THE AMERICAN FIRESHIPS.

1 Memoirs of General Heath, 51.

2 Ibid.

3 [Hall's] History of the Citiil War in America, i., 186.

4 We have taken this minute description of the assault on the enemy's ships from Captain Hall's History of the Civil War in America, i., 180, 187 because it is so clearly stated, and because it is the work of an officer of the Royal Army, and, therefore, is not likely to have been overstated.

6 Gordon's History of the American Revolution, ii.,305. o Memoirs of General Heath, 54.

the galleys more actively co-operated with them ; and there was evidently some dissatisfaction displayed, because of that nautical backwardness; 9 but these

1 Lieutenant Loudon, of Colonel Nicoll's Regiment, and two privates of hisCompany, {General Heathto General Washington, "Kino's Bribge, "August 20, 1176.")

8 General Washington to Governor Trumbull, "New-York, August 18, " 1776."

» Ibid.

General Heath reported to General Washington, on the morning after the attack, that the galleys Lady Washington and Independence had behaved well, in their co-operation with the firevessels, while the other galleys were inactive ; and the Commander-in-chief answered, on the same day, expressing his pleasure in hearing of the good behavior of those who 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."-- {Bidim-d Oarey, Jun. A.D.C.io General Heath, " Head-quarters, 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-