" said that one of the tenders was deserted by her " crew, for a time ;" that the tender which was grappled by Captain Thomas was burned to the water's edge and was towed to the shore, by the Americans," by whom one iron six-pound gun, two three-pounders, one two-pounder, ten swivels, a caboose and apron, some gun-barrels, cutla.>-ses, grapplings, chains, etc., were taken from the wreck ; and that the gallant crews of the fireships sustained neither loss nor injury, exee|)t in the instance of one man, who, in setting fire to his vessel, was considerably burned in his face, hands, etc., and in that of Captain Thomas, who, it was feared, perished in the attempt to fasten his vessel to the tender which it destroyed or in making his escape, by swimming, as he was not subseiiuently heard of. As (Jeneral Washington stated in the letter from which we derive the information, when writing of him, " his bravery entitled him to a " better fate." "
Notwithstanding the bravery and skill of those who conducted the firevessels and the considerable success which attended their efforts, it is said that the advantages gained would have been largely increased had
THK AMERICAN FIRESHIPS.
the galleys more actively co-operated with them ; and there was evidently some dissatisfaction displayed, because of that nautical backwardness ; '■* but these
T Lieutenant Loudon, of I'olonel Nicoll's Regiment, and two privates of hisCompany, (General Heathto General Washingtmi, "Kinu's Bridi;e, "August 20, 1776.")