the 27. At night we heard the report of cannon and of Small arms but we could not tell from whence it was.[115]
[Footnote 115: On Saturday, May 27th, a detachment of Americans was sent to drive all the live stock from Hog and Noddle's islands, near Boston. They were observed by the British, who despatched a sloop, a schooner, and forty marines, to oppose them. They were fired on from the vessels, and quite severe skirmishing continued through the night. The Americans sent for reinforcements, and, at about nine o'clock at night, some three hundred men and two pieces of cannon arrived, commanded by General Putnam in person, and accompanied by Dr. Warren as a volunteer. They compelled the British to abandon their sloop, and the Americans took possession of it. The British lost twenty killed and fifty wounded. The Americans had none killed, and only four wounded. They captured twelve swivels and four four-pound cannon, besides clothing and money.]
the 28. Being Sunday we were informed that the firing we heard yesterday was at Nedlers[116] Island between the Kings troops and our men, our men killed several of them and took a number of field pieces and burnt two Schooners and they did not hurt any of our men.
the 30. Captain Ponds company moved to comodore Lorings house.[117]
[Footnote 117: Probably the house of Joshua Loring, jr., near Roxbury, who was a violent loyalist. General Gage made him sole auctioneer in Boston. He was afterward commissary of prisoners in New York. His wife is referred to in Hopkinson's poem, "_The Battle of the Kegs_."]
the 31. Being election day we drank the Ladies health and success.
June the 1. Nothing remarkable hapened this day.
the 9. We passed muster Before colonel Robinson[118] and received one months pay.
[Footnote 118: Colonel John Robinson, who was second in command in the skirmish at Concord on the 19th of April. He commanded the detachment that guarded Boston neck, for some time. Speaking of that duty, Gordon remarks: "The colonel was obliged, therefore, for the time mentioned, to patrol the guards every night, which gave him a round of nine miles to traverse."]
the 10. Their was a man Whiped for Stealing.
the 11. Their was a soldier died at the hospittle which was the first that had died of Sickness since we incampt the same day their was two fire Ships[119] drumed out of the rhodisland compy.