108 THE SERVICES OF LIECJT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 
August 12th. —This afternoon about 5 o’clock we saw land, but not 
that part which we want, we being many miles northward of the Capes 
of Virginia, and the wind is still contrary. In the evening about 7 
the Admiral made the signal to tack and stand out. The weather is 
now insufferably hot. 
August 14th. —About noon the wind came favourable, and we 
are now standing towards Chesapeake Bay. In the afternoon we saw 
the land, and in the evening after dark the Admiral made the signal for 
the fleet to come to anchor, which they did in eight fathoms of water. 
We were told by some gentleman who came on board to-day that we 
were first intended for Philadelphia, but the Admiral learnt while we 
lay off there that the rebels had a great number of fire stages and 
other impediments in the river, which induced him to alter his first 
plan. They said also that General Washington had arrived at the 
Delaware with his whole force, two days before us. 
August 15th. —This morning early the fleet got under way, and 
are standing into the bay of Chesapeake. Our ship has just re¬ 
ceived orders from the Admiral to lead in the transports. He sent a 
pilot on board, and desired we would hoist a white jack at the mizen 
peak and fire a gun for the ships to follow us. We sailed a few miles 
up the bay, and came to anchor in the evening, as did all the fleet. 
The rebels made fires on the shore to give notice of our approach. 
We heard to-day that four rebel ships ran out of the bay last night, 
and that two of them were taken by one of our men-of-war. 
August 16th. —This morning the whole fleet set sail, and went up 
the bay with a fair wind. In the evening we came to anchor near 
Point Comfort. The fleet had just come to, when a very violent 
storm of thunder and lightning, wind and rain came on. Our des¬ 
tination is said to be Annapolis, in Maryland. About midnight the 
storm came on again with greater violence and continued the most of 
the night, the thunder and lightning incessant. 
August 17th. —This morning the Admiral made the signal for 
weighing anchor; about 7 o’clock the whole fleet were under way and 
are standing up the bay with a fair wind. There does not appear to 
have been any damage done last night. To-day is excessively hot, 
and about noon it became calm, and the fleet came to anchor. 
August 18th. —This morning about 5 o’clock the fleet got under 
way and stood up the bay with a fair wind, and about 11 we were 
opposite Smith’s Point. We can see several small vessels belonging 
to the rebels in shore, also a row galley that keeps to windward; she 
came as near as she dare venture and fired a shot at the fleet, but it 
fell short. About noon the whole fleet came to anchor near Smith’s 
Point, the wind being contrary. A packet arrived in the fleet yester¬ 
day from England ; she called at New York. 
August 19th. —This morning about 8 o’clock the Admiral made 
signal to weigh. Wind and tide in our favour, we continued our 
progress up the bay till the evening about 7 o’clock, when the 
signal was made for anchoring, and we came to in eight fathoms water 
near the cliffs of Petuxen, about 32 leagues from Annapolis. A gen- 
