The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-06-05 00:00:00, page 3

was supposed there was cannon, and ammunition ;
Captain Parsons in pursuance of these orders, posted
three companies at the bridge, and on some heights
near it, under the command of Capt. Laurie of the
43d regiment ; and with the remainder went and
destroyed some cannon wheels, powder, and ball ;
the people still continued encreafing on the heights,
and in about an hour after, a large body of them be
gan to move towards the bridge, the light compa
nies of the 4th and 10th then descended, and joined
Capt. Laurie, the people continued to advance in
great numbers ; and fired upon the king's troops,
killed three men, wounded four officers, one fer
jeant and four private men, upon which (after re
turning the fire) Capt. Laurie and his officers, tho t
it prudent to retreat towards the main body at Con
cord, and were soon joined by two companies of
grenadiers ; when Capt. Parsons returned with the
three companies over the bridge, they observed three
soldiers on the ground one of them scalped, his head
much mangled, and his ears cut oft, though not
quite dead; a fight which struck the soldiers with
horror ; Capt. Parsons marched on and joined the
main body, whowere only Waiting for his coming
up, to march back to Boston; Colonel Smith had
executed his orders, without opposition, by destroy
ing all the military store& he could find ; both the
Colonel, and Major Pitcairn having taken all pos
sible pains to convince the inhabitants that no inju
ry was intended them, and that if they opened their
doors when required, to search for said dores, not
the flighted mifchief should be done; neither had
any of the people the lead oecafion to complain, but
they were sulky, and one of them even druck Major
Pitcairn.
Except upon Capt. Laurie, at the Bridge, no hos
tilities happened from the affairs at Lexington,until
the troops began their march back. As loon as the
+ troops had got out of the town of Concord, they re
ceived a heavy fire from all sides, from walls, fences,
houses, trees, barns, &c. which continued without
intermission, till they met the firft brigade, with two.
field pieces, near Lexington ; ordered out under the
command of Lord Piercy to Support them ; (advice
having been received about 7 o'clock next morning,
that signals had been made, and expresses gone out
to alarm the coutry, and that the people were rais
ing to attack the troops under Col. Smith.) Upon
the firing of the field pieces, the people's fire was
for a while silenced, but as they still continued to in
crease greatly in numbers, they fired again as before,
from all places where they could find cover, upon
the whole body, and continued so doing for the space
of fifteen miles : Notwithstanding their numbers they
did not attack openly during the whole day, but
kept under cover on all occasions. The troops were,
very much fatigued, the greater part of them having
been under arms all night, and made a march of
upwards of forty miles before they arrived atCharlef
lown, from whence they were ferried over to Boston.
The troops had about fifty killed, and many more
wounded : reports are various about the loss sustain
ed by the country people, some make it very consi
derable, others not so much.
Thus this unfortunate affair, has happened thro'
the rashness and imprudence of a few people, who
began firing on the troops at Lexington.
Thefollowin Copy of an intercepted Letter from that Lump
of Stupidity, Sam. Peters, now in England, is thought
very proper to follow the above.
Rev. Sir, Herald's Office, Feb. 25, 1775*
r HAVE been sick ever since 20th of last O&o
---' ber, owing to a cold, which, together with my
troubles in being drove from my Home, my Relati
ons and Friends drew on a melancholy temper,
which was increased upon the news of my Brother
and Mr. Newcomb being robb'd of these letters (one
of which was directed to you) by Governor Trum
bull's Mob or Committee of Safety : a specie of
Liberty peculiar to the four New-England Colonies,
and the Infernal world. I blame myfelf more for
my foolifhnefs than the world can blame me# I need
not have mentioned Names, nor sent as I did, but so
it has happened, and my Repetance is like Efan's.a
bitter repentance, and too late. lam kill'd with
the thoughts of my foolifhnefs. I have not slept 2
hours in 24, since I heard of the robbery ; I mourn
all my time with fervent prayer to God to prote£tmy
injured friends from the violence of evil Men, and
from the danger I unwillingly exposed them to.
Could my life and.eftate (if any I have) attone for
my folly and secure my friends I so much abused by
mentioning their names, I would have fccured you
long ago. I hope lam the only fufferer in this fad
affair ; and surely I am on this fide the water the on
ly fufferer, for no one here fufpe&ed you, or any
nam'd in my letter, capable of such baseness, as the
publishing said letters ; the cabinet well knew that
they were furrepritioufly taken by the rebels in an
Oliverian manner ; and my brother aimed killed ;
indignation burns in their breasts for the unworthy
deed, and New-England will pay dearly for their
violences in general. The public here have no
knowledge of this affair; newspapers are silent
here ; if any thing is published here about me, or
those letters, I hope I shall be ableto clear np all
things, and establish the tr#th.---I krowyou have
rcafon to complain and blame me; asthisis the firft
WANTED IMMEDIATELY,
A Journeyman PRINTER,
Who is willing to work at Case or Prcfs---by the
Printer hereof-
& only thing I everdid. in all my life,of which lam
afham'd, because I knew the villiany of the faints,
and yet guarded not against their satanical ways. But
alas ! I have mifs'd my reason, my way, and now
my comfort. Still I hope and wtfh for the pity and
forgivenefs of you, your very worthy brother,and all
I have unwillingly injured ; I will endeavour to
keep out a good watch for the future, and not bury
what common ferafe I have. When I think of them
letters, and the con sequences attending my friends,
and benefactors,. I with my second breath had ended
my days on earth.—l never tailed affliction so ? keen
as the present; it drinks up my spirits, ana lam
fading away like the mow'd grass. If your dangers
and characters are fccured against, I may be able to
live; here your characters fuffer not; the names
mentioned in my lettes, are considered by the ma
jority of the C —s, and House of L—ds and the
as friends of governmentwhom they seem zeal
ously bent to proted, at the expence of their lives &
fortunes. I hope New-York will agree to^ the ex
planatory article of the miaifter, the consequence
Will be (as 'tis whifper'd) Connecticut River will
be their easternmost bounds. If New-York don't
submit, the consequence will be horrible beyond ex
pression; as this offer has well united the people
here, except the Wilkites, who never will be fatisfi-.
ed.---New-York has a good character with the ma
jority, and I hope they will not loose it. The right
ofinternal taxation is justly given to the colonies,as
I ever thought it was their due ; but the regulating
of duties, customs, &c. arising from navigation,&c.
is still veiled in the crown. The supremacy of par
liament in all cases whatever is still an article of po
litical faith You will have the papers in ship, so l
omit any thing of public nature. So many are here
complaining of abuses, and seeking for places and
redress, and the fear of more coming, if any thing is
done for these present ones, that government is wait
ing on futurity in this matter, and wholly attends
upon American affairs ; but will by and by attend
upon complaints.- The Bishop of London is in
hopes, that the persecution of the church in New-
England will abate, and no more of the clergy be
obliged to come to England. The fleet and army
will be able soon to put a flop to that intollerant
spirit peculiar to New-England Rebels, and reward
some of their leaders in such a manner as will please
a distressed man # Fortune is no man's fleady friend;
men a& upon motives, and as new motives advance
every day, men differ as much ; and tho' I have been
well received here upon 4bme body's account, and
nothing gloomy yet appears ; yet I view myfelf in a
very bad situation ; for L-fee others deferred after
being promised; so from this, I value one deed of
gift to be worth 10,000 promises. I imagine my
return will not be serviceable ever hereafter to He
bron, or New-England ; but if my friends think it
fafe, I will return by and by. I have not heard
from my mother and brothers and children. Am
inform'd Trumbull's Junto has voted tar and feathers
to them, if they write to me.
The clergy of Connecticut can fend letters fafely
to me by the way of New-York, covered and direc
ted to Mr. Palmer, in the Heralds-Office, London.
^--I hear the puritan Teachers have wrote over here
abusing me with the epithets of being a tory, and a
zealous churchman, and a friend to the supremacy
of parliament; but the Presbyterian ministers and
people here are guilty of two of these crimes of
which I am accused.---I am not afraid of any thing
the faints can accuse me of.---Trumbull set on the
mobs upon me. Before I apply'd for protection of
him, Dr. Payne told me it three times with a loud
voice, after they had taken me out of my house
and Gripped me, in these words, Governor Trum
bull will not protest you, for he told us this morn
ing to come and give it to you, Sept. Bth. the Go
vernor owned it to me, and added, that he told
Payne not to hurt my person or i^tereft.---! with to
hear from my mother, but dare not write lam
informed that my life is to be taken away if ever I
am seen in Connecticut.---I want all those kindly
things.---A frefh piece of news rejoices my heart.
The clergy and churches of Connecticut would have
been ruined had not your letters been intercepted ;
their attention was turned on as well as their rage;
they considered a little what would be the conse
quence of their using you as they did, and out of
fear they treat the clergy tolerable, with a design to
kill you with their weapons.---If this be true good
comes out of my foolifhnefs, and God be praised. I
am obliged to gentlemen I cannot name; if you
know them and present my due refpe&s, it will
add joy to, Rev. Sir, $
Your afflicted Friend,
To Dr, who will ever mourn for his folly,
Auchmufy, New-York. Sam. Peters.
[Several other Letters from the fame infamous Author,
baYe been intercepted, but he is such an infgnifcant
Fellow, that thev are unworthy of Notice.)
-DESERTED from the 4th Regiment of Foot, raijed
for the defence of the ectemy of Connecticut, command
ed by Col. Benjamin Hinman, and of my company, on
the 24th of May, one Benjamin Buffington, about 5 feet
<inches high, light completion, high forehead, thinfore
top, brown hair, black eyes, a bdndfome sett of teeth, tall
Jboulders, and tolerably well proportioned; when be talks,
flands footing, and tells much of bis boneftys Had on
when he went away, a grty out fide jacket, luppelled,
green plfb breeches and freaked trowjers, two hats, a
new beaver or caflor, and an old beaver, two or three
pair flockings, and two pair fees. Whoever will take
and " secure said fellow, and return him to my company,
or in any of the prisons in this colony, so as be may be
in the service Again, fall have five dollars reward,
and dll reasonable charges paid by Samuel Elmer,
Major of the 4th Regiment.
r^AKEN up about the firft of April las, by the Jub
fcriber, a black and white pide SIEAR, about 3
years old, io mark or brands The owner is defred to
come and prove his property and take him away<
Elisha Cornish,
Simsbury, face 3, 1775.
BROKE out of Litchfeld county goal, on the 2d cf
June, 1775, a tranfent person who calls bimfclf
James King (an IriJhman) committed for a high banded
"breach of peace. He is a fellow of about 5 feet 10
inches high, with long black hair, and black beard, a
lively, active fellow, with half boots. Whoever will
apprehend and return said fellow to said goal, fall re
ceive thirty fillings, lawful money.
Litcbfcld, 2d June, 1775. Lynds Lord, Sheriff
BUNTED IMMEDIAIELY,
A Healthy, active LAD, about 14 or 15 years of
age, as an apprentice to a Gold Smith. Enquire
of ^ PRINTER.
April 18. The plan of military operations proje&.
ed against the Americans is said to be this :---Gene
ral Gage is to continue chiefin command ; the head
quarters are to be at Boston ; detached parties of
2000 men each, commanded refpe&ively by Clinton,
Howe and Burgoyne, are to be sent to South Caro,
lina, Virginia, and such of the provinces as are
deemed the most refractory. This plan is founded
on the principle that two thousand brave regulars
will beat twenty thousand cowardly irregulars.
Beit known, that we, for particular reasons us
thereunto moving, have thought fit abfoltttely to
prohibit, and we hereby absolutely do prohibit, all
exportation of ammunition, gun-powder, guns and
shot, by fltips belonging to the dominions of Great-
Britain, provisionally for the term of 6 months, upon
pain no: only of confifeation of the arms and ammu
nition which shall be found there on board, but also
of a fine of 2000 guilders over and above, at the
charge of the commander, whole ship shall be an
fiverable and liable to execution for the fame.
LONDO N, April 4.
The transports for Boston are ordered not to be
Crowded so full of men as usual, that the officers
inay have room for as mhch Baggages goods) as they
please. There is 40,0001. wprth of merchandize
going to America in the above Trahfports.
News, it is said, was on Saturday night received
from Gibralter, which has thrown the miniflry into
the greatest cofifufion, and from what could be ga-.
thered from it, it is expected the fleet intended to
diflrefs the Americans, must go to relieve that place,
from the combined force of theSpaniards ^Algerines.
April 5. The adviferi of several unconstitutional
bills are laid to appear much alarmed, since the last
advices from America, and seem extremely anxious
to dive into the dispositions of the people.
Capt. Drummond, of the artillery,.is appointed
Aid-de-Camp to Major General Clinton, on the
American expedition.
fferil 8. The troops going from Ireland are part
destined for Boston ; the remainder for New-York.
By letters arrived, on Wednesday from Cadiz, v,
are informed, that a ship laden with Ammunition,
going to America, was flopped there by order of the
British Consul.
A remonstrance actually arrived last week from
the Court of Versailles, on the fubjed of the British
armaments now in America.
Stolen or strayed out of the paE
ture of James Woodruff of Farmington, on the night
of the 28th of May, a sorrel Mare, about 7 years old,
about 14 hands high, no brand, natural pacer, shod
round, a white flip in the face runs down on the off
nostril, a white spot on the near shoulder about the
bigness of a dollar, and a white spot under the
mane on the off fide. Whoever shall take up said
Mare, and return her to the owner shall be hand
somely rewarded and all necessary charges paid, by
James Woodruff.
Farmington, May 31, i 77,
. ~ . ,mo
Thursday last arrived at Loflon, Capt, Chads in the Cer
berus Frigate from England, by whom we have the
following Advices, viz.
H AG U E, [Holland] March 20.
THEIR high Mightinesses the States General
have this day issued the following Procla
mation :'