midnight
To keep her in countenance , when on the 5th of February I sailed with my prizes under convoy of the Charlestown for New York , on going down the West Branch I also got on shore , but succeeded in quickly getting off again . I had no little trouble in keeping the prizes in order . The Americans left on board one of them persuaded the people to side with them , and they ran her on shore , purposing to give her up to the rebels . I went in chase of her , fired several shots into her , and then , manning one of my boats , boarded her , captured her crew , who had been unable to escape , and got her off , made sail with my recaptured prize , and rejoined the fleet at midnight , when I put the mutineers on board the Charlestown , to be dealt with according to martial law . On the 11th , at night , finding the `` Langolee , '' one of my prizes , some distance astern , and suspecting that she was about to give us the slip , I dropped astern , and , taking her in tow , brought her into the middle of the fleet . At midnight , however , a heavy gust of wind compelled me to cut the hawser and clap before it . With the small crew I had I found no little difficulty in handing my sails , which , after some time having done , I struck topgallant yards and masts and lay-to under a close-reefed mainsail .