The Admiral received a Letter from Captain [James] Wallace acquainting him that the Viper, Bolton, two Transports, a Schooner for Virginia and a Packet for New York arrived at Rhode Island the 4th instant; that the Viper, Schooner and Charlotte Packuet sailed immediately for New York; that he had engaged a Quantity of Stock for the Transports, and notwithstanding the Rebel Governor [Nicholas] Cooke of Providence sent down 1500 men to prevent it he had got some off. He also acquainted the Admiral with his firing upon the Town of Bristol, and with his Endeavours to remove the Rebels in Arms from Rhode Island; that there was not an Island round him but had two or three hundred men under arms to defend it; & that the people were vigilant, some of them coming 50 miles upon an Alarm; but that there was plenty of provision to be got with a sufficient force; that he had had no regular Supply from the Contract[or] for 4 months past, and that if he could not settle some terms with the Town, he must depend upon ravaging the Country for Supplies.
Captain Wallace in another Letter acknowledged the Receipt of the Admirals Order of the 17th of September to burn, sink and destroy; and of other Orders.
Several two decked Ships and Frigates having by the admiralty been ordered to America, some of which it was imagined must very soon arrive, and perhaps be already at Halifax, the Admiral now gave leave for the Somerset to return fr[om] thence to England; but he enjoined Captain Le Cras on his sailing from that Port, to leave all his Marines, and as many Seamen and Stores behind as he could spare.
Never had Ships been more eagerly wished for than at this period to intercept the Rebels outward and homeward bound Vessels, who were carrying on a most pernicious Traffic with the French and Dutch, injurious to the Kings Service in America and beneficial to themselves by bringing in not only Arms and Ammunition, but other Articles of equal importance to them, and without which they could not keep an Army together, nor of Course continue the War. The few Ships with the Admiral were continually on Service either cruizing or with Convoys, their coming into Harbour even was no relaxation, for, if not immediately hurried out again and abridged of time to take in their provisions and Stores, a part of their men was generally lent to other Ships, and the rest were sure of a great deal of Employment in Boats. So urgent were the Kings affairs and so inadequate had been the force to that time in America that it was worn down by Excess of Duty and Hardship. The following List contains the Additions to and Decrease of the Squadron since the arrival of the Nautilus and Falcon a few days before the Battle of Lexington
Added and time when fit for Service. |
|
Decrease and the occasion thereof. |
1775 |
|
1774 |
|
Jany 23 |
Diana Schooner |
Novr 5. |
St Lawrence gone to England. |
May 20 |
Charlotte Advice Boat |
1775 |
|
July 17 |
St Lawrence Schooner |
Feby |
Halifax lost. |
Sepr 1 |
Halifax Schooner |
May |
Diana burnt. |
17 |
Bolton Brig |
June |
Magdalen gone to England. |
|
|
July |
Diligent Taken. |
Reinforcements from England within the time aforementioned |
Name |
Guns |
Complemt |
When arrived |
Otter |
16 |
100 |
April 23d |
Merlin |
16 |
100 |
May 23d |
Senegal |
14 |
100 |
30th |
Scorpion |
14 |
100 |
July 28th |
Viper |
10 |
80 |
Sepr 6th |
Cerberus |
28 |
160 |
26th |
Raven |
14 |
100 |
Octr 4th |
Of these the Otter was sent to Virginia, The Scorpion as soon as she could be caulked and refitted sailed for North Carolina The Viper went to New York, And the Raven remained in Nantasket until the following Month, when she was ordered to Georgia. The Merlin, Senegal and Cerberus therefore were the only Vessels of those abovementioned that were of Service in the joint operations of the Squadron and Army at Boston.
The Condition in which the Scorpion and Viper arrived is partly described in their Captains Letters to the Admiral; hitherto almost all the small Ships and Sloops that came from England had been in want of men, caulking, and repairs.
All the Sailmakers that could be got were now employed in repairing old and making new Sails for the Nautilus and Falcon; as by reason of the Demands coming for these and other Stores from the Ships at Rhode Island, and the Swan being lately arrived in a manner destitute, the Storeship could not furnish Sails enough, nor indeed many other articles that were wanted.
The Admiral at this time not only ordered what Stores and Tackle had been requested for the Ships at Rhode Island to be supplied, but also directed a further quantity of the most useful Articles; to the end that those Ships might be able to maintain that important Post all the Winter: And the Swan was ordered to be caulked, victualled and stored with the utmost expedition that she might return to Rhode Island as soon as possible, & convoy the transports going with these supplies.