Commodore Parker in the Phoenix, led the way. A heavy fire was instantly opened upon the enemy, from the forts and batteries on Manhattan Island, and from those belonging to the opposite post at Mount Constitution on the Jersey shore, which a few days afterward, took the name of Fort Lee. The men-of-war to all appearance, sustained but little injury from the batteries, and were not impeded in the least by the chevaux-de-frise or hulks. Four days afterward, in writing of this affair to the Maryland Council of Safety, Colonel Ewing referring to the commander of one of the frigates, Captain Parker probably, says: "One gentleman, seemingly in command walked the second deck as if nothing were the matter, although seven forts kept firing constantly upon the ship. What damage was done is uncertain, but believe to be very trifling." From the report, however, which was subsequently made to Lord Howe by the British commodore, it appears that the ships suffered much in their masts and rigging; and that a lieutenant, two midshipmen, and six men were killed, and eighteen wounded; the loss fall-ing principally upon the Phoenix. The men-of-war kept on their course before the wind, while the American vessels, scudding ahead of them, stretched all their canvas and made every effort for escape. For a

Chapter I

8 THE MCDONALD PAPERS

while the hostile parties continued to make about the same headway, and the fugitives were full of hope. But this was a short duration, for the breeze freshened, and it soon be-came apparent that fortune was in favor of the pursuers. Near the mouth of the Spyt den duviel, they overtook a schooner laden with rum, sugar, wine and other supplies for the American army, which they captured, together with a vessel lying at anchor. They next overhauled the sloop hav-ing on board Bushnell's American Turtle and it was supposed that they were well aware of what the cargo consisted, for they continued firing into her until she went down to the bottom of the Hudson.