April 1776 Standing out of the Harbour [of Newport]
Friday 5 AM got up topmts & Yards at noon weigh'd & came to sail in Compy the Rose & Squadron- Light Airs & fair at 3 the light house WNW ½ a mile at 5 the squadron bore away into the harbour
Saturdy 6 at 3 AM saw 8 strange sail to windward Do TKd, stood for them & prepar'd for-action they prov'd to be the Rebell fleet consisting of 2 Ships, 2 Briggs & a sloop, at ½ past 3 one of the Briggs attempted to lay us on board the two ships one a head & the other a stern began the action by Raking us, we immediately fired & Continued a very hot action till ½ past 4 when we bore away & made Sail & continued a very hot running fire, but the Enemys Ships frequently Yaw'd & rak'd us at 6 they hal'd Close by the Wind at ½ pt 7 they TKd & stood to the L SW Do fired several Guns to alarm the fleet at Rhode Island we had one marine kill'd & one wounded all the lower masts disabled & most of the standing & runng rigging shot away at 11 Came too in Rhode Island spoke the Rose & Squadron working out in pursuit of the Rebels, the Rebels fleet consisted of one ship of 30 Guns one of 22 one brigg of 16, one of 14 & a Sloop of 10 Guns the Adml hoisted Dutch Colours & the other Strip'd. Fresh breezes & hazey with Rain PM the People Empd repairing the Rigging & bending new Sails
1. PRO, Admiralty 51/398.