218 THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 
very much. They have just now taken two of the Rhode Island fleet 
and destroyed them ; they have also taken the Alert belonging to 
Captain Montresor, with several officers’ wives and much baggage and 
valuable things on board. It is no honour to our navy or army that 
this nest of rebel vessels is suffered to do so much mischief. An at¬ 
tack both by land and water would be the means of effectually taking 
and destroying the whole. 
March 14th .—A large ship from Ireland with recruits came up to¬ 
day. The weather for this three days past has been remarkably fine 
and so warm that fires are laid aside. 
March 17th .—At night a party of light bobs aud dragoons went out 
about eight miles, surprised a rebel guard, killed four or five and 
brought in near 20 prisoners. 
March 20th —A party of jagers and Philadelphia light horse went 
after a party of the rebels who had approached the Schuylkill to set 
fire to some barns. They came up with them, charged them, killed a 
captain and several officers and brought in 13 prisoners without losing 
a man. I was told to-day that not less than 1,600 rpbels have de¬ 
serted to us since we have been here, mostly Irish. We' are informed 
that Mr. Washington is making a bridge of boats over the Susque¬ 
hanna, near a mile in length. By this one would suppose his inten¬ 
tion is to leave this part of the country and to return to Virginia, 
where we cannot easily get unless we again embark and proceed by 
the Chesapeake, and then perhaps he would tack about and return 
hither. 
March 25th .—This day Major Williams 1 of Artillery, who was taken 
prisoner with General Burgoyne’s army, came to town from New York 
through the Jerseys, accompanied by General Lee the rebel. It is im¬ 
agined a general exchange of prisoners will soon take place. 
March 27th .—The January packet arrived to-day from New York. 
I received a letter from Mrs. D., Miss Day, and Colonel James. 
March 28th .—A number of vessels arrived to-day from England 
with recruits and provisions, last from New York. The lion is roused 
at last, all England is up in arms, every county is raising troops and 
the whole nation seems determined to prosecute the war and to crush 
this monster rebellion. It is a glorious ardour, every honest British 
heart bounds with joy to find his country so unanimous. When Eng¬ 
land is determined and unanimous who can beat her ? 
The three regiments that went down the river the other day re¬ 
turned the 28th, after collecting a great quantity of forage without any 
loss and disposing of a few of the rebels, i.e. bayoneting them and 
bringing some prisoners. 
1 Kane’s List, No. 131. Major Griffith Williams sailed with his company iu the ordnance 
store ship Charming Nancy for the St. Laurence in March, 1776. There was published in “Notes 
and Queries” in November, 1897, the regulations drawn up by the officers on board for preserving 
harmony and decorum among themselves during the voyage. These regulations are both curious 
and amusing, but too long to quote here. The record is,made by George_Williams, a volunteer 
and nephew to Griffith Williams. He served with his uncle throughout Burgojne’s campaign and 
carried the flag of truce to General Gates on October 13th, 1777. After'his reture home he entered 
Parliament and was member for Ashton-under-Lyne, and J.P. for Lancashire. Lied 1805. 
