Volume 3
The following is a list of the privateers fitted out here by order of the Congress last January, with the commanders names and their force. They sailed about the middle of February Jast on an expedition which is kept a profound secret, viz.
[Esek] Hopkins Commander in Chief.
The Alfred, Tatterson, 2 of
32 guns, ー 300 men.
The Columbus, [Abraham] Whipple,
32 ditto, ー 300... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Instructions and sailing Orders were given to Capt. Francis Speake of the Ship John.
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
We have undoubted intelligence, that the man of war lately arrived in Hampton road is the Roebuck, of 44 guns, capt. Hammond, lately from England, but last from Halifax, in Nova Scotia. She landed at that place Marriott Arburthnot, esq; formerly commander of the Garland ship of war, on this station, who is appointed commissary of the king's stores, and commodore, at Halifax. She brings... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
By Andrew Snape Hamond Esqr Captain of his Majesty's Ship the Roebuck and commanding officer in Virginia.
In consequence of the application you have made to me by letter of this days date, setting forth that Tobias Verdin Boatswain of his Majs Sloop under your command, who you had some time since suspended for neglect of duty, has lately shewn great courage and alacrity on several occasions in... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
February 1776
Friday 16th
Moored in Elizabeth River Virginia.
Fine pleasant weather, at 6 in the morning weighed and made Sail up Elizabeth River, the Kingsfisher in Company, at ½ past 11 She Anchored by Signal, and at Noon Anchored with the Best Bower in 4 fathoms, about one Mile Below Norfolk, found her[e] the Liverpool and Otter Several Transport Vessels, and a great many others, with the... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
1776 February
Friday 16
Moored in Hampton Road Virginia
fired a Gun & made the Signal for the Convoy to Tack At Noon saw the Land Bearing from W½N to N W diste 5 or 6 leags
at 4 Came on board and took Charge a Pilot ½ past 6 fired 2 Guns as Signal for Anchoring at 7 Brot too with the B B in 6½ fm veered to ½ a Cable Convoy in Co fired a Gun and made the Signal to weigh & come to Sail... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Mr. President laid before the Congress, the following copy of the letter which he had written and sent express, by their order, to the colony of Georgia.
South-Carolina,
Charles-Town, February 15, 1776.
By Authority of Congress.
To the Honourable the Congress of Georgia.
Gentlemen,
I Have the honour to inclose to you the copy of a resolution of Congress, extending the resolution of the... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
We beg leave to refer you to what we have already written by this bearer ー Your favour of the 12th reached us last night & we heartily thank you for the advices contained in it ー time will not permit us to be very particular in our reply & it is the less needful as three members from this Board will wait on you by order of our provincial Congress within forty eight hours after you receive... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
... by advice just received from Savanna we learn that an immediate attack upon this town is intended by the
Syren
28. Guns
190 Men
Scarboro
20. ー
145 ー
Tamar
18. ー
100 ー
Raven
18. ー
100 ー
Cherokee
10. ー
50 ー
three Armed Vessels ー & an uncertain number of Troops just arrived in a Transport ー
I pray God to protect us all...
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
The following orders were drawn on the colony treasury ー to pay:
To Capt. Joseph Turpin, to be changed to account of the Brigantine Comet, £250 00 00
Capt [Edward] Blake and Capt. [Thomas] Tucker attended, and were conferred with upon the practicability of obstructing the passage into Hog-Island Creek.
Ordered, That they proceed to sounding the said passage tomorrow.
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
We hear from Georgia, that the Scarborough Man of War, of 20 Guns, lately arrived in Savannah River, with a Prize Schooner, having 4000 lb. of Gunpowder on board. 1 Probably the Scarborough was the Ship that was seen off Georgetown Bar, about a Fortnight since, and which took the Pilotboat mentioned in our last. 2
The following is the best Account we have been able to obtain... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Sir, My Country having Honour'd me with the Command of the Continental Battalion ordered to be raised by the General Congress for the Protection and Defence of this Colony (tho' I fear too partial to my poor Abilitys) it becomes my duty to inform your Excely of the State of our Province as far as it concerns the Service, as well as of the Troops to be immediately under my Command. ー
Our... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
My Lord In Letter No 18. private of 18th December 74 [sic 1775], I had the honour to mention to Your Lordship, that I had appointed Mr [William] Panton to manage the Indian Trade. I beg leave now my Lord to enclose the Copy of a Letter I received from Mr Panton lately. 2 He informs of his difficulties. The disappointment to me is very great, as its absolutely requisite, a Trade should... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
My Lord/ About a Month ago Mr [Martin] Jollie who I had the honour to inform Your Lordship was admitted of His Majesty's Council desired to go into Georgia on Some private affairs. I took the Opportunity to desire him to make all the observations he cou'd of the disposition and State of matters there, for which reason I have taken the Liberty to inclose to your Lordship a Copy of a... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
I Clark Gayton Esquire in the Annexed Writ of Habeas Corpus named do certify and return that James Young in the said annexed Writt also named before the obtaining and issuing the said annexed Writ to wit on the Twenty Eighth day of January last past was taken by one of his Majestys Ships of War under my Command as he the said James Young was coming out of the Port of Cape Nicholas Mole in the... Continue Reading
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
Sir The dispatches you will now receive for Admiral Shuldham being of the utmost importance to Government, I am to desire you will take especial care the same do not fall into the Enemys hands, and therefore direct you will cause those Dispatches marked No 1 & 2 to be put into a Bag with a Shot slung thereto: and in case of imminent danger to throw them overboard into the Sea. I am Sir [&...
Date: 16 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
I have receiv'd your letter signifying the present disposition of the Indians on St Johns River, which I laid before the Governor, who is well satisfied with the account, and relies on you for preserving them in the same good temper, and to assure them, that they shall have every necessary of which they shall stand in need, on their arrival here. before this time I suppose you will have receiv'd... Continue Reading
Date: 17 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
I've just Recd a letter from Philada, Informing me of one of the vessells belonging to the Continental service, havg arrived with sixty Tons of salt petre, thirteen Tons of powder, 1300 stand of good arms; on which important news I have the honor to congratulate you. My letter is dated the 3d Instant; the vessel arrived the day before.
I am with all due respect [&c.]
Date: 17 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
In Council, February 17, 1776
Read and concurred.
Samuel Holten, Esq; brought down the following Vote of Council, viz.
Whereas Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq; was appointed one of the Committee of this Court for building sundry Sloops-of-War, and as his Attendance at the Council is necessary for the Dispatch of the Important Business of this Colony, on which Account he has desired to be excused from the... Continue Reading
Date: 17 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
To Robert Coc[h]ran Esqr Greeting ー
By Virtue of a Resolve of the great & general Court of this Colony, pass'd the sixteenth instant, You are hereby permitted & impowered to inlist a Number of Seamen for the Defence of the sister Colony of So Carolina, not exceeding three hundred Men, out of the Inhabitants of this Government, except such as are employ'd in the Continental Army, in the... Continue Reading
Date: 17 February 1776
Volume: Volume 3
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