S^r.

My last informed your that the Enemy had been Cannonading Fort Mifflin two Days, and had begun again on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday they kept up a very hot Fire, and killed several of our Men and wounded many. Saturday Morning we opened a Battery of two Guns near Tench Francis House,¹ against the Somerset of 64 the Isis of 50, another 50 Gun Ship two large Frigates, their Gally,² when our Fleet also engaged and a most furious Fire from all Sides continued till near Dark, when the Ships droped down. While the Ships & Gallys were engaged the large East India Ship that was cut down came up behind Hog Island and got close to the Fort, She with the five Batteries tore the Fort all to pieces and knocked down all the Ambrusers, killed many of our People and wounded more. About 12 o'clock at Night, the Officers finding it impossible to Stand it any longer, set fire to the Barracks &c. and brought of the People. Thus Fort Mifflin is fallen. What will become of our Fleet I know not. To lay under Red Bank is impossible. If they retreat to Lads Cove a Battery or two on League Island will reach them—I suppose we shall have Ships up again to-Day. Our Fire Rafts are almost all destroyed by the Tempestous Weather we have had. Our men in great want of Shoes and Cloaths—We have received no more Rum than the two Hogsheads I informed in my last, tho' Crispin says he expects two more to-morrow—In the Engagement the Galleys had several Men killed and 10 or 12 wounded. I am [&c.]

Sloop Speedwell off
Red Bank Nov^r.
16^th. 1777—