One of the fire-ships grappled a tender (or " bombketch," according

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

to Bass), and the other made fast to the " Phoenix." The fires were lighted, and instantly the rafts were aflame. The tender, or bombketch, was burned to the water's edge, and the "Phoenix" seemed exerin a fair way of total destrnction, but was saved by desperate tions. Nevertheless she was tired in several places, and much of her rigging was cut away so that the flames might not catch it. Most some of'Wcrew of the tender perished, and it is supposed that nun on the " Phcenix " were lost. Captain Thomas and Ave of his men were unable to escape to their whaleboat after applying the match to the combustibles. They jumped into the water and were drowned. Washington's account of this daring and, indeed, very brilliant affair is as follows: The night of the 16th two of our fire vessels attempted to burn the ships of war up the river. One of these boarded the « Phoenix," of forty-four guns, and was grappled with her for some minutes, but unluckily she cleared herself. The only damage the enemy sustained was the destruction of one tender. It is agreed on all hands that our people engaged in this affair behaved with great resolution and intrepidity. One of the captains, Thomas, it is to be feared perished in the attempt, or in making his escape by swimming, as he has not been heard of. His bravery entitled him to a better fate. Though this enterprise did not succeed to our wishes, I incline to think it alarmed the enemy greatly; for this morning (Aucmst 18 ) the " Phoenix " and « Rose," with their two remaining tenders, taking advantage of a brisk and prosperous gale and favorable tide, quitted their stations and have returned and joined the rest of the fleet