THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWN MAN, R.A. 161 
frigates and five galleys, eacli carrying a 32 or 24 pounder, op¬ 
posed only by four 12 pounders and two howitzers, three of those 
being drawn up on the bank without the least covering. We have 
taken several iron cannon within a few miles from town, 12 and 
18 pounders. We proved them ; two 18-pounders burst to pieces, 
but did no damage. 
A copy of Captain Downman’s report of the action with the frigate 
Delaware being among his papers, it is inserted here :— 
To Colonel Pattison, 1 2 
Commanding R.A. 
Sir,— 
I have the honour to report that early in the morn¬ 
ing of September 26th, two rebel ships, five galleys, and an armed 
sloop were seen beating up from Gloucester Point to Philadelphia. 
I commanded at the lower end of the town four medium 12 pounders 
and two 5^ inch howitzers, and gave directions for everything to be 
in readiness for action. Captain Standish 3 commanded the same num¬ 
ber of guns at the upper part of the town. In the preceding night 
a platform had been laid for only two of the 12 pounders ; the other 
two and one of the howitzers were therefore placed upon the bank by 
the water-side as conveniently as the ground would admit. The ships 
and galleys by this time were approaching very fast. I had received 
orders not to fire till I was fired at; the situation was disagreeable 
for the largest ship was within 400 yards, and in another tack or two 
would have been alongside our guns. She had hoisted before this 
time rebel colours. A gun was now fired at her, the shot went on 
board, and we could plainly discover threw the people into confusion. 
She returned the fire, joined by the other ship and all the galleys. 
The fire was become general and continued so for some time. The 
largest ship still seemed inclined to push past our guns, but by receiv¬ 
ing some shot, and a shell which set her on fire, the people were 
thrown into great disorder, neglected the management of the sails, and 
she ran aground within 250 yards of our guns. In this situation she 
remained several minutes and fired many rounds. She then struck 
her colours. Whilst she was aground, Lieutenant Vaughan 3 with 
two 6 pounders was ordered to a rising ground retired from the water. 
He fired three shots before she surrendered. A non-commissioned 
.officer was sent to hail her, and order their boat on shore, which command 
was instantly complied with, and as no artillerymen could possibly be 
spared from the guns, which were now all turned on the other ship 
and galleys, ten of the grenadiers were sent on board, and with them 
1 Kane’s List, No. 55, Colonel J. Pattison commanded the R.A. during the latter part of the 
American War. He was appointed Commandant of New York, July 6th, 1779. He died, 
March 1st, 1805. 
2 Kane’s List, No. 233. 
3 Kane’s List, No. 415. Lieutenant T. L. Vaughan was killed in the action at Freehold Court¬ 
house, New Jersey, June 28th, 1778. 
