Naval Documents of The American Revolution, Volume 1 ... - Ibiblio

1224 AMERICAN THEATRE
covered what they were about, left his Station to return onboard and thinking
himself clear enough of the Battery he fired a Musket to give me the Alarm.
this was instantly answered from the Shore by a Volley of Small Arms, and
returned by us by two Guns, ,which stopp'd their Fire; the Boat soon afterwards
came onboard with one Man kill'd; we then fired again, and after
some time, seeing a great Number of Lights, and they at the same time firing
Small Arms at the Ship, we fired a Broadside after which we saw no more
Lights. At day light we found they had removed twenty one Guns that were
on Carriages on the Saluting Battery. They had (as I have since heard by a
Person who has escaped from Shore) so well prepared every thing for this
Robbery, that having but a very little way to draw them, 'till they would be
under Cover of the Houses, it would have scarcely been possible to have prevented
it had it been day Light, As our Guns were pointed as near to the
Battery as possible, there is scarce any damage done to the Town, and none of
the People hurt; three of the Soldiers I hear are Wounded, but none killed - The
People are leaving Town in great Numbers which I suppose most of them will
do, who may have it in their power. the Person who gave me the information
Yesterday, told me at the same time, that they had long talked of attempting
to burn the Ship with Fire Stages, and that now they certainly meant to do
it if possible, beyond doubt such an Attempt in a dark night and in a strong
Tide is feasible, tho' I do not think they will venture it, if they should it will
be for the safety of the Ship to move some distance lower down, where the
River is Wider and the Tide not so strong. I wrote this Morning to the
Mayor and other Magistrates informing them of the reasons of our Firing and
warning them to prevent any further Occasion being given. not having received
any Answer I this Evening sent another Letter (the copy of which I
herewith enclose) and had one immediately in return from the Mayor, telling
me that I shall receive a full answer tomorrow morning to my Letters -
1. PRO, Admiralty 1/485, LC Transcript.
The Provincial Congress having resolved that the Cannon should be removed
from the Battery, a Number of the Citizens collected for that Purpose
last Wednesday Evening; and, Part of the Provincial Artillery, under the Command
of Capt. John Lamb, were posted on the Battery, to. prevent the Landing
of any Party from the Asia Man of War, to annoy them while at work. When
they Marched down, which was about 11 o'clock, they observed one of the
above Ship's Barges lying at some Distance from the Shore, where she continued
upwards of an Hour; then she got under Sail and fired a Musket at
the Men that were posted on the Battery. This was immediately returned by
a smart Fire of Musketry from the Artillery, and a few of the Independent
Light-Infantry belonging to Col. [John] Lasher's Battalion, that were likewise
posted there for the above Purpose. - Soon after this the Asia fired three
Cannon, when our Drums beat to Arms, which alarmed the Inhabitants; when
they had assembled she began a heavy and smart Fire, of Nine, Eighteen, and
Twenty-four Pounders, and some Grape Shoti succeeded by a Discharge of