her till she blew up, to prevent the Americans getting possession of her. This service Captain Hamond performed under a very severe fire, his springs having been cut three several times; and when heaving upon the fourth, 14 men were knocked down by one shot, which completely cleared two opposite capstern bars. The Augusta having at length exploded, and involved in her destruction the Merlin, the Hessians being at the same time repulsed with dreadful slaughter, he felt it necessary to retire from his very perilous situation[1].
On the 15th November, a more vigorous and successful attack was made on Mud Island, by the Somerset, Isis, Roebuck, Pearl, Liverpool, and three smaller vessels; the cannonade was so furious that the enemy were driven from their guns, and retired in great confusion. Those on the main soon shared the fate of their countrymen on the island; by which means a free communication was opened with Philadelphia by water. The Roebuck, on this occasion, had 3 men killed and 7 wounded. The total loss sustained by the other ships was no more than 3 slain and 13 wounded.
During the ensuing two years Captain Hamond was constantly employed on a variety of hazardous services, rendered necessary by the peculiar nature of the war. In February, 1780, he accompanied Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, who had recently hoisted his flag in the Roebuck as Commander-in-Chief on the American station, on an expedition against Charlestown, in South Carolina; from whence he returned to England with the official despatches relative to its reduction. During the operations against that place he appears to have acted per order as Captain of the Fleet[2].
- ↑ Mud Fort is situated on the Pennsylvania shore, and Red Bank on the Jersey side, near the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.
- ↑ In consequence of the badness of the weather, and the annoyance which the boats employed to sound the channel sustained from the enemies’ gallies, it was not till the 20th March that the British squadron was able to pass the bar; when the enemy, who had a considerable naval force in the harbour, which was drawn up in order of battle, as if determined to dispute the passage, abandoned their position and retired towards the town, where most of the armed ships, with several merchant vessels, were sunk to obstruct the navigation. On the requisition of Sir Henry Clinton some heavy guns were landed
