The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-12-29 00:00:00, page 2

Notwithfending the precaution of calling the rolls
often, one Jones r a drummer, eluded the attention of
the officers, and the vigilance of the guards, and got
ft into town; but nothing was to be apprehended
from this circnmftance, as our army was well posted
and civ fired nothing more than a field aftion.
Ou the fame morning (the morning of the aftion) the
following general order was issued.
“ The troops are to be furnifhed with two days pro
'' visions and a gill of spirits per man, as soon as the
“ fores arrive."
The provisions were issued; but the spirits being in
the rear of the baggage train, did not arrive at the
moment it was most necessary. The troops were cook
A Letter from Colonel Williams, D. A. G.
of the Southern Ariv, to his Friend, a
Gentleman in Philadelphia.
C^np, High Hills of Santee, loth October, 1781.
STR
Y ¥ AYING had the honour of serving with the
foutheru army, under a succession of command
ing officers, ever since the reduction of Charles
town, and partaking all its dangers and fatigues, I
confider myfelf interfiled in its reputation, and can
not hear, without concern, that an injurious opinion
has been maliciously propagated, or ignorantly adopt
ed, relative to the allion before Camden, on the 25th
of April last. Those whose difpolitions are friendly
towards the army, and who are not unwilling to al
low gen. G eene the merit his abilities and candor entitle
him to, give due credit, I am informed, to his official
account of that action ; but there are others, it is to
be apprehended, who, unable to oppose the tribute of
applause which ; as been acquired by the active ope
tions of -this ^rmy aiyd its leader, pretend to compli
went tb e former at the expence of the latter, as a sure
way of tarnilhing the g'ory of both. They affe& a de
gree of aftonifliment, how troops furprized could extri
cate hemfelves with so little loss. The conclusion
would be just, were n®t the premises falfe
That the a&i°n of the 25th of April last, before
Camden was net alurprize, nor any thii g like a fur
prize of general Greene's army, must be wnderflood
by all to whom tie following faffs are known.
On the 19th of April our army encamped within
three miles of the town ; that night our light infantry
dislodged the energy's picquet at Lpgg-town, within
fight of their works, and the next morning the army
encamped at that place. The general then reconnoit
ered their works, and found them to consist of fix flrong
redoubts, complete and independent of each other,
a number of houses p Ilifadoed in a square, and for
tified in front by a ditch and a para pett; and a mill
also pallifadoed, and furroupded with water, besides
several fmal er works, all of which were encompassed
with abbatis'.
The garrison (by every information) was very little
inferior so tie besieging army, therefore nothing was
to be expected from a storm, but disappointment and
disgrace.
The Wateree, a navigable river, flows on the weff of
Camden, and the ear is bordered by Pine-tree creek,
and an extensive mill pond, the waters whereof fall
into t e river a little below the town, and on the north
fie (where our army lay) the land is so level and dis
advantageous, that the rrofpe&s of success, by regu
lar approaches, were defiant an? precarious.
Each redoubt, as I have observed, being independ
ent and entire, our only hope lay in preventing the
enemy from procuring supplies of provisions from the
country, or in tempting him to make a sortie, of which
advantage might be taken ; to effect this, required in
finite attention, difeernment and address, and to pre
vent the other was extremely difficult and hazardous,
if not impracticable, as the enemy ha- two communi
cations open, by which supplies might be drawn, and
which we could not intercept without fending large de
tachments by diflant and circuitous routs, an expedi
ent whiej neither our numbers nor our situation would
warrant- The general, to prosecute his design, and
at the fame time avoid rifquing too much, was obliged
to move from one place to another, as circumflances
seemed to favour his intentions, or as occasions requi
red.
On the 21st intelligence came to Head Quarters that
lieutenant colonel Webster, who had made an excur
sion to Pee Dee^wason his return to Camden with four
or five hundred men ; whereupon the general sent his
baggage and artillery, which could not follow him,
under a guard of militia to a secure position, over
Lynch's creek, and threw all his regular troops below
the town, where appearances indicated more forcible
hostilities 'gainft the garrison, and frequent skirmish
ing evinced the enemy's apprehensions of danger up
on that quarter ; but the principal design of the gene
ral (to intercept lieutenant colonel Watson) was pre
vented by his delay, and a report that he had crossed
Santee river. On the 24th the army returned to the
north fida of the town, orders being previously sent for
the artillery and baggage to rejoin us at Hobkirk's
hill, abo t a mile from town. The army took post
here, the better to improve the opportunity a sortie
might afford, and being more remote than the positi
on formerly occupied, to impress the enemy with an
idea of our beginning to be appreheniive of our own
danger.
As it was late in the evening before the army arriv
ed at that place, the general orders -of the day were
not communicated till next morning. The following is
an extrad.
“ The general orders refpe&ing passes are punßual
“ ly to be observed ; none are to be granted but by
“ commandants of corps. The rolls are to be called,
“ at least three times a day, and all absentees report
'' ed and punished. Officers of every rank are to con
" fine themselves to their refpeHive duties, and every
“ part of the army must be in readiness to Hand to arms
" at a moments warning."
ing and the general was at breakfaft, about ten o'clock
in the morn ng, when some of our advanced centinelr,
halfa mile in front of camp, fired upon the van of the
enemy,the arti lery was then moving upto its position in
the line. J moun edand rode immediately towards where
the fire was : some of our out contine^s were driven in,
and the guards were paraded. I visited captain Kirk
wood, who commanded a small corps of light infantry
encamped two or three hundred yards directly in front
of the line; he paraded his men to receive the enemy.
I then rode in front of the Maryland regiments, which
were forming, to captain Morgan, who commanded a
piquet upon the left flank of the army ; his men were
all under arms, and soon afterwards chang'd their po
sition by order of the general, who had himfelf visited
all the guards. Returning by the Maryland line, I saw
the troops were formed and with chearful counte
names waiting the approach of the enemy. I had left
my sword at head quarters (a little Bush hut, two or
three hundred ytirds in the rear of the line) I went there
for it and returned before the troops engaged, an inci
dent which, for my own fake, would not have been
mentioned but as a circumstantial testimony that we
were not hurried to arms in confufion, nor driven from
them in difpair, effects that will always result from
a furprize. All the baggaee, as it is cuttomary in
general actions was ordered off. The cavalry which
was unfaddied and feeding on the sirs lalarm, was now
ready, and so certain was the general of success, that,
without the least hesitation, he ordered lieutenant colo
nel Waihing'on, commanding the cavelrv, to turn the
e emy's right flank and fall into his rear, which was
instantly executed. By this time the fire between the
enemy's van, and our light troops and piquets became
very lively : and the Maryland troops (who had been
ordered to fit down) flood up and made ready. Agree
able to orders which I received from the gene al te
feconi regiment, being on he left of the line, was or
dered to advance and attack the enemy on their right
flank, which was done by lieutenant colonel Ford, a
valuable officer, who received a mortal wound in the
action; and the firfl Maryland regiment, commanded
by colonel Gunby, was ordered to charge them in
front -the two Virginia regiments were ordered to ad
in a similar manner upon the enemy's left, and were
led on by the general in person, aided by brigadier
general Huge , and lieutenant colonels Campbell and
Hawes ; the artillery was well posted and doing great
execution, and a small body of militia, commanded by
lieutenant colonel Reed, were coming into adion,
when, suddenly, the troops began to retire, though
the danger was not apparently great, and every body
seemed ignorant of tre cause. At this unlucky fo
ment I was near the centre of te Maryland brigade,
and with the affiance of colonel Gunby, lieutenant
colonel Howard, and other officers, endeavoured to
rally the men: they halt'ed and gave a few fires, but
could not be br®ught again to the charge. I then
fought the general and found him in the rear of his re
tiring troops, exceedingly chagrined at their misbeha
viour, and mortified at his disappointment ; however,
the opportunity was loft —the fortune of the day was
irretrievable; therefore, with a firmnefs which be al
ways possesses, he immediately took measures to pre
vent the enemy from improving his success, the re
treat was condufled with such order and deliberation,
that mos lof our wounded, all our artillery, and all
our baggage were got off. together with fix commissi
oned < fficers, fix surgeons, and fifty seven non-com
miffoned officers and privates prisoners of war; and
several British officers were taken and paroled in the
field, and all accounts agree, that the enemy's loss in
killed, wounded and miffing, greatly exceeded ours ;
an exaf t return whereof has already been published.
The aflion was continued, with intervals, 'till about
four o'clock in the afternoon, and our troops had re
tired about four miles, when a detachment of infantry
and the cavalry, commanded by lieutenant colonel
Wafhinvton, were ordered to advance and annoy the
enemy ; fortunately the York Volunteers, a handsome
corps of horse, commanded by major Coffin, was a lit
tl^ advanced of the British infantry—Waftiington, with
a degree of intrepidity that must always do him infi
nite honor, inflantly charged his adversary, killed a
number of his men, and dispersed the rest. The British
army, without attempting any thing farther, retired
to Camden ; and general Greene encamped bis troops
at about four or five miles from their former position.
The field of battle was occupied only by the dead.
The day after the a&ion a detachment was sent to
bury our dead, and the following general order was
issued :
“ Though the action of yesterday terminated un
favourably to the American arms, the general is happy
to assure the troops, that it is by no means decisive.
The extraordinary exertions of the cavalry command
ed by lieutenant colonel Wethington, the gallant be
haviour of the ight infantry commanded Sy captain
Kirkwood, and the firmnefs of the picquets under capts.
Benson and Morgan ; and the good conduct of the
camp guards, rendered the advantage expensive to the
enemy, hig f ly merit the approbation of the general
and 'he imitation of the rest of the troops —The ge
neral prefects his thanks to the officers of artillery for
the propriety of their condor on the eccafion; Our
loss is so inconsiderable, that it is only to be lamented,
that the troops were not unanimous in a disposition to
embrace so excellent an opportunity of gaining a
vidory?'
The censure, which was severely felt by t'e infantry
of the battalions, would not have been conceived by
the general, if had known the real cause of their ap
parent mifconduft. The diffatisfadion of the Mary
land troops, who said they were ordered to retire, and
the complaints of many of the officers, who acknow
ledged that they had communicated such orders, at
length produced, at the inflance of colonel Gunby, the
following General Orders:
" Camp, 28th April, 1781.
'' General Huger, colonel Harrison and lieutenant co'o
" nel Waihingten are to compote a court to enquire into
" the conduß of colonel Gunby in the a&ion of the
" 25th inflant."
The court fat add reported their opinion, which was
publifh'd, as follows.
" It appears to the co^rt, that colonel Gunby re
" ceived orders to advance and charge bayonets with
" out firing: this order he im mediately communicated
“ to his regiment which advanced cheerfully for some
“ difiance, when a firing began on the right of the re
" giment, and in a Short time became general thro' it.
" that soon after two companies on the right of the re.
“ giment gave way ; that colonel Gunby then gave lieu
'' tenant col. Howard orders to bring off the other four
“ companies, which at that time appear'd disposed to
" advance, except a few. That lieutenant colonel
" Howard brought off the four companies from the
" left and join'd colonel Gunbyat the foot of the hill
" about sixty yards in the rear. That lieutenant colo
“ Howard there found colonel Gunby aßively exert
“ ing himfelf in rallying the two companies that broke
" from the right, which he effected, and the regiment
" was again formed and gave a fire or two at the ene
" my, which appeared on the hill in front. It also
“ appears from other teflimony that colonel Gunby
“ at several other times was adive in rallying and form
" ing the troops.
GENERAL ORDERS.
" It appears from the above report that colonel Gun
'' by's spirit and adivity were unexceptionable, but
" his order for the regiment to retire, which broke the
" line, was extremely improper and unmilitary, and in
“ ah probability, the only cause why we did not ob
“ tain a compleat victory."
If I ffiould be asked why no other proceedings were
ordered upon the occasion ? I cannot answer positively,
but I believe there was no application for that purpose
by any person whatever, and 1 am persuaded, that the
general and the army were disposed to think, as the
colonel defir-d in his address to the court, that his giv
ing the oroer for the troops to retire, proceeded from
an error in judgement.
Thus have I Rated a circymßantial account of that
unfuccefsful affair, which according tothe best of my
knowledge, judgment and information, I aver, upon
my honour, to be true: and which I sincerely declare
I have written with no other intention than that of res
cuing the reputation of this army and its commander,
from a bkmifh which is likely to be imposed by igno
rance or envy.
I am Sir, with great esteem,
Your mos l obedient humble servant,
O. H. WILLIAMS, Colonel,
and A. D. G. Southern army.
Rfy^PQ^P^M^^
To be Sold by Public Vendue,
On the Ninth Day of January next, on the Premises,
Q N E half Part of an undivided LOT
of LAND, in the Northern Libertirsof the city
o' Philadt lphi2, fronting on Fourth-street, and bound
ed as follows: Beginning at a post (landing at the
south corier of Edward Robertson's land, thence by the
fame, north, one degree, east, nine perches and ten
feet, to a corner post, thence north again by Edward
Roberta's land, south or degrees, east 24. perches to a
, ft, thence south one degree, weft by a certain road
56 feet broad, dividing Daniel Pegg's land, nine perches
and t^n feet to a poss, thence north 81 degrees, weft
by Vine alley 24 perches to the place of beginning,
cr ntaining in the whole one acreand 68 perches of land.
A tendance will be given on the Day of Sale, by the
Suuferiber, who will make fufficient Title for the fame.
Samuel cooper, junior.
N. B. The Money to be paid at the executing of
the Deed, if required.
Mr. Donnelly,
Late Writing-Matter at the University,
AT the solicitation of a number of his
friends, has opened School, in Gray's-alley, (two
doors from Eecond-ftreet corner) for the inftruftion of
a lelea number of young LADIES, in the rudiments
of English Grammar, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic,
and Book keeping. Ibe hours of attendance from 9
to r% in the forenoon. He also continues to teach in
private families the after part of the day.
Such as may please to honour him with the educate
on of th'ir children, will nieafe to have a note for him
at Captain LANG's, in Market ftieet, or at Mr. BAI
LEY's Printings ffice, and they fh^l be waited upon
immediately. Dec.,3o.
Loft, on Sunday Evening, be
tween Pools's-bridge and Lombard (free?, A small
LOCKET, set in Garnett, Hair in it, and hanging to
a pink Ribbon. Whoever has found the lame (hall be
handsomely rewarded, if they will leave it with the
Printer.
Benjamin January,
BOOK-BINDER and STATIONER,
Informs his Fr en^s and the Public in general.
THAT he carries on the Book-binding Bifinefs, as
' ufua ! , at his Shep in Front-ftreef, nearly opposite
the Coffee house, where Merchants, Storekeepers, and
others, may be Supplied with al! forts of Account Books,
bound and ruled in the ne test manner, on the shortest
notice. He takes this Opp riunit, to return his most
hearty Thanks to all those who have been so kind as
to employ him, and hepes for a continuance of their fa
vours ; which flhall always be gratefully acknowledged.