American Theatre from August 1, 1777, to September 30, 1777
By the Lieutenant of the Diamond I send a Flag of Truce with Two American Prisoners to be exchanged for Two of the Diamond's men now at Providence; the Lieutenant will furnish you with their Names, and I am to request you will permit the exchange to take place —
I also have sent a Master of an American Vessel to be exchanged for Mr Brooks a young Gentleman belonging to the Lark, taken in Company... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
For preserving greater Regularity in the Order of Sailing appointed for the Fleet;2 it has been the Admiral's Intention, when working to Wind ward, that the Ships of War stationed on the Starboard Quarter in the Form of Sailing delivered, should keep to the Westward and Northward of the Fleet; And those stationed on the Larboard Quarter, to the Eastward and Southward thereof, under... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Lattde 38°.18' [off Assateague Is.]
Sunday 3d
at 5 AM made the Sigl & Tack'd, at 8 the Dispatch made the Sigl for seeing a sail in the S.W. made her Sigl to Chace, at 11 made the Sigl for the Convoy to come under the Admls Stern, the Augusta fir'd several Shot at a Ship Standing out of the Fleet, at Noon made the Apollo's Sigl to come within hail —
The first part Modte... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Cape Henlopen No 34°. .50' Wt Distance 18 Leagues
[Sunday] 3d
at ½ past 4 AM The Adml made the Signal to Tack Do Tack'd Ship at 7 The Adml made the Signal for the Fleet to come in his Wake ½ past made the Signal to the Adml for seeing a Sail &chaced, ½ past 11 brot to hoisted out our Boat & boarded a Schooner from Chingoteage bound to Curisoe laden with Flour — Cape... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
3rd [August] Sunday. At 7 this evening came on a violent storm at S.S. East scarcely giving the Fleet time to take in their sails. A darkness in the west and S.W. gave some Kind of notice accompanied with sharp lightning. One ship laid for some time on her beam ends without righting. We Slipped our mizzen top sail without any other damage of any consequence — the lightning and thunder surpassed... Continue Reading
Date: 3 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Above you have copy of my last Letter dated at Wichcasset 16th ulto since which I arrived with the Boston at this place, but when I shall reach Boston, or even Portsmouth, is uncertain.
The Enemy keep such a look out and are so Numerous that 'tis no easy matter to Slip throu among them —
Three Nights agone we had four Sail of their Frigates off this Harbours mouth in full sight and by... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Monday
Augt 4th
[1777]
[Falmouth] This [day] plesent Weather Wind to the NE arrived here two prise Briggs & 1 Brig Belonging to this place from Santy Croix and a Continanttell Ship from Bilbo With anchors & Cabils for the 74 We sent our Barge to help hir in about 12 oClock the most of our pepel at Night Employ in geting the Continanttell Ship [off the] Shore
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Hear To Reason.
When our Brethren are suffering in Prison Ships in the neighbouring Ports, where many of them starve; and die for want, Will you not assist in giving Information where the Prisoners are conceal'd that are taken and brought into Boston, and other Sea-Ports? or will you rather feed and employ them, when they might and ought to be sent in Exchange for our Brethren: The People of the... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Various are the conjectures concerning the motions and destination of the enemy's fleet and the army, on board. Some think them still bound for Philadelphia, and that all their late motions have been only to conceal their real design. The last account we had of them was by a man, who we hear has since declared under oath, that on Wednesday the 27th ult'. he saw off Blue Point (about one hundred... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Last Sunday Week arrived here from Antigua, the Schooner Betsey, Thomas Muir; on her Passage, in Lat. 34.52, Long. 67, she was taken by a Rebel Privateer Sloop, belonging to Charlestown, called the Vixen, mounting twelve carriage Guns, commanded by one Downham Newton, a Native of Providence. — Capt. Muir, who was permitted to stay on board the Schooner, gained over three of the Hands to his... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
We have to inform you the necessity requires an Alteration in the Orders you have already Received — therefore you'l be pleased to take notice that you are not bound by any orders heretofore issued — but from henceforth you are hereby order'd to observe any directions instructions or orders issu'd by the Commanding Officer of the Continental fleet order'd down on a secret exp'dition 2... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The Deposition of John Barrett First Lieutenant of the armed Brigantine Raleigh late commanded by Edward Travis Esqr fitted out by & belonging to the State of Virginia —
The Deponent being duly sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God deposeth & saith —
That in the Night of the 26th of April last the said Brigantine mounting ten four Pounders fell in with & was captured by the... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Wanted immediately for the celebrated and well known Brig of War, Sturdy Beggar, under Command of James Campbell, Esq; now fitting out at this Place for a short Cruize against the Enemies of the Thirteen United States, a few good Seamen and Marines. The Sturdy Beggar is allowed to be the handsomest Vessel ever built in America, is compleatly furnished with all Kinds of warlike Stores, Ammunition... Continue Reading
Date: 4 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I did my self the pleasure of writing you soon after I arrived at Sheepscott river, praying the favour of you to forward my Letter to the Marine committee which I had left open for your particular Satisfaction — at that time I was in hopes of Seeing you long before this but the precarious State of a Single Ship in these times, and the want of a good Oppertunitey has keept me at so great a... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
In at a safe port the following vessels, viz. A prize ship laden with sugars, taken by the Sturdy Beggar, 180 hhds. Prize brig laden with wine, salt, dry goods. Brig laden with rum, taken by Oliver Cromwell. Brig laden with wine, taken by [John] Clouston. Also a Ship from Bilboa, laden with duck, cordage, rigging compleat for two Frigates. Also cloathing and salt.
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Matters remain here much as when I wrote you last, except som alarms caused by a report that a very large fleet appeared off Cape Ann on the 31st ulto — the time agreed very well with the accounts we previously had of the fleet's sailing from N.Y. as we supposed the Town was the enemy's object, all hands were preparing to go thither, when on a sudden the fleet vanished in a fogg and we have heard... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
You being Commander of the Arm'd Brigt Massachusetts your Orders are to proceed to cruize in the Track of the Homeward bound West-India Vessels, & to use your utmost Endeavours to take, burn, sink & destroy all armed and other Vessels, together with their Cargoes, belonging to the Subjects of the King of Great-Britain, Enemies to the United States of America & the natural Rights of... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
John Lambert first Lieutenant and Mark Clark, Second Lieut of the Brigantine Massachusetts A Vessel of War belonging to the State of Massachusetts Bay whereof Capt John Fisk was Commander: Testify and Say That on Sunday the first [sic twenty third] day of March last, they Sailed in said Brig from Salem on a cruise, and were joined off Cape Ann Harbour by the Brigantine Tyranniside, Jonathan... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
This Morning About Fore A Clock Landed a partey of the Enemy Consisting of About two hundred, As Near as we Coold Judge in two Devitions one Devition At the South Ferrey the Other Below Benjamin Gardners, that Devition Landed at the South Ferrey was Covered by a Rogalle [row galley], we Rallied And Engaged them they Emediately Gave way and Retreated into their bates again, but by Some Accident th... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Cape Cod SSWl/2 Wt 7 or 8 Leagues
Monday 4th
at 4 A M saw a sail in the SE, gave Chace
First par Modt and fair, Middle and latter fresh Gales and Cloudy with Fog Cape Cod No 81°. .00Wt Distant 11 Leagues at ½ past 7 the Chace ran on Shore near Cape Cod, and the People after cutting away her Masts, quitted her, at 8 the Amazon brought up, and fired several Shot at the Brig... Continue Reading
Date: 5 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
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