The British quartered in Boston began soon to suffer much from the scarcity of provisions, and General Washington took every precaution to prevent their gaining a supp'y ー from the country all supplies could be easily cut off, and to prevent their receiving any from Tories and other disaffected persons by water, the General found it necessary to equip two or three armed vessels to intercept them; among these was the brigantine Washington of 10 guns, commanded by capt. Martindale ー as seamen at this time could not easily be obtained, as most of thein had enlisted in the land service, permission was given to any of the soldiers who should be pleased to accept of the offer, to man these vessels ー consequently myself with several others of the same regiment went on board the Washington, then lying at Plymouth, and in complete order for a cruize.