209 
THE SEEVICES 
OP 
LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS D0WNMAN, R.A., 
IN 
FRANCE, NORTH AMERICA, AND THE WEST INDIES 
BETWEEN THE YEARS 1758 AND 1784. 
EDITED BY 
COLONEL F. A. WHINYATES, lai 
CHAPTER III. 
V® R A 
k!h.a. 
MAY 20 1893 
OfV 
The attach and capture of Mud Island. The rebels dbando'E Be'dBhnh 
Various expeditions. La Fayette’s affair at Barren Hill. The Mis- 
chianza. Captain Downman leaves the army through illness and goes 
to New York. 
October 31st , 1777. —We are now making two floating batteries up 
the Schuylkill intending to act against the fort. This should have 
been done a month ago, but as in everything else we act like snails. 
We have no spunk; neither life nor spirits appears in anything we do. 
By our delays and trifling attempts we point out to the rebels where 
their works are deficient and give them time to complete them. 
November 2nd, 1777 .—Things are pretty quiet except a little pop¬ 
ping at the ferry on the Schuylkill between our advanced troops and 
some rebels on the other side. Six 24-prs. are come to Province Is¬ 
land from the Eagle man-of-war to make a battery against the fort 
which will be set about directly. A few cannon shot were fired by our 
ships at the rebel galleys this evening. 
November 3rd. —I rode down to Province Island; things seem to 
be preparing for a little fun. Our ships are nearer the chevaux-de- 
frise than usual. Two floating batteries for 32-prs. are in forwardness, 
and fascines and planks are ready for the batteries. The rebel ship¬ 
ping moved a little lower down towards Bed Bank to-day. Lord 
Howe intends fitting out two or three vessels with large guns to act 
with the others now making ready. Less than a week will determine 
who is to be master of the river Delaware. 
Note. In the last number of the Downman Memoir at page 170, line 25 from top, after the 
words “New York”, a space has been omitted through a mistake in printing, which should there 
B eparate the text of the memoir from the editorial comments on the campaign which follow. 
6. VOL. XIV. 22 
