rebels have no great force on the Island, and those who are there do not intend to make any resistance, & will probable retire before we land.
The passage of the fleet here, and the weather during that passage, has been as favorable as could have been wished, particularly during this day, when we had the most favorable wind that was possible, by which the fleet was enabled, without loss of time, to come in by a passage which it is probable the Enemy did not expect so large a fleet would attempt. The same wind served to bring us round Connonicut to our present anchorage without the smallest obstructoin. We have by this means avoided those batteries which they no doubt have erected to defend the British landing on Rhode Island usual and principal entrance. We have now got above the town, and the Rebels must either abandon it, or fall into our hands.
Orders were given this evening for-the Army to land to-Morrow at daybreak.
