Untitled - Rhode Island Historical Society

.-ground, on lire, and under attack by American
'. essels, the British frigate Augusta blew up off Fort
\tiftlin on 23 October. Painting by an anonymous
,irtist. CoLlrtesy of the Historical Society of
Pe nnsyfu ania ( Accession no. 1 857. 1 ).
THE ISRAEL ANGELL DIARY, 1 OCTOBER T777-28 FEBRUARY 1778
this accident happened by a Shell Comming into one of the portholes in the Block hous,
the Row Gallies last Evening run down and attack't a Ship and a galley of the Enemys,
and obliged them to tow off. this Cannonade was very smart, the Enemy had landed on
hog Island and was Endeavouring to Errect a batterybut Could not effect it. This Evening
we Recd. certain intiiigence that the Enemy was a comming to attack us, which obtig'd
us to work all the night longe."
22nd. this day we Continued Dilligent on our works untill the after Noon about one
oclock, when the Enemy Arrived within musket shoot of our fort, we fired a cannon
or two at them on which they Retired, and kept Sculking in the woods untill half After
four oClock, when they Sent in a flagg Demanding the fort but was answered that the
fort was not to be Given up on aney terms. in Repiy to this, they answered that if we Still
remain'd obstinate, our blood might be upon our own heads, for we Should have no
Mercy Shone us. our Answer was we asked for none; and Expect none, So parted, and
in about ten minuts after there begun as Smart a fire as Ever I heard from Eight feild
peices and two hoets they had placed against us, at the Same time advanced in two
colerns to attack our fort by Storm, when there begun an incesant fire Musketry which
Continued forty minuts, when the hessians Retreeted in the most Prescipited manner
leaving 200 kill'd and r,vounded in the field. we spent the greatest part of the Night in
bringing in the wounded."