Dear Brother

I take the earliest opportunity of communicating the glorious News. The British Fleet & Army have both been shamefully repulsed. On Friday night last the ever memorable Twenty eighth of June between 10 and 11 o'clock the Signal having been given by the Admiral, seven Men of War & Two Bomb ketches weighed anchor, & got under way. One of the Men of War ran aground before she came up. the rest anchored off of the Fort on Sullivan's Island. The Admiral's ship of Fifty Guns, one of Forty four Guns & two of Twenty eight lay abreast about five hundred yards as Col [William] Moultrie thinks, from the Fort. the other 2 Men of War a little farther, & Two bomb ketches about three quarters of a mile. About a quarter after 11 the Admiral gave the signal for the attack, when one of the other Vessels fired a gun at the Fort, which was immediately returned; upon this the Admiral poured in a Broadside and to it they went.

They kept up an incessant heavy Fire till Nine o'clock in the evening. I arrived at Fort Johnston about an hour after the Engagement had begun, where I had a full View. A more awfully pleasing sight I never beheld. I could wish you had seen it. The Land Forces on Long Island in the meantime, strained every Nerve to effect a Landing on the Back: but the Eighteen Pounder with Grape shot spread Havock, Devastation and Death, and always made them retire faster than they advanced. The Gallant [Charles] Lee was in the Fort during the hottest of the Engagement, walking the platform with the [greatest] coolness and self possession issuing the necessaryorders. He has seen in his time, he says, many Bombardments and Cannonadings, but none comparable to this in one day. He is extravagant in his encomiums on the men. No veterans, he says, could have behaved better. The second Regiment have immortalized themselves. They had the whole Management of the Fort. Ten brave Fellows fell. One Sergeant, Two Corporals, and seven Privates. Two and Twenty men were wounded seven of whom have fractured Limbs. The Sergeant above mentioned McDougal by name rival Epaminondas in fame; when breathing his last, "My brave Lads, he cries, I am just expiring, but for Heaven's ake let not sweet Liberty expire with me." There were but two Officers wounded, and they slightly ー Lieut. Henry Gray received a Swivel Ball in his breast, but the force was so far expended that the wound was very superficial. Lieut. Thomas Hall received a blow on his Cheek from a Piece of a Hand spike, wh(ich] was shattered by a Ball ー There was not a single Man killed on our side at the back, and but one wounded. It is imagined that the Enemy left a great Number there. Col [William] Thompson commanded that Post. The Men of War are greatly dismantled, especially the Admiral's Ship wh has lost her Mizzen Mast, and is otherwise much damaged. Col Moultrie's paid particular attention to her. We do not know what number of men they have lost. Five have been taken up on the Beach and buried and a number of skulls have been found.

They sheered off the next morning like Earless Dogs, and fell down near where they lay before, having first set fire to the one aground, in which affair they betrayed evident marks of the greatest Trepidation and Confusion, for they left all of the Guns loaded, and when they went off, by the Fire's coming to them, one side of the ship being towards the Fleet several of the shot fell very near the Shipping: They left a vast quantity of Powder on board which occasion an enormous Explosion. Our men in the Fort were entirely out of Powder once for the space of an hour, when they received a Supply from Town. Had the Enemy known this how easily might they have landed and taken Possession. We expended Five Thousand Weight of Powder and it is thought, that they expended forty times as much say Two Hundred Thousand Weight. We have lost no Balls for Col Moultrie says that he has picked up more of theirs than he fired away. You would be surprised to see how little Impression they have made on our Fort. One of their first shots cut away our Flag staff and our merlons are stuck full of Balls, Fort Johnston were wishing for sufficient Handspikes and strengbut otherwise the Fort is just in statu quo. The officers ath to move nd men at the Fort a little nearer. They fired three shots by way of Trial, but could not reach them. They express great anxiety lest they should go off, without giving them an opportunity of reaping any Laurels. If they make any further attempt here, I am of opinion it will be to pass the Forts and give theTown a Cannonade, but I am rather inclined to think that they will favor you with a visit to Beaufort. I am yrs &c

[Thomas Hutson, Esquire at Cedar Grove, Prince William County]