The 19th of last May I wrote a full account of my proceedings to that date.

The 20th, the Sphynx and Pensacola Packet returned from reconnoitering and making their observations on Charleston . The engineer's report of the state of the fortifications and the works carrying on, added to an account General Clinton received that the troops would not be wanted so soon as he expected, made an attempt on that place advisable.

The 21st of May, the Sphynx and Pensacola chased a ship and a pirate brig of18 guns called the Comet; the brig got over Charleston bar and anchored within gunshot of the ship, which they run on shore. Lieutenant Caulfield in the Pensacola, mounting only two swivels, assisted by the Sphynx's boats, set her on fire though she was under the protection of the brig, a schooner of 16 guns and several armed vessels that came down the river to prevent her from being destroyed, or got off. The ship was called the St James, Captain Wilson, belonging to Bristol , laden with rum and sugar she sailed from Jamaica the 27th of April and was taken the 18th of May coming through the Gulf Stream by the forementioned brig commanded by one Turpin.

The 22nd, Lieutenant Caulfield took a sloop close in shore and burnt her. I have mentioned these circumstances because Captain Hunt thought it incumbent on him to write to me and bestow much praise on Mr Caulfield on this occasion.

May the 30th, the fleet got over the bar at Cape Fear and I gave out a rendezvous by General Clinton's desire for Bull's Bay, and that night sent the Sphynx and the Delegate (a boat belonging to the general) to look in there to gain intelligence.

The next morning we sailed and joined the Ranger with her convoy which complete the whole number of ships under my direction excepting such as their lordships have ordered on a different service. By the Ranger I received their lordships' instructions of the 8th of last March.

June the 1st, we anchored off Bull's Bay but not finding the intelligence expected, it was determined to move as soon as possible to Charleston bar. That night the Sphynx and St Lawrence schooner, and next morning the Active, were sent off the bar to make observations and remove any obstructions that might be laid in our way.

June the 2nd, the Ranger and Delegate went to sound the north end of Sullivan's Island and Long Island as far as the Rattlesnake, and next day from the northward of the Rattlesnake to the north end of Long Island.

June the 3rd, foreseeing what great advantages might be drawn from arming the Friendship, and havng authority from the Lords of the Admiralty to employ her as an armed ship, I gave Mr. Hope, the 1st lieutenant of the Bristol, an order to command her; and I have the pleasure to inform their lordships that through, the zeal, activity and good conduct of Captain Hope, she was of singular service

June the 4th, the whole fleet except the Ranger anchored off Charleston bar.

The 5th, the Delegate, covered by the Friendship, sounded the bar and laid down buoys preparatory to the intended entrance of the harbour tomorrow by the frigates; ordered the St Lawrence to join the Ranger and the Friendship to proceed to the southward of Long Island .

The 6th, directed Captain Wills to place the Ranger, St Lawrence and Friendship where General Clinton thought proper.

The 7th, being convinced from the view I had of the fortification on Sulivan's Island that the Bristol's assistance would be absolutely necessary, I directed Captain Williams to assemble the captains of the squadron and call before him all the masters and pilots for their opinion whether the Bristol could he got over the bar. They having reported that if she could be brought to 17 feet 6 inches she might be got over, I gave immediate orders for her guns to be taken out and the ship to be lightened for that purpose. The same day all the frigates and most of the transports got over into Five Fathom Hole; the Prince of Piedmont  victualler stuck fast on the bar' and was bilged, but all the provisions were saved. The St Lawrence schooner and eight of the smallest transports joined the Ranger at Spence's Creek, which is to the northward of Long Island , and the armed ship took her station off the south end. 

The 8th, a flag of t truce came off with a letter from a person who styles himself Colonel Moultry apologising for firing at our flag of truce that went yesterday with a proclamation from General Clinton.

The 15th, gave the captains my arrangement for the attack of the batteries on Sulivan's Island and wrote next day to the general to acquaint him that the ships were ready. At 5 this morning the boats of the squadron under the command of Lieutenant Molloy of the Bristol attacked and forced ashore near Stone's Creek a large sloop mounting 10 four-pounders. The rebels havng scuttled her, Mr Molloy set her on fire and she blew up soon after with a very great explosion, being for the most part laden with gunpowder purchased at St Eustatia.

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June the 28th, 12 past 9, informed General Clinton by signal that I should go on the attack. Half an hour after ten, I made the signal to weigh and about a quarter after eleven the ships brought up against the fort (a view of which I now send you) in the following order: the Active against the three guns on the face of the east bastion, Bristol against five guns in the curtain and the two on the flank of the bastion, Experiment against the four remaining guns in the curtain and the two on the flank of the west bastion, Solebay against the three guns on the face of the west bastion. The Thunder bomb, covered by the Friendship, brought the salient angle of the east bastion to bear NWbN, and Colonel James (who has ever since our arrival been very anxious to give the best assistance) threw several shells, a little before and during the engagement, in a very good direction. The Sphynx, Actaeon and Syren were to have been to the westward to prevent fireships or other vessels from annoying the ships engaged, to enfilade the works, and when the rebels were driven from them to cut off their retreat if possible. This last service was not performed owing to the ignorance of the pilots who run the three frigates aground; the Sphynx and Syren got off in a few hours, but the Actaeon remained fast till the next morning when the captain and officers, thought proper to scuttle and set her on fire. I ordered a court martial on the captain, officers, and company, and they have been honourably acquitted. Captain Hope made his armed ship as useful as he could on this occasion and he merits everything that can be said in his favour. During the time of our being abreast of the fort, which was near ten hours, a brisk fire was kept up by the ships with intervals, and we had the satisfaction after being engaged two hours to oblige the rebels to slacken their fire very much. We drove large parties several times out of the fort, which were replaced by others from the main. About 1/2 an hour after 3, a considerable reinforcement from Mount Pleasant hung a man on a tree at the back of the fort, and we imagine that the same party ran away about an hour after, for the fort was then totally silenced and evacuated near one hour and an half, but the rebels finding that our army could not take possession, about 6 o'clock a considerable body of people reentered the fort and renewed the firing from 2 or 3 guns, the rest being I suppose dismounted. About 9 o'clock, it being very dark, great part of our ammunition expended, the people fatigued, the tide of ebb almost done, no prospect from the eastward, and no possibility of our being of any further service, I ordered the ships to withdraw to their former moorings. Their lordships will see plainly by this account that if the troops could have cooperated on this attack, that His Majesty would have been in possession of Sulivan's Island ; but I must beg leave here to be fully understood, lest it should be imagined that I mean to throw even the most distant reflection on our army. I should not discharge my conscience were I not to acknowledge that such was my opinion of His Majesty's troops, from the general down to the private soldier, that after I had been engaged some hours and perceived that the troops had not got a footing on the north end of Sulivan's Island, I was perfectly satisfied that the landing was impracticable and that the attempt would have been the destruction of many brave men without the least probability of success; and this I am certain will appear to be the case when General Clinton represents his situation. The Bristol had 40 men killed and 71 wounded;. the morning after the engagement the mizen-mast fell overboard, and we have been obliged to cut off 22 feet of the mainmast and to case and fish the remainder of it; the foremast must be also fished; the head of the main topmast and caps of the bowsprit and topgallant mast shot away, and she is also much damaged in her hull, yards and rigging. The Experiment had 23 killed and 56 wounded, and suffered much in her hull, masts, yards and rigging; the Active, Lieutenant Pike killed, 6 wounded; and the Solebay 8 wounded. The fort has 26- and 32-pounders; several unlucky accidents concurred to make it difficult to silence it. The 3 frigates ran aground in endeavouring to get to their stations. Our springs were shot away, and the tide would not suffer us for a long time to carry out an anchor. Not one man who was quartered at the beginning of the action on the Bristol 's quarterdeck escaped being killed or wounded. Captain Morris lost his right arm and received other wounds; the master is wounded in his right arm but will recover the use of it; I received several contusions at different times, but as none of them are on any part where the least danger can be apprehended, they are not worth mentioning. Lieutenants Caulfield, Molloy and Nugent were the lieutenants of the Bristol in the action. They behaved so remarkably well that it is impossible to say to whom the preference is due, and so indeed I may say of all the petty officers, ship's company, and volunteers. At the head of the latter I must place Lord William Campbell, who was so condescending as to accept of the direction of some guns on the lower gun deck; his lordship received a contusion on his left side but I have the happiness to inform their lordships that it has not proved of much consequence.

Mr. Caulfield, who acted as my captain during great part of the engagement, I appointed the 2nd inst. to the command of the Thunder bomb till further order in the room of Captain Reid, preferred to the Sphynx, whose captain I have appointed to the Active, and Captain Williams to the Experiment, vacant by the resignation of Captain Scott who has lost his left arm and is otherwise so wounded that I fear he will not recover. Lieutenant Deans of the Thunder bomb, who was on board the Bristol some hours in the heat of action and passed through some severe firing in carrying my orders to different ships, I appointed 2nd lieutenant of the Bristol in the room of Mr Molloy, moved to be first.

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Dated 2nd July 1776

Captain Wounded

July the 3rd, Captain Morris, who lost his arm and is since dead, having resigned the command of the Bristol, I promoted Captain Caulfield of the Thunder bomb to be captain of her, Lieutenant Molloy to the command of the Thunder, Lieutenant Deans to be 1st lieutenant of the Bristol, and Lieutenant Riddall (who was first of the Experiment and fought her much to my satisfaction) to be second. I have continued Mr. Nugent (whose deserts are equal to any promotion he can receive) 3rd lieutenant, though he acted as such, in the engagement, because I had only promoted him a few days before to be a lieutenant, and the other two gentlemen have length of service to plead and an unblemished reputation which made them known and respected as officers before this period. Agreeable to their lordships' order authorizing me to appoint officers to act, I shall deliver to the commander-in-chief in America, when I join him, a list of such appointments as I have made since I was honoured with this command, for his determination. All of them, except two, have been in consequence of vacancies caused by the late engagement. I cannot conclude this long letter without remarking that, when it was known that we had many men too weak to come to quarters, almost all the seamen belonging to the transports offered their service with a truly British spirit and a just sense of the cause we are engaged in. I accepted of upwards of 50 to supply the place of our sick. The masters of many of the transports attended with their boats, but particular thanks are due to Mr. Chambers, the master of the Mercury. All the regiments will be embarked in a few days. The first brigade consisting of four regiments will sail in a day or two under convoy for New York . The Bristol and Experiment will I hope soon follow with the remainder. I have sent Captain Hope to England in the Ranger with General Clinton's dispatches and mine, the Friendship being reinstated as a transport.

PS. Two of the Bristol 's lower deck guns are quite unserviceable by the trunnions being shot off.

Governor Lord William Campbell to Lord George Germain
  8 July, H.M.S. Bristol, Five Fathom Hole, near Charleston

  My Lord,
  In my letter No. 12 by the Duke of Cumberland packet I had the honour to acquaint your lordship of my meeting General Clinton at sea and proceeding with him to Cape Fear to wait the arrival of Lord Cornwallis and Sir Peter Parker with the troops and ships.

  As the general saw no flattering opening for any attempt in North Carolina , it was determined to sail for Charleston and endeavour to destroy the forts and batteries the rebels had erected in that harbour and take possession of the town. In case of success, I imagine it was the general's intention to have left a garrison there and then to have proceeded to the northward with the remainder of the troops to join General Howe as the season was too far advanced to attempt any farther operations in these southern provinces.
 

  We arrived off Charleston Harbour the 4th of June, and by the 10th the Bristol with all the men-of-war and transports got over the bar, and a few days afterwards the Experiment of 50 guns fortunately arrived and joined the fleet.

  As your lordship will receive a very particular account from the general and commodore of the movements of the troops and the attack made by the ships on the fort on Sullivan's Island the 28th of June, it is unnecessary for me to trouble your lordship with a detail of those transactions. After above nine hours cannonade the ships drew off, the Bristol and Experiment having suffered  greatly, and the Acteon unfortunately getting aground was next morning set on fire by her own people and totally destroyed. As I was present on board the Bristol during the whole action I want words to express the gallant behaviour of both officers and men during one of the longest and severest cannonades I ever saw. Sir Peter Parker behaved with the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and was bravely seconded by Captain Scott in the Experiment who has lost his arm. Captain Morris of the Bristol , after behaving with the most distinguished bravery and conduct, also lost an arm and was otherwise so much hurt by splinters that he is since dead of his wounds. Sir Peter Parker was severely bruised but has no dangerous wound. I received a contusion in my left side but not of consequence enough to oblige me to quit the deck. I cannot help observing in justice to General Clinton and the troops under his command that I am certain it was a very sensible mortification and distress to them not to be able to cooperate with the squadron the day of the attack, as the same zeal and ardour to promote the great common cause of the whole British empire actuates both services. The anxiety of mind as well as the personal inconveniences I have suffered since my arrival in this province has greatly hurt my health and would have induced me to have requested His Majesty's permission to return to England for a few months, did not the present posture of affairs in this wretched country absolutely forbid my thinking of it; and as in all probability the commanders-in-chief may think it expedient to attempt the reduction of the southern provinces during the winter. I shall proceed with the fleet to the northward that I may be ready to give my best assistance in forwarding any operations the Admiral and General may think proper to undertake in that season.

  By the latest accounts from the back parts of this province I have the strongest assurances of the steadiness of the friends of government in those districts and that the Indians are ready to receive and protect all those oppressed people who are obliged to fly from their habitations. I have also the pleasure of learning that by the indefatigable pains of Mr Stuart and his deputies the rebels, with all their address and industry, have not been able to gain the least ground amongst the Indian nations who are all in the best disposition possible.

  In a letter I had the honour of writing to my Lord Dartmouth near ten months ago, I mentioned the necessity I should be under of opening a contingent account to defray many necessary and unavoidable expenses. As I received no positive instructions from his lordship on that subject I deferred drawing as long as possible, but all resources of my own being now totally cut off, I am under a necessity of drawing occasionally for such small sums as the exigencies of the service may require till His Majesty's pleasure shall be signified to me. Your lordship may be assured my disbursements shall be regulated by the strictest economy and proper vouchers carefully preserved. I also wrote my Lord Dartmouth of my arming and employing a schooner in the King's service. She has already been extremely useful and will I hope be more so, as by her light draught of water she is perfectly well calculated to run up the creeks and rivers, and it must be through those alone the rebels can now have any supplies. As the schooner will be more useful on this coast than to the northward I have directed the officer commanding her to proceed to St Augustine, there to receive any information or direction Governor Tonyn may please to give that will promote the King's service, and in his way he will look into the different creeks and bays along the coast.

  As I must think it of the last consequence that a correspondence should be supported if possible with the friends of government and the constitution in the back country, and every encouragement in power given them to persevere in their loyal principles, I have determined before I quit this place to send two very worthy and trusty men, Messrs Macklaurin and Phillips, into the back parts of this province through the Creek and Cherokee nations to encourage that spirit which has hitherto reigned there, and to assure them they are not forgotten. As those gentlemen are of considerable consequence, in these districts and perfectly acquainted with the people and the country, if they get safely up, which I cannot doubt, they will prevent many misrepresentations being credited that might do mischief amongst those well-meaning but ignorant people.