Posted by Brian on Monday 26th of May 2014 23:21

Letter from Captain Gardner of the Maidstone, off Antigua, Dec. 22, 1778
I have the honour to acquaint you of my arrival off English Harbour, with his Majesty's ship Maidston, under my command; and I have the pleasure to inform you, that, on the 3rd of November following about one o'clock in the morning, being in the Lat. 35, 40 N. Long. 75, 50 W. 64 leagues E.S.E. from Cape Henry, we dicovered a ship in the N.W. quarter, standing to the eastward, with the wind at West. I immediately gave chase, and prepared the ship for action; at half past three got up close along side the chase, who hoisted French colours; and we began to engage. At half past four o'clock, having sustained considerable damage in our sails and rigging, I judged it necessary to bring to, to repair the latter, and furled in the main sail which was cut to pieces by the langrage of the enemy. At day-break we discovered another ship to windward, bearing down upon us, which I supposed to be a consort of the ship we had engaged in the night, who at this time was about two miles to leeward of me under her topsails. At nine the ship to windward brought to, and made a private signal; but finding we did not answer it, at ten she made sail, and stood by the wind to southward, upon which I wore, and made sail after my antagonist (who had put before the wind under his topsails and foresails) and at noon brought him to action, and continued the engagement till near one o'clock, when the enemy struck, and proved to be the Lyon, a French ship of 40 guns, (viz.) 28 twelve pounders on her main deck, 6 six pounders on her quarter deck and 6 four pounders on her forecastle, maned with 216 men, and commanded by Captain Jean Mitchell, from Virginia to L'Orient, having on board upwards of 1300 hogsheads of tobacco. During the action we had 4 men killed and 9 wounded, one of which is since dead. The enemy had 8 men killed and 18 wounded. We received considerable damage in our mast, yards, and rigging; and when the enemy struck we had above four feet water in our hold. A. Gardner