Displaying 1 - 20 of 39
Two Gentlemen crossing a ferry at Rhode Island in their way from Philadelphia to the Eastward, were stopped by Captain [James] Ayscough, who found several letters in their possession, which were transmitted to Admiral [Samuel] Graves; but I found an opportunity of copying two of them, and herewith send the copies to you,2 that you may see the real intentions of those miscreants who...
Date: 14 August 1775
Volume: Volume 1
On the 7th inst. the 15th and 28th regiments landed on a Peninsula, at the mouth of the River, but the enemy not chusing to shew themselves, the General, after reconnoitring the country, reimbarked them. A few days after, the 27th and 33d regiment went fifteen miles up the River, and dispossessed the Rebels of a post they had at that place called Brunswick. They took a few prisoners, and had one...
Date: 17 May 1776
Volume: Volume 5
There are a number of privateers in these seas. Under is a list of what have been here and at Martinique the last fifteen days, and there are more fitting out. The Congress Agents have blank commissions out, which they fill up and are very liberal of. Prizes are carried into the French Ports and openly sold. The Mary, belonging to your town, with her Slaves, was sold in the Bay I am now in. She...
Date: 10 March 1777
Volume: Volume 8
All our ports are shut up by the men of war, so that no vessel is allowed to go from one river to another. This day two vessels arrived here with a number of Soldiers. Not a day passes but they are searching for arms, ammunition, &c. and have taken prisoners, and secured on board the ships, several Gentlemen whom they suspect to have been most active on the American side of the question. Most...
Date: 20 October 1775
Volume: Volume 2
We were very fortunate in making the land, which was just at break of day; being in the middle of the Bay, we fell in with the Mercury man of war who (with a fleet of ships from New Portsmouth, which place they burnt) who convoyed us safe into Boston.3 The Bay at present is very unsafe for vessels unarmed, as it swarms with privateers, and a great number of whale boats, each carrying...
Date: 28 November 1775
Volume: Volume 2
Our troops, with about sixty Townsmen from Norfolk, and a detachment of Sailors from the ships, among whom I had the honour to march, set out from Norfolk to attack once more the Rebels at the great bridge, who had been lodged there some time, and had erected a breast-work opposite to our fort on their side of the river. We arrived at the Fort half an hour after three in the morning, and, after...
Date: 9 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
The Rebels having now nothing to obstruct their passage, arrived and took possession of Norfolk, and in the evening saluted us with a volley of small arms; on which, the next morning, I was sent on shore to their Commander, to inform him, that if another shot was fired at the Otter, they must expect the town to be knocked about their ears.
Date: 14 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
Lord Dunmore having certain intelligence about a month since, of a large body of the Rebel Army being on their march to destroy Norfolk, because its inhabitants had professed their loyalty to Government; in order to prevent their wicked intentions, sent a party of the 14th regiment to a narrow pass through which the Rebels were to march, and erected a Fort there about 18 miles from Norfolk. This...
Date: 25 December 1775
Volume: Volume 3
The detested town of Norfolk is no more! Its destruction happened on New Year's Day! About four o'clock in the afternoon the signal was given from the Liverpool, when a dreadful cannonading began from the three ships, which lasted till it was too hot for the Rebels to stand on their Wharfs. Our boats now landed and set fire to the town in several places. It burnt fiercely all night, and the next...
Date: 9 January 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Lord William Campbell is still on board a man of war in the Harbour. Our town is well fortified. The following is a list of Forts, Batteries, and ships of war at South Carolina: ー Sullivan's Island, 26 guns, 18 and 32 pounders; Fort Johnson, 21 guns, 18 and 32 pounders; Hadd[r]al's Point, 6 guns, 18 pounders; Fort William Henry, 12 guns, 32 pounders; Wilkin's Fort, 23 guns, 9, 12, 18, and 32...
Date: 15 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
The Preparations for the Campaign are compleated, and the major Part of the Troops already in the Field: the Generals [William] Howe and De Heister left New York two Days since for the Jerseys; the Army are in the highest Health and Spirits and I assure you hold all Obstacles to their Success in sovereign Contempt. The Recruits lately arrived from England, with the Isis and Somerset, had a very...
Date: 9 June 1777
Volume: Volume 9
On Sunday morning last [July 6] a boat, with several Ladies and Gentlemen, sailed from Tramore, in the county of Waterford, on a party of pleasure, and about four leagues to the South East, fell in with a vessel, schooner rigged, which fired a gun to bring the boat along—side. The company immediately complied, and were ordered on board the privateer; they were conducted to the cabin, when they...
Date: 12 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Our Lord Mayor has been very anxious for the preservation of the Shipping and Commerce of this City, and has frequently applied by letter and in person to his Excellency, the Lord Lieutenant, to use his interest with the Lords of the Admiralty, for obtaining Ships of Force to be sent to our Port, to protect the vessels trading from this Harbour. The Lord Mayor's applications have been always...
Date: 15 July 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I yesterday boarded a sloop from North Uist, with Kelp, who had on board two men belonging to the brig Venus, of Liverpool, Weeks, Master, from Greenland, with one fish, who was taken on Sunday the 3d instant, within six or seven leagues of the Island of Barra, by an American Rebel privateer cutter, of 16 four pounders, double fortified, and as many swivels, manned with 100 men, some English,...
Date: 11 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
“The Master of the Lion armed transport, arrived at Cove, says, that in lat. 50, 3. long. 20, W. she fell in with an American privateer, who fired a gun at him, and bid him strike to the United States of America; that he hoisted British colours in return, and fired a broadside into the privateer; that they continued a running fight for upwards of two hours, when the evening coming on, and they...
Date: 1 October 1777
Volume: Volume 10
Letters from Limerick give an account, that the people there have been greatly alarmed by two American privateers appearing in the River Shannon. One of them mounted ten guns, besides swivels, and the other fourteen guns. They examined the Masters of the fishing vessels, what men of war were on the coast, which being informed of, they landed, and got some fresh provisions, which they paid for,...
Date: 5 October 1777
Volume: Volume 10
“The Hawke, an American privateer, Capt. Hibberts, lying in our Harbour, hearing that an English vessel laid off the Bar of Bilboa, waiting for a wind to go in, immediately got under way, and the wind that favoured her from hence prevented the English vessel from getting in. She accordingly found her lying at anchor off the Bar, with a Pilot on board, and made a prize of her: She is called the...
Date: 6 October 1777
Volume: Volume 10
The Heart of Oak, Patterson; Eagle, Dorew; and Mary, Jenkins, all from Senegal, are arrived in the Downs: They have retaken the Thames, Capt. Hill, from Oporto to Hull, that had been taken by the General Mifflin privateer.1
Date: 8 October 1777
Volume: Volume 10
Capt. James Angues of the ship Betty, who sailed from Blew-fields, in Jamaica, along with the fleet and convoy, lost sight of them in a gale of wind a few days after he had got clear of the Gulph of Florida. In prosecuting his voyage to England he fell in with an American privateer brig, of 16 guns, 4 and 6 pounders, name unknown, about 100 leagues to the Eastward of the Banks of Newfoundland;...
Date: 12 October 1777
Volume: Volume 10
A Letter from Kinsale, by yesterday's Mail, says, that the Irish Coast is again visited by American privateers; that two appeared off the mouth of that Harbour, and sent a boat in to see what ships were there; but there being none of consequence, soon disappeared.
Date: 16 October 1777
Volume: Volume 10