Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 2, Part 2
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Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 2 AMERICAN THEATRE: Sept. 3, 1775–Oct. 31, 1775 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Aug. 11, 1775–Oct. 31, 1775 AMERICAN THEATRE: Nov. 1, 1775–Dec. 7, 1775 Part 2 of 9 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1966 Electronically published by American Naval Records Society Bolton Landing, New York 2012 AS A WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. 128 AMERICAN THEATRE Cannon. Every thing being now Regulated, Guards establishd, Centry's fixed, Parole & Counter sign'd [sic signs] given out with daily Orders by Coll: Motte our commandant, are as follows. vizt 16th 7ber Parole Effingham-Counter Sign Boston. The Detachment just arrived from Chas Town under the command of Major [Owen] Roberts, to encamp on the left of the fort & within the Tabby Work, fronting the river, taking care to order a Quarter Guard & a Serjt & 12 Men as a rear Guard. One Subaltern 1 Serjt 1 Corporal & 20 Men to take possession of the rising ground to the left of the Tabby Work - This Party to be relieved every 24 hours. An Officer from Major Roberts's Detachment to attend every day on the commanding officer in the Fort for his Orders. The Troop to beat at eight oclock in the Morning & the Taptoo at Nine OClock in the Evening. The roll to be call'd every morning at Troop beating and at retreat Beating in the Evening. 1. Henry Laurens Collection, SCHS. i 17 Sept. (Sunday) JOURNAL OF H.M.S. Tartar, CAPTAINEDWARD MEDOWS" Septer 1775 Capt Sable N B W Dist 6 Leags Sunday 17 P M at 4 brought too hoisted out the Cutter, Sent an officer in her on board a Sloop from Martinaco bound to Penobsket took 3 Men out of the Sloop & Sent a petty officer & 4 Men on board to take charge of her hoisted in the Cutter, at 8 took the Sloop in tow And made sail " 1. PRO, Admiralty 51/972. 2. The sloop Tartar, Isaac Soames, master, with molasses, sugar and flour. She was carried into Halifax. Graves's Conduct, Prize List, 11, 36-38, BM. Sunday 17. [September 17751 Head Winds, & thick Weather - made preparation[s] to embark - I. John Hancock Papers, 111,308, LC. [Extract] k Camp at Cambridge, September 17, 1775. The Enemy and we are very near Neighbours. Our advanced Works are not more than five or 600 Yards from theirs, and the main body of the two Armies scarce a Mile. We see every thing that passes, and that is all we can do, as they keep close on the two Peninsulas of Boston and Charlestown, both of which are surrounded with Ships of War, Floating Batteries, &c. and the narrow necks of Land leading into them fortified in such a manner as not to be forced without a very considerable Slaughter, if practicable at all. 1. Fitzpatrick, ed., Writings of Washington, 111'498,499. SEPTEMBER 1775 129 VICE ADMIRALSAMUEL GRAVES TO CAPTAINJAMES WALLACE,H.M.S. Rose Preston Boston 17 Septr 1775, Sir With great Pleasure I have received and read your Account of the action with the Rebels at Stony town: I very much approve of your Conduct, and am happy to learn the good Effects resulting from it. The Rebels are fortifying their Sea Port Towns, and are endeavouring to equip a Naval Force; they will really become formidable from their unwearied Application and from remaining unmolested: therefore I can no longer forbear to take such measures on this occasion, however disagreeable and dangerous, as his Majesty's Honour, the safety of the Squadron and Army in America and my own Duty requires. To this end you will receive the inclosed Order; and I desire that in obeying it, you will endeavour to distinguish as much as possible his Majesty's loyal Subjects from his inveterate Enemies and Subverters of legal Authority and good Government. I observe you have manned two Sloops, and though I am satisfied how neces- sary small Vessels are for the Service you are employ'd on, yet the Ships with me are in such want of men, that I am obliged to take your Supernumeries, I con- sent however to your reserving twenty above your Complement, which with what you raise in future will make the Rose tolerably well manned. I send Lieutt. [Thomas] Graves in the Bolton Brig to reinforce your little Squadron, and will replace the Swan with another Sloop as soon as possible. A Letter from Governor Bruere Yesterday confirmed the Account you have given of the Robbery at Bermudas. We knew of the Powder being taken from the Store- ship bound to St Augustine, but Sir James Wright hoped that the Carolinians intended it to fulfill their Indian Engagements, and that it would not have been sent to the Rebel Army. The Vessel with Arms from St Croix is bad News indeed. I hear the Alderney and Raven Sloops are on their passage to me from England; by these Vessels we may expect I think the ultimate Determination of Great Britain with respect to her rebellious.Colonies. In the mean time we must endeavour to annoy and distress them to the utmost: You may expect to hear we have begun to the Eastward, but I would not have such Intention mentioned for obvious Reasons. I suppose you will not suffer them to carry off your Hay Sloop with impunity, but I desire you will be cautious of engaging with the shore where the Dangers are so disproportioned to the expected Advantages. We are and shall be in want of good Pilots for the Sound, Nantucket Shoals, and indeed for the whole Coast. Such as you can meet with I would have de- tained, and, if they will serve voluntarily, they shall immediately commence Pay. I am &c Sam1 Graves. 1. Graves's Conduct, Appendix, 92-93, BM. Whereas many Rebel armed Vessels infest the Coast of America par- ticularly about Providence, Rhode Island, Long Island, Long Island Sound, Mechias and the Bay of Fundy, who have already taken two of his Majestys Schooners and several Trading Vessels; And whereas there are'undoubted prepara- 130 AMERICAN THEATRE tions to put to Sea a Naval force to oppose his Majestys Arms, in the like rebellious manner as they have done by Land: You are therefore hereby required and directed to use every means in your power to take, burn, sink and destroy all and every Pirate or Rebel you meet in Arms whether on Shore or at Sea; And you are to do your utmost to lay waste and destroy every Town or Place from whence Pirates are fitted out, or shall presume to harbour or shelter them, together with all the Vessels of what kind soever therein; Protecting and defending all People who shall upon your Summons return to their Duty and give immediate Proofs of their Sencerity by aiding and assisting you to their utmost, or by otherwise taking an active part against his Majesty's Enemies. And you are to give Orders accordingly to the Captains and Commanders of his Majesty's Ship[s] and Vessels under your Command. Given under my hand on board his Majs Ship Preston at Boston the 17 September 1775. Sam' Graves 1. Graves's Conduct I, 128-129, BM. VICE ADMIRALSAMUEL GRAVES'S ORDER TO CAPTAINJOHN COLLINS,H.M. SLOOPNautilus You are hereby required and directed to proceed in his Majesty's Sloop under your Command to the River Delaware, where, by stationing yourself oc- casionally in the River and cruizing as opportunity shall offer between the Capes or on the Coast, you are to exert your utmost Endeavours to carry into execution the Acts of Parliament restraining the Trade of the Colonies and to prevent the im- portation of Gunpowder Arms and Ammunition and every kind of illegal Com- merce or Communication agreeably to the several Orders you have received. And whereas almost the whole Continent is in open Rebellion against his Majesty, and the Rebels have fitted out armed Vessels, and are endeavouring to equip a naval force to oppose and annoy--the King's Ships; You are hereby re- quired and directed to take, sink, burn and destroy every American armed Vessel you meet with not in the immediate Service of his Majesty, or commissioned by his Majesty's Governors of any of the Provinces under his Hand and Seal for the express purpose of defending themselves against, and to annoy, the Rebels. You are to seize all Ships and Vessels laden with Provisions, Wheat, Flour, Rice, Rum, Salt, Melasses. Lumber or Grain of any kind, whether they are in breach of any Act of Trade or not, sending or bringing them to Boston or Rhode Island which shall be most convenient. And you are also to seize and detain all Vessels laden or in part laden with Hemp, Cordage Canvas, Sails, Cables, An- chors or any other sort of naval Stores coming to America. You are to endeavour to procure Supplies of Provisions from the Contractors at Philadelphia; and, if that cannot be effected, you are, when you have only two months on board, to repair to New York to compleat; and if Supplies cannot be had from thence you are to join me at Boston. In case you are supplied with provisions at [New] York or Philadelphia, you are to continue on your Station as long as the Season will admit of your cruizing or lying with safety in the River, and then return to Boston.