Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-07-20

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British vessels being now opened through
the lower chcsaur-ae. .frise, General Howe
and his brother Admiral Howe conceived
1 themselves prepared to attempts the capture
of Forts Mercer and 1fiflin. "a. But only
one of the ehegaur-de- frise had been removed
and Fort Mercer at Red Bank was able to
riddle any vessel that might attempt to pass
| it and the upper ehecaar-de.ffise. (b)
Six vessels, the Augusta, Capt. Reynolds,
81 guns; the Roebuck, Capt. A. S. Ham
mond, "A guns; the Liverpool, Capt, Que
lest, 2s guns; the Pearl, Capt O'FIara; 80
guns; the Merlin, a sloop Of war, Is guns,
and the CORVALLIS Galley, 80 guns, cons
triYed TO get through the lower caeraug-de-
f1Ise, and sailed up the river, ancboring
near Hog Island, (f
Admiral Howe in his report says the
Isis was detailed to accompany the Au-
gusta in the attack on Fort Miffiin. and
commends the Captain CORVALLIS for his
bravery. This vessel is called the Corn
wallis Galley" in the American reports, and
would make the number that are reported
as passing the lower .cEeraus-de. ..trise correct.
In his report dated Oct. %. 1777, as
printed in the London Chronicle Dec. 2,
1777, Admiral Howe states that he had
intended that the Vigilant, an armed ship
carrying sixteen "a Founders, shonld pass
through shallow and very confined chan
mel on Hog Island and the Pennsylvania
shore, to arrive and act upon the rear and
less defeusible part Of the work, Fort
Miffiin and the circumstances of naviga-
tion not admitting Of more serious attack
diversion was proposed to be
made at the same time by the Isis and Au-
gusta in the eastern or main channel Of
the river, as well for engaging the attention
of the enemy at Fort Island and the re-
doubt, Fort Mercer] as to restrain the
motion Of the galleys and other armed
craft, which had retired under the works at
Red Bank, when they discovered the dan
ger which they would be exposed to from
our batteries on the western shore g
This plan of attack on the two forts fail
ed, as Admiral Howe candidly reported:
ssThe wind continuing from the northward
several successive days, the Vigilant could
not proceed according to her destination
The Augusta, Roebuck, Liverpool and
Pearl were nevertheless ordered above the
first line of cheUaur de. .trise on the 22d, to
be in readiness for such service as they
could render, when the redoubt Fort Mer-
cer1 should be attacked and Captain Rey-
nolds [of the Augusta being the senior
officer, succeeded to the command of the
advanced squad So sssIaEE ron
&C. e attack Of the redonbt Fort Mercer
being observed to take place the evening Of
the 22d, just before the close Of day, Cap
tain Reynolds Ton the Augusta imme-
diately slipped [anchor and advanced with
the squadron { to which the Merlin had been
joined as fast as he was able with the fuod
so second the attempted the troops which
were seen so be very warmly engaged,
the change in the natural course of the river
caused by the distractions, appearing to
have altered the channel, the Augusta and
Merlin unfortunately grounded some dis
tance below the second line OF cteruux-de-
trise and the fresh nortEwardly wind,
which then prevailed, greatly checking the
rising Of the tide, they could not be got
afloat on the subsequent flood.
ssThe diversion was endeavored to be
continued bp the irigates, at which the fire
from the enemy's gallies was chiefly point
ed for some time. But as the night adj
vanced, the Hessian detachment having
been repulsed, the firing ceased. g)
In sailing up the river, the ship Angus
ia, together with the Merlin, grounded
during the operation on the river Delaware
on the 22d October, 1777 (a)
The Augusta grounded near the mouth
of Woodbury. creek, about two-thirds Of
mile below IN southwesterly direction
{according to plan Of engagement submitted
| by Commodore Hazelwood, the Merlin
near the mouth Of Mantna creek then
called Mud creek and by Others Manto
creek )and the Roebuck ran aground during
She night, further down the river, but she
was foated next day. The Roebuck after
surviving the engagement, was few years
thereafter, wrecked on Absecon Beach. ~
Oct %. The wind was northerly, and
fresh and cold, according to the Diary Of
Capt. John Montresor, Chief Engineer Of
the British army IN america. I'd. This
wind hindered the British 10 sailing up the
river, and favored the Americans IN their
movements.
Admiral Howe's report Of the operations
on Oct. 20 is as follows; The rebels dis
covering the state Of the Augusta and Mers
lin in the morning of the 23d, renewed the
FIRE from their galleys, works and floating