GENERAL WARD TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Boston, May 17, 1776.

SIR: I have the pleasure to inform you that Captain Mugford, in the Continental armed schooner Franklin, this day took and brought into this harbour a ship from Cork, about three hundred tons burden, laden chiefly with ordnance stores. A bill of lading I have enclosed. She carried four three-pounders. The master informs that nine sail of transports came out with this ship, under convoy of a frigate, all laden with provisions and ordnance stores for the King’s troops, which they supposed were in Boston. I cannot learn any important intelligence by the people on board this ship; she sailed from Cork the 4th of April.

Wishing you and all the Members of Congress the Divine direction, I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

ARTEMAS WARD.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

Boston, May 20, 1776.

Early last Friday morning the Franklin schooner, one of the Continental cruisers, commanded by Captain James Mugford, of Marblehead, fell in with one of the enemy’s transport-ships from Cork, bound directly into this harbour, the Captain not knowing that the place had been evacuated by the British fleet and army. Notwithstanding she appeared to be an armed ship, and was in sight of the enemy’s men of war lying in Nantasket, Captain Mugford resolutely bore down upon her, and took her without opposition. She mounted six carriage-guns, a number of swivels, and had on board eighteen men. The Franklin, at that time, had only twenty-one men. Captain Mugford determining to bring her into this harbour, the inhabitants, on leaving their respective places of worship after the forenoon’s service, (it being the day of the Continental fast,) had the pleasure of seeing the most valuable prize taken since the commencement of the war, entering the harbour. But it being ebbtide, she ran ashore in Pulling-Point gut, where she lay till the ensuing night. As her cargo was of almost inestimable value to these Colonies, it was thought prudent to bring up to town the greatest part of it in boats; and a large number being immediately despatched, the same was soon safely landed and properly deposited.

The ship is about three hundred tons burden, Alexander Lumsdale master. She had five weeks’ passage, and sailed from Cork in company with twelve or thirteen other transports, all bound to this place, from which she parted a few days before she was taken. The others, it is concluded, hearing of the evacuation of the town from one of their cruisers, steered for Halifax. The Captain brings no material advices.

The following is an inventory of the cargo of the above-mentioned prize ship, taken and brought in here last Friday, viz:

Handsaws, whet and set, 6; tennant do., 6; turning do., 6; broad-axes, helved, 6; adzes, helved, 6; penmauls, helved, 6; hammers, claw, 6, riveting, 6; chissels, broad-helved 6, scribing 6, heading 12, paring 6, firmer 36, mortice 24, and large 12; gouges, helved, firmer 36, peeking 6, and trunnion 12; pierces or pads, stocks and springs, 6; bitts for do. 72; draw borers, helved, 24; pairs of pincers, 6; iron squares, 6; brass chalk-line, rolls, 6; chalkline, knots, 12; iron compasses, pairs, 6; engineers’ augurs, (8 to a set) sets 6; thrifts for do., 48; two feet rules, 6; black lead-pen-cils, dozens, 6; stones, rub 6, rag 6, Turkey oil 6; rasps, 12; saw-sets, 6; files for do., 18; gimlets, sorted, 124, large spike, 12; glue, 12 pounds; copper glue-pots, 6; fish skins, 6; mallets, 6; betties, or small iron crows, 6; planes of all sorts, 132; Hambro’ line, skains, 50; spikes, from five to eight and a half-inch, 29 cwt. 3 qr.; nails, 24-penny, 35, 500; pick-axes with helves, 500; hammers with helves, sledge, 25; augurs with thrifts, 75.

Office of Ordnance, November 4, 1775.

The enemy, on board the men of war below, intolerably vexed and chagrined that the above ship should be taken and unloaded in their open view, formed a design of wreaking their vengeance on the gallant Captain Mugford, who took her. The Sunday following Captain Mugford, in company with Captain Cunningham, in the Lady Washington, a small privateer armed with swivels, blunderbusses, and muskets, fell down, in order to go out in the bay. The enemy observed their sailing, and fitted out a fleet of boats for the purpose of surprising and taking them in the night; and the Franklin’s running aground in the gut, gave them a good opportunity for executing their plan. The Lady Washington c ame to anchor near Captain Mugford; and between nine and ten o’clock he discovered a number of boats, which he hailed, and received for answer that they were from Boston. He ordered them to keep off, or he would fire upon them. They begged him for God’s sake not to fire, for they were going on board him. Captain Mugford, instantly fired, and was followed by all his men; and cutting his cable, brought his broadside to bear, when he discharged his cannon, loaded with musket-ball, directly in upon them. Before the cannon could be charged a second time, two or three boats were alongside, each of them supposed to have as many men on board as the Franklin, which were only twenty-one, including officers. By the best accounts there were not less than thirteen boats in all, many of them armed with swivels, and having on board, at the lowest computation, two hundred men. Captain Mugford and his men plied those alongside so closely with firearms and spears, and with such intrepidity, activity, and success, that two boats were soon sunk, and all the men either killed or drowned. But while the heroick Mugford, with outstretched arms, was righteously dealing death arid destruction to our base and unnatural enemies, he received a fatal ball in his body, which, in a few minutes, put a period to a life from which, had it been spared, his oppressed country would undoubtedly have reaped very eminent advantages. After our brave men had maintained this unequal contest for about half an hour, the enemy thought proper to retire. The carnage among them must have been great; for, besides the two boat-loads killed and drowned, many were doubtless killed and wounded on board the others. Great execution was done by the spears. One man, with that weapon, is positive of having killed nine of the enemy.

The number of boats which attacked the Franklin was about eight or nine. The remainder, to the number of four or five, at the same time attacked Captain Cunningham, in the Lady Washington, who then had on board only six men besides himself. This brave little company gave the boats such a warm reception that the enemy were soon glad to give over the contest, after suffering, it is thought, considerable loss.

The body of one of the marines killed in the above engagement, and one of the enemy’s thirteen-oared barges, have been taken up at Chelsea. The remains of Captain Mugford have been carried to Marblehead for interment. No other life on our part was lost.

COLONEL PALMER TO THOMAS CUSHING.

Braintree, May 17, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Yesterday a party of the enemy landed upon Pettick’s Island, at or near the Sheep’s Pen, and travelled