[Nantasket Road] Friday [sic Thursday], March 21st.
About 4 o'Clock in the Afternoon a Signal made for an Attack at Sea, from the Light House. The Savage Sloop of War, and a Brig, the Diligence, ordered to Slip and pursue at five; saw four Schooners in chase of a Brig making for the Port; about six the Schooners fired; the Brig let fly all her Sails; but, our Vessels coming up fast, the Schooners did not choose to wait to take possession, and we recovered the Brig, from the West Indies, with Coal, Porter, and Sour Crout, having been drove off the Coast the preceeding Fall. The Rebel Privateers escaped our Vessels, one of them had a Flag hoisted at the Main Topmast Gallant head as a mark of Distinction. 2
1. "The Kemble Papers," Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1883, I, 74.
2. Washington's schooner Hancock, flying John Manley's commodore's pennant.
