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THE ROYAL
GEORGIA GAZETTE.
From the LONDON GAZETTE.
ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, April 14,1781;
APT. Balfour arrived this morning
’ ( ‘ft/ with dispatches from Vice Admiral
Arbuthnot, Commander in chief of
liis Majesty’s ihips in North Amc
rica, to Mr. Stephens, of which
fe§|‘ r 'W the following are copy and extra&.
/ Copy of a letter from Vice Admiral
J Arbuthnot to Mr. Stephens,
dated Royal Oak, in Lynnelaven
• Bay, March 20, 1781.
MY letter of the 15th iilt. by the Mercury packet will
Jiave acquainted their Lord/hips with the lot's of the Cul
loden, and difmafture of the Bedford, in a gale of wind
on the 23d of January, at the east end of Long Island, and
of the absence of the America, which at that time was
driven to fca, but returned without damage on the Bth ult.
In the mean while every poffiLle exertion was made to
jet the lower marts out of the Culloden for the Bedford,
but the weather was so exceedingly severe arid rcmpeftuotis
that it was not ertefled till the ift inrt.
The enemy, deriving courage, arid confidence frem these
misfortunes,-at one time, during the absence of the A
mei:icali..#rid believing that the Bedford atfo. was-hath, me- .
1 r >v i'"hftftrTVrrThr y laid afi : Je,- •
after their emissaries had reconnoitred our position in Car- •
diner’s Bay. * 1
All attempt was next trade agalr.l our naval force em
pleyed to co-operate uith Brigadier Gen. Arnold in Vir
ginia. I received early intimation ofTheir intentions, ar.d
accordingly put thefr officer* upon their gua:d. This was
to have been executed by the Eveilie, a coppered 64, and
two frigates, whichjailed from Rhode I/un'd on the Bth
of February; but finding it impossible to succeed in that
quarter, left it < n the 19th following. ,
I had, on the communication of this intelligence, dif
patcheef the Charlcftown to Carolina, to order the Chat
ham, (of vvhofe arrival I had been informed) with the
Roebuck, Romulus, and £>mc frigates, to proceed to
Virginia, and endeavour to cut oft’ their return, which
however was rendered abortive by the shortness of their
fay. lam sorry to add, that they fell in with and cap
tured the Romulus.on their passage back off the Capes of
Virginia, as /he war. proceeding thither from Charleftowu
to relieve the Charon, having failed in confluence of a
prior engagement before the Charlcftown could reach her.
It was now necessary, from the dffcontents in the rebel
trmy, and among the minds ot the people, to attempt
something to revive a drooping cause ; the danger of Vir
ginia from the enterprizing spirit of Brigadier Gen. Ar
nold, had he been which was likely to hap
pen, murt become imminent; the plan therefore adopted
by the rebels and iheir allies was by a combined operation
to attack him* and, by reducing him and his detachment;
to set at liberty the whole force of the southern provinces
to aft against Lord Cornwallis in Carolina. The patties
from Mr. Washington’s army, under the Marquis de
Fayette, were to proceed down the Flk by the way of
Maryland, wLllft a large body of Virginia militia, under
a Mr. Nelson in this colony', were collecting to attack
him in concert with the French troops commanded by the
Count de Rochambault, I lead the honour to give infor
mation of these deilgris to Sir Henry Clinton at New-
York; and as my intelligence from Rhode Ifimd was fre
quently and accurately repeated, the objefts for the service
of the squadron became clear and opemto my view.
The fcafon the enemy chose to execute this meaftire
was while the Bedford was rg-mafting. The lower marts
cf the Culloion having been brought into Gardiner’s Bay,
jhe hnulcd alongfiJc the and got tiicm in on the
sth inrt. and was complcatly rigged and tcaJy for sea the
9th. • . L
The enemy, I prefuthe, were very soon apprif-d of the
Bedford being entirely rtripped, and conceiving this work
would take up a cn-ntideraHe time, began to embark trftops
on the sth ;hy tne Bthr'nar , .'#baß IPHIir ‘ were
|>ut on board’ the fquddron, which E i& heen previoufiy
prepared in other*tefpefts, and pulhed to fca with a strong
fcafterly evening of the fame (by.
On the qth the whole of his Majesty’s squadron under
my comm*ndfolb<lowu- to the entrance of Gardiner's Bay,
and the next morning, jurt before I weighed, I received
corroborative information from S : r Henry Clinron that
■very confidctable detachments were fending to the south
ward from Mr. Wafliington’s army; but his Excellency
did not appear to have any immediate-idea of reinforcing
Brigadier Gen. Arnold with troops. Supposings however,
tjiat he might afterwards judge it necessary, as his fitua
ti6n would become extremely critical, Tdircfted Capt.
Hudson of the Richmond, the lenior officer at New-York,
to take his Excellency's sentiments on the fubjeft, and,
Ihould it be deemed proper, to take imder his convoy the
troops that might be sent to aid thofc already cmjdoyed in
Virginia; but, Ihould his Excellency think such relief
tinncreffuy, he was to join me’off the Chefapcak with
tire Richmond, Orpheus, and any others of his Majesty’s
mips that might arrive at New-York in the interim.
*he loth I cleared the coast of Long Island with the
squadron, and proceeded to the Southward as expeditioufiy
s poflible, in the hope of being able to fight the enemy
before their entry to the Chefapcak, or, if practicable, to
attack them there.
,• On the 13th* in Ist. qq, 3b, N. within a few leagues,
et the coast, I spoke a vessel from London for New-York
which had seen the French squadron the day before a de
cree to qight fail of large
THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1781,
(hips, three frigates, and a tender. I parted from her the
fame evening; and fteesed such a course as would best en
able me to intercept it.
The fame evening a gale from the N. W, was exceed
ingly favourable to the pnrfuit, and pulfied the squadron
on ; its violence, however, appears by the event to have
equally retarded the enemy, who murt have lain to while
it lartcd. .
On thfc 16th at fix A, M. the Iris made the signal for
difeovering five strange fail to the N. N.E. and soon after
wards hailed, that they were Urge ihips {leering for the
Capes of Virginia, and supposed to be ilirtant about three
miles. I immediately concluded it murt be the enemy I
was in search of, and accordingly prepared the squadron
for battle, by forming the line ahead a cable’s .length a
sunder, on a wind which was then frefli, and proceeding
towards theyh with a press of fail; at this time Cape
Henry bore S. W. by W. distant about 14 leagues, wind
at weft; the French bearing from us N. N. E. the wea
ther so hazy that the length, of thfc Biitiih line could
scarcely be difeerned.
At a quarter of an hour after eight A. M. the wind
veer’ and to N. W. by W. and soon to N. by W. vthich
gave the enemy the advantage of the weather-gage. Aboj.it
this time several of the enemy’s ihips were diicovered tp.
-• Wiftjwgr&awariauviiin tft ferin thtir liuc.
--• At nrimites afcw eightTfir ianged rta:
Under our lee, 4 bnpglng the fame intcliigence with that
already given by the IjeU> and was ordered to tnake ftilj
and endeavour to keep fight of the enemy. ,
At 35 minutes after eight I direfted the Iris by signal
to make fail ahead; and keep fight of'the enemy, as the
■ lAze appeared to thicken. The Brit]fit line was by thir
time complcatly f rmed, and close hauled on the larboard
tack,
At ac minutes after nine the Eeadmaft of the French
/hips tacked, as did the rest in fucccifion, and formed the
line on the (larboard tack.
A f 35 minutes the weather being very
fquiliy, I formed the line ahead at two cables length a
sunder.
Y At a quarter es aft hour after tep f made the signal for
the squadron to tack, the hcadmoft arid weathermoil firff,
and gain the wind of the enemy.
At a quarter of r-n hour after eleven the headmoft of
the French line tacked ; but me of vherri having miffed
Hays, the rest wore, and formed the line on the larboard
tack.
At 40 minutes after eleven I re-formed mv line at one
cable’s length asunder.
. At twelve o’clock, there being a profpeft of the van of
my line reaching the enemy, the whole of my line racked
by signal, the van firft, and the leading ihip continuing to
lead on the other tack.
At one o’clo-k the French fqualron having compleated
their form in a line ahead, consisting of eight two deck
ers, bore E. by S. the Britiih line clofc hauled, fleering
E. S. E. wind at N. E.
At half an hour after one o’clock, the enemy being
very apprehrnfive of the danger and inconvenience of en
gaging to windward, from the high fca tbat was running,
and squally Weather, wore and formed their line to leeward
of the Britiih line;
_ At two d’tiock the van of my fquadrori wore in the
line, and in a few minute* the Robust, which led the
fleet, and afterwards behaved in the moft gallant manner,
was warmly engaged with the van of the enemy. The
ihips in the van and center of the line were all engaged b.y
jbalf an hour part two, arid by three o’clock the French
line was broke ; cheir ihips began foon’ after to wear, and
to form their line again, with their heads to the fouth
eart into the ocean.
At 20 minutes- after three T and flood after them.
I was sorry to observe the Robuff, Phident, and Europe,
which wete the headmoft /hips, and received the whole of
the enemy’s fire at their rigging as th'ey boro dawn, so In
tirdy disabled, ahd the Lend n’s main-top-fail yird being
carried away, (the two firft unmanageable, lying with
their heads frdm the eriemy) as to be incapable cfpurfuit,
and of rendering the advantage we h<d gained decisive.
- At half kri norirafter four the Hsize came on so very
thick as intirely to ihterqppt the enemy from my view.
The Medea Joined me fdn after, which I dlreftej to
follow; ahd dbferve the route of the enemy, while I pro
ceeded with the squadron to the Chefapcak, in the hope
of intercepting thdm', /hould they attempt to get in there.
At seven o’clock l brought so with “the squadron, to
put the difabled&ipsia aiituationto execute these inten
tions.
Next morhing I made fail, and the fame :venirig (thfc
‘Robuft being towed by the America, and the Prudent by
the Adamant) anchored with the whole squadron about
three leagues to the eaftwird of Cape Charles, within
Cape Henry; the evening after the whole squadron an
chored in Lynnehaven Bay.
1 cannot but regret the early flight of the enemy prevent
ed the fftiop from becoming general.
I have had a conference with Brigadier Gen. Arnold,
and find his force began to be preff'ed for provision, as well
’as bv the formidable combination .against him. Fayette'*
continental detachment is blocked up at Annapolis by his
Majesty’s Hoops the Hope and Gejnqral Monk. The rebel
militia, difaftefted to the service, will speedily disperse •
and the Count dfc Rodhambault fnuft seek another oppor
tunity of visiting Virginia. The plan of the rebel cam
paign i intirelf difeoheerted, and I-flatter mvfeir these
events will be yevy solid advantages to his
Majesty’s service. J
I have detached frigates after the enemy, and ihall put
to sea immediately with the squadron to follow their
movements, and bring them if pofliolc to a second aftion*
In this firft they must have loft great numbers of thfir
men, though their rigging fuffered little to appearance! \
I have the honour to incfofe a return of the killed amts
wounded, lift and disposition of the squadron, and lifie o£
battle. .
■ a pt* Balfour, who is charged with the delivery of thtlr
I'tter, served as a volunteer for fix week* on board of thd
Royal Oak, and was with me in the day of a&ioa.
I have the honour to be, &c. _ y ~ L *
’ Mr. arbuthnot.
ExtrahJ of a letter from Vice Admiral Arbuthnot to Mr
Stephensy dated Royal Oak in Lynnehaven Bay% March
30, 1781. *
• continuation of my letter of the aoth inrt. I have the
honour to acquaint you that I put to sea with the squa
dron under my command on the morning of the 24th, and
steered a course for the Delaware, where it was conceived
likely the enemy might endeavour to take refuge f bur at
of the weather towards noon appeared to indicate
a gale, which is generally expefted at this season, I judged
;t advifeable to return to. the Bay, where 1 anchored the
fame evening. ,*
The next; day arid the fol Id wing We " Bad the Wmd frOreKi
ably have crippled fome of our ffilps, or driven nje very
considerably to the southward. • 3
i 0n the l6th * W'nforcement of troops, in number x
bout 2000, commanded by Major Gen. Phillips, arrived
from_New-York, _undcr the efcott of ‘Capt. Hudson, of
the Richmdttd, wi th the ihip. and Jiamed in th®
margin j at the fame time the Iris and Pearl, which had
been detached to observe the route of the enemy, returned
without having diCovered them, the former had fprunff
her nrrain-maft in the late gale.
The Medea was immediately dispatched to reconnoitre
the DclswsrSt ——— _
. sie under Major Gen. Phillips were immediate
ly forwarded to Portsmouth, and the junior, effedftrd
between the torces at prdent there under Brigadier Gen.
Anold.
,* I wait with great impatience to embrace the firft oppor
tunity to put to sea, which I ihall febe the moment it of
fers. For fhelc last twa 4ay* the weather has been fa
fquaffy as to preclude all communication by boats between
the ihips of the squadron. 1 e ”
.‘tTlTi”??*<*, bc
v m2* \t >Z
I Mufl, K ft * We/ ’
Europfy ‘ g - *
Pruderty ‘"N, -
Royal Oak t
London, - 3
Adatr.antf JV 7 ” - 5
Bedford t
America, _
• • ■*Total 30 .
Cffcer hilled. Hon. Lieut. Lyttelton, of the Robuft.’
Officer wounded. Master of the America.
Royal Oak, Lynnehaven Bay,
Atarcb 28, 1780.
TTV F OP A M j;-ARBUTHNOT.
• LINE OF BATTLE.
Mariot Arbuthnot, Esq. Vice Admiral of the Whir.
Commander in Chief. *
The America to lead with the far board, and the Robust ta
lead with the larboard tacks, on hoard. r
Ships. Names. Cans. Men’
America, Capt. ThomforiJ 64. enr>*
Bedford; Capt. Affleck,
Adamant, Capt. Jehnfton, * -, r^
ss ■ 7
*T oak> I at
Prudent, Capt. Burnetf.c
Europe, Capt. Child, £
Kobtiit; -
Fngates—Guadaloupe, Pearl to repeat signals, Iris.
Given bn board his Mayfly's pip the Royal Oak . in
, Gardiner's Bay, February *
*rrr V Mt ’ ARBUTHNOT. *
a Ilf* of the French/hips combofing the enemy's squadron, ttt
- the i6tb of March , 1781..
Ships Names. Guns. Ships AW Gun %
Neptune (coppered) 84 Ardent,
Bourgogne (coppered) 84 Jason, gT
Conquerant, f 74 Eveilie (coppered) 64
ProvenCe, 64 Romulus, ..
Frigates—Hermione, Gentile, Fantafque en flute, k-
Royai Oak, Lynnehaven Bey,
> Marc\j 28, 1781.
Mt. ARBUTHNOT.
* Otpbetis, Chatham , Savage, Halifax, Bonetta, Vulcan
firt-Jhip.
. .. ‘* * cj
:*4 . JV - * f -•
Whitehall, April 25. Difpatche* were this day,received
from Sir Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath, tg. Lord
George onfc of his Majesty’s principal Secre
taries of State, brought by the Mercury packet frbra New*
York, of which the fallowing are extra&s r
[N0.,24.]
