The New Hampshire Gazette

A Letter from a young Gentleman, on board the Eagle Man of War, to his Relations here.

I AM, thank God, in good Health. We brought to the 6th Instant three Miles to the Westward of Cherburg; the 7th at One in the Morning the Bombs began to play upon Cherburg, and continued playing till Four; at Half past Four the Prince and Commodore went on board the Pallas, to cover the Landing of the Men, where the Prince fired several Guns, and did the Duty of a Midshipman during the Fire; at Five a four Gun Battery began to play on our Ship, and continued playing till Six, then we weighed, and stood more in Shore to the Windward; at Eight several of the Enemy's Troops of Light Horse, and several Companies of Infantry, came along Shore, from Cherburg, and lodged themselves behind a Wood close to the Shore, abreast of our Ships, where they imagined we would land; at One the Commodore made the Signal, by hoisting the bloody Flag at the Fore top gallant mast head, for the Frigates, Bombs, and other small Vessels, which were close along Shore, to fire, which they did most infernal, and with so good Success, that in a short Time we dislodged the Enemy, so that there came running out of the Wood, some of the Horses without their Riders: The Brilliant Frigate was so well stationed that she killed a great Number as they passed her out of the Wood; at Half past One we landed the Troops, Half a Mile to the Westward of the Firing; at Three, our Troops had a few Skirmishes and Bush Firing, in which we had five killed, and fourteen wounded; there came in To-Day six Deserters: On the 8th we landed the Light Horse and Artillery, between Four and Six in the Morning, and before Eight several Detachments were dispatched about the Country; between Eight and One our Troops took Possession of several small Batteries along Shore, and about Two the French left Cherburg, which our Troops took Possession of at Three; there are about 50 small Craft in the Harbour, such as Sloops, Brigs, Snows, and the like, besides the Tyger Privateer of Bristol, a Dane, and a large Merchantman; there are in the Town two large Magazines of Powder: besides a Number of Brass Cannon. Captain McCarty, of the Irish Brigades, was cut in two by a Shot in our Cannonading; there are 24 of the Irish Brigades come over to us, and but three Irishmen among them, they being composed of several Nations, but all the Officers of the Brigades are Irish. General Bligh is an Honour to his Country, in his Behaviour on this Occasion: To morrow we blow up all the Batteries and Fortifications, and destroy the Basin and Harbour.

I have taken up Part of my four Hours (that I had to sleep, which is all I had out of 24, being employed up and down) in writing this: you may depend upon the above to be authentic, as I have been an Eye Witness of all; and took down the Minutes; I am both sleepy and weary, so must conclude, Yours, &c.

Rouquien Cannon.

August 9, 1758.