The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-10-23 00:00:00, page 2

and a prattling boy. See him bid adieu to the pleafares
of a Court, and flying on the wings of the winds across
the ocean, to have^his name enrolled among the worthies
of America. Unconnected with us by religion and man
ners as well as country, it was enough for him that Liber
r was in distress. See him court the pofi of danger at
tne battle of Brandywine ; he mingles with the contending
throng, until forced from his rank by a mulket-ball ; he
is dragged rtluclmtly from the field. Gallant Hero !
cnjythe honor of toy wound; it is a mark set upon thee
by the guardian angle of the Liberties of America: Itlhall
preserve thee hereafter, and render thy fame coeval with
Liberty itfelf.
But if so much praise is due to the Hero who fights in
defen eof the Liberty of a foreign country, what shall
we fay of the merit of that man, who fuffers his affection
for Liberty so far to Subdue his attachment for his native
country, as to draw his sword against it, when that coun
try becomes the enemy of the rights of mankind? Yes, il
luilrieus Gates, it was to no purpose that thou waft
born and educated in England ! It was in vain that ties of
blood and ancient friendships pleaded with thee to be a Spec
tator of tne present druggie for Liberty. Inspired by a
Superlative love for Liberty, be forgot them all. See him
renew his acquaintance with his British sword ! He wipes
the rust from it, and wets it with a tear, (for Heroes never
dwell themselves of the gehtlenefs of their natures) He 'a
meats the cec: ffity of employing it against those very men
by whom he was taught to use it. But the tyranny of
Britain has dissolved all connexion with them, and the
noble cause of Liberty has united him with a new band of
brethren. Ode, while he is employed in training our far
mers and mechanics to arms, again he is Sent to flop the
progress of the enemy at Ticonderoga. The name of
Gates, and the Strength and order of his works, saved our
country in theclafe of the year 1776, when an invafton
from Canada, joined with the fad catastrophes that befel
usin the other parts of this country, might have proved
fatal to the Liberties of America. But what shall we fay
of the glories of the succeeding campaign, when a whole
army capitulated to him. Can the world afford a higher
pleafiire to a Hero than to set down withacaptive General
and Commander in Cfef. But our illufirious Hero re.
fufe^to feafl upon the glories of his conquest. He fympa
thifes with his prisoners, and endeavours to make them
forget their situation, by reminding them of times when
they fought by each others sides. He eftimatfs his success
only by the effeds it will have in establishing the Liberty
and Independance of America: And he chearfully facri
fees all the laurels he has acquired by the Skill of hisdifpo
tidons and the obffiaate bravery of his battle's, as peace
uderings at the temple of Virtue and Liberty. Pardon this
digression from my fubjed. I now return, and add in the
third place : That it is cffential to the true Hero that he
possess the virtues of humanity, patience and perfeverence.
This humanity will be necessary in abating the rigor of
military punishments among his own soldiers, as well as
in his conduct towards his enemies. The moment an ,-
nemy lays down his gms, he becomes his friend. He
binds up the wounds he has infixed, and infiead of con
signing ^im to unwholesome prisons and crowded Ships, he
alleviates the mortification of their captivity, by every
possible aft of politeucfs and generosity that is confident
with the fafety of his country. Such was tne behaviour
of the gallant General Way ne, after the surrender ®f the
garrison at Stoney-Point. By the laws of war as well as
by the principles of retaliation, the General hac a right to
put every man in the fort to death. But the infant the
cry of mercy reached his ears, he forgot tne massacre at
the Paoli, he ordered the bayonet to be laid aside, andgave
Ire t® every man that iked it.
Oh intrepid Hero ! enjoy the triumphs of thy midnight
enterprise. The Heroes of future ages Shall esteem their
exploits as brave and finished in proportion as they refem
bie thine. But forgive the feelings of an Orator more im
pressed with philosophical than military ideas, when I fay
that I admire and love tree left for thy /kill and bravery
in forming the fort at Stoney-Point, than I do thy sin
gular humanity and maghinimity in giving life to those ve
ry men who had forfeited every claim to thy humanity
and the insulted clemency of thy country Patience and
perfeverence are no less necessary than humanity, to form
a heroic military character Tne hardships of war require
a foul of fttel to encounter them. The true Hero must
learn to subdue his pafffons, and when he finds he cannot
govern circumstances, he muff learn to be governed by
them. He mull be hoick enough to aft as if cold, hunger,
fatigue and watching were no evils, when they come in
competition with the good of his country. Hernuft bear
with patience the suspicions and clamors of the world,
repelling tne issue of his plans, and trust to time and po
sterity to do justice to his a&ions. In a word, he must
love Virtue and Liberty more than glory, and he muff
fear Slavery more t..an death. He muff be willing to do
every thing, and Suffer every thing, and ( what perhaps
toa true Hero will be a more difficult talk than both) he
muff be willing to be accounted.as nothing, and fink into
obfeurity, or even to Suffer reproach without complaining,
provided he can eftablilh the freedom cr enlarge the hap
piness of his country by his Sufferings, by his obscurity,
or by his reproaches. Who has not anticipated me in a
scribing all the great qualities I have mentioned to the il
lustrious Commander in Coief of the American army ?
Oh! for the eloquence of Cicero to celebrate the praiSes
of our greater American Pompey ! Who can doubt his
virtue, nis patriotism and his affection for liberty that re
fills upon what he has done, and (offered for his beloved
country ? Who can forget the melancholy winter of 1776 ?
An army reduced by fuknefs and disbanded, a whole State
nearly subdued, and a paniik Spreading far and wide
thro' every part of the Continent. In this critical fitua
tton of our affairs, Washington was alive, and like Some
huge promontory that raises its head above the Swelling
billows, flood unmoved at the complicated diSailers that
befel his country. Unmoved did I fay ? I retrad the
word; hegrew big with the impending danger, he met
the ftorru , he rallied the ftiength of the Continent, and
called its departing Spirit back to life again. See him cd
leding the fragments of a half naked army, with a few
raw militia, eroding a half frozen river, and marching on
a bleak and snowy night, to attack one of the strongest
posts of the enemy, on tne banks of the Delaware. The
success of this enterprize is well known to us all, and we,
this day, feel the good effects of it. It was this that turn
ed the tide of our affairs. From the vidory of Trenton
General S ULLIVA N's Answer.
• Gentlemen,,
YOUR very polite and friendly congratulations, era
my Safe arrival at this post, with the troops I have
tne honor to command, have my most Sincere and cor
dial thanks.
The difficulties attending the late expedition against a
Ravage, Secret, and desultory enemy, far exceeded any
idea which could possibly be formed by those, who were
unacquainted with the country ; and were such, as no ex
ertions of mine could have Surmounted, if, the unparal
leled ardor and persevering virtue of the officers and soldi
ers of the weiiern army, had not enabled me to compleat
ly overcome them.
The testimony you are pleased to give of my attention
to the troops in general, and to your corps in particular,
cannot fait to afford me the higkeft Satisfaction. All the
troops had a great claim to every poflible attention, and
the particular exertions of your corps, in transporting
the artillery through a country before deemed impassable,
could not fail of -obtaining in return, every mark of ge
nerosity and gratitude in my power.
I thank you sincerely for yodr generous wishes for the
restoration of m y health, which if re established, I mean
to devote, with unremitted ardpur, to the Service of my
country.'
I have the honor to be with very partkuar refpea,
Gentlemen, your most obedient
and very humble servant,
JOHN SULLIVAN.
PHILADELPHI A.
The Honorable Major General SULLIVAN, Com
mander in Chief of the Weflern Army.
W' E the Officers of Artillery congratulate you, on
your Safe and happy arrival, with the troops un
der your command at Edlon.
We can't help exprefling the pleasure we feel, in resett
ing on the many difficulties and dangers in the course of
a campaign, through a large extent of a Savage enemy's
country, which, we have been enabled, by your great a
billties and military knowledge, to Surmounts
We prefect to you our sincerest thanks, for the care
and attention, you have taken in making a comfortable
provision (notwithstanding your many aifapointments)
for your army, in general, and in particular for your ge
nerosity to tne corps in which we have the honor to
Serve.
We beg your acceptance of our best wishes, for the re
storation and continuance of your health; and are, with
the greatest esteem, Dear General, ,
Your most obedient and very humble Servants,
(In behalf of the Corps,)
THOMASFOREST,
Lieut, col. Commandant.
Eaflon, OQohr i6tb, 1779.
An ADDRESS from the Corps of Light Infantry to
the Honorable Major General S ULLIVAN Com
mander in Chief of the WeStern Army.
IMPRESSED with Sentiments of esteem and grati
tude, the Light Infantry under your honor's com
mand, beg leave to congratulate you on the success of the
expedition tinder your immediate care and infpe&ion,
which they are confident has terminated in such a manner
as to refits the highest honor upon you as the command
er, and must insure you the applause of every friend to
his country. Confident they are, had it not been for your
unparralleleri actions and determined resolution, to ful^
ly answer the expectations of your country, and Secure
the peace and tranquility of the Frontiers, the obstacles
would never have been surmounted and the end of the ex
pedition remain'd unanswered. With fiacere wiflies for
your happiness, and a Speedy restoration of your health, I
have the honor to subscribe myfelf, in behalf of the Corps,
Your honor's most obedient
Eaflon, and very humble Servant,
October ,7. ADAM HUBLEY, Junior.
Lieut. Colonel.
The Honorable Major General Sullivan.
To this ADDRESS the General returned the fol
lowing Answer.
Gentlemen,
I SINCERELY thank you for your very polite and
flattering address, and for ycur congratulations, on
the success of the expedition entrusted to my care. lam
happy in being favored with such pleasing evidence, that
my conduct has given the officers and soldiers of your
corps, that Satisfaction which such brave and virtuous
troops undoubtedly merits.
However sensible I may be that your generosity, has
attriDuted more to my exertions than I can persuade my
we may dale the kindling of a military Spirit in obr coun
try, and all our successes after were the confequeaces of
portions of this Spirit, distributed through the Continent.
Butin our encomiums upon the Hero, let us not forget the
citizen and the man with an army and Continent devoted
to his name; he has formed no ambitious Schemes of Self
aggrandizement, but languishes above all things to Sheath
his Sword, and return to the boSom of conjugal attention,
and rural elegance on the banksof Pat unack. As to his
humanity, the walls of yonder church can witness, in
which a number of wounded British soldiers fled for Safe
ty, after the battle on yonder plains. The Genera! rode
up ; the poor creatures no Sooner Saw him, but they fell
upon their knees and begged their lives. " Don't be un
easy my gallant fellows, (laid he) you have fought brave
ly, your lives Shall be sacred, and I will give orders that
you Shall want nothing to make you comfortable in your
present condition." But whether am I carried, for Should
I give a loose to my feelings upon our gallant American
Heroe'scharacter, my Oration would not end with the
day. Yes, illufirious Cnief! thy early and difinterefled
attachment to thy native country; thy Superlative love
for Liberty ; thy wisdom and prudence in the cabinet;
thy intrepidity in the Held; toy unparalleled patience in
adveifity, and moderation in prosperity ; thy perseverance
under every Species of discouragement and difficulties. —
These let future ages admire aad celebrate, while I, loft in
pleasing Silence, will muse encomiums upon them, which
I cannot pronounce.
fe'f lam intitled to ; I c^nnct help acknowledging the fa
tisfaftion I feel in the testimony you have bea pleased to
give, of my having exerted those talents with which na
ture has furnished me, -to answer the expectations of my
country, to secure peace to its Frontiers and to give fa
tisfaftion to the brave troops I had the honor to com
mand.
Your wishes for the refloration of my health demands
my warmest thanks and add to those feelings of gratitude
with which your faithful and virtuous Services have in
spired me.
I have the honor to be,
with the higbeft refpeQ and effete,
Gentlemen, your obedient
and very humble Servant,'
JOHN SULLIVAN.
In COUNCIL, Philadelphia, October 20, 1779.
The Hon. Houfs of Assembly having taken into con 1
fideration the meritorious Services of General Wayne, and
the troops of the Pennsylvania line under i!is command,
particularly in the attack on Stoney- Point, on the Sixteenth
day of July last, and come to the following resolve,
to wit
" In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania,
"October 10, 1779.
" The Assembly of Pennsylvania taking into their con
sideration the Services performed by General Wayne, and
the officers and soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, in the
attack on Stoney.Point, and the recommendation of the
Supreme Executive Council.
Resolved, That the tranks of this Houle be given to
General Wayne, and the officers and soldiers of the Penh
fylvania line, for the courage and conduct displayed by
them in the attack on Stoney.Point The honor they have
reflected on the btate to which they belong, the clemency
they Shewed to those in their power, in a situation, when,
by the laws of war, and Simulated by refentr&mt, occasi
oned by the remembrance of a former massacre, they
would have been juflifie'd in putting to death every one of
the garrison, will transmit their names with honor to the
latest posterity, and will Shew that true bravery and hu
manity are inseparable.
Resolved, That this resolution be transmitted to the Su
preme Executive Council, and that they be requested to
transmit the fame to General Wayne, to be by him con
veyed to the officers and soldiers of the Peuntyivania line,
under his command in the attack above mentioned.
Signed by order of the House,
JOHN BAYARD, Speaker.".
Which has been duly communicated to this Board, and
thereupon
Resolved unanimonfly, That the Supreme Executive
Council do chearfully concur therein, and give their thanks
to General Wayne and the troops of the Pennsylvania line,
for the bravery, humanity and good conduct displayed on
the above occasion, in which they wet only acquired mo@
deserved applause, but have reflected honor upon the State
to which they belong.
Extras from the Minutes,
T. MATLACK, Secretary.
Ph!ade?,bia, October 20, 1779,
frHE President of the State and Commander in Chief of
tne Militia, having taken into consideration the re
port of the Court-Martial whereof Col. Bradford was
President, on complaints exhibited against sundry officers
of the militia, for offences against the articles of war and
good discipline, has determined thereupon as follows :
Lieutenant Forster charged . First, with deferring to the
enemy, while ip possession of the city ; Secondly, with de
ferring the service, throwing away his arms, and behaving
in a cowardly and difgraceful manner on the approach ®f
the enemy ; Thirdly, coming into town, and remaining
here during the flay of the enemy. Of the firft charge he
is acquitted, but found guilty of all the rest, and Sentenc
ed to have his sword broke over his head, the firft field
day, to be cashiered, and for ever deemed unworthy of
holding a eommiffibn in the militia of this State, and that
the Sentence be published in the news paper. The Presi
dent approves the judgment of the Court, and direfts
it to be carried into execution, except that part which di
re&s his sword to be broke over his head, which the Pre
sident is pleased to remit.
Ensign Baker, charged with the following offences :
F'rft, defection to the enemy; Secondly, remaining in
tbwn during the enemy's possession voluntarily ; Thirdly,
not using proper endeavors to join his battalion then in
aftual service.
The Court acquit Ensign Baker of the firft charge, but
find him guilty of the other two, and are of opinion, he
falls under the fifth article in the eighteenth feltion of the
rules and regulations of the Continental army, to which the
militia of this State are futojeft, when in actual service.
Whereupon the Court are of opinion, Ensign Baker is un
worthy a commission in the militia of this State, and ca
shier him. Which Sentence the President approves and
directs the fame to be carried into execution.
Lieutenant Warner charged with the like offences, and
having received the fame Sentence, it is approved in the
like manner.
Lieutenant Sivert charged with, First, deserting to the
enemy ; Secondly, not using the proper means to join his
battalion in actual service.
The Court acquit him of the firft charge, but find him
guilty of the Second, being a breach of the fifth article of
the eighteenth fe&ion of the articles of war, and also that
he is not deserving of a commission in the Militia of this
State, but ought to be cashiered; which featence the
President approves, and orders to be carried into execu
tion.
Lieutenant Boehm charged in like manner, the Court
acquits him with honor
Lieutenant Taylor ch arged in like manner, and acquit
ted with honor, both which Sentences the President ap
proves. V
Captain Ruper, Captain Ryan, Lieutenant Lille, Lieu
tenant Everhart, Lieutenant Duchee, and Lieutenant In
gles, charged in like manner. The Court are of opinion,
from their situation they are not objeßs of their jurif
diaion. The President therefore direds Lieutenant
Boehm, Lieutenant Taylor, and those officers last menti
oned, to be released from arrest and return to their
duty.
JOSEPH REED, President.