Naval Documents of The American Revolution Volume 6 AMERICAN THEATRE: Aug. 1, 1776–Oct. 31, 1776 EUROPEAN THEATRE: May 26, 1776–Oct. 5, 1776 Part 5 of 8 United States Government Printing Office Washington, 1972 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. SEPTEMBER 1776 83 1 15 Sept. (Sunday) MASTER'S LOGOF H.M.S. Milf ord1 . - - K Septembr 1776 Moor'd in Hallifax Harbour. Sunday 15 AM Heel'd & Scrub'd the Ships Bottom Recd Water. Came onboard a Serjeant & a party of Soldiers to demand one of the Rebels that was taken in the John Transport he be- longing to the Independency Privateer, who had deserted from the 43d Regement of Foot delivered him up as their Prisoner 1. PRO,Admiralty 5211865. [Extract] Portsmouth 15th Sepr 1776 . it seems to be Settled that our Troops have quitted Long Island, the consequence I fear will be, that they must also Evacuate [New] York I have had a hint that Congress have directed Genl Washington not to destroy that City if he shod be obliged to leave it. is this right why shod we be so careful to furnish the Enemy with convenient Winter Quarters? it appears to me that the consequence will be that the States will be put to the Expence of five if not ten times, the value of that Cursed City which ought to have been destroyed long ago It seems that are many Complaints about the Maritime Courts the Court here has acquited a vessel that ought to be condemn'd? & other Courts condemn vessels that ought to be acquited, Mr [Jacob] Sheaf has had a ship condemn'd at Providence as British Property, she was bound from the west Indies for London, his property was transfer'd to prevent her being seiz'd by British ships, I really think his case hard he intends to petition Congress. another ship belonging to Capt [Tobias] Lear of this town under the same Circumstances is to be try'd at Salem to morrow3 if this ship shod be condemn'd the Owners of her will also apply to Congress so it's probable you'll.have business enough of this sort on your hands 1. Simon Gratz Autograph Collection, Case 1, Box 20, HSP. 2. The brig Elizabeth. 3. The ship Polly taken by the Massachusetts privateer sloop Revenge, Captain Joseph White. [Watertown, September 15, 17761 The Brigantine Massachusetts under Your Command and being Prop- erly Armed & man'd and in other Respects fitted for a Cruize, You are here: by Ordered & Directed Imediately to Proceed to sea, & use Your utmost Endeavours to Protect the sea Coast & Trade of the united States, and you 832 AMERICAN THEATRE are Also Directed to Exert your self in makeing Captures of all ships & other Vessells, Goods, wares & Merchandize, belonging to the King of Great Brit- tain or any of his Subjects, werever Residing, Excepting only the ships & Goods of the Inhabitants of Bermuda & the Bahama Islands. and You are Directed not to Cruize farther south, than Lattd 34O North nor farther East than the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, nor farther West than 'the sholes of Nantucket, at All Times using necessary Precaution to prevent your Vessel1 from falling into the hands of the Enemy And whereas you have Received a Commission, authorising you to make Captures as aforesaid, and a sett of Instructions have been Deliverd You for Regulating your Conduct in that matter, these Instructions you are hereby Directed Diligently to Attend to, and if you are fortunate as to make any Captures, you are to Order them to make the first Safe Harbour within the united States of America. And you are further Ordered, not to Expend Your Ammunition unnecessarily, and Only in times of Action or firing Alarm or Signall Guns. - 1. Mass. Arch., vol. 165,234-35. 2. The,date is approximated; as late as August 23, the Massachusetts was still in need of more cannon, and on October 2 she "returned from a short cruise." [Extract] Dr Sr Boston sepr 15th 1776 Mr Austin is kind eno' to let me know that he is just going to set out for Philadelphia I thought I would imbrace the opportunity to let you know That we & our Ta[u]nton friends are all well - Capt Manley's ap- peal from a Judgment of a maritime court to The Congress is The occasion of Mr Austin's Journey - Altho' The capture of the Vesse112 with Stolen good[s] belonging to several Merchants here is a lucky affair upon the whole, yet The trouble & expence attending the tryals at Portsmouth & Phila will settle a great loss upon the owners of the goods even Tho' They should be restored to them - It was generous in them to offer Manly El000 Sterling after they were cleared by the Jury - I cannot see upon what principle the Jury could have condemned them. They were not the property of the enemy, nor treasure trove, but stolen goods: & it is every mans duty to detest Thieves. - Our coast is infested with several Frigates' & Cutters who frequently take our vessells & retake our prizes, Is it impossible to equip our Ships of War lately built ? If they are not soon at sea this town will be [i]n a dis- tressed Condition, we shall not be supplyed with fuel for the approaching winter. - 1. Robert Treat Paine Papers, MassHS. 2. The brig Elizabeth taken by Manley's squadron on April 2, 1776, containing goods looted from the merchants' stores and warehouses in Boston at the time of the British evacua- tion. See Volumes 4 and 5. NATHANIELSHAW, JR.'s ACCOUNTOF SALESOF THE PRIZES BRIG Bolton, SCHOONERHawke AND Glasgow's TENDERl Sales of Brigt Bolton & Stores Schooner Hawk & 1/2 the Glasgows Tender Captured by Commodore Hopkins ToAmo Sundry Charges, Wharfage &c E 38. .lo. - By Neet Proceeds of Vessells ToCommissions on Sales @ 2% pCt 44.. 7..7 & Stores as pr Vendue Mastrs E 1457. .2. 2y2 Tothe United States for One half - 846.. 2..93/, Accot To the Captures for the other half 846. 2. .93/4 By Amo Sundry Stores taken 151. -4. -6 E 1775.. 3..21/, out Brigt Bolton for the fleet } To Marven Waits Bill omitted 18. .-- By 2 Brass Howetts Ship'd 0, 80. M 846. 2. 9% to Exzl Shivers at New York .-. 9 By Amo Sundry Slops from S 837. 2. 9% Brigt Bolton taken for 86. .16. .6 i? the Fleet M P ,* i£1775. .3. 2y2 - -3 -3 1. Shaw Collection. Book 99, 34, 35. YUL. This account and the two following are undated. Q, The date has been approximated to be about September 15. Three days earlier, Shaw had written that he had purchased the Bolton. See Shaw to Governor Tmmbull, September 12. NATHANIELSHAW, JR.'s ACCOUNTOF SALESOF THE SCHOONERJohn and Joseph1 Dr Amo Sales of Schooner John & Joseph retaken by Captn Nicholas Biddle in Brigt Andrew Doria. Cr -- 1776 By 83 hhdi & 3 bbs Molasses 1020. 4. .- Apr To p Guaging 43 Cask E 2. .3. .- Conta 10202 Gallo @ 2/ To Weighg Coffee & Coca I.. .3. .- 13545 lb Coffee @ 8d 451..10..- To Weighing & Storage 103 Cask 5 Bags Cocoa wt Powder @ I/ 4C.. lt. .21 1b @ 701 15.. 10. .7 2 Tierces Rum Conta 105 To G.uagg & Storage 2 Tierces Rum . Gs 31 15..15..- To commission on Sales at 2% I > ; ' 103 Cask Powder Conta 473. .8. .- P Ct @ 1578 lbs 6/ ch To One half to the Former I J The ~bllof the Schooner Owners 150. .-. .- z+ 1 as she Came from Sea To the United States 213 of the above Salvage E 688. .4. .1 To the Captures 1/3 344. .2. .1/2 1. Shaw Collection, Book 39. 96;. 37, YUL. .> : .. NATHANIELSHAW, JR.'s ACCOUNTOF SALESOF THE GOODSSALVAGED FROM THE BRITISHPRIZE SHIP Nathaniel and Elizabeth , Sales the Cargoe Saved from on Board the Ship Nathl b. Eliza Captur'd By the Brigt Andrew Doria Nicholas Biddle Commandr To p [dl Charges in saving 1776 By Neet Proceeds of the Stores Goods Freight & Storage Sepr 3 & 39 Hogsheads Rum To Wages pd the SeaMen 5 Hhds Sugar British Decr By Neet Proceeds of To Commissions on Cargoe 47 hhds Rum @21/,pCt 5 hhds Sugar To the United States 213 Cargoe To the Captures 113 To Marvin Waits Bill omitted 1. Shaw Collection, Book 39, 34, 85, YUL. SEPTEMBER 1776 . 837 [Extract] Dear Son Norwich Sept. 15th, 1776. Capt. Neles2 is returned from his Cruse taken two Prises one Schooner about Sixty Tons and one Ship about three hundred Tons Chiefly Loaded with Rum and Sugor the Schooner is Safe arived in Norwich Harbour the Ship Hourly expected hope Soon to hear some agreable ac- count from Capt. Harden [Seth Harding.1 1. Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, XX, 43-44. 2. Captain Robert Niles in the Connecticut schooner Spy. BRIGADIERGENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD TO MAJORGENERAL HORATIO GATES Dear General, Isle La Motte September 15th 1776. - Your Favour of the 12th Instant was delivered me last Night by En- sign [Clemens] Botsford, who narrowly escaped being lost in his Passage down and was obliged to throw overboard three Barrels of Provision to lighten the Batteau. I am Happy to find, you approve of my returning from the Isle aux Tktes, our Present Situation is five Miles to the Southward of Point aux Fire and two Miles to the Southward of the North End of Isle La Motte, at a Part of the Island where the Lake is one and a half to two Miles Over, to the Southward of us there is no Part of the Lake less than two Miles over and entirely out of the Reach of any Batteries that can Possibly be erected by the Enemy of whose Naval Force I have been able to procure no other Intelligence, than from a Deserter one Thomas Day whom I have sentyou by Ensign Botsford with his examination; which is in~losed.~I have heard nothing from Lieutenant [Benjamin] Whitcomb, or Ensign [Thomas] MCoy since they left the Isle aux Noix, from which a Man re- turned from each Party, who agree that there is about one thousand Men encamped There, they saw no Watercraft except Batteaux.