The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-10-16 00:00:00, page 5

Pittsburg, Sept. 16, 1779.
SI R,
I RETURNED from the expedition againfl the Se
necas and Muncy nations the 14th inst. and now do
myfelf the honor to inform you how far I have succeeded
in prosecuting it.
1 left this place the 11th of last month with 605 rank
and file, inclu ling the militia and volunteers, and one
month's provisions (our all) which, except the live cattle,
was transported by water, under the escort of 100 men to a
place called Mahoning about 15 miles above Fort Arm
strong ; where, after four days detention by excessive
rains and the Graying of some of the cattle, the stores
were loaded on p ck-horses, and the troops proceeded on
the march for Conowago on the path leading to Cufli
cufhing. At ten miles this file the town, one o the ad
vance guards, confiding of 15 white men (including the
{pies) and 8 Delaware Indians, under the command of
Lieutenant Harding, of the eighth Pennsylvania regiment,
(whom I have before recommended to your Excellency for
his great bravery and skill as a partizan) discovered be
tween 30 and 40 warriors coming down the Alleghany ri
ver in seven canoes. These warriors having likewise dis
covered some of the troops, immediately landed, flripped
off their shirts and prepared for afton, and the advanced
guard immediately bewail the attack. All the troops, ex
&pt one column and fl inkers being in the narrows between
the river and an hi, h hill, were immediately prepared to
receive the enemy : Which being done, I went forward to
discover the en.my, and saw fix or them retreating over
. the river without arms, at the fame time the rest ran away
Leaving their canoes, blankets, shirts, provision and eight
guns, besides five dead, and, by the signs of blood, seve
ral went off wounded ; only two of our men, and one of
the Delaware Indians (Nanowland), were wounded, and
so slightly that they are already recovered and fit for ac
tion.
The next morning the troops proceeded to Buckloons,
where I ordered a f nail breastwork to be thrown up of
felled timber and fafcines. A Captain and 40 men were
left to secure cur baggage and stores ; and the troops
marched immediately to Conowago, which I found had
been deferte 1 ab at eighteen months past. Here the troops
seemed much mor iti J, because we had no person to serve
as a guide to the upper towns, but I ordered them to pro
ceed on a path which appeared to have been travelled on
by the enemy some tithe past, and we continued march ng
on it about twenty miles before any difeoveries were made
except a few racks of tneir spies, but immediately after
afcen'ding a high hill, we difeovered the Alleghany river
and a number of corn-fields, and descending feverai towns
which the enemy hal deserted on the approach of the
troops, some of them fled just before the advance-guard
reached tl e town, and left teveral packs of deer Ikins.
At the upper Seneca town, we found a painted image, or
war-post, eloathed in dog-ft'in ; and John Montour in
formed me, this town was called Yoghroonwago : Besides
this we found feverai other towns, consisting in the whole
of 130 houses, some of which were large enough for the
a commodation of three or four Indian families. The
troops remained on the ground three whole days, destroy
ing the towns and corn fields. I never saw finer corn, al
though it was planted much thicker than is common with
our farmers The quantity of corn and other vegetables
destroyed at the feverai towns, from the best accounts I
can collect from the officers employed to destroy it, must
certainly exceed 500 acres, which is the lowest eflimate;
and the'plun .er taken, is estimated at 3000 dollars : I
have directed a (ale to be made of it for the benefit of the
troops, and hope it will meet your approbation. On my
return I preferred the Venango road. The old towns of
Conowago, Bui kloons, and Maghinquechahocking, about
20 miles above Venango on French Creek, confining of
3 5 large houses, were likewise burnt.
The greatest part of the Indian houses were greater than
comm n, and were built of square and round logs and
frame work. From the great quantity of corn in the
ground and the number of new houses built and building,
it appears tnat the whole of the Seneca and Muncy nations
intended to rolled to this settlement, which extends about
8 miles on the Alleghany river between 170 and 200 miles
from hence; tie river at the upper town is little if any
larger than Kifkamanetes creek. It is remarkable that
neither man nor beast has f Ten into the enemy's hands on
tnis expedition. I have a happy presage that the counties
of Weftmoreland, Bedford and Northumberland, if not
the whole western frontiers, will experience the good tf
fed of it. .
Too much praise cannot be given to both officers and
folders of every corps during the whole expedition; their
perseverance and zeal during the whole mar h (through a
country too inaccessible to be described) can scarcely be
equalled in history.
On my return I found here the Chiefs of the Delawares,
the principal Chief of the Hurons, and now the King of
the Maquichees tribe of Saawauefe is likewise C@me to treat
wfa me,
PHILADELPHIA.
Pittsburgh, September 23, 1779-
SIR.
NT AM honored with your favour of the 30th of last
'it^e'the liberty to inclofe you the copy of a letter
btrewit i sent to his Excellency the Commander in Chief,
containing an account of the expedition I lately made
againf lthe Seneca and Muncy nations, and with the rela
tion may give you pleasure.
1 likewise frnd a return of the officers of the Bth P Reg.
with their refpeftive claims to promotion, and beg you be
pleased to fend tneir coinmtffions accordingly and hie ar
rangement of t e Pennsylvania line.
I also enclose you the Talks of the Delawares, Wyon
dats, and the M quichees tribe of Snawanefe ; and I flat
ter myfelf tnat there is a great th .re of sincerity in their
present profeffions.,
Since my la ft this frontier has enjoyed perfect tranquility,
but the new settlement at Kentucke has fuffered greatly.
I have the honor to be, with the highest regard, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
DANIEL BRODHEAD.
Col. commanding W. D.
Hon. Timothy Pickering, Esq;
President of the Board of War.
CHARLESTOWN, (South Carolina,) Sept. 15.
VUE have no intelligence from the Southward, the au
thenticity of which we can vouc. But it may be
presumed, that the perseverance and enterprizing genius
of his Excellency the Count D'Eftaing, will accopoplifh the
purpose for which he has appeared in this quarter, and en
sure success to his next iotented operations, in another. It
is believed some of his troops are in possession of Sunbury,
in order to cut off the retreat of tie Britilh troops from
Georgia into East-Florida ; at the fame time Brigadier-
General Mackintosh is marching down the country from
Augufia ; and we are told, that Major-General Lincoln
crossed Savannah river at Ebenetzer last Sunday ; so that
we may now hourly expect intelligence of importance.
We are assured, that exclusive of draughts, the militia
turn out volunteers, in all parts of the State, with such
spirit and alacrity, that the Ferry-men at the feverai rivers
cannot carry the men across faft enou h.
By the last accounts from Count D'Eftaing's fleet, seven
Britilh vessels had fallen into their hands, among fl them a
large ship from Glasgow, with 8 scotch merchants on
board, (Refugees from N. Carolina and Virginia) with
valuable cargoes, intended to purchase conquered est des
in this State and Georgia. .One of the prizes, the brig
Polly, from New-Providence for Quebec, .arrived here
last Friday: and as she came in, the Amazon French fri
gate was seen off this bar, in chace of a ship, supposed to
be the Ariel Britilhman of war, of 20 guns, which Became
up with, engaged half an hour, and then carried off.
It is ftid, that the King of Spain hath presented 15000
pieces of good blanketting to the United States, for the use
of their troops, and that part of them are already arrived
at Boston.
An ADDRESS of the Inhabitants of Northampton
County to the Honorable Major General Sullivan,
Commander in Chief of the Western Army.
WE the fubferibers, of Northampton County, beg
leave to congratulate your Honor on your success
againfl the confederate Indians of the Western c untry.
With sentiments of affection we welcome your return, and
being conscious of the ex. rtions you have made to secure
our happiness, we offer you thole thanks which arise front
tne warmth of gratitude.
We are no strangers to the innumerable difficulties and
hardfhtps you have laboured under, and are fully ac
quainted witn the many inconveniencies which attended the
expedition; but the unparalleled perseverance, and firmnefs
of the officers and soldiers under your commind, nave en
abled you to surmount every obstacle with credit, and just
ly calls for the applause of a grateful country.
By order and in behalf of t^e inhabitants of Northamp
ton County, we have the honor to fubferibe ourselves
very refpe&fully, the General's
Most obedient and most humble servants,
THOMAS SILLYMAN,
SAMUEL REA,
ROBERT LETTAS HOOPER, Jun.
PETER KACHLEIN,
AN r I HONY LEICH, Sen.
The General' sANSWER.
Gentlemen,
I RETURN you my sincere and cordial thanks for
your very polite and flattering address. The approving
voice of so refpedable a number of my fellow citizens, who
were deeply interested in the event of the expedition I had
the honor to command, cannot fail to afford me the hgh
eft fatisfafti n. The accumulated difficulties ac<on pay
ing, and the fatigues which naturally attended this expe
dition, are more than Gompenfated by your unanimous
approbation, and the very polite manner in which you
have been pleased to fignify it. If my well meant endea
vours have contributed to secure peaie to the frontiers of
this and the neighbouring States, it must afford me that
pleasure which every friend to his country enjoys, when
inflrumentai in adding to the peace and tranquility of hit
countrymen.
While I feel myfelf deeply impressed with gratitude for
your pleasing address, I cannot forbear expreffiog my
obligations to the Inhabitants of Northampton County,
whose Spirited and patriotic exertions have enabled me to
accomplifli an expedition which, I flatter myfelf, will for
ever secure your frontiers from the ravages of a cruel and
savage enemy.
JOHN SULLIVAN, M. G.
The Wyandot! and the Maquichees tribe of the Shawa
nefe promiie very fair, and I nave promised them peace
provided they take as many prisoners and scalps from the
enemy as they have done from us, and on every occafiora
join us againfl the enemies of America, which they have
engaged to do.
The bearer, Capt. M Intire, has some private as
well as public bufinds to tr nfaft at Philadelphia, I have
therefore directed him to proceed to Head Quarters, and
he will have the honor to wait on you with tiiis letter.
t have the honor to be, with the most perfed regard
and esteem, Your Excellency's mod obedient
And humble fervent,
DANIEL BRODHEAD.
Last Monday Capt. Vardey and Lieutenant Campbell,
of the 71st Britilh regiment, were brought to town, priso
ners. Tuey were taken with four privates and ten negroes,
on the sth inst. coming through Skull Creek, in Gene
ral Prevoft's barge, with difpatcnes 'from the General at
Savannah, to Col. Maitland at Beaufort, said to be orders
to the Colonel to remove his whole force to Savannah, to
the defence of which all the troops at out-posts had been
called in.
P. S. The Delaware Chiefs have just now called on me
to build some block houses at Coochoking for the protec
tion of their women and children whilst they are out againfl
the English and Mingoes, and I have agreed to fend a de
tachment for that purpose, agreeable to the articles of Con
federation.
His Excellency General Washington:
Publifoed by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
TO BE SOLD BY
ROBERT ELLIO T,
At his store in the Slate-house in Second-street, nearly
opposite to the City Tavern, by wholesale and re
tail,
A QUANTITY of European G OODS. He
will also have for sale by way of Public Vendue,
on the 26th inst (October) two Waggons, with the
Gears of the fame, and seven Horses, at the Crooked
Billet on the old York Road, sixteen miles from Phi
ladelphia. 3
TO BE SOL D,
AF EW dozens of black and coloured Barcelona
HANDKERCHIEFS. Enquire at the Slate
houfe, nearly opposite the City Tavern.
N. B. The above will be fold cheap if applied for be
fore the 23d instant, as they belong to a gentleman who
will leave the State on ftid day. 061. 18.
TO BE SO L D,
A LIKELY young NEGRO LAD, about
fourteen years of age. Enquire of the Printer.
Philadelphia, Oflober ,6
WHEREAS by an Act of the General
Afl^m >ly of the Commons ealth of Pennsylva
nia, intitle.l, " An A& for more effectually prevertiag
eng effing and foreltalling, for the encouraging of com
merce and the fair trader, and for other purpofe#
therein mentioned," passed the eighth day of October,
A. D. 1779 it is enacted, That no perlon or perfon#
within this Commonwealth, except the original im
porter, configne^ or manufacturer, (and except as ig
herein excepted) shall, from and alter the twentieth
day of Gaoler indent, pre ume to fell or expose to sale
any goods, wares or merchandize, before he, she or
they (hall obtain a Permit for io doing from some one of
toe Commissioners of Trade herein after named, of the
proper county where such feller resides. Therefore we
the Commiffionersof Trade for the City and Liberties
of Philadelphia, do hereby give notice to all perlons
concerned, that they may govern themselves accord
ingly.
PERMITS are granted at the Commissioners Of
fice at Coi. Ephraim Bonham's in Arch-street, between
the hours of nine and twelve o'clock in the forenoon,
and three and five in the afternoon.
WILLIAM HENRY,I
EPHRAIM BONHAM,
FREDERICK HAGNER,
GEORGE ORD, > Commissioner,
EMANUEL EYRE, j
WILLIAM JACKSON,
Paul cox, J
TRENTO N, September 22.
A few days ago four of the gang of villains, associates
of the infamous Lewis Fenton, were made prisoners, by
a party of our militia, in Monmouth county, and fafely
lodged in the county gaol.
Yesterday was taken up at Woodbridge, as he was go
ing to the enemy, one— l —Hayden, a notorious villain,
who has been famous for his treachery to his country.
There were found on him 250 blank sheets of paper for
printing Continental money —lt appears to be the fame
kind of paper, on -which the true bills are printed
By feverai gentlemen from Monmouth county, we learn,
that a large number of the enemy are upon Staten Island;
and that Major Lee, with his corps of cavalry, arrived in
that county a few days ago.
Just as this Paper had gone to press, an account came,
that a body of troops of His Most Christian Majesty, our
Great and Good Ally, were landed in Georgia last Sunday
nignt ; that Major-General Lincoln was approaching faft
to Savannah, to co operate with them ; and that General
Count Pulalki had already taken a picket of the enemy;
to that it is probable, by the ciofe of this week, the fate
of Georgia, and of General Prevoft's army may be deci
ded, in a manner very wide of the expeditions of the re
turned Refugees, and their infatuated adherents.
WILLIAMSBURG, (Virginia) O^ober 9.
Ext act of a letter from Wi mington, dated Sept. 15.
" By a letter received yesterday from a gentleman in
Charleftown, we hear, that almost every man in that place,
and all the troops that could be collected, had gone to
Georgia, to co operate with'CountD'Eßaing in the reduc
tion of that State ; that a number of French had landed
and attacked the English poll at Beaufort, Port Royal,
which they carried, having killed and taken of the English
900 men This news came by express to Charleflown
while the gentleman was writing his letter."
BOSTO N, Oftober 7.
ExtraEl of a letter jrom Phineas Nekton, at Waterford
(Ireland) dated August 7 1779. to Henry Nekton, Efft
at New York; taken in a prize lately arrived at Neiv
bury-Port.
“ Before you left England, there was every reason to
believe a Spandh war w % uld toon take place, 'tis n@w out
o' dispute, and though no abfolu r e declaration of war, are
notwithflanding cutting one anothers throats as faft as pos
sible in Europe; our privateers have already captured
many Spimfh vessels of value ; thus matters goon between
the three nations, and this day it is said Gibralter is in
vefied by 32 fail of Spanrfh men of war, and 30,000 troops;
and to this tne combined fleets of France aid Spain, a
meuntiog to 41 fail of the line, are expelled in the chan
nel every day, to oppose which Sir Charles Hardy is out
with 38 of tte line, therefore an action of the utmost im
portance to the three Kingdoms, is expected every mo
ment: Such is the prelent situation of things tn's fide the
water, little or no trade, and less money; God only
knows what wil be the future event; this Kingdom is
threatened with an invasion, our enemies increasing, and
poor eld England left without one fiugle friend to stand
forth in her behalf."