This long menaced Attack took place at last on the 28th of June About eleven o'clock in the morning we saw the Active, Bristol, Experiment, Solebay, and three other Frigates, moving towards the Fort on Sullivans Island (in the order in which they are here placed), but no Signal whatsoever as agreed on to prepare the Troops.² Every thing was however got in readiness on our side for the Troops acting as Events should suggest. Every Demonstration was accordingly made of an Intention to land on the Island, and every Diversion by Cannonade & other ways as long as the Sands remained uncovered; Small armed vessels were at the same time ordered to proceed near the Shore as if to cover a Descent (which how ever all got aground); the Boats were drawn up, and the Troops so disposed that in an instant they could attempt a landing on either the Island or the Main as Circumstances during the attack by the Ships should direct. Butsoon after the leading Ships had taken their Stations we had the mortification to discover that the three Frigates (which were intended to favor the attack by the Troops on the Battery at Hadderells Point) were stuck fast onthe Bank behind the Commodore, and that the Ships engaged with the Battery on Sullivans Island had brought up at too great a Distance (800 yards at least³) to avail themselves of the fire from their tops, grape shot, or musketry. From hence we soon grew apprehensive that no serious Impression could be made, and even every instant expected to see the Ships draw off. To our great Surprise however the Cannonade still continued without any favorable appearances (that we saw) until night, while the Troops remained all the Time on. the Sands anxiously looking out for some Signal to let them know what the Squadron was doing But not suspecting that the Kings ships could have suffered so materially, and supposing that the attack would be renewed the next morning, the Troops were held in readiness, and the best Disposition possible was made of all our light Ordnance to enable them at the proper time of Tide to risk one Effort on the Island, should Necessity require it ー which I must however confess would have been a Step not to be justified, but in Case of the Success or Distress of the Kings Ships, to take advantage of the one or to relieve the other. Break of day discovered to us that the Squadron had given up the Contest & retired, leaving one of the frigates aground which was afterwards burnt; and to this was soon added the melancholly Intelligence, that their attack was attended with very considerable Loss, which fell principally upon the two fifty Gun ships. Nothing therefore was now left for us to do but to lament that the Blood of brave & gallant Men had been so fruitlessly Spilt, and prepare for reembarking as soon as possible.