THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A, 105 
LETTER III. 
From Lieutenant John Lenthall, 23rd Fusiliers, 
to 
Lieut.-Colonel James, R.A. 
Boston , August 15th , 1775. 
The news in Boston much the same as when you left it, I will 
collect all I can. Imprimis. We took a captain of a company 
belonging to General Lee's Virginia Riflemen, who attacked the 
advanced-guard near to your friends' house in the front of our encamp¬ 
ment. They got between the guard and lines owing to the darkness 
of the night, but ill-timed it, for they attacked us just as the relief 
came down, which made our party formidable. The rascals called 
out to us several times to surrender, but to no purpose, for Phil 
Garlick was in the thick of it, instead of which I gave them a platoon, 
the other officer did the same, which made them believe we had got 
intelligence of their design, and had got a strong reinforcement. It 
obliged them to fight their way back, and we ours up to the lines. They 
never intended to have fired a shot had not we begun, but their 
intention was to have taken us all prisoners. They had 300, we 60 
men. A narrow escape I assure you. We burnt Penny Ferry House 
in revenge, and should have taken the whole guard and burnt the 
barns up Mystick road, had our men behaved like men and soldiers 
and obeyed orders, which were upon no account to fire even if fired 
upon, instead of which, without being fired upon, they fired and to 
mend the matter ran away without even having their fire returned, 
wounded Captain Sabine of the Marines, who is since dead, and had it 
not been for myself, who am sure to be in all the fun, they had left him 
to the mercy of the rebels, but I called to them, and swore I would 
fire upon them if they did not return, by which means I got sufficient 
men to carry him home. Another officer of the same corps went with 
a party to the lighthouse, was killed and all his party killed or taken 
prisoners. 
Williams 1 of the artillery, has burnt the King's Arms, Roxbury. 
Boston is in an uproar, occasioned by a dispute between Admiral 
Greaves, and Hollowed, the Commissioner of the Customs, about some 
hay which the latter wanted permission to bring over from one of his 
own islands, which the other refused to give leave for, unless Mr. 
Hollow ell would give the Admiral half. Admirable ! Mr. H. refused. 
Mr. H. wrote a card, the Admiral sent a verbal answer. They met in 
the street about 12 at noon, high words ensued, the Admiral gave Mr. 
H. a box on the ear, Mr. H. returned the blow and knocked his 
Admiralship down, he got up and was going, nay, had drawn his 
sword, upon which Mr. H. closed with him, took his sword and broke 
1 Kane’s List, No. 268. Captain Lieutenant Edward Williams. 
