Nex Morning all the Men of War, except the Actaeon, were retired about two Miles from the Island, which they had quietly effected under Cover of Night. The Battery fired several Shot at the Actaeon which she answered; But soon after, her Crew set her on Fire and abandoned her, leaving her Colours flying, Guns loaded, with all her Ammunition, Provisions and stores on board. They had not been long gone before several Boats from the Island went to her; Lieut. Jacob Milligan, with some others, went on board, and brought off her jack, Bell, some Sails and Stores; while the Flames were bursting out on all Sides, he fired three of her Guns at the Commodore. In less than Half an Hour after they quitted her, she blew up.

The Bristol, against which the Fire was chiefly directed, is very much damaged. It is said, that not less than 70 Balls went through her. Her Mizenmast was so much hurt that they have since replaced it with another. The Mainmast is cut away about fifteen Feet below the Hounds, and instead of her broad Pendant soaring on a lofty Mast, it is now hardly to be seen on a Jury Mainmast considerably lower than the Foremast. The Experiment had her Mizzen Gaff shot away; the other Vessels sustained little Damage in their Rigging. The Loss in the Fleet, according to the Report of the Deserters, is about 180 killed and wounded; among the former is Captain Morrison² of the Bristol. Sir Peter Parker had the hind part of his Breeches shot away, which laid his Posteriors bare; his Knee Pan was hurt by a Splinter. There have been several Funerals in the Fleet since the Engagement, and from the Parade of some, it is conjectured they were of the Officers of Rank. Some of the Deserters say, that Capt. [Alexander] Scott, of Experiment, is among the killed.³

The Loss of the Garrison was as follows:

Artillery. Killed, 1 Matross. Wounded, 2 Matrosses.

2d Regiment. Killed, 1 Sergeant, 9 Rank and File. Wounded, Lieutenants [Henry] Gray and [Thomas] Hall, the fife Major, 1 Sergeant, 19 Rank and File.

An Officer's Mulatto Boy was killed.

Total. Killed 12 ー Wounded, 23.

Both the Officers were but slightly wounded, and are now well ー 3 of the wounded Privates are since dead.

The Works are very little damaged; but hardly a hut or Tree on the Island escaped the Shot entirely. Many Thousands of the Enemy's Shot have been picked up on the Island.

The Day after the Action his Excellency the President presented Sergeant [William] Jasper with a beautiful Sword in Esteem for his distinguished Valour.

We hear that the Fort on Sullivan's will be in future called Fort Moultrie, in honor of the Officer who commanded there on the twenty-eighth of June, 1776.

The Men of War dropped down some distance from the Island a few Days after. The Seamen in the Fleet had sufficient Employment in repairing. Several Deserters came from both Fleet and Army and are agreed that we need not expect another Visit at present. It was talked, that the two large Ships would go to English Harbour in Antigua to get refitted, the Transports with the Troops, to proceed to New York, under Convoy of some Men of War, to join the Grand Army; and that two Frigates would be left to cruise between North-Carolina and Georgia.

On the 2d of July Gen. Lee sent a Flag to the Enemy, with a Proposal to exchange a Prisoner for Col. Ethan Allen, who it was said was in the Fleet; a Present of some fresh Meat and Vegetables was sent at the same Time. Genl. Clinton being at Long Island, an Answer was not received till two Days afterwards, when he informed Gen. Lee, that Col. Allen was not on board; and in Return for his Present, sent some Porter, Cheese, &c. Two Engineers :came in the Boat, but as they were received at some Distance from the Fort, they were deprived of an Opportunity of seeing what they were probably sent to observe.