American Theatre from April 18, 1776, to May 8, 1776
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your very acceptable favour of ordnance and warlike stores from the Cabot. We are mounting them with all despatch possible, under the inspection of Mr. John Collins, who assures us that within four days he will have them all mounted. We have almost completed the fortification on the Point, where we can mount thirteen guns. To-morrow we go on Fort-Island, in... Continue Reading
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Saturdy 20th A M at 4 wore, at 6 out Reefs & made sa1t departed this life Robt Evans Seaman, At Noon Montock Point N 4 or 5 Leags Modr & fair Wr PM at 2 saw Block Island bearing NbE 4 Leags & a Sail to the NE which prov'd to be the Cerberus. at 4 Anchd with her in the Eastern Bay of Block Island in 5 fm Water Sandy Bottom, Veer'd to ½ a Cable, Southermst point of the Bay SEbS &... Continue Reading
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Dear Brother
Since I wrote nothing material has happened-We landed our Sick which were 140 Men in the Fleet and got some new Men out of the Army, and was ready to Sail when I receiv'd General Washingtons Letter by Express a Copy of which I have inclosed - I sent out the Cabot in order to strengthen the Town of Newport where she is Arrived as you will see by
. Lieutt [Elisha] Hinman's Letter a... Continue Reading
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Sunday 21 Fresh Breezes & hazey Wr A M took a small Sloop laden with Sand and Sunk her. 2 put the Ships Co to whole Allowce of Grogg
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Sunday 21st AM: at 6 the Land W:N:W: 4 or 5 Leagues at 7 sent the Mercury's Tender, with an Officer & Pilot, aback of the bar.
[)eek plans of HMS Syren.
the[y] saw but one Ship in the Harbour, under the Town, the Rebels had raised a strong Fort on Sullivans Island and that they had cut down the marks for the bar, at 11 made Sail ー Various Soundings Fresh breezes ー P:M: shortned Sail for the... Continue Reading
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
From a vessel which arrived here on the 19th of this month from the island of [New] Providence in the Bahama Channel after an eleven day crossing, we learn that an American Fleet or Small squadron composed of two frigates of 36 guns, two brigantines, two schooners and three vessels of 10 to 16 guns had arrived there on the third of March with 700 American troops on board, had taken more than a... Continue Reading
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Sunday 21 sent an Officer out and seized a Brig from Georgia called the Neptune, and took her Crew on board. 2
Date: 21 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
ー The ship and schooner are come into the harbour. It snows very fast. The ship is the Swan, from Rhode Island. Brings news of an engagement between Admiral Hopkins, of the Americans, and His Majesty's Ship Glasgow. They parted wih the loss of one man in the latter, and the former much damaged, by report. The schooner is the Halifax.
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
You having the Command and direction of the Brigantine Marquis of Kildare, in the Service of the United Colonies, Equipt for the Sea, are to Embrace the first favourable Oppertunity of Wind & Weather, and Sail with said Brigant to the port Leorient, in the Kingdom of France, where when it shall please God you arrive, Enquire of some principal Merchant or Merchts on whom you may depend whether... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
A number of the Marshfield Tories have just returned from Halifax, in a starving condition, with a request from Gen. Howe to Gen. Washington that the women and. children may return again. By all accounts they have neither covering from the weather or provisions.
Commodore [Joshua] Loring's youngest son,2 a midshipman, an:i a mate belonging to the English navy, were taken off Dartmouth last... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Tomorrow I purpose to set out for Portsmouth to learn whether there are any Tidings of the 10 packages of Medicines formerly mentioned to be in the Prize carried in there,2 that Nothing of so great value may be lost for want of looking after.
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Ordered, That William Sever & Benjamin Greenleaf Esqr with such as the Honble Board shall join, be a Committee to make such additions and amendments to the Bill for fixing out Armed Vessels for the defence of America as are necessary and shall comport with the late Resolve of Congress, Confiscating British Property.
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
... The Harbor of Boston if properly fortified would make one of the Securest upon the Continent & be the best port, I can think of, for a place of Rendezvous for the Continental Fleet, ー would it not then be politic for the Congress to attend to this Matter If the Congress would also order two or three Ships of War to be built in Boston, it would find employ for many of the poor Inhabitants... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The Schooner----[Violenti] capt. [Stephen] Cleveland, which sailed from Salem for Winyaw, in North Carolina, the beginning of January last, was taken on her passage by the Scarborough man of war,1 and sent to Georgia, where after lading with rum, sugar, &c. she proceeded for Boston, when on last Friday 7 night (not knowing the ministerial fleet and army had evacuated that place) meeting with... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
I wrote last Thursday Morning by the Post to our Friend Mr S. Adams ー to which I refer you on some Things of a public Nature After so many Weeks Possession of this Town you would be surpriz'd to see in what a defenceless State we still remain. The Business of fortifying has lain between Genl [Artemas] Ward & a Committee of the Genl Court: Between them both, little or Nothing has yet been done... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The Honbl Genl Co Sirs, I have fix'd out a small Armed Schooner of about 30 Tons burthen from Boston, which I want a commission for, if your Honor's will be pleas'd to grant me one ー she is call'd the Lady Washington, mounts four 2 & 3 Pounders, and 10 Swivel Guns ー commanded by-I am [&c.]
JnoG. Frazer [Endorsed] In Council Apr 22d 1776 read and Order'd that the prayer of the... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Since Sunday the 7th instant, there have been two large cables and anchors taken up in our Bay, by some of the troops of this colony, and one hauser of 140 fathoms, with a small anchor, which were left behind by the ministerial fleet, in their late precipitate flight. Last Monday arrived in this colony in 8 days from South Carolina, the sloop Charlotte, Capt. John Joy, who in lat. 34½, was chaced... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
The following is a list of the Continental fleet at New London, April 8th.
Ship Alfred, Hopkins,
32
guns.
Ship Columbus, Whipple,
28
Brig Cabot, Hopkins, junior,
14
Brig Andrew Doria, Biddle,
14
Sloop Providence, Hazard,
12
Bomb [Bolton] prize brig, retaken,
10
Schooner [Hawke] prize retaken,
8
Sloop, prize [Glasgow's tender] retaken
6
New-Haven brig [Defence],
16... Continue Reading
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Voted, That his Honor the Governor is desired to write to Col. Isaac Sears to answer such draughts as Capt. Ephraim Bill shall make upon him for building and furnishing the Colony ship for service. 2
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
Captn Allen Brown is here yet with your Sloop, and without the Coast is clear I advise him to stay untill he can be certain of getting round-but if you want to Sell the Molasses I hear it will fetch 3/8 at New York where she may go Safe, and perhaps be more for your Advantage than her coming home. Your Son is hearty and behaves Extremely well ever Since he came onboard our Ship-2 E.H.
Date: 22 April 1776
Volume: Volume 4
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