The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-03-27
JOURNAL OF A NAVAL OFFICER,
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
KEPT BY JOHN rREvErr, OF NEWPORT.
fContinued.1

Continued.
August l777.-Set the carpenters aud
cauIkers to work on the sloop, and wen,
TO spend few days at Providence and East
Greenwich ;-returned aud commenced re-
cruiting for new cruise, with John Peck
Ratbbonc commander, as before.-Nov.
l777. All ready for sailing intending short
cruise. Hove anchor and stood for Block
Island, with a sht wind from the ~ T..
AT night commenced snow storm, and the
next day it blew gale Of wind, which
sprung our bowsprit. Hove too all night,
blowing hard; next day bore away, stand
ing TO the $. w; intending for S. Carolina.
Nothing material happened until we arrived
off Charleston bar.--We ran ia for the Bar
and got near 10 it, in five falhoms water
night coming on, and saw no Plot-boat.
We stood off aud on, waiting for daylight f;
our guns all in, and ports secured-a very
pleasant, moonlight night. About = o.
clock in the morning slw "A sail in shore !;
we took her to be Droger, going from
Charleston TO Georgetown but shortly after
one of orr officers came down and informed
Capt. Rathbone that she was landing for
us, aud very near. Capt. Ra,hbone and
myself went on deck, and she hailed US,
and ordered ",hc id yankee beggars
to haul down the coiors," We had foul
weather Jack at masthead. la a few
minutes she run under our lee-quarter,
gave us broadside without any courte-
sy, aud run ahead of us. Capt. Ralhbone
ordered the boalswaiu 10 call all hands to
quarters, as still MS he could, aud not use
his csl. The Pryatcer, las she proved To
be) bore away, aud coming up again was
soon alon. side ; we were all ready for them
auI as soon as they made the first flash we
gave them Yankee welcome, with hand
some brondside. They up helm and ran
To the Eastward, aud not having a man
hurt of any consequence, we made sail af-
ter them, but owing 10 our sails and rigging
being badly cut away, it was some time be-
FIRE we could get under full sail. The
chase Immediately hoisted lanthern at
masthead, but it being beautiful moon
light morning, the light could not be seen a
great distance. We knew by their throw
ing out that signal, however, that there
was enemy not far off, and we fired no more
cannon al her, but we continued the chase
and found we gained OIL her every hour.
Day appeared, aud the look out-man re-
ported large Ship under the land, standing
close on wind to the So uthward aud East
ward-the wind bein. S. w. About sun
rise we neared the Prvateer SO much that
the Lieut.. from the round house fired several
times at us, aud the balls went distance
beyond US. told Capt. Ra,hbone tina, we
had without doubt rs good mu.kets as they
had. spoke to Mr.. Michael Molten and
Mr.. Bailey, (pf Bcston,) and requested them
to go forward with me, aud take shot at
him, as he made fine mark to be shot at
standing on the round-house. We had not
fired more than three shot before We saw
him fail, and Instantly the privateer got in
the wind, and we alsng-side Of her in few
minutes; when we boarded her, and found
it was her Lieutenant wc had shot, and that
he fell on the man steering at the wheel.
This Lieut.. belonged to the State of Virgin.
ia, aud he expected to be punished if taken
by the Americans, so he was determined to
fight as long as be could. lie had hand
some brace of pistols ut his side when he
laid deld on deck. We found five men
badly wounded on board our shot went in
to one quarter and ont through the other, and
she was badly shattered. The ship we saw
to windward was a Frigate, and the officers
of the Prlvateer we captured were on board
oil her the day before, and we're to meet her
next day off Charleston Bar We got SO
iarto the Eastward tha, we STOOD for George
town. We had taken ia the Priya,rcr six
negroes whom they took the day before,
while out OF Charleston fishing. Onex.
aiming the blacks we found ihey were ri.
lots, belonging to citizens Of Chsrlestoo.
The officers aud crew consented to deliver
them up TO Messrs. Harco,t d T.cL.,
merchants at Georgetown, to be sen, ~, ,I.;,
owners clear Of expense.-A day or two se.
ter we arrived ai Georgetown We cornr,i,,rd
all our prisoners to Jail, except the Captain