(Copy)

Particulars of an Action between the Diana Packet a Tender belonging to His Majesty's Ship Rose, and two Armed Sloops belonging to the Rebels.

The 15th June 1775 about 9 O'clock A M. being ordered by Captain Wallace to proceed with the Diana Sloop, a Tender to His Majesty's Ship Rose, up the River towards Providence with a Petty Officer, eleven Men and Myself, armed with Small Arms and four Swivels to reconnoitre the different Passages, having Intelligence of Armed Vessels being fitted out by the Rebels at Providence.

The 16th. P.M. about half past 5, as I was standing off between the North end of Connecticut [sic! Conanicut] Island and Gold Island between two and three Leagues from the Ship, a Sloop coming before the Wind, I lay'd too to speak her ー a little after six being within hail, She hail'd Us and told Us to bring too or she would sink Us immediately and directly fired a shot which we returned with our Small Arms and Swivels and kept a smart fire on both Sides for near half an hour, till by accident the Powder Chest with the remainder of the Swivel Cartridges blew up ー In this Sloop we saw six Carriage Guns mounted and a great number of Men Onboard² ー The Ammunition for the Small Arms being near expended and another Armed Vessel with Carriage Guns belonging to the Rebels joining and bringing Us between two fires, so that there was no possibility of saving the Vessel ー I thought it prudent to run her ashore which I accordingly accomplished near the North end of Connecticut and got onshore with the People and part of the Small Arms ー They immediately landed a number of Men from the Vessels in whale Boats who closely pursued ー and fired at Us ー being so closely pursued and night coming on thought it necessary to separate and conceal Ourselves till a proper Opportunity offered of joining the Ship which was accomplished the next day without the loss of one Man. Mr Stevenson the Petty Officer and one Men being the only People that were hurt occasioned by the Powder Chest blowing up ー During the course of the Engagement the People behaved with the greatest Spirit.