attack their Battery at Elphingstone, and after silencing the Cannon there to proceed with small Vessells and Boats, and set Fire to the Vessell that lay a Ground, with the Cannon and other Military Stores: The Battery at Elphingstone was accordingly attacked with great Resolution and Bravery by the Captains of the _Vulture_ and _Pearl_ Sloops of War, assisted by the _Pretty Janet_ armed Vessell and _Jean_ armed sloop: And after about three hours close cannonading within less than Musquet Shot of the Battery, all their Cannon but one were silenced: But the _Pearl_ having her cable cut asunder by a Cannon ball, she was forced from her Station by the strength of the Ebb-Tide, and the Two Pilots of the _Vulture_ (one of them a Shipmaster at Elphinstone who at Mr Grosett’s Request came to his assistance in this Expedition) having each of them at this Time Lost a leg by another Cannon ball, and by which Accident they both Dyed; They were obliged to quit the Battery; This attack however so far answered the End as to prevent the Rebells from crossing with their Cannon; For upon making this Attack they brought back their Cannon to Alloa, and placed them upon the Battery, there to prevent the Kings Ships and Troops from procedeing farther up the River, and getting Possession of the Vessell that lay aground above that Place with the Cannon and Ammunition. In this whole affair Two men were killed, Two lost a leg each by which they died and one an Arm by the Cannon from the Batteries, Ten others were wounded, but not disabled; the Chief Engineer and several others of the Rebells were killed and many wounded. Mr. Grosett having on the 11th January received a letter from Lord Justice Clarke with an Order inclosed from General Hawley to Colonel Layton to return with the Troops to join the Army who were then ready to march to the Relief of Sterling Castle, they thereupon returned accordingly; But Mr. Grosett having before he left that country concerted Measures for getting the Vessell burnt that was grounded as above in which the Cannon had been transported from Alloa it was done accordingly without the Rebells knowing how it came about. Lord Justice Clarke in his letter, dated the 10th Janry. 1745/6,[613] having sent Mr. Grosett a Letter from General Hawley to General Blackeney[614] who at that time commanded in the Castle of Sterling with Directions to use all methods possible to get it delivered and answered, as on it depended Matters of the greatest Consequence; Mr. Grosett not only got the Letter safely delivered, but an answer thereto, tho’ the Rebells were at that time in Possession of Sterling and suffered none they could observe to go near the Castle and upon which they kept the strictest Guard.