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

as ships Of WARY attending IN the boats Of
the feet on this occasion. four fire vessels
directed against the Augusta, were sent
without effect.
s.The Isis was at this time warping
through between the lower eheedua'-de-ffise
Empty transports bad been ordered up from
the fleet, and other preparations made for
tightening the Augusta, when by some accl-
dent no otherwise connected with the cir
cumstances Of the action, but as 1t was
probably caused by the wads from her guns,
the ship took fire abaft, and it spread with
such rapidity that all endeayors to extin-
guish it were used in vain The men were
there upon taken out except very small
number not yet ascertained. The second
lieutenant, BaIdock, the chaplain and gum
ners appear to be Of that number
In this state Of the proceedings It was
necessary to withdraw the frigates, for ser
curing them from the effects OF the blast.
And as the Merlin could not be protected
from the same injury, judged it requisite
to give orders for the sIoop to be evacuated
and destroyed. The other ship dropped
down nearer to Billingsport
Much commentator is due to the
several captains, inferior officers aad sea-
men concerned in this service; and particu-
larry in their resoluee exertions TO assist in
saving the crew of the Augusta. 81
In the statement sent me by the Admir-
atty Office, as Whitehead, London, the
ship Augusta together with the Merlin
fsioop) grounded during the operations in
river Delaware on the 22i OF October, I'LL,
and on the following day took fire and blew
up while preparations for tightening her
were being made. The Merlin was then set
on fire and abandoned No ives were lost
on either Augusta or Merlin. 2 a
This account is only partially true, there
may have been no lives lost on the Augusta
for Capt John Montresor in his Diary
says: Before the explosion of the Angus
ta's Powder Magazine, many Of the seamen
jumped overheard, experimenting it; some
were taken up by our ships boats but the
Chaplain, one Lieutenant, and so men pers
ished in the water
Admiral Howe admits the loss Of the
second lieutenant, Baldock, the chaplain
and gunner and "a very small number
not yet ascertained.u
General Howe in his official report, which
will also be found in The London Chron-
icle of Dec. 2, 1777, gives his version of the
grounding, burning and explosion on the
Augusta, and adds: The other ships being
obliged to remove to distance from the
explosion of the Augusta, it became ex-
pedient to evacuate and burn her THE Mer-
lin ais. (g)
s.Count Dunop made the best disposition,
and led on the troops in the most gallant
manner to the assault. They carried an
were driven to an interior entrenchment.
The detachment in moving up and
returning from the attack, asas much CALLED
By the enemy's gdiiies and floating batteries. .
The loes sustained by us cannot be too
much regretted.
Having given the English reports Of the
engagements, we will now quote from the
American official reports to President
Wharton, of the State of Pennsylvania, at
Lancaster.
In Colonel Bradford Is report we read:
'.Of Red Bank, October 81, 1777
s'The 22d instant, about 4 o'clock, the
Enemy, to the number of about 1900 APP
peared before the Fort at Red Bank, and
Immediately began most furious cannon
ade for about Is minutes, when they rushed
on with great Resolution to storm the Fort,
and got into the upper part of the old
works which were not finished, and gave
three cheers, thinking all was their own,
hut were received so warmly that they were
glad to get ont (kl
THE firing Of the first gun from the
Hessian battery upon Fort Mercer was the
signal for the British vessels to approach
and attack Fort Alifiin The Augusta, the
Roebuek, the Liverpool, the Pearl, the
Merlin and the CORVALLIS Galley came up,
bat were kept at bay by the American gal
ieys aud floating batteries. These galleys
did good execution not only upon the Brit
ish vessels, but upon the assailants Hess
ians] at Red Bank. ~ The British fleet
deferred it's attack on Fort Mifiin until the
next morning, { and dropped down the
river.
'sThe next day the 23d, the Augusta, 81
guns, the Roebuck, A guns, two frigates
and the Merlin of Is guns, came up as near
as they dare to the upper checaliT-de.frise,
when most furious engagement ensued
between the Galleys and Floating Batters,
with the Enemy ships; the fire was SO in
cessant that by all accounts the Elements
seemed to be in flames. About II o'clock
the Augusta blew up, whether By accident,
or from our shot is unknown, having taken
Fire some Time before Here presented a
glorious sight before she blew, she laying
broadside too aground, and the flames COM
ing through every Port she had. The action
still CONT ued with the other ships, and at
Three o'clock the Merlin took fire and blew
up also being aground, aud then the Fire
soon ceased Thus ended two glorious
days" (k)
COLONEL BRApFoRDfs ACCOUNT OF THE
RATTLE. At RED BANK.