June 1776 Wednesdy 12
Cape Ann N W B N 7 or 8 Leagues. Obs 42.29n at 9 saw two Sail to the Et ward bore away and gave Chace Fresh Breezs and Cloudy latter little wind and Hazey at 1Fir'd 2 Shot at the Chace ½ past Spoke the Chace Two Transports from Greenock in S[c]otl[an]d with Troops onbd at 2 in 2d Reef T. Sails
Thursdy 13
Cape Cod SSW½ W 5 Leagues Obs 42.26 ½ past 10 heard the report of 17 or 18 Guns from the Wward Sailmr Empd repairing Foresail, Transports in Company. Light Airs at 3 saw a Sail to the No ward gave Chace, at 5 Shorten'd Sail & brought too sent an Officer onboard the Chace proved to be a Transport from Greenock who had an Engagement with an American Privateer and got 3 or 4 of her Soldiers wounded Sent the Surgeon onbd2 at 7 the Surgeon returned made Sail
Friday 14
from 5 AM to 10 heard a report of a Number of Guns to W wd imagin'd the Rebels had open'd some Batterys against Clear'd Ship for Action, ½ past 10 saw the Commodore & Transports at an Anchor at the the Renown, Light House, saw 5 Sail of Privateers to the No ward, at 11 saw a great smoke and Explosion and the Lighthouse disappearing, the Renown & Transports got under sail. Fresh Breezs and Cloudy Middle and latter Little Wind and Foggy at 2 PM join'd the Commodore with all the Transports and Prizes under his Convoy
1. PRO, Admiralty 52/1865.
2. The transport was the Mermaid, bearing Peter Campbell's company of the 71st Highlanders. The master, a seaman and three soldiers were wounded. "Extract of a letter from Captain Yoward of the Mermaid Transport, June 24, 1776, " Almon, ed., Remembrancer, III, Part II, 230-31.