American Theatre from November 1, 1776, to December 31, 1776
During the final two months of 1776, privateers were successfully cruising, State Navy activity was much in evidence and some of the Continental naval vessels were at sea. John Paul Jones in the Alfred accompanied by the sloop Providence, Captain Hoysteed Hacker, took a rich prize. She was the Mellish with a cargo of thousands of uniforms including "every article complete for a Soldier from the hat, to the shoes." In the West Indies Andrew Doria exchanged gun salutes with the fort at the Dutch island of St. Eustatius. This recognition accorded the rebel flag generated a flurry of British protests. Returning to the northward, Andrew Doria engaged and captured H.M. sloop Racehorse. The Continental brig Lexington was taken by H.M.S. Pearl off the Delaware capes.
A sizeable convoy of British transports weighed anchor from New York and set course for England. Since the destination and "design of the Enemy" were unknown to the Americas, shock waves moved along the coast in anticipation of where the next blow might fall. Conversely, anxiety ran high in Nova Scotia where invasion from New England was expected.
Early in December a British Army-Navy expedition sailed from New York and easily took Newport, Rhode Island, and command of surrounding waters. Upon the approach of this formidable enemy force, the Continental ships in the area under Commodore Hopkins fled up the Providence River.
Washington's army was forced out of New York and retreated southward through New Jersey with the British in pursuit. Fear that Philadelphia would soon be occupied prompted Congress to remove to Baltimore. Robert Morris, writing to Silas Deane near the close of 1776, but before Washington struck back at Trenton, could with reason note that the "unfortunate turn of American Affairs, leaves no room for joy in the mind of any true friend of our country."
The Winchelsea man of war has taken six prizes, and has brought them in here, three of them bound to Cape Nicholas, and three that were going in there, one a large brig, three schooners, and two sloops. What their cargoes consist of we at present do not know.
Date: 6 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Last week arrived here the Adamant, from London, with General Carleton's Lady and sister, and other female passengers on board; passing the Island of Bicquet, in the River St. Lawrence, with a fair wind, and no Pilot to be got, by twelve o'clock at night, on Sunday fortnight, she, and another ship following her, got on a rock on the east end of Reed Island, by being deceived in the course by a... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Thursday the 7th [November] Captain Baron prevailed on me to let the Command Boat go off at day light this Morning with Letters for the General, intrusting the Packett with a Corp! of the Regiment, well acquainted with the road to Halifax about 7 OClock in the Morning the thick Fog & Baize clear'd away, I discovered several Boats full of Men coming along Shore from Westcock, & the... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Know all Men By these Presants ThatI the Subscriber In Consideration of the Sum of Sixteen Dollars To Me in Hand Paid by Mr John Waters in Part for one Half Shair of all The Prizes That May Be Taken Duering the Cruze of the Privateer Sloop called the Revenge whea[re]of Benjn Dean is Commisioned Commander and for the further Consideration of Twenty foer Dollers Moer To be Paid at the End of the... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
The Petition of Josiah Godfrey Chief Pilot of the Sloop of War Republick Commanded by Capt Williams fitted out by this State.
Humbly Sheweth
That your petitioner engaged in the Service of this State expecting as much Wages as is given to Pilots in the Continental Service, but thinking himself in danger of being deprived of that reward for his Service that he can obtain from others, and which... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Last Friday [November 1] two Vessels arrived at Marblehead from Halifax, with 170 American Prisoners on board, who an\o be exchanged for Men of equal Rank, now in our Possession. They inform that\, Number of private Vessels are fitting out there, as Plunderers of American Property.
We have certain Advice, That a Vessel in the Service of the United States, arrived at a safe Port last Week, from... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Thomas Stacy Commander of the Private Sloop of War called the Diamond fitted out at and belonging to the Port of Providence in the State aforesaid duly commissiond agreeable to the Resolves of the most Honl the Continental Congress in behalf of himself the owners and the Officers & Men belonging to said Sloop of War comes into this Honl Court and gives your Honr to understand and be informed... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Dr
Mr John Earle Master in Account with the Ship Alfred
1776 —
To Amount of Slops, Cash Advanc'd & by Captn [Dudley] Saltonstall pr List left with the Commodore
£40.18.11
By Wages due from Ship Alfred as Master from Decemr 7, 1775 to Novr 7. 1776 is 11 moths a £7.10 pr Mo
82.10..-
Novemr 5.
To Cash paid by Daniel Tillinghast Esqr Agent at Providence 100 dollars
37.10..-
By... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
To Be Sold
At Public Vendue
On Monday the 25th inst. at 2 o'clock P. M.
The cargo of the ship John consisting of sugar, rum, cotton, indigo, turtleshell, mahogany and fustick; the sale to be at Norwich Landing, and to continue from day to day, until the whole be disposed of.2
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Draw on the Treasuror of this State for the Sum of four Hundred and Twenty Eight Pounds Nine Shillings and five Pence in Favour of Capt John Mc Cleave it being the Ballance of What is Due to him and his Men for their Service on Bord the Galley Whiting
By Order the Govr & Council of Safety
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
As the unfortunate Attempt upon Montressors Island may very unjustly injure the Character of some very worthy Officers, I beg you to insert the Result of the Court of Inquiry, so far as regards the Conduct of Capt. James Eldredge
At a Court of Inquiry, on the Conduct of the Captains commanding the Boats ordered to land on Montressors Island, the 23d of September last:
Brigadier-General Parsons,... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
His Excellency Just now received Intelligence that three of the Enemy's Ships passed the Chivaux de frise Yesterday or the day before. When he considers this event with the present disposition of the Enemy who have advanced towards the North River, he apprehends that they have some thing in view that we are not apprized of. — he wishes you to post parties of observation at every place on the... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
My dear Lord — The army having at last extended their flank to the North River has relieved us from a tedious and disagreeable confinement, as well as from a state of extreme anxiety, not having been able to procure the least certain intelligence of what was going on ever since we came up the river.
I have just been ashore to stretch my legs and to pick up news, by which means I have learnt that... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
The Lively, Capt. [Thomas] Bishop, with her Prize, came in from East Florida, on the Coast of wch she had been cruizing, and left all well.
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Herewith You will receive by His Majesty's Ship the Fowey; Two Journals No 1, contains an account of Proceedings on Board the Bristol, from the 18th of December 1775 to the 30th of April 1776 and No 2, from Thence to the 31st of last Month; I have also sent the Minutes of Four Courts-Martial with the Sentences; and a List of my Appointments of Officers to Act, during the Time I was Honoured with... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
I beg You will please to move their Lordships, for an Order for my Pay, for my Broad Pendant, from the first of July last, to the 1st of October following inclusive. I am Sir [&c.]
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
. . . Dr Franklin is now sailed for France, either to solicit Assistance, or (what is more probable) to secure his own Retreat. All Accounts agree, that the People in general are tired of their new Governors & their Proceedings, and that Parties are forming who begin to speak plainly against them.
We have had Information of Genl Carleton's Success upon Lake Champlain through the Rebels, for... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
Resolved, That each of the persons to be appointed to execute the business of the navy, under the direction of the Marine Committee, be allowed the salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum.
The Committee to whom part of the report of the Marine Committee was recommitted, brought in a report.
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
... I should be glad to know what is the Office of Commissioners of the Navy,2 and that you would point it out particularly; unless you can refer Me to some Author who particularly describes. The Conduct of the Affairs of a Navy as well as those of an Army We are yet to learn. We are still unacquainted with the systematical Management of them, although We have made considerable... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
We are informed by authentic intelligence, that an American sloop of war of twelve guns and seventy men sailed from the Delaware the 21st of August.1 She cruised between the latitudes of 39° and 33° N. and went to the eastward as far as the longitude of 50° west-having taken three prizes, a whaler, and two West-Indiamen — and having had a very narrow escape from an English frigate... Continue Reading
Date: 7 November 1776
Volume: Volume 7
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