I went on board the Sloop Providence, Capt Histed Hacker, and I soon found we were to sail under the command of John Paul Jones, Esq. We sailed in a short time, and stopped at Tarpolin cove, where we found a small privateer belonging to Providence, commanded, I think, by Capt. Rhodes [sic Field]. Com. Jones sent for me on board of his Ship, late in the day, and gave me orders to arm and man our barge on board the Sloop, and he would have his barge manned and armed, and send along side our Sloop, and then we were to go along side, and while I was examining the Ships Articles I was to give the barges crews orders to press all we could, I did so and we pressed 25 men out of 35, and carried them out on a cruise on board the Ship. Alfred, Com. Jones.

Trevett's Journal, NHS.

Justin Jacobs gives this version of the affair:

I Justin Jacobs being Prize Master of the Schooner Eagle Privateer Commanded by Capt Isaac Field -

Do declare and depose that on the first day of November 1776. - about 4 o'Clock P.M. We lying at Anchor with sd Schooner in Tarpaulin-Cove, a Boat from the continental Ship Alfred commanded by Jno Paul Jones came on Board sd Schooner - Jno Rathbone [John Peck Rathbun] an Officer of sd Ship having the Command of Sd Boat told Capt Field he had orders to bring sd Schooner under sd Ships Stern - Accordingly the sd Rathbone immediately with his Men weigh'd Anchor and carried her along side the Sloop Providence, & set a Guard over the same for the Night ensuing robbing sd Schooner of her Boat till the next Day - A little before sun-rise next Day, 2 Boats, one belonging to the Alfred, the other to the Sloop Providence with armed Men came on Board sd Schooner with the sd Jno Rathbone and Edmund Arrowsmith who was Capt of Marines on board the Alfred. Another Officer belonging on Board sd Ship, & one Philip Brown first Lieutenant of the Sloop Providence, Who said they had Orders from Capt Jones to come and examine whether any of his Men were on Board -Capt Field offer'd them to take what Men they could challenge -they said they had further Orders to take all the men on Board -That by Force and Violence they took out of sd Schooner 24 of their best Sea-Men at different times in different Boats, and carried them on Board the sd Ship and Sloop -That the People who came in sd Boats cutt away sd Schooners Main-Sheet and carried it off -likewise Stove in the Bulk-Head forward-in the last Boat which came on Board were a Number of Indians armed,who were ordered by sd Rathbone (who told them he was come for another Load) to go into the Hold and prick about with their Cutlashes to discover any concealed Men, which they did -Rathbone abus'd the first Lieut of sd Schooner by heaving him on the Deck, and many other Acts of high insult were committed by Rathbone's Orders -Directly after, the sd Men were put on Board the Alfred, the said Ship and Sloop came to sail -That by means of the aforesd proceedings of the sd Jno Paul Jones the sd Schooner was detain'd 24 Hours

I do further declare that Capt Field said, that he would put into the first Port where he could get a Main Mast & proceed on his Cruize -And that by means of his men's being taken out he proceeded to Providence -