At 8 this night the Commanding Officers of Regiments were sent for to Headquarters, and ordered to have their respective Grenadiers and Light Infantry Companies on the beach near the Magazine Guard exactly at 10 o'Clock this night, with one day's provisions in their Havresacks, and without knapsacks ー They were directed to order their Companies to parade quietly at their respective Barracks, and to march to the place of Rendezvous in small parties, and if Challenged to answer "Patrole." ー The Companies of our Regiment (the 23rd) marched 'accordingly, and were the first, complete, at the place of parade; Here we found a number of the Men of War's and Transports boats in waiting. ー As there was no public Officer attending to superintend the Embarkation, which it was evident would take up a good deal of time, our two Companies with the approbation of the Officers of the Navy, embarked in the nearest boats, and pushed off a little way from the shore. As the other Companies arrived soon after, as many men embarked as the boats would contain. By this time Lieut Colo [Francis] Smith of the 10th, who was to have the Command, arrived, and with him Major [John]Pitcairn of the Marines. The boats then put off, and rowed towards Phipps's farm, where having landed the troops they returned for the remainder and landed them at the same place. This was not completed until 12 o'Clock . . .

The town was a good deal agitated and alarmed at this Movement, as it was pretty generally known, by means of the Seamen who came on shore from the Ships, about 2 o'Clock, that the boats were ordered to be in readiness.