Letter from Christopher Gadsden to Colonel Moultrie

v6:1192

Fort Johnston, July 1, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I most heartily congratulate the Colony on the drubbing you gave those fellows the other day, and only wish you had had powder enough, that it might have been complete. Enclosed I send you a copy of a letter I sent General Lee this morning, containing the information I received from five honest fellows (Americans) that got away last night.

If they come up again, they are determined to come as close to the forts as possible, in order, I suppose, to command us more easily from their tops. Two of these men were on board the Commodore in the action. They say your first fire killed a man in the tops, upon which the Commodore ordered them all out of the tops, from whence they assured us there was not a gun fired. The Sphinx lost her bowsprit by running foul of the Acteon, and they were obliged either to cut away their' bowsprit or the Acteon' s mainmast. These men all belonged to the Acteon, and two of them were drafted on board the Commodore just before the action. I fired three cannon at the Syren, merely to please several of my officers, which fell far short, as I expected. We admired your behaviour, but could do no more. My compliments to all your corps; we drink their healths every day. If you will send this account to General Armstrong I shall be obliged to you.

Yours, sincerely,

CHRISTOPHER GADSDEN.

P˙ S. As soon as the action began, the Commodore ordered to be put into a place of safety negro Sampson, a black pilot.

C˙ G.