On the 7th of July, while messengers from Philadelphia were bearing the news of the Declaration of Independence to New York, Governor Tryon and Howe were consulting aboard the Greyhound as to the expediency of sending a naval force up the North River in order to obstruct the supplies of the Americans. Action on this scheme was evidently deferred pending the expected arrival of Admiral Lord Howe, the general’s brother, with a powerful addition to the fleet.

No sooner was the arrival of this force announced by its advance guard than a squadron was ordered up the North River in a bold attempt to force their way past the obstructions at Fort Washington.

The vessels selected were the Phœnix and Rose, with the armed schooner Tryal, and two bomb-ketches, tenders of the two frigates, respectively the Shuldham and Charlotta.

It will be remembered that on passing the town of New York these vessels opened a bombardment, which it has been claimed was unprovoked by firing from the defences, and that a distressing bloodshed and panic among the inhabitants resulted.

The log or journal of Captain Hyde Parker relates the events as follows:

“Saturday 13th. Wind. S. W. Moderate breeze and fair weather. At 3 made the signal and weigh’d and came to sail in company with the Rose, Tryal Schooner with the Shuldham and Charlotta Tenders, at ¾ past 3 the Battery at Red Hook on Long Island began fireing on us, on our standing on, the Batterys on Governors Isld and on Powle’s Hook commenced a heavy fireing at us. At 5 minutes past 4 being then between the last mentioned batterys we began fireing upon them at ½ past 5 we pass’d the Batterys near Town and at 7 anchor’d in Tapon Bay abrest of TarryTown in 7 fathom.... In passing the Batterys Rece’d two shott in the Hull, one on the Bowsprit and several through the Sails, and had one Seaman and two marines wounded.”

The log of Mr. Savage Landor,[[2]] sailing master of the Rose, gives further details, as follows:

Week day July Mo dy 1776 Winds REMARKS IN YORK RIVER
Friday 12th N.W. First part light Breezs Middle & latter
light Breezs & clear. PM Came in H. M.
Armd Brigg Hallifax.
Saturday 13th S.W. Little wind and clear wr Came in H M sloop Kingsfisher at ½ past 1 H M ship Phenix made the Sigl to unmoor do & hove short on the Bt Br ½ past 2 the Phenix made the signal to weigh do and Came to Sail as did ye Phenix & Tryal Armd Schooner & 2 Tenders Steering up the North River at ½ past 3 the Rebels began a Constant fireing on us and the Phenix From the Red Hook Governours Island Powles Hook and the Town as we past and continued there fireing from 6 different Batterys on the Et shore above the Town for 11 miles as high as Margetts Hooke retd a Constant fire’g to all the Batterys as we past. they shot away the Starboard foreshroud, Fore tackle Pendant, forelift, fore topsail Clewline, Sprit sail and Main topsail Braces, one 18 Pound Shott thr’o the head of the Foremast one thr’o the Pinnace several thr’o the Sails and some in the hull: at ½ past 5 passd the last battery there Number of Guns not known Weight of mettle from 12 to 32 pounders at 8 anchd in Torpand [Tappan] Bay 28 miles above the Town with the Bt Br [best bower anchor] in 6½ fm low water soft bottom Veerd to ½ a Cable Carried out the Stream Anchor to N W to Steady the Ship Terry town E ½ N The high Bluff head on the Western shore S W b W ½ do anchrd the Phenix, Tryal Schooner & 2 Tenders. A M Sailmakers Employed repairg Sails damaged by the Shot. Empd repairing, Carpenters fishing the Foremast.

The journal of the Captain, Sir James Wallace, is nearly identical in the main features recorded; repeating that “the Rebels began to fire upon us and the Phenix,” and confirming the material damage done to the ship. As to this it may be remembered that Anthony Glean, who fired the first gun at the squadron from the guns at the Battery, claimed that his shot took effect on the hull of the Rose, and the good gunnery of the Americans is evident from the general damage inflicted.

Reginald Pelham Bolton.