THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A, 213 
whole buildings; two ranges of barracks was all that suffered from 
fire, but our shot had completely demolished every part of it. The 
blockhouses were knocked entirely to pieces, a great number of their 
guns and carriages were rendered useless by the shot they have re¬ 
ceived, in short it is in such a battered situation that it is past des¬ 
cribing. In almost every place you see blood and brains dashed about, 
and hardly a spot in the whole place that has not a shot. The only 
cover the rebels had was outside the fort under a stone wall. Here 
it was I saw some of the guards (who had gone over under the command 
of Sir George Osborne) digging up or pulling out of the ditches the 
poor wretches that had been killed, most dismally torn and mangled 
by cannon shot, and stripping them of their shoes or whatever they 
had on them, and then dashing them into the holes again with as little 
concern or feeling as a butcher shows in killing or cutting up an ox. 
Their determination to quit the island has been precipitate for they 
left some of their guns loaded and unspiked, and a quantity of powder 
and ball and other stores. Twenty-eight cannon from 32prs. to 40prs. 
and ten other guns sunk in a boat near the wharf. 
A battery for four 24-prs. began this morning intended to keep off 
the galleys from our ships while they are getting up the chevaux-de - 
frise. In the evening I went to town after being eight days upon 
Province Island, a volunteer, and going through a very great fatigue 
night and day. All that time I had not my clothes off, nor got more 
than an hour or two's sleep at a time. General Howe returned his 
thanks to the artillery on this occasion. 
November 17th .—A report prevails that the reinforcement of 3,000 
men, which arrived a little time ago in the river, are ordered to land 
on the Jersey shore and to march towards Red Bank, and that another 
strong detachment from here will land also and proceed to the same 
place. The junction of the parties will be the decisive stroke against 
that place, for the very idea of being surrounded is what they cannot 
bear. General Washington and his army are in or near Germantown, 
and their light horse and our advance pickets are daily skirmishing. 
November 18th .—I went on command to Mud Island. I got two 
18-prs. mounted on our new battery. Two 32-prs. are to be put on 
this battery also. The rebel vessels, except the galleys, are moved 
from Red Bank and gone near to Gloucester Point. The galleys this 
afternoon were in motion; we expected them down to the fort. The 
reinforcements from New York are landed on the Jersey's, and have 
been joined by a large detachment from our army; their intention is 
to invest Red Bank ; Lord Cornwallis commands. 
November 19th .—Early this morning I observed the galleys in 
motion and prepared everything to receive them, but instead of paying 
us a visit they went and joined the fleet at Gloucester Point; at the 
same time the rebel forces made a movement at Red Bank, and from 
everything we could discover such as ammunition waggons on the 
march, people carrying bundles, and boats being filled with barrels, we 
conclude they were evacuating the fort and works at Red Bank, which 
if true, our fleet may be before the town in a little time, as we cannot 
