Jamaica
  1781

March the 8th   Embarked 3 Officers and 54 privates of the Corps on board of His Majesty's Ship, Ulysses.

10th   Sailed from Port Royal for Pensacola.

17th   Off Cape Antonio saw a sail, gave her chace, after continuing for 48 hours, came up with and made prize of her- she proved to be a Spanish Merchant Ship from La Vera Cruz, bound for the Havanna, loaded with provisions, and other articles- this chace carried us much out of our way- The prize being secured, we again shaped our course for Pensacola.

24th   Saw Rose Island, and a Sail about 3 leagues distant, gave chace, came up with, and made prize of her; she proved to be a Spanish transport from New Orleans, with Troops and military Stores, bound for Pensacola- One Officer, 1 Serjeant & 12 of ye Loyal American Rangers ordered on board the Prize, to assist in taking care of her, and guarding the Prisoners- This Prize being a heavy sailer, the Ulysses took her in tow, and this night stood off, and on, and laying to at times between Rose Island and Cape Blaze-

25th   This day took our first prize likewise in tow and then stood out with both to Sea- Captain THOMAS, Commander of the Ulysses, convened his Officers, when after consultation he determined to continue standing off from the Coast with the prizes for two days, to see them clear of danger, and then to dispatch them for Jamaica, before they should look into Pensacola, because in the event of standing in with their prizes and being chaced by a superior force, they would inevitably lose them.

27th   This day the two prizes were ordered for Jamaica and 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 2 Serjeants, 2 Corporals & 23 Privates of the Corps were likewise ordered on board to assist in taking charge of them, by written orders from Captn. THOMAS- We then stood back for Cape Blaze, and continued until thursday the 29th.

29th   About 8 o'Clock of the morning of this day bore away on our return to Jamaica, without any attempt to look into Pensacola.

April the 7th   On passage to Jamaica saw two sail to which we gave chace- came up with one at 8 o'Clock at night, which proved to be a merchant Brigantine from Caraccas, loaded with Cotton & Cocoa, bound for Havanna-

8th   This morning came up with the other sail which proved to be Snow loaded with Cotton and Coffee from Caraccas for the Havanna- took both Prizes in tow, and continued to tow them until we arrived off Port Royal on the 4th of May.

Martin McEVOY
Captain L A Rangers

Great Britain, Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 137, Volume 80, folios 229-230.

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Updated 12/15/99