THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 241 
baggage was ordered from Middleton and followed by tbe troops who 
bad taken post there the day before. 
July 1st .—About daybreak the troops took up their new ground, 
which had been reconnoitred the evening before by the Quarter- 
Master-General, on the heights of Nave Sink forming a camp of 
nearly three fourths of a circle, the right extending to Sandy Hook 
Bay, and the left to Shrewsbury River, and thus covering the embark¬ 
ation of the artillery, provisions, baggage, etc., and the transportation 
of the horses which commenced this day. 
July 2nd .—The army continued in the same position on the heights 
of Nave Sink and the embarkation continued. 
July 3rd .—It rained very hard the greater part of this day, the em¬ 
barkation of stores and baggage, however, went on, as did the trans¬ 
portation of horses, first to Sandy Hook by swimming them over a 
passage of about 50 or 60 yards in breadth, which the force of the tide 
has lately made between the heights of Nave Sink and the peninsula 
on which the lighthouse stood, and which is now become an island, 
and from the Point they were transported to Long Island in small 
vessels. 
July 4th .—This day also proved rainy, but did not retard the em¬ 
barkation and it being determined to make a bridge on flat boats from 
the mainland to the lighthouse island, it was nearly effected this even¬ 
ing and completed the next morning. 
July 5th .—The troops were under arms at 4 o’clock in the morning, 
and moved towards the sea beach in four columns, from which they 
doubled up, first into three, then into two, and finally into one, in 
order to cross the bridge, the passage of which they effected in about 
four hours and the bridge was broken down. The flat boats being 
ready to receive them, the embarkation began from the beach of the 
lighthouse island and was completed that evening’, but too late for the 
transports to proceed to their respective destinations. The Com¬ 
mander-in-chief after having seen the passage of the troops to the 
lighthouse island effected and the bridge broke, came up to New York 
where he fixed his head-quarters. 
The French, as soon as they had concluded the defensive alliance 
with the Thirteen Colonies, began to arm by sea. They fitted out at 
Toulon a squadron of 12 ships of the line and six frigates, which with 
a considerable body of troops on board, sailed on April J 3th, under 
Comte d’ Estaing for America, Contrary winds delayed its progress 
