Eagle Off New York
December the 12th 1776.
Number 15.
Sir,
In my Letter by the Tamer, which sailed the 4th Instant, I informed their Lordships of the Armament then preparing for Rhode Island.
The Troops being all embarked and the larger Ships with the Commodore Sir Peter Parker moved to Sandy Hook the 29th past, preparation was made for the passage of the Transports through Hell-Gate, to join the Frigates appointed for their Convoy in the Sound. That very difficult Undertaking was committed to the Management of Captain Duncan of the Eagle, assisted by Captain [John] Bourmaster and the other Agents of the Transports. Forty Sail were by the unremitting Diligence of those Officers got through without Accident the 30th past. But the Wind proving less favorable the two following Days, the remainder of the Embarkation, consisting of Twenty-one Sail, was delayed until the 3d Instant; When these also passed through without any material Obstruction. They all proceeded to the Eastward with the Frigates under the Direction of Commodore Hotham in the Brune, next day: the Two-decked Ships with Sir Peter Parker having sailed from Sandy Hook the first of the Month.
The Progress of the Army in the Jerseys leaving the Frigates more at liberty to be employed on Cruising Service, the Roebuck, Perseus, Camilla and Falcon put to Sea the 8th Instant, and have been ordered to remain off the Entrance of the Delaware until there is reason to believe the Communication by that River to the Town of Philadelphia, has been by the State of the Weather entirely prevented. The Perseus and Camilla are thereupon to be left together on the Coasts of the Southern Colonies for such longer time as their Water will last with due Sufficiency for their Passage to the Island of Antigua; Whither the Roebuck and Falcon are more immediately to repair for being cleaned and refitted in Succession, agreeably to the purport of a Letter Captain Hamond is charged with for the Commander in Chief at the Leeward Islands, a Copy of which is herewith enclosed. It is meant that such further Service should be afterwards rendered there by the said Ships, jointly or severally as with the Approbation, or by the Appointment of the said Commander in Chief is thought fit: But so as they may be .complete in their Water, and in all other respects, to return together off the Delaware by the time there is reason to believe the Navigation thereof may be again open in the Spring. And, upon their Arrival, Notice is to be given to me as soon as the Navigation of the River is found to be practicable.
The Pearl, appointed to proceed with those Ships, would have sailed at the same time; But her Departure was postponed for replacing her Mizen-Mast and Main-Yard, rendered unserviceable by Damage sustained from the Fire of the Enemy, when passing their Works up the North River, to protect two Victualling Transports with Provisions sent for the immediate Supply of the Army then at Dobb's Ferry. The Resolution Captain Wilkinson testified in the Conduct of that Service, where his whole Attention was necessarily directed to draw the Enemy's Fire from the Victuallers upon his own Ship, merits particular Notice. And the Steadiness of the Petty Officers, Mr Ley and the Honorable Mr Cranstown, placed in the two Victuallers, was highly commendable. They have been appointed on that Occasion to the Vacancies for Lieutenants in the Magdalen and Lizard, which their Lordships were pleased to leave to my Nomination.
The Repulse, Nautilus and Galatea, under the Orders of Captain Davis, have been detached to cruise from the Island of Bermuda Westward towards the American Coast: The two former to remain on that Station so long as their Provisions and Water will last with due Sufficiency for their Passage to Jamaica, to careen and refit: And afterwards to return up along the Coast of the Southern Provinces, in time to join me as early after the middle of next March as may be, at this Port. The Galatea, under the same Cir.cumstances of being no longer able to keep the Bermuda Station, is to return here directly for further Orders. But if during the time of Captain Davis's continuance on this Station, he should meet with a considerable Number of the West-India-Trade on their passage to Europe wanting Convoy for their Security and needing his Assistance; He is not, in such case, to deem himself restrained from rendering every such necessary Assistance, in the Extent even of proceeding with them to Europe.
The Phoenix and Tartar would also have been sent immediately off the Capes of Virginia; But upon their return from the North River they are found to require new Mizen-Masts (the former being disabled by the Enemy's Fire) with other Repairs that will necessarily detain them some Days longer.
On the 3d Instant Lieutenant Berkeley of the Isis arrived in an Armed Transport with Letters from Captain Douglas. The chief purport of them is to inform me of his Intention to proceed immediately for England; And that he had, at the Requisition of General Sir Guy Carleton, ordered the Blonde, Triton and Garland to remain in the St Lawrence for the Winter. I am apprehensive the Inexpediency of that Resolution will appear, when the Frigates are again wanted for Service.
By the same Conveyance (the Armed Ship having stopped at Halifax) I am informed by Sir George Collier that he had stationed the Juno, Milford, Lizard and Hope from Cape Cod Eastward towards Cape Sable: That the Amazon was arrived from the St Lawrence; and the Hunter and Vulture Sloops with the Transports under their Convoy, except the Euphrates, one of the Victuallers, which was run ashore a few Leagues Eastward of Halifax, under circumstances of Weather so favorable as to give Cause to suspect great Misconduct in the Master. Most of the Cargoe has been saved, but the Transport is irrecoverably lost. Sir George further informs me that the 9th of last Month the Union Transport with Cloathing and a considerable Sum of Money for the Army in Canada, arrived at Halifax; The advanced Season of the Year not admitting of an Attempt being then made to prosecute her Voyage. But I have given Directions for taking the earliest Opportunity to send that Transport forward under proper Convoy in the Spring.
The Commissioner Arbuthnot acquaints me with the Arrival of the Success Increase Naval Transport, which he intends ordering to this Port: tho' he apprehends the Stores will prove to have been much damaged.
Both these Officers mention a Descent made near Fort Cumberland by an inconsiderable Force of the Rebels from the Western Side of the Bay of Fundy. They concur in Opinion, that there is little reason to apprehend any Success to that ill-concerted Measure: Timely precautions having been taken and the whole Force of the Rebels supposed not to exceed three hundred Men.
I sent the Lark as soon as her Damages were repaired, to be employed by Sir George Collier upon the New-England Coasts; For replacing the Liverpool or Milford, that one of these two Ships may be immediately sent to clean in England. I have by the same Opportunity desired the Commissioner will order the Elephant Store-Ship, if she should be arrived, to be sent also for the Service of the Ships assembled at this Port; that from this Store-Ship and the Success Increase, the Frigates meant to be careened this Winter in the West Indies, may then be furnished with sufficient Supplies of Stores, and the Magazines there not be unnecessarily exhausted.
The Andeligonda Louisa, the last of the Foreign Transports, sailed with the Lark: The Repairs wanting for that Transport not having been completed in time to send her with the others which proceeded to Europe under Convoy of the Active and Fowey. The Lark having seen the Transport to the Eastward of the Nantucket Shoals, She is to be left to prosecute her Voyage according to the Instructions the Superintendent has received. I am Sir [&c.]
[Endorsed] 12 Decr 1776. off New York Lord Visct Howe R 23 Feby at 11 PM (1 Inclosure)