1(30 THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 
squadrons of horse to march to Philadelphia. The artillery were in 
front, the day was very fine, we entered the town with drums and 
music, the roads and streets were crowded with people who huzzaed 
and seemed overjoyed to see us. Whether they were pleased or not 
at our entrance, they must have been struck with the appearance of 
a body of such fine fellows as the British grenadiers. It was a fine 
sight. 
September 26th .—Early this morning appeared in sight over Glou¬ 
cester Point below the town, two frigates, five galleys, and a sloop, 
beating up towards the town. I had the honour to command two 
12 pounders and two howitzers. I had everything ready to receive 
them in a little time. My guns were drawn down on the bank en¬ 
tirely exposed. I received the disagreeable orders not to fire at the 
ships until they fired at me, which made me extremely uneasy. 
They came very near us; they still came nearer—within 300 or 400 
yards. A shot was fired from one of my guns at them. They hoisted 
rebel colours, and soon after began to fire. This gave me pleasure for 
then I could fire with safety. We began a brisk cannonade from all 
our guns ; it was returned by them with both round and grape shot, 
and their galleys, which were at a greater distance, kept up a fire upon 
us likewise, and fired many good shots though fortunately they did no 
harm. One of the frigates called the Delaware came within musket 
shot of our guns, and fired several rounds of grape. We plied her 
very close and threw her crew into such confusion that they neglected the 
management of the sails, and after a few more badly directed shot, she 
ran aground close to our guns. We still kept up the fire, and in a short 
time she struck her colours. We hailed her and desired her crew to 
come ashore, which they did, and a party of men was sent on board 
her. Our fire now was immediately bent upon the other frigate and 
the row galleys, and our shot was so well plied that they were obliged to 
to put about and stand down the river very much disabled. It was Com¬ 
modore Alexander’s frigate we took; she mounted twenty-two 12 pound¬ 
ers and six 6-pounders, and had on board 152 men who were all landed 
given in charge to the Provost; they lost but very few people and we 
not one. One of the galleys was obliged to run ashore on the Jersey 
side to prevent her from sinking. The frigate was set on fire during 
the action by our shots, but happily we soon put it out. The same 
afternoon a number of rebel sailors entered voluntarily on board of her 
to fight on our side. Strange work ! She was very soon got 
off into the channel and made ready for action. We expect every 
hour to be at it again, for there are no less than 13 row galleys and 
other vessels to the tune of 26, about eight miles below us, and as soon 
as our ships can pass the obstacles in the river we may expect them 
up. A great number of the rebel ships are likewise above the town. 
Sometime in the afternoon a schooner attempted to pass the town 
downward. In a very few shots we dismasted and so disabled her that 
she ran ashore just opposite the town, but as we lacked boats to send 
to her, they carried her away in the night after unloading her. Thus 
ended the insolent attempt of their boasting Commodore, with two 
