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like to have been attended with Consequences very disagreable
to them. The Residue of our Guns for the Ship arrived only
Wednesday Night and on Thursday Morning was wanted.
On Friday Night she was towed a little Way down the river
manned with a Parcel of Buckskin Heroes and other brave
Fellows. Several small Vessels were crowded with Men to
assist in case of an Engagement, which would have been
dreadfull,as we understand Capt Nicholson intended to grapple
at once. She got under Way very early in the Morning,
resolved to retake Hudson's Ship and engage the Otter,
which was 4 or 5 Miles below, if she moved to her Relief.
Hudson's Vessel was guarded by the Tenders— the morning
was thick and hazy and the Defence got nearer to them before
she was discovered than was agreeable to them. They were
much alarmed (not having any Idea our Ship was in Readiness
to venture out) and pushed off with the utmost Expedition,
leaving the Ship and 4 or 5 small Vessels which had fallen
into their Hands. The lenders would probably have been
taken if the Otter receiving a Signal-Gun had not sent off men
to double-man their Oars. The Defence stretched backward
and forward below her Prizes and at length, seeing the Otter
get under Way, came to, close by Hudson's Vessel and pre-
pared for Battle expecting she was coming up to her, but to
the amazement of our Brave Countrymen she bore away and
anchored in the Afternoon off Annapolis. Nicholson continued
his Station thinking it inexpedient to risque an Action, as he
had such a valuable Prize under his care. In the Evening a
Flag was sent in. The Gentlemen behaved very politely and
on some subjects were free and communicative — they know
every thing which is transacted here and to the Northward.
The Flag brought a letter to the Governor from Capt. Squire
Commander of the Otter desiring Provisions for his Sloop &
that a Tender might be permitted to take unmolested a New-
England Sloop loaded with Bread and Flour which we had
sent up Severn. The Governor laid this Letter before us.
We refused a Supply of Provisions and took no notice of that
Part of his Letter which related to the New-England Vessel
thinking it rather an Insult, but ordered a Guard of about 50
Men to be immediately put over her. We received two other
Flags in the Morning, one of them for our Answer and the
other with Prisoners who say they were treated with the
greatest Humanity and lenderness. The Otter and her
Tenders with some Prize-Vessels sailed down the Bay yester-
day, but we expect they will return again soon reinforced, as
from what we can collect they are bent upon taking or destroy-
ing the Defence. 5782 lbs. of our powder is arrived in Potow-
mack and safe landed at Bladensburg.
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