July 12 1776
before me I hallowed to him he had
just Time to discover & dodge it but it
passed him at not more than 1/2 Yard
distance at the heighth of his Breast.
before this I was not in the least in=
-timidated but must confess that on
Seeing So narrow a chance of a Young
Mans Life for whom I had fe a very
great Regard I had feelings different
from what I before had. The Ball
Struck a Post in a fence on the opposite
Side of the Road knocked it down &
then proceeded on its course. I thought
that by its by the slow Motion which
it had when I first discovered it I
thaught it would Stop in a few
Rods but I immediately traced it
for more than 20 Rods but could fi
find nothing of it-- I then procee-
-ded to the Alarm Post, Sim was
So
weak that he went but a little far-
-ther & returned to Camp. before any
of our Regt (as they were but a Small
distance before me) arived to our Alar-
m Post the Ships had past it; in
their Way many Balls passed very
near them & one killed a Cow at a very
Small distance from them this was [after?]