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.")

1^ General }ya8hington to Governor TnimhuU, "New-York, .Xugust 18, " 177f>."

» Ibid.

General Heath reported to General Washington, on the morning after the attack, that the galleys Dull/ iVanhintjton and Lnhpendeaee had behaved well, in their co-operation with the firevess<-ls, while the other galleys were inactive ; and the Coniinander-in-chief answered, on the same day, expressing his pleiusure in hearing of the good behavior of those w ho had participated in the adventure, and instructing General Heath to " inquire into the cause of the inactivity of the other galleys, "and inform him thereof." -- {Richard Carey, Jun. A.D.C.to General Heath, " HF.AD-qrARTER.'!, August 17, 1776.")

In Adjutant-general's Reed's reply to Governor Trumbull's letter concerning the Connecticut galleys, after having recited the notorious mis-

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

repeated attacks aud the want of intercourse with the fleet abd the perils to which they were exposed, prompted tlie commanders of the ships, on tlie eighteenth of jVugiist, less than forty-eight hours after the last attack had been made on them, to take advantage of a strong easterly wind and a very rainy morning, to run down the river, past the fortifications thrown up by the Americans, and to join the main body of the fleet, off Staten Island, a feat which was successfully accomplished, without any considerable damage, " the air resounding with acclamations from the " fleet, re-echoed by the Army encamped on the "heights above,'" as they came to the anchorage.