Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 11, Part 2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 11 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Jan. 1, 1778–Mar. 31, 1778 Part 2 of 5 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 2005 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. 1 FEBRUARY 1778 261 Past in the lower House [Hartford]/Feb 1778/ Test: AndwAdams Clerk.- D, Ct, Connecticut Archives, 1st Series, vol. 10, p. 112. February 1 (Sunday) [Boston] 1778 Feb. 1. The Ship1 fell down to Nantasket Road- DLC, Journal of Lieutenant William Jennison, p. 5. 1. Continental Navy frigate Boston, Captain Samuel Tucker, commander CAPTAINANDREW SNAPE HAMOND, R.N., TO VICEADMIRAL VISCOUNT HOWE Roebuck at Philadelphia My Lord, the lSt.February 1'778. The breaking up of the Frost has so much cleared the River of the Ice, that the Liuerpool is enabled to sail for New York for the Generals Dispatches arrived there in the three last Pacquets.-With the Liuerpool goes also a Mail for England in the Despenser Pacquet convoyed by two Armed Vessels.- Since your Lordships departure from hence no material event has happened except the loss of the Transport Brig Symetry one of the Baggage Vessels from New York,' which run a shore near Wilmington, and by the Frost coming on fell into the Enemy's hands before any Assistance could be sent from hence. Out of thirty Vessels that were taking in Forage at Tinnicum Island the 27h, DecemL when the Snow begun, only three (which were empty) failed of getting back to the Town; those drove up and down with the Ice for a day or two, and at last grounded on the Jersey Shore near Gloucester and were burnt by the Rebels.- An Attempt was made some Weeks ago to get Six Gun-Boats past the Town, to lay in the Mouths of the Creeks on the Jersey Shore to prevent the Market Boats from passing; But as the two foremost of them deserted and came to Philadel~hia,~ the design was layed aside, since which it is said they have been carried over land to Salem Creek.3 There are also two Gun Boats and a small Privateer Sloop at Wilmington, and the Deserters from thence say the Rebels are preparing some Fire Machines- The Cannon left by the Enemy in the Wrecks of their Ships and floating Batteries have been destroyed, and a small Work on the Shore opposite to them, erected for the purpose of preventing it, as well as to annoy Vessels going up and down the River, with one Gun mounted in it was also destroyed by the Officer sent on that Service The Flat Boat5 are all in repair and the Transports and Men of War in some for- wardness with their Refitting. I have the honor to be &ca. A. S Hammond. LB, ViU, Hamond Papers, Letter Book (1778-1779), pp. 9-11. Addressed at foot: "The RL Honble-the Lord Viscount Howe. &ca." Marginial notation: "P" Ymk Sloop." 262 AMERICAN THEATER 1. Transport brig Symmetry, -Monkman, master. See Captain Andrew Snape Hamond, R.N., to Philip Stephens, 23 Jan., above, and NDAR 10: 816,818,826,833,833n, 834,834n. 2. For more on the two armed boats that deserted, see Journal of H.M. Armed Ship Vzp'hnt,8 Jan., Journal of H.M.S. Roebuck, 12 Jan., and William Bradford to President Thomas Wharton, Jr., 24 Jan., above. 3. See William Bradford to President Thomas Wharton, Jr., 24 Jan., above. Dear Sir Cap' Nicholson1 of the Frigate Virginia, has applyed to me as a member of the Marine Committee, pointing out the necessity he is under, of having a Tender, in order to reconnitre the Bay before he proceeds down with the Frigate. He informs me that there is now at Annopolis armed boats belonging to this State, under your Excellency's directions, and prays that one of the largest might be lent for that purpose; he intends to embrace the first fair wind to proceed with the Frigate to Sea, and which Congress has very much at Heart. I have the honor to be [&c.] Fra. Lewis Baltimore lstFebv 17'78 L, Monroe, Wakeman and Holman Loan Collection of the Pequot Library Association, Southport, Conn., on loan to the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, CtY. Addressed: "His Excellency/Thomas Johnston Esquire/Governor & Commander in Chief,/at/Annapolis." Docketed: "1 Feb~1778/Fra'. Lewis Esq"" Note: "p" Lieutl/Barney." Barney was first lieutenant of the Continental Navy frigate Virgmia. 1. Capt. James Nicholson, Continental Navy. JOURNALOF H.M.S. CARYSFORT, CAPTAJNROBERT FANSHAWE February 1778. Do. [Charles Town] Lighthouse N 15" W 19 Miles Sunday lst. At 2 AM made the Signal & Veer'd Ship At 6 made Sail At 7 Saw a Sail to the N~ward& one to the NW Do made the Signal & gave Chace Lizard in Company. At Noon Still in Chace the Lizard in Company. Do. Lighthouse S 65" Wt 11 Leagues Fresh breezes wth Rain-PM Still in Chace At 2 Tkd & Stood off At !4 past Tkd & Stood on At % past 3 Tkd & Stood off in 3%fam. Do the Lizard in Chace of the Ship At 5 the Lizard bore NBW Do. Prize Brig in Company.' At !4 past 10 lost Sight of the Brig- D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/168. 1. Dutch brig Batavear, Samuel Darverck, master, a crew of ten seamen, owned by Peter La Pole of Amsterdam, from Amsterdam to Charleston, with salt &c., taken off Santee River, S.C., sent to St. Augustine, capture credited to Carysfbrtand Lizard. Howe's Prize List, 23 Apr. 1778, UkLPR, Adm. 1/488, fols. 239-40. JOURNAL OF H.M. SLOOPCERES, COMMANDERJAMES R. DACRES Febw 1778 St. eustacia N & By W-DistCe 2 or 3 Leagues 2 FEBRUARY 1778 263 Sunday lsL These 24 Hours Strong Gales with squalls of Rain P.M & A.M Employ'd Standing off & on St. eustatia & Cruizing round the Island at Noon the Rattlesnake still in St Eustatia Road1 SL.Eustatia ESE Dist. 2 or 3 Leag D, UkLPR, Adm. 51/4141, part 8, fol. 192. The journal was kept by Lt. David Lockwood. 1. Pennsylvania privateer ship Rattlesnake, David McCulloch, commander. See Journal of H.M. Sloop Ceres, 31 Jan., above. February 2 CONTINENTALNAW BOARD OF THE EASTERNDEPARTMENT TO THE AMERICANCOMMISSIONERS IN FRANCE Navy Board Eastern department Boston N England February 2d:1778 Gentlemen Having presumed to draw a Bill on you in favour of Mr William Dennie a Merchant of this Town for one hundred pounds Sterling, it becomes necessary to appologize for this Step by Explaining the reasons of our Conduct, which otherways must Appear very extraordinary, as we have neither the Express orders of Congress for it or have the Honour of being Connected with you in any other way than as public Officers of the Continent- Congress having directed us to furnish the Honbk:John Adams EsqK(who they have Appointed one of the Commissioners at the Court of France) with Every Accommodation necessary for his Voyage among which is the Article of hard money which we have not been able to obtain any other way Seasonably for his pas- sage in the Boston now nearly ready to Sail, without discovering his Intentions which require Secrecy, therefore by his Consent and Advice have taken the Liberty to draw on you on this Occasion We flatter ourselves the Bill will be duly honoured-We have the honour to be [&c.] WmVernon Jas: Warren L, PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 53, no. 60. Addressed at the foot: "HonbIe:Benjamin Franklyn &/Arthur Lee Esqn:."Docketed: "Navy Board/Boston/respecting Bill of Exchange 2 Feb. 1778"; "Letter from the Navy Board, E. Department/respecting their Bill of Exchange." Sir Council Chamber Boston February 2nd.1778- Having received information that a demand has been made by a Flag from Rhode Island that a Number of Prisoners Equal to the Number that lately arrived at Marblehead in the Ship Royal Bounty bound from Hallifax to New Port after tak- ing the Ship out of the Hands of the British Captain.' The Council of this State have thought Proper to send you Copy of a Letter from Sr George Collier to Commissary Pierpoint2whereby it clearly appears that the said Ship was bound from Hallifax to New Port and Consequently notwithstanding Sr George calls her a Cartel she Could by no means be Considered as Such-And 264 AMERICAN THEATER therefore there Can be no propriety in their Demand of a Number of Prisoners in Exchange for those who happily liberated themselves in passing from One Port of the Enemy's to another- In the Name and in behalf of the Council I am Sir, [kc.] Jer: Powell Presdt L, R-Ar, Letters to the Governor (1778), vol. 12, p. 10. Addressed: "(On public Service)/His Excellency Nicholas Cooke Esqr/Providence-." Docketed: "Jeremiah Powell Esqr: enclosing a Letter/from S" George Collier respecting the Cartel/Royal Bounty Boston Febc 2*. 1778." Enclosure not found. 1. See Charles Waller to Governor Nicholas Cooke, 24 Jan., above. The master of the Royal Bounty was Thomas Compton. 2. See Captain Sir George Collier, R.N., to Massachusetts Commissary of Prisoners Robert Pierpont, 17Jan., above. NATHANIELSHAW, JR., TO THE CONTINENTALMARINE COMMITTEE To The HonbIe Mareane Committe of Congress Gentlemen, New London Febuary 2,1778 I wrote you 241h Novr.' & 51h.of January2 last Since that have not been favor'd with any Answer, the Continual Call on me for Money from the Ship Trumbull, for Provisions, Mens Wages Stores &c for more than Twelve Months Past, purchasing and fitting out the Brigg Resistance Sam1Chew Commandr.