The Virginia Gazette

BALTIMORE. May 14.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Philadelphia, to his friend in this town, dated May 10, 1776.

I HAVE to inform you of an attack made by our gondola fleet against the Roebuck man of war of 44 guns, and the Liverpool frigate of 28 guns. The attack, or firing, began on the 8th instant, precisely at 1 o'clock, when the challenge gun was given by our gondolas at 45 minutes past 1. There were several guns fired on our side. The enemy's first firing began at 2 o'clock, and the Liverpool kept at some distance, until near enough for her small guns, which had but little effect. The engagement held till 30 minutes after 4 o'clock, in which time our little, though courageous fleet, were under the necessity of retreating about half a mile, being out of ammunition, but were soon furnished with a plentiful quantity. We had only one man killed, but what loss the enemy sustained cannot be ascertained.

We hear that the Roebuck and Liverpool men of war, attempting to come up Philadelphia river on Wednesday last, were attacked by the gondolas off Christeen, when a heavy cannonade ensued on both sides, and continued for three hours without any intermission. With the ebb tide the ships thought proper to retire, when the Roebuck ran a-ground on the Jersey shore, and continued there some time, with the Liverpool a-breast of her. Thursday evening the engagement was renewed, and continued some hours, when the ships retired below Newcastle; having, it is thought, received a good deal of damage. Both the Roebuck and Liverpool were hulled several times. During the time the Roebuck was a-ground, the Wasp schooner, which had been chased into Christeen by the Liverpool, came out, and retook a brig that the Liverpool had taken the day preceding. By the best accounts, too much praise cannot be given to the officers and men on board the gondolas, who behaved with the greatest courage and prudence. They have received very little, if any damage.