The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-03-20
JOURNAL OF A NAVAL OFFICER,
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
(Continued.l
KEPT Hr JOHN rRrvrrr, OF NEWPORT

..... lCon,iuuedl
February, l777.-I am once moro on
board the sloop Providence aud find jon
alhan Pitcher, Esq, is to take command,
and we are only waiting for good chance
TO sail Made sail at sunset, with light
wind from The N. E. Standing down the
river, passed a ship off Prudence, and wen,
through Narraganse,t Bay, and ran so near
so gun ship, about 2 A. NJ, as TO hear
them talking on board. At sunrise we were
becalmed about 2 miles from the Light
house and could see Newport and the ships
IN the harbor. About 10 A. NJ. small
breeze sprung from the 5. W., and we ar
rived at New Bedford that night.
We had bu, few men OH board, as it was
not expected that We should get out of Prov
idence river, but we got her new nunned
aud sailed ON cruise to the eastward /;
nothing material happening until we arrived
off Cape Breton. About five leagues off
Cape Breton saw several sail and heard
humber of heavy cannon. A brig bore down
on us aud began fire at long shot; we
run from her about one hour until we rot in
good order for action, when we took in sail
nnd let her come up close along side. The
sea being smooth. We cut away all her COL
ors in forty minutes, aud they began to he
slack, but in "a fewmiuues they began To fire
again as brisk as ever, and cut our sails aud
rigging badly it lasted about forty minutes
longer, when we cut away her main,op'nasi.
We hailed them Without trumpet, being
close Wy har starboard quarter. 10 know
whether they gave up ar not and the an-
swer was "yes." Capt. Pitcher was badly
hurE, bu, kept the deck Until she gave up
but can tell you it was diamond cut dio-
mond." Capt. Pitcher sent me III the barge
first on board found them with n very
bloody deck, aud her spars, sns nnd rig
ging very much injured. s,ald on board
until sen, The Captain or board our sloop.
The cabin floor was covered with The woun-
dcd, 50 that yuu could scarcely hud roo,n
for YOUR foot, aud found some of them
were Irish, us they cried out for Jesus
sake" to spare their lives; they were very
badly wounded. We found she was direct
" from England; and that she bad 25 SOL
diers aud two officers ON board, besides the
crew; and was loaded with Kings stores,
aud bound for Quebec.
Our sloop was so badly wounded in the
al hat ull I'm
send down her topsail yard aud toprnast.
We manned the brig and tha, night the
wind blew very hard with squalls, and the
next morning she was no, To be seen--Capt.
Pitcher had ordered her to New Bedford.
We were obliged to give up our cruise aud
put away for Nantucket, and in short
time we arrived at Bedford, carrying with
US all our new Burgoyue soldiers. One
word more: a better officer than Capt.
Pitcher l think cannot be.
Moy, I777.-We are now fitting our ves-
sci for Capt. John p. Ralhboue. have
Just received an account of my brothers
Constant Church Trevet) being taken !;
he commanded a merchant vessel bound
from the Yves, Indies to Carolina. He was
sent to New York and put on board the
Old Jersey, British Prison ship. I im-
medisiely sent on to Boston and procured
British Captain to send to New York, but
il was too late, for before the British Capt
tain arrived lie died with hard treatment,
from the British Pirates, as may say and
say the truth. Black Beard, the poiorioss
Pirate, was Christian to them BiliiHgsgdte
riuions! that had the command at New
York. ! shortly after saw some A americans
who were on board the same Prison ship
Win my brother; they were exchanged,
aud had go'home, but they looked ss though
they we're in deep consumption. heard
enough from my poor Americans TO con-
vince me that, fi had my choice, I had
rather be taken by Turks But I must
stop short here aud say but Iule; msrk
well, rererge Is street. I'VE shah sail in n
sl,ort tiue un u cruise.
June, l577.-We are under sail, bound In
the Vineyard, to get few men. AT Bed.
ford ! pressed one John Scranton, one of
NV town.ncn, aud three others. We ar