Caleb Brewster to Henry Knox reporting a gunboat fight - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC02437.01954
From Archive Folder	The Henry Knox Papers [0054] 14-28 February 1783
Title	Caleb Brewster to Henry Knox reporting a gunboat fight
Date	26 February 1783
Author	Brewster, Caleb (1747-1827)
Recipient	Knox, Henry
Document Type	Correspondence; Military document
Content Description	Recounts and describes a gunboat fight with an enemy ship, which they boarded.
Subjects	Navy Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Military History Continental Army Whaling Spying Loyalist Global History and Civics Battle
People	Brewster, Caleb (1747-1827) Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
Place written	Springfield, Massachusetts
Theme	The American Revolution; Naval & Maritime
Sub-collection	The Henry Knox Papers
Additional Information	Brewster was a whaler and a member of the Culper spy ring. He commanded a fleet of whale boats operating from the Connecticut shore against British and Tory shipping on Long Island Sound. Brewster made numerous trips with his Whaleboat Navy, sailing into Long Island Sound to attack British shipping and across to Setauket, New York to bring messages back for Major Benjamin Tallmadge to deliver to General Washington.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide Download PDF [draft] Springfield Febry 26 1783 Sir I take the liberty to Enform the general that I have sow [sic] far Recovered of my Wound that I have bin Abil to go on another Cruse on the 20th Instant I Embarked on bord Capt Ammis hubbils sloop with forty five Continental soldiers detach by Major Tallmudge under Lt Rhea and Lt holling Added to my Detachment I [profd a privet tour] from New york came up with her of Milford and Engnd. her took her With out the loss of Either one Man killed or Wounded on my part She w[text loss] [Commanded] by Capt Jonson Mountc[text loss]un Carrage guns and four Swa[text loss] Jonson was killed and two others mortally Wounded one of them is since Dead we Recevd a full broid [sic] side from her which did us considerable dammage in our spurs [strikeout] Riggin and Sails before she could bring her other [broid] side to bair We Run her along side and boarded her I order the Soldiers to keep up a Constant fire which drove them from ther Quartors we unfortinutely was a few ours to soon as she was to take in a Carg [sic] of oxen and other produce that night in Return for a Cargo of goods [2] Which she landed About ten days before to the Amount of ten thouss pound her [Billet] was six six pounders four two pounders and one double fortified three pounder and four [Carag Swavils] [sic] [struck: and twenty] three men. With Respt I Remain your Most obedient Servt. Caleb Bewster Majr. General Knox [docket] F Lt Brewster 26 Feby 1783.

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