From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol I. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859.
August 31. –Yesterday morning a tender chased into Stonington harbor two small sloops, which had a number of people on board bound to Block Island. They had but just time to get on shore before the tender came in, which after making a tack came close alongside of Captain Denison’s wharf, discharged a full broadside into the stores and houses, and sailing out again, in a little time returned with the Rose man-of-war and another tender. As soon as the Rose could get her broadside to bear on the town, she began a very heavy fire, also the tenders, who were under sail, and continued firing the whole day, with very little intermission. During the time a flag was sent off from the shore, desiring Captain Wallace, commander of the Rose, to let them know what he meant by firing on the town. His answer was, that he did it in his own defence. We have one man mortally wounded, and the houses, stores, etc., very much shattered. This morning they sailed out and anchored at the north side of the west end of Fisher’s Island, where they remain. There were five or six people killed on board the tenders, by the inhabitants, who assembled, and were under arms the whole day. They have earned off a schooner loaded with molasses, belonging to Patuxet, near Providence, from the West Indies, and the two small sloops that landed the people. 1
1 New York Gazette, September 11.