Charles Town So Carolina 20th March 1776
[Extract]
We know nothing of the Continental Fleet except that the Sloop Hornet was on this Coast about a Month ago sent her Boat with two Warrant
2
Officers & five Men on shore these are still here but we have heard no more of the Sloop 3 there was indeed at one time a glorious opportunity for disconcerting the whole plan of our Enemies, a time when, the Ships of War at Savanna as well as those infesting your River might have been totally destroyed. ー we can only hope that some what of equal importance has been done. . . We are told the Enemy's Ships of War which were lately at Cockspur are all sailed if so you will soon hear more of them
1. South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, IV, 206, 207.
2. Ibid., 209, an order of March 26, 1776, from Henry Laurens to the Colony Treasurers, reads: "a Bill for £8-to pay Jeram Sharp for piloting the Hornet's Boat from Sante, the Bill is for £11. 7. 6--£8 supposed to be a full allowance charge to Continental Congress."
3. "The weather was excessively cold and tempestuous as the fleet approached the coast, and the nights were so dark and hazy, that even signal lights were invisible from one vessel to another. On one of these black and stormy nights, the Fly-tender, 'ran foul of the Hornet,' and unfortunately carried away her mast-head and boom. By this accident, which was altogether irreparable on such a night, the Hornet was separated from the fleet, and the next morning was discovered to be almost a wreck, with not one of her consorts in sight. In this situation, it was the joint opinion of the captain and our friend Barney, that it would be prudent to steer for the nearest coast, and with such assistance as might be procured, repair the damages of the sloop, before they attempted to follow the course of the fleet. They reached the coast of South Carolina, but were for several days unable, owing to the boisterous state of the weather, to send a boat on shore; and when at last they effected it, so violent a gale came on before the boat could return, that they deemed it advisable rather to leave her and put out into the open sea, than encounter the risk of being driven ashore where all must have perished. They did all that was in their power under the circumstances, and were fortunate enough, after much labor, fatigue, and danger to arrive off the mouth of the Delaware." Mary Barney, ed., A Biographical Memoir of the late Commoaore Joshua Barney: ... (Boston, 1832), 31-32. Hereafter Cited as Barney, ed., Life of Joshua Barney. This account placed the collision with the Fly as taking place during the return from New Providence, whereas it occurred on February 21, 1776, a week after the fleet had sailed from the Delaware. The Hornet did not participate in the capture of that island; Andrew Doria Journal, PRO, Admiralty 1/484.
