CHAP. VI.
Account of the Health of the Fleet from its Departure from New York till the Conclusion of the War.——Passage to the West Indies—Account of the Ships there during our Absence—Arrival of a Squadron from England—Of these, two Ships only were healthy—Causes of this—Inflammatory Complaints in the Union—Probable Cause of these—Comparison of the two Squadrons—Increase of Sickness from Recruits brought from England—from French prisoners.
Thirteen ships of the line sailed from America for the West Indies on the 25th of October, under the command of Admiral Pigot, and the other half of the fleet was left under Lord Hood, to watch the motions of the French squadron, which was then at Boston.
The day on which we left the coast of America a storm came on, which lasted two days; but the rest of the passage being fair and moderate, we arrived at Barbadoes on the 20th of November, where the fleet continued for the remainder of the month.
All the above-mentioned squadron, except two ships, is comprehended in the calculation of the following table, and also the Magnificent, Prudent, and Nonsuch. The two last had continued in the West Indies, during our absence.