Providence March 13th 1777
Sir
I saw a paragraph of your Letter to the Genl Assembly in which you mention of a Story from Mr [Joseph] Vesey which if true would have been greatly to my Scandal and likewise to the other Officers of the Navy that were in this place ー I must beg your patience to hear the Circumstances of that matter ー
I was onboard the Warren Jany 2nd near Fields point, the Ship Providence lay about a mile below, and the Sloop Providence against Patuxet I receiv'd Intelligence by a man from Coll Bowen then in Warwick that a Ship was aground near Warwick Neck ー the man came onboard the Warren a little after one Clock in the afternoon, Mr Allen Brown was then onboard as Pilot (and he is one of the best in the River) he said the Wind was so far Westerly and blow'd so hard that the Ships could not be carried down ー I took the Warrens pinnace with 22 Men, went onboard the Sloop Providence, and carried Mr Brown our Pilot with me ー when we came onboard the Sloop Captn [Abraham] Whipple had just got onboard her with a number of Men ー We immediately came to Sail, and run down with the Sloop, I did it chiefly to see what Situation the Ship was in, and when we got down found the Diamond ashore on a Shoal which runs off S.W. from Patience about half a mile from that Island, and a little more S.E from Warwick Neck and as there is about 11 feet Water at low water on that Shoal, and not very hard bottom & the tide about half down She did not Careen ー
There lay about a Mile and a half off about S W B S a 50 Gun Ship with her Top Sails loose and her Anchor apeak which as the Wind was could have fetch'd within pistol Shott of the Diamond ー the Wind blowing so hard is I think the Reason of her not coming to Sail ー The truth is the Ships could not have got down and if the Wind had not blow'd so hard and they could it would not have been prudent in my Judgement, neither Should I have Order'd them down as the Enemy's Ships could have come to Sail with any Wind that we could and a great deal better as they Lay in a wide Channel, and we in a narrow and very Crooked one ー So much for the Ships not going down ー
Now it remains to give you an Account of our proceedings after we got down in the Sloop ー I went ashore at Warwick saw Colonel Bowen who told me he had Sent for two eighteen pounders, and in less than half an hour they came ー I went onboard the Sloop and we drop'd down under the Ships Stern a little more than Musket Shott off it being then a little after Sun Sett ー We fired from the Sloop a number of Shott which she return'd from her Stern Chacers ー the Ship Careen'd at Dusk about as much as she would have done had she been under Sail After they had fired from the Shore about twenty Six Shott they Ceased, and soon after Hailed the Sloop and said they wanted to Speak with me ー I went ashore and was inform'd they were out of Ammunition I offer'd them Powder and Stuff for Wads but we had no Shott that would do ー they sent to Providence for Powder and Shott and I went onboard the Sloop and sent some Junk ashore for Wads ー Soon after they hail'd again from the Shore, and I went to See what they wanted, and gave Captn Whipple Orders not to fire much more as I thot it would do but little Execution it being night and could not take good Aim with the Guns ー When I got ashore the Officer that Commanded there desir'd that I would let them have some Bread out of the Sloop which I sent the Boat off for, but the people not making the Boat well fast while they were getting the Bread She drifted away and I could not get onboard again ー The Ship by Lightening got off about 2 OClock the same Night ー and on the whole as the Ship was on a Flat almost under Cover of a 50 Gun Ship and got off again before it was possible to have done anything with the Frigates I thought it of no moment untill I saw your Letter to our General Assembly ー upon which I sent my Secretary to Boston to know how Such a report could have been raised & inclosed is Mr Veseys Answer ー This is all I shall Say in the matter ー
We are now block'd up by the Enemy's Fleet, the Officers and Men are uneasy ー however I shall not desert the Cause, but I wish with all my heart the Hon Marine Board could and would get a Man in my room that would do the Country more good than it is in my power to do for I entered the Service for its good and have no desire to keep in it to the disadvantage of the Cause I am in ー
You may if you think proper Show this Letter to the honble Marine Board or any other Persons you may See fit ー I am with Esteem [&c.]
To the hon William Ellery Esqr
One of the Members of the Contl Congress
at Philada or Baltimore