Fort Mifflin

Novem. 15. [This last entry was evidently not written by Fleury.] At day break the Enemys batteries began a vigorous fire upon the Fort, and the Fleet set Sail to come up with the Tide. One of their Vessels ... and two Sloops ... advanced between Hog Island and the Northern point of Tinicum near 1000 yards from the grand Battery.
The Six other Vessels and the Galley carrying a 36 pounder approached the Chevaux de frise at the distance of 600 yards from the Fort. We fired upon them with red hot bullets.
At 8 OClock their Fire began responded [to?] by that of the Land batteries, and a quarter of an hour after many successive broad sides ruined our parapet, and dismounted one of our Guns, there being only two Embrasures in that side. The Musquetry ... hindered the canoniers from remaining on the Platform; and the land batteries making a cross-fire with the Vessels render'd the right of the battery untenable. However Capt. Lee who commanded the Artillery, and Major Fleury who commanded the Infantry appointed for firing ... did not abandon this part of the right of the battery. All their men were either kill'd or wounded and the Cannon broken to pieces ....
At 11 OClock, Ammunition began to fail, and Major Thayer order'd the blue Flag to be hoisted as a Signal of distress to the Fleet—Major Fleury the Commissary and some Volunteers ran to the Magasine and after searching found a 32 pounder Cartridge and Several 18 pounder Cartridges and the Fire was renewed.
In conformity to Major Thayers order they were lowering the Flag in order to hoist the Signal of Distress, but Capt. Lee and Major Fleury ran to hinder it, entreating Major Thayer rather to send off boats from the wharfs than make a Signal which would discover our weakness to the Enemy—The Major approved and the Flag was hoisted again—The Enemy had slacken'd their Fire a moment doubtless thinking that we were prepared to surrender but our Cannon undeceived them. It was one OClock. Our Ammunition was exhausted—and we had only two Guns fit for use. The rest were dismonated, some even shattered to pieces—our parapet was destroyed—one of the Sloops station'd towards the middle of the Fort, demolished [a?] Bank and level'd our Palisades—a Body of troops appeared on the opposite Shore ready to embark—our Garrison was [illegible].
The Major call'd a Council of War at 2 OClock, composed of Major Talbot, Major Fleury, Capt. Lee, Captain Dickinson, and another Captain—The Result was—Supplies of Amunition or Boats.
The Enemy's Fire continued furiously and ours [languidly?] from two Pieces of Cannon—the Wall was half demolished—The Blockhouses flew about in splinters—a Piece of Timber torn from the Block house on the right, struck down Capt. Lee and Major Fleury who were standing near a Gun, the former was kill'd and the latter remain'd Senseless.
Major Talbot who ran to their Assistance was wounded with two Grape Shot in the thigh and Arm.
The Fire continued till Night, and Ferry boats arriving instead of a Reinforcement—The Ammunition, Provisions and Arms were carried off. The Cannon spiked. The carriages broke. The Barracks set on fire—and at half after eleven the Garrison evacuated the Fort, and at the same time the Oars of the Enemys boats were heard—bringing on Troops to attack our ruined Palisades.

Engineers of Independence

Novem. 14th at noon. We have silenced the Enemy's floating Battery, I know not whether we have dismounted her Cannon, or whether her present Station exposes her too much, but the firing from her has ceased. I suspect that she is destined to land men on this Island.
Their grand battery is in little better condition than our blockhouses—We have open'd an embrasure at the Corner of the Battery, and two pieces here joined to two others on the left which we have reinstated, throw the Enemy into disorder ....
Tonight an Attempt is to be made on the floating battery of the Enemy.

Engineers of Independence

14th at 7oClock [AM]. The Enemy keep up a great Fire from their Floating Battery and the shore ....
Our blockhouses are in a pitiful condition, but with fascines I hope to cover two pieces in each lower story which will be sufficient to flank us. I say again the Enemys fire will not take our fort. If they attempt a storm we shall still have a little parapet to oppose to them, but we must have men to defend it.

Engineers of Independence

14th .... Fort Mifflin is certainly capable of defence if the means be furnished—if they supply us from Red-bank with Tools, Fascines, Palisades, etc., all which they may do in abundance—the Fire of the Enemy will never take the Fort, it may kill us men but this is the Fortune of War. And all their bullets will never render them masters of the Island, if we have courage enough to remain on it ... Fort Mifflin is the important Object, it must be maintained and furnish'd with means of defence. Men, Earth and Fascines to cover them—Our new Garrison consists of 450 Men—what can they do in a circumference of works so extensive as ours—being weak everywhere, they could make a defence nowhere and the Fort would be carried—The apparent Project of the Enemy is to debark on the Island; either to risque a Storm, or to establish a battery on the old ferry wharf, or nearer if they can—what means have we of hindering them—with a Garrison so feeble, can I make any advantageous Sallies—can I dislodge the Enemy—if I raise a battery against their will it not serve against ourselves in case of attack—for without a sufficient number to defend it, it must be given up—our grand Battery has 19 Embrasures and 8 cannon, two of which are dismounted—we must have Artificers to make Wheels—Fascines and Palisades for breaches. General Varnum supplies us scantily—We must have men to defend the Ruins of the Fort—our Ruins will serve us as breast works, we will defend the Ground inch by inch, and the Enemy shall pay dearly for every step—but we want commanding Officer, ours is absent and forms projects for our defence at a distance ....

Engineers of Independence

Nov. 13th at night. The Enemy have kept up a firing part of the night-their shells greatly disturb our workmen, and as the moon rises opposite to us, her light discovers to the Enemy where we are. As long as my Workmen would remain with me, I employed them in covering the two western Blockhouses with Joist within and without and filling the interstices with rammed Earth. I have closed the breaches made in our Palisades, with Planks, Centry-boxes, Rafters, and strengthen'd the whole with earth—General Varnum has sent me neither Ax, Fascine, Gabion nor Palisade, altho he promised me all these Articles, I suppose it has not been in his power—it is impossible however with watry mud alone to make works capable of resisting the Enemys 32 Pounders.

Engineers of Independence

13th. The Enemy have open'd a Battery on old-Ferry-wharf—the Walk of our Rounds is destroyed—the Block-houses ruined—Some men Kill'd and wounded each day.
I forgot to inform you that a Ball struck against some Bricks the fragments of which slightly wounded Col. Smith, Capt. George and myself—those two Gentlemen cross'd immediately to Red-bank—I have heard that Col. Smith is recover'd but don't know when he'll return.
Our Garrison is exhausted with Fatigue and ill-health, is extremely discouraged and I fear would make but an indifferent Defence in case of Storm. At the last Alarm, one half were incapable of Duty.1

Engineers of Independence

1. 1. Fleury wanted to make conditions known clearly to Washington so he would not be thought guilty "in case of bad event" (Fleury to Washington, 12
   November 1777, roll 45, Washington Papers).

Novem. 11th. The Enemy keep up a heavy fire ... Our block houses tho' facd with fascines, Joist and well rammed Earth, have not been able to hold out—they are laid open and all their Cannon dismounted except two—I have endeavour'd to cover them in order to flank us in case of Assault-but they are not secure and I have no more Joist, Fascines or Palisades—I have written to Red bank for Supplies in these Articles, but am rather neglected ....

Engineers of Independence

10. It is probable that the Enemy will undertake to carry this place by storm, and I should not fear them if we could fix the floating Chain ... it would cover the Front which is likely to be attacked, and by delivering us from our uneasiness for this side, would enable us to post the men destined for its defence, at the Wall of Masonry which is ten feet high and is not out of the reach of an Escalade, notwithstanding the Ditches, Pits and Stakes, etc., with which we have endeavour'd to surround it.
The Commodore, Master of the incomparable Chain in question, proposes to stretch it by means of Buoys, between our Island and Province Island. I believe this obstacle to the communication between the Enemy's Fleet and Army will be of little consequence, and if he would spare us the Chain, the Enemy would pay dear for their Hardiness if they dared attack us. Colonel Smith wrote this morning to ask this favour, but I am afraid that public Interest will suffer by private misunderstandings. I am interrupted by the Bombs and Balls which fall thick ....

Engineers of Independence

8th. The Enemy have enlarged the upper Battery opposite the Fort, we this morning discover 5 Embrasures, masked as yet with Fascines—it is probable they will all open at once—their project seems to be, to knock down our palisades, and storm our west front between the two block houses. To cover our palisades on this side we have apply'd to General Varnum1 to furnish us with fascines which we shall place on the Summit of the bank to serve instead of Earth, which is not to be had—I don't know whether we shall be able to procure the Fascines.

Engineers of Independence

1. 1. In November Washington placed Brig. Gen. James Varnum in command of Forts Mifflin and Mercer.

Novem. 5th, 6th The Enemy seem determined to Winter in Province Island if they can't take Fort Mifflin .... If His Excellency would form some Enterprise on their Rear, I believe we might make a useful diversion—as I know the Island I offer to serve as Guide to any party that shall be order'd there, in concert with Col. Smith I intend this night to reconnoitre in an arm'd boat the position of their Sentinels, and the safest Landing places, of which I shall make a Report....

Engineers of Independence