American Theatre from August 1, 1777, to September 30, 1777
Congress took into consideration the report of the Marine Committee:
Resolved, That if, upon due consideration, jointly had by the navy board for the eastern department, and the governor and council of war for the State of Rhode Island, and for which purpose the said navy board are directed to attend upon the said governor and council of war, the preparing fire-ships be judged practicable,... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
At 6 o'clock this morning we discovered one of the Enemies Ships & 2 Schooners abrest of Bombay hook, at 2 o'clock this afternoon Capt Alexander the Frigate Delaware hove out a signal for getting under way, sending the smallest vessel ahead with himself in the sentor and the other Ships with the fire vessels in the rear, the wind S.W., a moderate gail, they have just cleared the lower end of... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Friday 21
Fortescue Island SEbE¼E
At 5 AM sent the Schooners in Shore at 7 fir'd two Guns as Sigls for them to return At 8 Weigh'd & run farther up at ½ past 9 anchd off Bombay hook in 6½ fm muddy bottom Lower part of Bombay hook SW¼ W
Throughout Modte & fine Wr at 3 PM Fir'd two Guns (As Sigls to our Tender) on seeing twelve Sail and Rebel Vessels2 working down... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Yeasterd in the fore Noon gott the Ship within the Chain and Moored her, whare She is ready to Bring Springs on her Cables and Act in the defence of this place
I went on Shore as soon as in my power, to inform my Self of the Situation of the Galley's and made the Capts of them Acquainted with Your Instructions to me, and Afterwerd then of Every Assistance in my power to give them; Capt Mathew's... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Inclosed is The Lieuts Letter — we coud get no Express & I send Harry. This Morning about 9, or half after, the Van of the Enemy appeared above the Bodkin, in sight of Town from the Crt House Steeple, and the Hill above the Church. they were on the Eastern Shore standing up the Bay and have so continued, just now (10 minits ago) I saw them from the Church Hill and they seemd the Rear division... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Three Ships of War hove in Sight of this place Yesterday about Sunset; a large Fleet is extended about 15 or 20 Miles below till this Morning, the largest of the three Ships has now got above Annapolis the whole Fleet is under Sail and in Sight they amount to more than one hundred Sail 2 there appears to be amongst them a good many heavy Ships this Fleet seems to be more than equal to... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
The British Fleet having this morning passed Annapolis and consisting of upwards of two hundred & Sixty Sail as said to have been counted by some and as estimated generally. The Governor proposed to the Council as a Question for their opinion whether the small number of Militia already in Town should be kept and others called in and preparation made with a view to defend this place or the... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I was not entirely wrong in my conjecture Gen. Howe intended going to the South. We sailed from Sandy Hook on the 23rd July and arrived at the Delaware the 30th, stood up that river for some hours, when, as if it were a feint to perplex Washington, we put back to sea the middle of the same night, and on Friday got between Capes Henry and Charles (two Capes that form the entrance of Chesapeake Bay... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I received your Letter of 5th August with the enclosures by a Flag of Truce, to which I have done due honour.
I pass over the Reflection you were pleased to throw upon His Majestys Servants in America for their ill treatment of Prisoners, conscious that they are groundless.
My Personal knowledge of the two great Officers His Majesty hath been pleased to honour with the supreme Command in America... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Thursday 21st
At Anchor off Heneago [Great Inagua Is.]
At 2 AM hauld up Foresl & lay too At 3 Filld Mn Topsl at 7 Brot up wt the Small Br in 8 fm NW Point Heneago NNWt distce 2 Miles At 11 Saw a Sail in the NW Qr Made the Sloops Sigl to Chace People empdgetting Up Mn Top sal Wooding & Watering the Ship —
Pleasant Breezes & fair Wr At 3 PM The Sloopretd with the Chace... Continue Reading
Date: 21 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . the Marine board2 is not organiz'd here, the marine department Suffers for want therof, the Boston has been arrivd About a Month — at an Eastern port, and is now coming up our harbour. I deplore the loss of the Hancock Frigate, Several of poor Manleys men have got here from hallifax I have reason to believe he has done honour to his Country. The Lee Capt Skimmer has been saild... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Mr William Jasper being employed to make Surgeons Instruments for the Navy, Which he cant perform for the Want of Materials, he Applys for ten pounds Cast Steel, Six smooth files half round, Six half Round Bastards, four flat files of different Sizes.
I pray the honble Board wou'd be pleased to Order the above Articles may be deliver'd him he paying for them, and you will Oblige Honble sirs [... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
. . . The Bearer Mr George Olney goes on purpose to Carry the Accots for Buildg the 2 ships of War here,2 who acted As Clark in that Transaction & is a Worthy Modest Young Gentleman, What a grait pittey it is they had not gone far out before Newport was Block up as Advised by the Comte & Council of war when the Capts & princple Offecers Acknow[ledged] they was as ready for... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
As the Enemy's Fleet are in Chesapeak Bay and may possibly turn their Views agt Baltimore, or at least make an Attempt to seize the Shipping in that Harbour, I have it in Charge from Congress to inform you, that it is their desire, in Case your Vessel cannot be saved from falling into the Hands of the Enemy otherwise than by destroying her, that in this Case you should destroy her, and at the... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
Mr Deards, who got here late yesterday evening, brought me the first authentic intelligence of the enemy's grand fleet being in our Bay. An express passed thro' this place tuesday morning with an acct that part of the Enemy's fleet was off the Mouth of Potowmack: I could not persuade myself that this fleet was any thing more than some ships sent to pillage & collect Stock: but it seems that... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I Recd your three different letters by Express the Fleet Appeard off the mouth of this River before the last came to hand, cant yet tell what their intentions is the headmost Ship, which from her Carrying a Flagg at her maintopmast head, Suppose to be the Admiral has come too in the mouth of the Channel comming to this place, a few minuets ago, the wind now at S.W. a Small Brease dont imagine... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
August 1777
Friday 22
At Sing: Anchor off Hollands Bay
at 7 AM weighed as did the Admiral and fleet, our Signal to come under the Admirals Stern, made sail to the Roebuck ahead, who made a Sigl for the Adml to Anchor, having not water enough.
[PM] Our Boats on board the Roebuck, to be placed on the different Shoals, at 2 Anchor'd in 3¼ fatms, weighed and run for the Entrance of Elk River,... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
This morning we waid from Rock Creek Stood down to the Bodkin Saw the fleet all Lying in the Chanall of Patapscoe Sent the Barge to the Northerd to see if any was father up the Bay She saw a Sloop which we think was a guide for the fleete which got under way in form and Stood all up the Bay in forme we Leave You to Judge where thay bound — there is a great Number of them Ten or Twelve Ships of... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
I may not be unworthy of observation with what calmness we now hear of the approach of a fleet of two hundred sail. Two years ago a tender with half a dozen three pounders would have excited more consternation among the people than so formidable an armament does at present. Such are the glorious fruits of independence, which has delivered our minds from those shackles which an accustomed tyranny... Continue Reading
Date: 22 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
This day Mr Jonathan Woodworth Prize master of Brigantine Honor bound from Dartmouth in England to Newfoundland Taken by the Oliver Cromwell Seth Harding Esqr Commander on the 8th July last in Lat: 45. Long: 34. is Safe arrived at Dartmouth New England, came before his Excellency and Council of Safety, and reported the Cargo as follows viz 2 chests Tea — 15 hhd Porter — 1 Case Linens — 8 bbls... Continue Reading
Date: 23 August 1777
Volume: Volume 9
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