Francois de Fleury's Journal
From Francois de Fleury's journal.
29 .... in the morning the Tide added to the Storm and Rain broke our bank in several Places, especially near ... the three half ditches which Baron Arendt order'd me to have made, near the house of the Barrack Master. This prodigious Inundation it is true puts us out of the reach of a Coup de main, the whole Island being under water, but it interrupts our Communications in the fort and causes among other Inconveniences, that of covering the ground adjacent to the Wall behind which we used to shelter our men from Bombs and Ricochet Shot.
Yesterday at 3 OClock we had a mind to make some Attempt upon the Enemy's Batteries overflow'd and unfit for Service—3 Galleys came to help us but the want of concert or deficiency of boats disappointed our Enterprise. The Result of which was only a few Cannon Shot from us and some Bombs thrown into the Fort. The firing ceased by mutual Consent.
The night has been quiet and the Tide more moderate. The same Tide which troubled us produced greater Derangement in the projects of the Enemy-Their Bridge over the Schuylkil was broke by it, and 12 of their Boats six of them large ones, with a number of Plank drifted to us. Their works on province Island appear but little Injur'd-except that they are in the water as we are.
I wish the Banks on province Island could be cut. I think the Enemy could not continue there.