THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS BOWNMAN, R.A. 383 
An action happened on July 27th, 1778, off Ushant between the 
English fleet under the command of Admiral Keppel, consisting of 
30 ships of the line, and the French fleet under the command of 
Comte d’Orvilliers of 32 ships of the line. The English had 133 men 
killed, three lieutenants, and 373 wounded. By most accounts, the 
French lost very considerably both in officers and men, it is said 
3,000 killed and wounded. They ran away in the night and got into 
their own ports. When did it happen before that 30 British ships of 
the line engaged the same number of French and not one vessel was 
taken or destroyed? Wonderful! Passing strange! No war was 
declared at the time. 1 
A manifesto and proclamation has been sent by the British com¬ 
missioners to the Congress and to the 13 states of America offering 
terms to be accepted within 40 days from the 3rd October, 1778. 
Everything is offered to the rebels they can desire but independence; 
if they neglect these fair proposals, the commissioners are to return 
to England, and the country I hope will be laid waste from stem to stern. 
October 22nd .—Some little time ago, a small detachment of H.M’s 
ships, two galleys, and four armed vessels under the command of Cap¬ 
tain Collier of the Zebra, having on board 300 men commanded by Cap¬ 
tain Ferguson, sailed from hence for Egg harbour, where after sur¬ 
mounting some difficulties in passing into the harbour, they destroyed 
11 sail of vessels, among them a very fine ship, and others of consider¬ 
able size. The troops being landed proceeded to destroy the settle¬ 
ment and store houses of the committee men and of every person 
notoriously known in the piratical vessels which have greatly annoyed 
the English. The salt works on the bay were also effectually des¬ 
troyed. Captain Ferguson being informed that 600 rebels with four 
pieces of artillery were coming to attack him, determined to surprise 
them. Accordingly 250 men wera landed on Mincock Island, and 
at 4 o’clock in the morning he passed the bridge undiscovered, and 
surrounded three houses in which the infantry of Pulaski’s 2 legion 
were posted. These were instantly charged with the bayonet and 60 
of them put to death on the spot, amongst them a Lieut.-Colonel, two 
captains, and four or five other officers. Ferguson only lost one man 
killed and one wounded. They embarked on board their ships, and 
soon after arrived at New York. 
October 25th .—French ships are sent in here almost every day, 
prizes to our men-of-war and privateers. A cartel is settled between 
here and Boston, and many prisoners have already been exchanged. 
Those artillerymen taken in the Thunder bomb and tender have 
arrived at New York. 
1 It appears that the state of the wind and position of the respective fleets prevented Admiral 
Keppel bringing the French, who were unwilling to join battle, to a decisive action. There was 
also some mistake in our fleet in complying with the Admiral’s signals. He and Vice-Admiral 
Sir Hugh Palliser, Bart, were tried by courts martial, the former for misconduct and neglect of 
duty, the latter for misconduct and misbehaviour, but both were acquitted. 
2 Count Pulaski was killed in the unsuccessful assault made by the American and French 
troops at the siege of Savannah on October 9th, 1779. 
{To be Continued.') 
