Febr [17]76 Monday 26th
At our old Moorings [off Fort Johnston, North Carolina] Reced on board some Provisions from one of the Prizes, At 7 unmoord and hove short at 9. weigd & made sail up the river in Company with the Lady Wm Schooner and other tenders. At Noon fire'd two guns as Sigl Bru[n]swick about [west] two Cables length.
Tuesday 27th
Mode and pleasant wear At 4 PM Anchord below the dramtree, this 24 hours fired 9. 3 pounders as Sigls2 At 9 weigd and run up and Anchord ½ Mile below Wilmington in Compy with the Lady Wm Sloop Betsey and Pilot boat. sent a boat up to Wilmington 3 Recd from the Betsey tender 10 Chests of arms & some Powder PM fired 3 Guns at differt times as Sigls at 2 the boat return'd.
Wednesday 28th
AM fresh breezes and Cloudy, weigd the Anchor fired 2 guns as Signals. Strong gales and squaly wear Carred out the Streem anchor and [cab]le saild down the river in Compy with the Pencicola Packett,
Thursday 29th
AM fresh Gales & Cloudy got on board some Wood
March [17]76 Friday 1st
[Cape Fear River below Wilmington] AM moor'd [these] 24 hours fir'd 3 guns as Sigl at noon shifted the anchor. Mode winds and fair wear
Saturday 2d
AM unmoord and hove short on the small bower Came up the Pencicola Packett at Noon saild down the river [the] Lady Wm Pencicola Packett & Delegate. Mode and foggy, at 3 PM sent the Purser up to Wilmington, at 5 the boat returnd without him, and brought one of the Committe off
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/218.
2. The signal guns fired this day, the previous one and subsequent days were an effort to contact the Tory and Highlander forces, which had been gathering inland, but which on February 27 had been disastrously beaten at Moore's Creek bridge.
3. See the interchange of communications between Governor Martin, Captain Parry and the Wilmington Committee of Safety on this day.