Block Island
No.13°Wt. Distt.
23 1/3 Leagues—
at 5 AM The French Fleet in sight standing after us. At 10 min: past 5 The Appollo1 made The Signal for A Sail in the East. at 20 min: to Form on the Starbd. Line of bearing. at 20 min: past 6 the Sommerset’s2 Signal was made to keep her Station in the Line. at 16 past 7 the Admiral3 made the Richmonds4 Signals to come within hale of him. at 38’ the Ferrets5 to speak with him. at 2’ past 8 The Adml: made Signal to prepare to alter Course four Points to Starboard and at 9 for the Appollo to come within hale of him. at 55’ past 9 for the Starbd. Division to keep in his Wake at 10 OClock for the Nonsuch6 to make more Sail. at 5’ past to prepare to alter Course 4. Points to Starbd. at 11 for the Appollo to come within hale of him. at 40’ past the Admiral shifted his Flag onboard the Appollo & made the Vigilants7 Signal to come within hale of him; at Noon Thick hazy weatr. with a Mode. Breeze. The French Fleet Consisting of Twelve Ships and Two Small Vessels standing after us endeavouring to form into a Line abreast. The nearest to the Van of our Fleet about 2 ½ Miles—
40°..22’ No. 00°..22’Wt
a Fresh Gale and hazy (1/2 past 1 Shortened Sail and in 2d Reef Topsls. At Noon the Admiral made the Signal to prepare to alter the Course 2 Points to Starbd. At 15’ Past Noon for the Centurion8 and Cornwall9 to interchange their places in the Line. At 30’ Ran under the Appollo’s Stern when the Admiral acqd. us we were to Engage the Enemey from Windwd. to Starboard and received his Orders as follows. If you think you can make use of the Fire Ship you have in Tow, do it, if not, you are to take your Station in the Rear Division, to speak the Vigilant and tell her to stay by the Nonsuch on her Starbd. Quarter to assist her, and if we Cast off the Strombolo10 Fire Ship we had in Tow, to Order her to make Sail ahead; at 12’ past 1 Commodore Hotham11 made the Signal for a Ship of his Division to make more Sail—at 15’ the Admiral hoisted a Blue White and Red Flag at his Ensign Staff$$at 20’ past 1 he repeated it. at 10’ past 2 he made the Vigilants signal to come within hale of him. At 45’ we ran under the Admiral’s Stern and Recd. his Orders, to keep the Fire Ship in Tow with the Rear Division and make use of her if possible, if the Weatr. should be more favourable to save the People and to Act according to my own judgment without any Signal from him At 10’ past 3 he made the Nonsuch & Cornwallis’s Signal to Close, at 55’ for the Second Division to Close. at 4 a fresh Gale and hazy Weatr. the French Fleet out of sight. At 5’ past 4 The Signal was made for the Larbd. Division to Shorten Sail, at the same we made the Signal for a Sail to NE at 5 OClock the Vigilant made the signal for gaining soundings 30 Fams. at 15’ past 5 the Admiral made the Signal to Shorten Sail and lye by the Wind after the Close of Day. At 6 a fresh Gale with hard Rain. in 3d Reef Topsails & handed Mizen Topsl. got down the Topgt: yards— Split the Main Topsl: & not being able to unbend it Cut it from the Yard. At 7 Cast off the Strombolo & Ordered her to keep near us. At 9 Brot. too. Bent another Main Topsail.