Wednesday Morning [August 30] a Tender chased two small sloops into Stonington harbour, who had a number of People on Board, bound to Block Island, and they had but just Time to get on shore, before the Tender came in, and after making a Tack they came close along side of Capt. Dennison's Wharf and discharged a full broadside into the stores, houses, &c. and sailed out again, and in a little Time returned with the Rose Man of War and another Tender, and as soon as the Rose could get her broadside to bear on the Town, she began a very heavy fire, also the Tenders who were under sail; during the Time a flag was sent off from the shore, desiring Captain [James] Wallace, commander of the Rose, to let them know what he meant by firing on the Town? ー His answer was that, he did it in his own defence. We have one Man mortally wounded, and the houses, stores, &c. very much shattered. Yesterday Morning they sailed out and anchored at the north side of the west end of Fisher's Island, where they remain at this Publication. There were five or Six People killed on board the Tenders by the inhabitants, who assembled and were under arms the whole day. They have carried off a schooner loaded with Molasses belonging to Patuxet in Providence, from the West Indies, and the two small sloops that landed the People.
