with four armed schooners near the entrance of Boston harbor, who
informed me they had been engaged with a ship and brig, and were
obliged to quit them. Soon after I came up into Nantasket Roads,
where I found the ship and brig at anchor. I immediately fell in
between the two, and came to anchor about eleven o'clock at night. I
hailed the ship, who answered, from Great Britain. I ordered her to
strike her colors to America. They answered me by asking, What brig
is that? I told them the Defence. I then hailed him again, and told
him I did not want to kill their men; but have the ship I would at
all events, and again desired them to strike; upon which the Major
(since dead) said, Yes, I'll strike, and fired a broadside upon me,
which I immediately returned, upon which an engagement begun, which
continued three glasses, when the ship and brig both struck. In this
engagement I had nine wounded, but none killed. The enemy had
eighteen killed, and a number wounded. My officers and men behaved
with great bravery; no man could have outdone them. We took out of
the above vessels two hundred and ten prisoners, among whom is
Colonel Campbell, of General Frazer's Regiment of Highlanders. The
Major was killed.

Yesterday a ship was seen in the bay, which came towards the entrance
of the harbor, upon which I came to sail, with four schooners in
company. We came up with her, and took her without any engagement.
There were on board about one hundred and twelve Highlanders. As
there are a number more of the same fleet expected every day, and the
General here urges my stay, I shall tarry a few days, and then
proceed for New London. My brig is much damaged in her sails and
rigging."

Colonel Campbell made the following report to Sir William Howe, dated at
Boston, June 19, 1776:

"Sir: I am sorry to inform you that it has been my unfortunate lot to
have fallen into the hands of the Americans in the middle of Boston
harbor; but when the circumstances which have occasioned this
disaster are understood, I flatter myself no reflection will arise to
myself or my officers on account of it. On the 16th of June the
George and Annabella transports, with two companies of the
Seventy-First Regiment of Highlanders, made the land off Cape Ann,
after a passage of seven weeks from Scotland, during the course of
which we had not the opportunity