[March 1776, cont.] William I mounted the guard upon
the Point near the Castle at not more
than 1/3 of a Mile Distance the night
being very clam calm, & my
Duty calling
me to visit the Centuries I could
hear them busily employed as I then Supposed in
Spiking
up the Cannon & breaking of
the
Trunnions this work they continued
till the next day 17th when about 3 o clock
they began to blow up the Fortifica=
- tions this lasted till about Sunset
when they Set the Block House on
the South Poin on Fire, our guard
were now expecting to be relieved &
were paraded to receive the relief
but the relief being detained we
were desirous to the See fire &
retired
to a Hill about 10 Rods distance
North from the Guard House where we
might have a full View -- the Enemy
perceiving us upon the Hill within
point Blank Shot of their Cannon
fired three 24 lb Shot at us neither
of which went more than 2 yards
above our Heads the first & Second
would unavoidably have killed
Some of the men had they not have fell
upon discovering the Flashes of their
Guns, as it was at almost stuned