April [1778] Wednesdy. 1st
At Anchor off New Castle
AM Sett up Main Rigging.
do.
1st fresh breeses & cloudy PM Fired Ten Guns at a number of Rebels in a breast work1 on the Pennsylvania Shore.2 At 6 His Majs: Camilla came up & Anchd: here.3
D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/675, fol. 40.
1. On 31 Mar., Brig. Gen. William Smallwood, the Continental officer commanding in Delaware, reported to Gen. George Washington that he had sent a “strong Party” of troops to scout for forage along the shore of the Delaware River. GW Papers, Rev. War Series, 14: 373–74. Pearl probably fired on troops from this detachment.
2. That is, Delaware shore. At this time, the state of Delaware was sometimes referred to as the lower counties of Pennsylvania.
3. H.M. frigate Camilla, Capt. Honorable Charles Phipps, commander.
