was more than a match for the largest
American craft, so the Yankees saw they must rely upon force of
numbers. Accordingly their larger vessels were each assigned to attack
one of the enemy; while the swift-sailing galleys plied to and fro in
the battle, lending aid where needed, and striking a blow wherever the
opportunity offered itself. This course of action soon began to tell
upon the British. All of their vessels began to show the effects of
the American fire. The "Augusta" was in flames, owing to some pressed
hay that had been packed upon her quarter having been set on fire.
Despite the efforts of her crew, the flames spread rapidly. Seeing no
chance to save the vessel, the crew abandoned her, and sought to gain
the protection of other vessels of the British fleet. But the other
ships, seeing the flames on the "Augusta" drawing closer and closer
to the magazine, and knowing that her explosion in that narrow and
crowded channel would work dreadful damage among them, determined to
abandon the attack upon Fort Mifflin, and withdrew. The "Merlin,"
which was hard and fast aground, was fired, and the British fled. As
they turned their ships' prows down the Delaware, the dull sullen roar
of an explosion told that the "Augusta" had met her end. Soon after
the "Merlin" blew up, and the defeat of the British was complete.

But, though worsted in this attack upon Fort Mifflin, the British did
not wholly abandon their designs upon it. Immediately upon their
repulse, they began their preparations for a second attack. This time
they did not propose to rely upon men-of-war alone. Batteries were
built upon every point of land within range of Fort Mifflin. Floating
batteries were built, and towed into position. By the 10th of November
all was ready, and upon that day a tremendous cannonade was opened
upon the American works. After two days of ceaseless bombardment, the
garrison of the fort was forced to surrender. Since the fall of Fort
Mifflin gave the control of the Delaware to the British, the Americans
immediately put the torch to the "Andrea Doria" fourteen, the "Wasp"
eight, and the "Hornet" ten; while the galleys skulked away along the
Jersey coast, in search of places of retreat.

While the Yankee tars on river and harbor duty were thus getting their
share of fighting, there was plenty of daring work being done on the
high seas. One of the most important cruises of the year was that of
the "Raleigh" and the "Alfred." The