The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-20 00:00:00, page 2

My conje&ttte was right; for yesterday five seamen mde
tneir eicape, one of whom is a more intelligent fellow than is
commonly found amongst men of his level. Enclosed is a
copy of their narrative. I may venture to congratulate Con
gress on the event. Not only the advantage mutt be consider
able, but the affair refle&s no small credit to the American
arms.
On Friday about eleven o'clock, the Commodore (Sir
'ft" Darker) with his whole fquadlvn confiftihg of two line
Of battle mips and fix frigates, the rates of which are mark
ed in the enclosed narrative, anchored at less than half tnufket
ffiet from the fort, and commenced one of the m ft furious.and
incessant fires 1 ever law or heard. It was manifeftly their
plan to land, at the fame time, their whole regulars, at the
cast end of the island, and of course invest the fort by land
and sea. As the garrison was composed entirelyof raw troops,
both officers and men, I thought it my duty to cross over to
the island, to encourage the garrison by my presence. But I
might have saved myfelf that trouble, for I found on my ar*
rival they had no occasion for any fort of encouragement, I
found them determined and cool to the last degree; their
behaviour would, in fad, have done honor to the o!delt
troops. ''
I therefore beg leave to recommend in the strongest terms,
to the Congrefi, the commanding officer, Col. Moutrie> and
his whole garrilun, as brave soldiers and excellent citizens.
Nor muff 1 omit, at the fame time, mentioning Col. Thomp
son, who with the South-Carolina rangers, and a detatch
ment 'f the North-Carolina regulars, repulsed the enemy in
two several attempts to make a lodgement at the extremity of
the island. @
Our loss, considering the heat and duration of the fri,
was inconsiderable. We had only ten men killed on the spot,.
and twenty-two wounded, seven of whom loft their limbs.?
But with their limbs, they did not lose their fpitits ; for they,
enthusiastically encouraged their comrades never to abandon
the Standard of liberty and their country. This, Ido hffure
you, is not in the Stile of gafconading romance usual after
every fucceftful action, but litterally a faft. F with great'
pleafue mention the circumstance,. as. it augurs weiLto the
cause of freedom. At eleven, the fire chafed, having conti
nued just twelve hours.without the lead intermission.
The narra ive of the five sailors referred to in the foregoing
letter, who were on board at the time of the action.
“ The Bristol of fifty guns, commanded by Sir Peter Par
ker, greatly damaged in her hull large knees and timbers
Shot through and smashed; if the water had not been very
smooth, it would have been impossible to have kept her from
linking, all the carpenters in the fleet had been called to her
assistance ; mizen matt (hot through, main-mast badly wounded
by three several ffiot, sore-mast by two, rigging, fails and
yards much damaged, The ( apt. of the Commodore loft his
left arm above the elbow; he was sent yesterday (June 30th)
to England in a brigantine; the Commodore's breeches torn
off, his thigh and knee wounded, he walks only when fop
ported by two men; forty-four men killed and thirty
wounded, among whom were many midshipmen, and petty
writers ; twenty of the wounded dead since the action ; talk
in the fleet, that the two large Ships would go oyer the bar
again, and proceed to English harbor in Ahtigua> to be re
paired. 3 The Bristol, when lightned as much as possible,
draws eighteen feet water.
Experiment of fifty guns on two decks all twelve pounders,
a Lighter built vessel than the Bristol, exceedingly damaged
in her hull ; several ports beat in one, her mizen malt hurt,
^ uncertain of particulars; killed fifty,feven. of whom*
360
the Captain was one, wounded thirty, several since dead '$
draws when bgh.etl Seventeen feet water ; the general opinion,
that neither or these large Ships will g o fafely over the bar
again ; Solebay twenty-eight v guns, two men killed, fear
wounded ; A&.ive twenty^eight, Lieutenant killed, four
wounded ; A^eon twenty - eight; Sphynx twenty, Syren
twe^ty-erght, all got aground ; the firff in coming up, the
two latter in runnmgaway ; the Sphynx cut away'her bow
sprit ; the oyren got off ; Afteon remained fail-burnt and
blown up by her own people. While She was on fire, Mr.
Millegan, one of the Carolina marine officers, and a partv of
men boarded her, brought off her colours, the Ship'sbell, and
as many fails as three boats could contain.
The Thunder bomb lay at a considerable distance throw
ing Shells at the fort, and by overcharging had Shattered the
beds and damaged the Ship so much as to render it necessary
for her to go into dock before ihe can act again.
The Friendship, an hired armed vessel of twenty-fix guns of
various sizes, covered the bomb, as did the Syren, which also
fired very bfiikly at the fort. The whole fleet badly manned
and Sickly, particularly the Syrens crew, at two thirds Short,
allowance of provisions and wa*er ; they have had no fresh
meat since their arrival (fird of June).
Lord William Campbell had been very anxious for the at
tack, and proposed to take ad.the forts with only the Syren
and Solebay.
Lord Cornwallis and Gen. Clinton are both on Shore with
the, troops at Long-island; his Lordship had, some time ago,
urged Sir Peter Parker to attack on the lea fide, otherwise he
would march up, attack and take the fort,, and complain of
Sir Peter's taidiuefs. The CommoMere replied, Lord Corn
wallis might march his troops when he pl afed, but thV fleet
required a fair wind, the, firft that happened he .vooia pro
ceed againitihe fort. The Geh. at that time believed we had
no troops out of garrison, but he was soon better informed,
being lince repulled, and drove back with loss ; he remained
quiet, and left the. Commodore to enjoy the glory of being
defeated alone.
The Negro pilot, who is exceedingly carreffed, was on
board the Cummoaore,. and put down with the, Dr. out of
harm's way.
Between nine and ten o'clock, the night of the action, the
Commodore and other ships began to Steal away, they made,
no piping, nor waned, to heave up their anchors but flipped
their cables ; the Commodore has only one anchor and cable
left,..
About two o'clock on Friday, some of the men cried out
the Yankees had. done fighting, other, replied they were glad
of it,, for they never had such a drubbing in their lives; they,
had been told the Yankees would not hand two fires, but they
never saw better Allows; all the commn men in the fleet
fpuke loudly in praise of the garrison. There was a report
in the fleet that no quarters would be given to the Americans,
and that five thoufadd pound had been offered for Gen. Lee.
The foregoing extract of a letter from Gen. Lee, as also the
,tne narrative of the deserters, is published by order of
Congress, JOHN HANCOCK, President.
TO BE SOLD, by MAURICE ROGERS,
at Colonel John Nixon's compting-houfe, Jamaica
SPI Rd T, Welt-Indiaand Country RUM, MOLAS SE S,
Mufeovado SUGAR, and some DRY GOODS.
JNDIGO, from 9s. co zo s. : to be fold by
John Harr. ..