were taken with the two prizes brought into this port last winter by Captain Coit. My letter must have miscarried, as I have received no answer to it; on this account the trial of these two vessels has been postponed from time to time, as no evidence can be had against them but from those papers. The former owners lay claim to them, and urge that their going to Nova-Scotia for provisions was absolutely necessary for the support of their families and connexions, and that they did not intend to supply the garrison at Boston. These papers, can they be obtained, will elucidate this matter.

Relying on your Excellency’s giving a few moments attention to this business, I must beg leave to subscribe myself your Excellency’s most obedient, much obliged, and very humble servant,

WILLIAM WATSON.

To His Excellency General Washington.

CAPTAIN HARDING TO. GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Boston, June 19, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: I sailed on Sunday last from Plymouth. Soon after we came to sail, I heard a considerable firing to the northward. In the evening fell in with four armed schooners near the entrance of Boston harbour, who informed me they had been engaged with a ship and brig, and were obliged to quit them. Soon after I came up into Nantasket Roads, where I found the ship and brig at anchor. I immediately fell in between the two, and came to anchor about eleven o’clock at night. I hailed the ship, who answered, from Great Britain. I ordered her to strike her colours to America. They answered me by asking, What brig is that? I told them the Defence. I then hailed him again, and told him I did not want to kill their men; but have the ship I would at all events, and again desired them to strike; upon which the Major (since dead) said, Yes, I’ll strike, and fired a broadside upon me, which I immediately returned, upon which an engagement begun, which continued three glasses, when the ship and brig both struck. In this engagement I had nine wounded, but none killed. The enemy had eighteen killed, and a number wounded. My officers and men behaved with great bravery; no men could have outdone them.

We took out of the above vessels two hundred and ten prisoners, among whom is Colonel Campbell, of General Frazer’s Regiment of Highlanders. The Major was killed.

Yesterday a ship was seen in the bay, which came towards the entrance of the harbour, upon which I came to sail, with four schooners in company. We came up with her, and took her without any engagement. There were on board about one hundred and twelve Highlanders.

As there are a number more of the same fleet expected every day, and the General here urges my stay, I shall tarry a few days, and then proceed for New-London. My brig is much damaged in her sails and rigging.

If your Honour has any commands, be so good as to communicate them by a line. I hope your Honour will excuse this request, and excuse my copying this fair, for want of time.

I am, with great respect, yours,

SETH HARDING.

To the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, CAMPBELL TO GENERAL HOWE.

Boston, June 19, 1776.

SIR: I am sorry to inform you that it has been my unfortunate lot to have fallen into the hands of the Americans in the middle of Boston harbour; but when the circumstances which have occasioned this disaster are understood, I flatter myself no reflection will arise to myself or my officers on account of it. On the 16th of June the George and Annabella transports, with two companies of the Seventy-First Regiment of Highlanders, made the land off Cape-Ann, after a passage of seven weeks from Scotland, during the course of which we had not the opportunity of speaking to a single vessel that could give us the smallest information of the British troops having evacuated Boston. On the 17th, at daylight, we found ourselves opposite to the harbour’s mouth at Boston; but, from contrary winds, it was necessary to make several tacks to reach it. Four schooners (which we took to be pilots, or armed vessels in the service of his Majesty, but which were afterwards found to be four American privateers, of eight carriage-guns, twelve swivels, and forty men each) were bearing down upon us at four o’clock in the morning. At half an hour thereafter two of them engaged us, and about eleven o’clock the other two were close alongside. The George transport, (on board of which were Major Menzies and myself, with one hundred and eight of the Second Battalion, the Adjutant, the Quartermaster, two Lieutenants, and five volunteers, were passengers) had only six pieces of cannon to oppose them; and the Annabella (on board of which was Captain McKenzie, together with two subalterns, two volunteers, and eighty-two private men of the First Battalion) had only two swivels for her defence. Under such circumstances, I thought it expedient for the Annabella to keep ahead of the George, that our artillery might be used with more effect and less obstruction. Two of the privateers having stationed themselves upon our larboard quarter and two upon our starboard quarter, a tolerable cannonade ensued, which, with very few intermissions, lasted till four o’clock in the evening, when the enemy bore away, and anchored in Plymouth harbour. Our loss upon this occasion was only three men mortally wounded on board the George, one killed and one man slightly wounded on board the Annabella. As my orders were for the port of Boston, I thought it my duty, at this happy crisis, to push forward into the harbour, not doubting I should receive protection either from a fort or some ship of force stationed there for the security of our fleet.

Toward the close of the evening we perceived the four schooners that were engaged with us in the morning, joined by the brig Defence, of sixteen carriage-guns, twenty swivels, and one hundred and seventeen men, and a schooner of eight carriage-guns, twelve swivels, and forty men, got under way and made towards us. As we stood up for Nantasket Road, an American battery opened upon us, which was the first serious proof we had that there could scarcely be many friends of ours at Boston; and we were too far embayed to retreat, especially as the wind had died away, and the tide of flood not half expended. After each of the vessels had twice run aground, we anchored at George’s Island, and prepared for action; but the Annabella, by some misfortune, got aground so far astern of the George we could expect but a feeble support from her musketry. About eleven o’clock four of the schooners anchored right upon our bow, and one right astern of us. The armed brig took her station on our starboard side, at the distance of two hundred yards, and hailed us to strike the British flag. Although the mate of our ship and every sailor on board (the Captain only excepted) refused positively to fight any longer, I have the pleasure to inform you that there was not an officer, non-commissioned officer, or private man of the Seventy-First but what stood to their quarters with a ready and cheerful obedience. On our refusing to strike the British flag, the action was renewed with a good deal of warmth on both sides, and it was our misfortune, after the sharp combat of an hour and a half, to have expended every shot that we had for our artillery. Under such circumstances, hemmed in as we were with six privateers, in the middle of an enemy’s harbour, beset with a dead calm, without the power of escaping, or even the most distant hope of relief, I thought it became my duty not to sacrifice the lives of gallant men wantonly in the arduous attempt of an evident impossibility. In this unfortunate affair Major Menzies and seven private soldiers were killed, the Quartermaster and twelve private soldiers wounded. The Major was buried with the honours of war at Boston.

Since our captivity, I have the honour to acquaint you that we have experienced the utmost civility and good treatment from the people of power at Boston, insomuch, sir, that I should do injustice to the feelings of generosity did I not make this particular information with pleasure and satisfaction. I have now to request of you that, so soon as the distracted state of this unfortunate controversy will admit, you will be pleased to take an early opportunity of settling a cartel for myself and officers,

I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL,
Lieut. Col 2d Bat. 71st Regiment.

To General Howe.

P. S. On my arrival at Boston I found that Captain

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