July 24 Weighd Anchor at 5 Fathom hole & Came Over the Bar In Compy with the Notredame a 16 Gun Brig & two Sloops. Mett a French Ship of 28 Guns on the Bar Bound in. 25th A Smooth Sea. 29th Saw A Sail Gave Chace. 30th Saw A Sail Gave Chace. 31st Saw two Sail Gave Chace. Light winds. August 6th at half after Six Afternoon Saw a Sail & Gave Chace, at 11 Gave her a Bow Gun which Brought her too She was a Big from New Orleans in Missippi Bound to Cape Francois a Spainard Went on Board Kept her All Night & Lett her Go at 10 oClock the Next Day her Cargo was Furr & Lumber She had Some Englismen on Board the Occasion of our Detaining her So Long. 7th At 5 OClock Afternoon Made the Land the Island of Abaco. 9th Hard Gales of wind. 10th Fresh Gales of wind & Heavy Squals. 11th Fresh Breeses & a Rough Sea. 12 at Six Afternoon Caught a Great Turtle which was Kookd the Next Day for the Entertainment of the Gentlemen of the Fleet No Less than 13 Came on Board to Dine. 14 At 2 oClock P M Harbour Island Bore SbW 1 League Dist Sent the Yoll on Shore The Brig Sent her Boat a Shore too. 15th The two Boats Returned with a two Mast Boat & 4 Men Belonging to New Providence Squally Night & Smart Thunder & Lightning. 16th Crosd the Bahama Banks from 8 Fathom of water to 3¾ Came to Anchor at Night on the Bank. 17th Arrivd at the Abimenes Filld our Water Cask & Hoggd Ship & Boot Topt the Ship. 18th At Day Break Weighd Anchor together with the Rice Thumper Fleet at Noon Parted with Them & Fired 13 Guns the Other fir,d their Guns Which was a 16 Gun Brigg the Notredame Command by Capt Hall A 10 Gun Sloop Comd by Capt Robberts A 12 Gun Sloop Comd by John Crappo or Petweet & Stood to the westward a crossd the Gulf. 19th at Day the Cape of Floriday bore west we stood for it a 20th Saw a Sail & Gave her Chace & Came Up She was a Saniard a Palacca from Havanna Bound to Spain She Informd us of the Jamaica Fleet that they Passd the Havanna ten Days Back Which made us Give over the Hopes of Seeing them. 22 Saw this Spaniard about a League to the Windward. 23 a Sunday, Saw a Ships Mast in Forenoon & Just at Night A Large Jamaica Puncheon Floating we hoisted out our Boate & went in Persuit of it but Could not Get it we Supposd it was full of Rum this Afternoon a Large Swell brok & Soon after A fine Breese Which Increasd harder in the Morng. 24th Sun about two hours high we Saw white water in About a Mile Under our Lee Bow we Saw the Breakers which was on the Bahama Banks which Surprisd our Officers & Men Greatly we Put our Ship About & had the Good Fortune to Clear them the wind Blew harder we Struck Top Gallant Yards & Lanchd Top Gallant Masts Lay too Under one Leach of the Four Sail Got 6 Nine Pounders Down in the Lower hold & Cleard the Decks of unecessary Lumber The Wind Continued verry hard The air was Verry Thick Just before Night the Sea Came in Over our Larboard Nettens on the Gangway. All the officers Advisd to Cut away the Main Mast which we Did, Just 25 Moderated Some But Verry Rough So that we Could Do no work. 26 Got a Jury Mast Up on the Main Mast. 27 Got up Jury Masts on the Fore & Mison Masts. 30 at 8 oClock in the Morning Saw a Brigg over our weather Bow 2 Leagues Dist We Kept our Course She Stood the Same way Just at Night we gave her two Guns but She kept on at Night we Lost Sight of her. 31st at 5 in the Morning Saw the Brigg a Head Gave her Chace Came up with her about Noon we hoisted our Colours She hoisted English Colours, we Gave her one gun which made them come Tumbling Down. Septr 1st We Saw a Sail a Head Giving us Chace She hoisted Englis Colours & we & the Brigg hoisted English Colours She Came Down towards us we Put the Ship about & She Came Close too us we up Parts & Our Sept 2nd Got Soundings of Cape May 45 Fathm. Sept 3rd at Night Lost Sight of The Prise. Sept 4th Saw a Sail A Privatier Schoner She kept Round us all Day & hoisted English Colours we hoisted English Colours but She thought Best Not to Speak with. Sept 5th Made the Land at 9 oClock in the Morning the South Side of Long Island against South Hampton & Came to Anchor Under Fishes Island at 12 oClock at Night Saw five Sail at 2 Afternoon Standing to the Westward two of them Ships. Sept 6th 1778 New London. Arrivd in this Harbour. |