Naval Documents of the American Revolution, Volume 9, Part 4
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Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 9 AMERICAN THEATRE: Jun. 1, 1777–Jul. 31, 1777 EUROPEAN THEATRE: Jun. 1, 1777–Sept. 30, 1777 AMERICAN THEATRE: Aug. 1, 1777– Sept. 30, 1777 Part 4 of 5 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1986 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. AMERICAN THEATRE From August 2,1777, to September 30,1777 ' AMERICAN THEATRE From August 1, 1777, to September 30, 1777 SUMMARY The large British fleet numbering several hundred naval vessels and trans- ports sailed into Delaware Bay briefly, and then abruptly put to sea again. This feint, for such it was, caused General Washington to acknowledge that: "We are yet intirely in the dark as to the destination of the Enemy." After an extremely stormy passage from the Delaware, Admiral Howe brought his fleet past the Virginia Capes and stood up Chesapeake Bay. Frantic preparations were made to defend Baltimore and Annapolis. However, the British continued on course to the head of the Bay wherk the troops were landed. After debarking the troops, the naval vessels departed the Chesapeake for the Delaware to again support the British army moving on Philadelphia. America's capital city fell to General Howe as September drew to a close. While participating in the defense of Philadelphia, the new Continental ~av~ frigate Delaware grounded and was captured. Captain Nicholas Biddle, with the frigate ~andoiph,after observing that he could have been to sea three months earlier if privateers had not been running off with his men, cleared the Charleston bar for a short, very successful cruise. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, John Paul Jones was also having great difficulty getting a crew for the Ranger. The authorities allowed him to recruit twenty artillery men from the harbor defense batteries. Frigates Raleigh and Alfred went to sea together under orders for France. In mid-ocean the Americans encountered a British convoy, and Raleigh fought a bitter ship-to-ship action with one of the escorting ships, H.M. sloop Druid. Meanwhile, staying close inshore, the Boston frigate moved in stages down the coast from Maine, and finally reached Boston harbor. There Captain McNeill found himself blamed for the loss of Manley and the Hancock. A small British squadron led by Captain Collier in H.M.S. Rainbow attacked Machais, Maine, in retaliation for an earlier invasion of Nova Scotia by the local citizenry, and to discourage any similar excursions. And, there was action on Lakes Champlain and George incident to General Burgoyne's operations. AMERICAN THEATRE 1 Aug. "DESTINATIONOF THE SQUADRONUNDER THE COMMANDOF THE VICEADMIRAL MONTAGU THE FIRST OF AUGUST1777." Names of Where Stationed Ships Captains Romney George Montagu Surprire Robt Linzee At Saint Johns refitting for Sea SPY Thos Lenox Frederick A ct ive Willm Williams Pegasus' Hamilton Gore Martin Chas Chamberlayne Cruizing on the Banks. Penguin Lieut Howel Lloyd Egmont Lieut Rodam Home Squirrel Henry Harvey Postilion Lieut Geo Lumsdaine Cruizing off Saint Peters. Bonavista Lieut Chy Hurt Garrett J: Montagu [Endorsed] No 2. In V.A. Mont: Lre 2d Augt 77 1. PRO, Admiralty 11471, 124. State of New Hampshire '- In Committe of Safety August 1st 1777 -- Sir The Bearer hereof Leiut [Thomas] Lyford dispatched from the Northern ~rm~after Deserters, has been informed that there are Several of those Deserters on Board the Raleigh: I am directed by the Committee to request your Aid in their being delivered to him - I am sir [kc.] M Weare Chairn 1. John Langdon Papers, Captain J.C.M. Stone Private Collection, Annapolis. August 1777 Connonicut Light House No 65. .5 Wt Dis- tance 95 Leagues Friday 1 AM at 4 Sounded 120 fm no ground, at 5 Saw a Sail in the NE Standing to the Wt nd Tack'd Ship, at 11 Bore down and spoke her, proved the Friendship letter of Mark from Halifax bound to New York, at Noon Punished Jno Poundler Seaman, with 12 lashes for Insolence to his Officer - First part fresh winds & fair latter Modt and Cloudy Wr PM at 4 hoisted out the Cutter & took the Hero in TOW,1/2 pt in Boat and made Sail, at 7 in 2d Reefs of the Topsails 1. PRO, Admiralty 511.360. AUGUST 1777 685 JOURNALOF H.M.S. St. Albans, CAPTAINRICHARD ONSLOW August 1777 Moored in the North River off New York Town - Friday 1st New Stowed the after Hold rowed Guard In Succession with the Preston and Tartar Night and day Longboat for beer and water a Gang of Hands on Shore Broowing working up Junk our Sign1 for an Officer on Board the Commodore First Part Squally with Thunder Lightning and Rain Midle and Latter Modte and Cloudy pr order received from his Majestys Ship Syren a Prisoner Mr Manly Late command& of the Rebel Frigate Hancock of thirty two -Guns who was taken by his Majestys Ship Ra'inbow 1. PRO, Admiralty 511828. "A MUSTER-ROLL,WITH THE PAY-ROLL,OF THE Delaware SCHOONERCOMMANDED BY RICHARDEYRES ESQR FROM THE IST OF JULY 1777 TO THE IST OF AUGUSTFOLLOWING." [Extract] Time in Number Mens Quality. Of Time of senice; Pay Due; Pay per Bounty. Total Months of Men. Names. Age. Entry. Years, Months, & Days. Month. Sums Due. Days. Richard Eyres Esqr Capt Sept 20 1775 Thomas Philips 1 Lieut Decbr 12 1776 Lawrance Larson 2d Do Octbr 4 1775 Andrew Hegins pilot May 18 1777 Thomas Mitchel Gunr Apr 16 1777 Robert Sline Carptnr Novr 30 1776 James Macarsland Botswain Apr 14 1777 Edward Holland Stewd Apr 5 1777 Thomas Hattrey Clk Apr 4 1777 Christopher Eyres MdS'man Novr I 1776 John Rafferty Do Oct 9 1775 George Concer Cook Oct 9 1775 Charles Knowls Armr Mar 10 1777 John Norstrum Gnr Mate Mar 2 I776 Bartholomew Gall Bt Mate Apr 14 1777 Duncan Beriman Drum Oct 9 1775 Richard Mckinney privt Apr 16 1777 William Bean Do Apr 16 1777 John Kelley Do Mar: 20 Do Fredrick Shriner Do Oct 4 1775 John Cuningham Do Oct 2 1775 James Kees Do Oct 3 1775 John Aurcard Do Novr 22 1776 John Murphy Do febr 4 1777 Alexander McDuell Carpt mate Decbr 26 1776 26 Edward Johnston privt Mar 9 1777 0.. 4..22 0..1..0 4..10..0 4 .10..0 4. .lo. .O 27 John Majar Do 25 Mar 10 1777 0.. 4. .21 0..1. .0 4. .lo. .O 4..10: .O ' 4.. 10. .O 28 William Martan Do Mar201777 0..4..11 0..1..0 4. .10.:0 4.: 10. .O 4. .lo. .O 29 Samuel Kent Do 45 Mar 20 Do 0.. 4..11 . 0..1. .O 4..10..0. 4..10..0 4. .lo. .O 30 James Coytt Do Apr 2 1777 0.. 3..28 0'..1..0 4..10..0 4.'.10..0 4. .:lo. .O 31 James Murry 3 Do A.pr 10 1777 0.. 3. .20 4..10..0 , 32 Joseph Carmack Do 53 - Apr 14 1777 0.. 3..16 0..1. .0 4. .lo..O 4..10. .O 33 Francis Brooks Do Aprl111777 0..3..19 0..1..0 4. .lo. .O 4:.10. .O 34 Cornelius Murphy Do 25 Oct 4 1775 1.. 9..27 0..1..0 4. .10...0 4. .lo. .O " 4. .lo. .O 35 John Beaton Do 22 Oct 4 1775 1.. 9. .27 0. .1. .O 4. .lo. .O 4..10. .O 36 Richard Gibbans Do 21 Apr 14 1777 0.. 3..16 0..1. .0 4.. 10. .O 4..10. .O 37 John Decroy 4 Do May151777 0..2..16 0..1.:0 4..10. .O 4. .lo. .O , . 4. .lo. .O 38 Robert Johnston Do May 23 0..2..8 0..1..0 4..10..0 4. ,.lo. .O 4. .lo. .O + 39 William Ringle Do 17 June 15 0.. 1..16 0..1.:0 4.. 10. .O C 40 James Loyel privt July 21 0.. 0. .10 .O. .O. .10 4..10..0 4..10..0 l..lO..O C, .C 1. Record Group 4, Muster and Pay Rolls, Pennsylvania Navy, Pa.Arch. 2. Several columns - "Absentees When and for what Reison Absent; When Died, Discharged, or Run; For what Reason Diwharged; Sick, and when sent to Sick Quarters or Hospital; When returned from Sick Quarters or Hospital: If Apprentices or Servants to whom belonging" - with no or few + . 4 entries have been omitted. 4 3. Muster roll notes that this man ran, as did number 18, William Bean. 4 4. Muster roll notes that Decroy 'was "Disch[arge]d unfitt for Duty having a Complication of Disorders". , 688 AMERICAN THEATRE [Extract] Chester on Delaware Augt 1st 1777. Dr Sir 10 OClock P.M. By an Express this Moment received from Cape May, The Enemy's Fleet put to Sea yesterday Morning at Eight oClock and were out of sight Three Hours when the Express came away. - From this Event, it appears Genl Howe has been practising a deep feint merely to draw our attention and whole force to this point. - I am to request that you will counter march the Division under your command and proceed with it with all possible expedition to Peeks Kill, as there is strong reason to believe that the North River is their Object and that they will make a rapid push to obtain pos- session of our posts there. 1. Lloyd W. Smith Collection, MNHP. 2 Aug. VICEADMIRAL JOHN MONTAGU TO PHILIPSTEPHENS Sir, Romney St Johns 2d August 1777 I am happy to inform their Lordships that I have received an Express from Sir George Collier, acquainting me that on the 7th of July the Flora Captain Brisbane, and he in the Rainhozu fortunately fell in with the Hancock and Boston going into Port with the Fox which they took on the Banks of Newfoundland on the 7th of June, and that the Hancock and Fox were taken and carried into Halifax.