of speaking to a single vessel that
could give us the smallest information of the British troops having
evacuated Boston. On the 17th, at daylight, we found ourselves
opposite to the harbor's mouth at Boston; but, from contrary winds,
it was necessary to make several tacks to reach it. Four schooners
(which we took to be pilots, or armed vessels in the service of his
Majesty, but which were afterwards found to be four American
privateers, of eight carriage-guns, twelve swivels, and forty men
each) were bearing down upon us at four o'clock in the morning. At
half an hour thereafter two of them engaged us, and about eleven
o'clock the other two were close alongside. The George transport (on
board of which were Major Menzies and myself, with one hundred and
eight of the Second Battalion, the Adjutant, the Quartermaster, two
Lieutenants, and five volunteers, were passengers) had only six
pieces of cannon to oppose them; and the Annabella (on board of which
was Captain McKenzie, together with two subalterns, two volunteers,
and eighty-two private men of the First Battalion) had only two
swivels for her defence. Under such circumstances, I thought it
expedient for the Annabella to keep ahead of the George, that our
artillery might be used with more effect and less obstruction. Two of
the privateers having stationed themselves upon our larboard quarter
and two upon our starboard quarter, a tolerable cannonade ensued,
which, with very few intermissions, lasted till four o'clock in the
evening, when the enemy bore away, and anchored in Plymouth harbor.
Our loss upon this occasion was only three men mortally wounded on
board the George, one killed and one man slightly wounded on board
the Annabella. As my orders were for the port of Boston, I thought it
my duty, at this happy crisis, to push forward into the harbor, not
doubting I should receive protection either from a fort or some ship
of force stationed there for the security of our fleet.

Towards the close of the evening we perceived the four schooners that
were engaged with us in the morning, joined by the brig Defence, of
sixteen carriage-guns, twenty swivels, and one hundred and seventeen
men, and a schooner of eight carriage-guns, twelve swivels, and forty
men, got under way and made towards us. As we stood up for Nantasket
Road, an American battery opened upon us, whi