'fortification, will be able to tell you, what is 'the use of subterraneans in a fort; I have been ' with our officers already twice through them;

though as yet, I do not know much more of ' them than when I began, yet I hope in two or three times more, to make myself a little 'acquainted with them.

'I do not intend writing to my Father till 'next packet, but I will to the Duke of Hamilton, so that wherever he may happen 'to be, he will hear of me.

'I was going to send my letter without ' mentioning, dear Mother, whether I thought 'this island agreeable or not; I confess the 'little I have seen I like vastly, though it is

more upon account of the people than the 'country, for there is nothing but rocks in 'the places I have seen, which must make it

exceedingly bad for the eyes in summer. 'I am told that in summer you do not see

the least pasture. But at present it is 'neither too hot nor too cold. I am just now ' letting my fire go out, and have a window open, which I suppose is quite a different

situation from the one you are now in.

'Tell Jeanie to write to me; my love to her,

Farewell, dear Mother,

'Ever your most affectionate Son,

'JOHN MOORE,'

Lieutenant Moore to his father :

'Camp Majibaquaduce, near Halifax,

Nova Scotia, 24th Aug. 1779.

'Dear Father,―By my last you would be informed of our arrival here, &c.; since that, ' our operations have been rather more inte

6

resting. Upon the 23d of July, a rebel

fleet, consisting of about forty ships and

vessels, eighteen of which were armed, the rest carrying troops and stores, sailed up the bay and immediately began cannonading the Albany, North, and Nautilus, three sloops ' of war, the only shipping we had to oppose 'to them; they were moored across the har

bour, and supported by a battery from us;

though the firing was smart from both

sides, yet the Y-s kept at such a dis

'tance, that little or no damage was done.

Some of their vessels anchored opposite a

wood, at one end of the peninsula, and kept up a constant fire upon the British posted

there, to oppose their landing. They con'tinued this kind of play for several days, ' endeavouring at different times to land; but were constantly beaten back, till upon the 28th, when after a very sharp cannonade from the shipping upon the wood, to the 'great surprise of General M'Lean, and the garrison, they effected a landing. I hap'pened to be upon picket that morning, ' under the command of a Captain of the 74th regiment, who, after giving them one fire, ' instead of encouraging his men (who naturally had been a little startled by the can'nonade) to do their duty, ordered them to retreat, leaving me and about twenty men to shift for ourselves. After standing for some time, I was obliged to retreat to the 'fort, having five or six of my own men 'killed, and several wounded; I was lucky 'to escape untouched. This affair of the

mention it. Having got possession of the wood, they made roads from the shore, to the opposite edge, by which they dragged their cannon, and erected two batteries, ' within about seven or eight hundred yards Before their arrival, the four cur

up

· of us.

6

tains, and two of the bastions of the fort had 'been raised about eight feet; the other two 'bastions were open, but afterwards a fascine ' work was thrown round the well which was

in one of them; the interval of the other was filled up with logs, the storming which, at first, would not have been difficult. By the ' addition of cheveaux-de-frise, abatis, &c., this became a serious undertaking; and as

they had been falsely informed that we were 'short of provisions, they soon expected hun'ger would oblige us to lay down our arms. But on the 13th inst., Sir George Collier, with a 64, two frigates, and three 20 gun'ships, was seen sailing up the bay; the ' rebel fleet never attempted to make a stand, but ran up the river in the utmost confu'sion; two of their vessels only were taken;

the rest the rascals ran ashore, and burned, 'before our shipping could get up with them.

6

Unluckily they had intelligence of our fleet

'the day before; and in the night time their army got on board their shipping, and took ' along with them most of their cannon and ' stores, unknown to us. This is undoubtedly 'the greatest coup for us, that has been done • this year; it will make up for the defeat at Stoney Point. Upon the whole we have lost 'but few men, in the small skirmishes we had 'with them; the only officers wounded are "Graham Douglestone's son, and one M'Neil, 'but they are getting very well. Our regi'ment is to return to Halifax in about four ' or five weeks, with General M'Lean; Co'lonel Campbell and his regiment are to be 'left here. I had a letter from Mrs. Macin'tosh the other day; she says you are all • well ; I am very anxious to hear from your'self, I do not know how long it is since I ' had that pleasure; I hope to find letters at 'Halifax upon my return. What is become ' of poor Graham? I hear from Captain Dun