The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1777-07-07 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHI A, J^ %
Ex'.raß of a Lt'terfrem Gin. Washington toCengrefs, dated
Midan-Breok, 'June 20, 1777.
" Whim I ^d .h# honor of addreffi^g you left, I
informed y^u that the main body of the enemy had
marched f m Braufwick and extezdad their van as
far as Samerfet court heufe. I am now to acquaint
you, that afar incampiag between thafa two posts
and beginning a lias of redoubt#, they changed their
greuad yesterday morning, and in ths courf# of the
preceding night, and returned to BunOrick again,
burning as they went fmrai valuable dwelling heufes.
" I mad ebftrre, and with peculiar fatisfaaion I
de it, that on the firft notice of the enemy's move
ments# the militia affemb el in the most spirited man
ner, firmly determined to give them every annoyance
in their power, and to afford us evary possible aid.
This I thought it my duty to mention, inj*frce to
their caudal, and I am inclined to beliave thatGm
Hawa's return, thus fuidenly made, rauft hive bean
in cenGqyence of th^ information he received that the
people were in and flying tn arms in every quarter to
oppefe him,
Publifbtd by order of Cengrefs,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
FISH-KIL L, July 3.
We learn, that Col. Courtlandt, with a
bout 300 men, took from Bergen, in fight
of New-York, the enemy's guard, brought
off 70 head of cattle, and 270 sheep, This
adventure gave a confiderabie alarm at New-
York ; soldiers were dispatched to recover
the booty, but too late, it was gone.
We learn from Headquarters, at Middle-
Brook, that the enemy's retreat from Bruns
wick was precipitate and contused ; that the
Geheralliffimo Howe seemed to be much a
larmed. Col. Morgan's rifle-men, and the
fcoucing parties cut down great numbers of
the enemy in their retreat to Perth-Amboy.
That last week Major General Sterling,
who commanded a party of 12 or 1300 men
at Weftfield, a few miles from Perth-Amboy
was attacked, and by stratagem almost sur
rounded by the main body of the enemy.
Our men fought their way through them
with great bravery, but were overpowed
by numbers and obliged to retreat with the
Infs of three held pieces, 20 killed and about
40 wounded. The enemy's loss is said to
be confiderabie ; they had a Colonel and
fomeofficers killed. Last Friday a party of
our men drove the enemy, took thirty pri
feners and two light-horle.
We are informed that about 250 of the e
nemy, last Monday advanced as tar as White
Plains, where we had a small party, —our
loss was eight men taken prisoners, and two
wounded. We learn that the enemy took
three prisoners near Col. Philips's, one of
them a century.
At Danbury, Dr. John Wood found in
his well, 400*cannnon balls, and 120 muf
quet ditto, iuppofed to be thrown in by the
enemy, in their reueac from that place.
BOSTON, far 30
A Prix? token b, Captain Da,, in 'be General Mifflin
Privateer, arrived at a fdfe Part at the Eafward if
Wed^efd, ; foe was taken two days before their Time was
OKt wieb the Continent- Te Prize was beu^dfrom Len
d^ fir New Yuk ; her Cergo otfd/ of Salt, about 200
Queer Cfa S'>ry ab:u 300 Cfs of Raifus, and 30
er 40 Tierce; ff Bask, cozening cleat 4000 wt.
The fofaving Letter fro* a H use in London to a Perfa in
New York, dated Linden, April 1777, war taken in
tbe,bjve Prize.
, <' Lis inco^t^t up^n u'3 to lay before y<?v. with
out raw v#,^ r^piJwa ^pou th# prcfent ftase cf drtis,
in order that w# my be prepared fir whatever may be
tha evr^t.
“ Y is who are upon the fp^t, have ora oppe^unit,
cfjuigiig ^ih m'ore precifon than we, of ths fta #of
the c% %>Q in America ; we shall not therefore vea
taro an epiai^m cn that head. Bat as oppiaions differ
fa much moa it, wt mar b, allowed ta form corj.c
tum. W, null apoligz? far ear#, bscaufe you will
fi»d thtm differ from the general epipioa ; but as that
is firmed upon the accounts which G: varnment think
proper to publish, we may, without being fcepticks, bo
allowed to combine thofa accounts wik others, and
farm oar own conjectures. If we ihould bo mistaken,
we ffitll have fufferid no lofi or inc^nvenienties fisra
it, but vies versa, if th# generality ih raid err in their
canclafi rnr, a number of the prefect adventurers must
be rallied, who have anticipated events by the fangui.
nef# of their ideas. They must have imagined and
believed the whole com tinent to bain a flue of nature,
and the trade of your place the reverfa of what you
dafcribe it. Whereat we who fee through a different
mirrom, have ventured to view the profpea more mi
nutely, and to consider what consequences might en
fae by a further prolongation of this unhappy dispute.
From every circaraftance we can c*lle&, from our #b
fervation, from the information of those who have in.
vedigated the fu'jrd ftsm the beginning of our dis.
pates with America, we have ma doubt (frappefag the
ptsfr^t campaign t^ be as iH^ff^a^al a@ th® la^j th^t
the Colonies will remain independent, and ba aeknuw
ladged independent States ia the firae valuer as the
Seven Provinces by Philip tkeS coed. A federal union
in thin case would in time heal all amimpfitics, and e
ventuall,, perhaps, prove the Means of awing the pow
ers of France and Spain more than a general confede
racy aweng all the Northern natiens collectively. New
and ftrauge as this do&rine may appear, we Ihould
think we were deficient in our regard te yen if we did
not at least feggeft to yog the peffibility cf such an e
vent happening. The reafoaing upon it is not crimi
nal ; we Iheuld not be fufpeaed by these who knew
us, of being dificient ia our regard to this country and
in p^int of interest, we null with for a flat* qua. But
wiihes wilkheither determine one way or the other. It
behoves ns to consider the fuba in its cenfaqueaces,
and to be prepared for whatever may happen. If the
Colonies liquid fabmit and return to their allegiance,
we ihall refuse car sfual operations of trade. Bat
fuppefe the contrary, aie we to negled taking so gr%te
a circuraftanee into cenfideration, and communicating
te each other our idaas upon the n^w f iem cf trade
your Colonies won d ba likely to adopt by being de
clared independent katet.
" Tai# country weeld loss feme breaches efitstrade,
but wan'd p/eCive its staple, the wcolent & other ^t
ticles. America wnuld then carry its produce dire&ly
to foreign me kets, and receive from thence their ^re
duce in return. Ii that parties ar we fhou'd be less
fuffbrers than other Aminic n hett'es, who hava no
connexions with Fua^cs. F r fuels central as we
formerly had, the French mull employ feme Agents
here; at the fame tims private adventurers would be
feeding their produce to France as before: So far it
would m^ke nr material alteration to as ; but the con
nexion between America and the French ^fi^ts, would
be productive of a very material alteration, and a new
fyft^m of trade. By the time you receive this letter
you will be able to judge whether these idea# are quite
fj axtravagaat a# they would have appered to yea at
this iaftant. If yen Ihould find that the campaign is
likely o last lezg^r th&n this year, let us entreat you to
tske ine your meft serious coe&ciratien the subj&
before yen, end when you have weighed it properly,
to fever us with your epioion at large as to ths new
f, stem which y&u apprehend would t^ke pla^e in point
of the trade of you: Coluaies, i: Europe and the Wefl
l^di^, cabling with you that we, by curgx eafive con
nexions in F ance ray breffiftiag in both ; that is to
fry, when it can bo dene legally, fir nei'hsr you nor
we wi" ever attempt a*v trade that is atherwife."
HARTFOR D, July 7.
Our accounts from th Nortbvj&rd are f, warreut and
uncertain that ,e are unable to give ear readers au, thing
particularfrom thw quarter •--
We hear the Muhin from the wefte/n P^rt of this
State, and the Ceuhty cf Betllhue, in the State of
M&ffachuferts Bay, who ur .ivei fall, turn'd cut and
marched for Ticonderoga, an the Altrm left Wtek,
are all return'd, but fill hold thtmfelvcs is Readiness
to proceed on the ffi irteft Notice, for the Relief ofeur
Brethren on that Satiom.
Ext aft of a letter from Ticonderoga, dated June 20.^
'' On the 17+b infant about one o'clock the camp was
alarmed with the firing of a number of guns at a small dis
tance from tbs French lines -twofoldiers of Cel. Halt's re
giment were killed and cue madeprifaer by a part, of Indi
ans. The feme da, a ranging part, bad alt utenant wennd.
ed and two men killed : the, brought in tbeJcalp and orna
ments of an Indian who appeared to have been of feme note
amengf the carriers. On the 19+b infant a soldier was
made prisoner b, three Indians and a Frenchman, but made
bis of ape in the evening Indians have been almost ever,
da, difavered near this place "
We hear from good authority that the to
nes in the State of New-York,finding them
selves treated in the manner they deserved
by the Bri:ifh forces, having deferred their
country at the hour of distress, in hopes of
obtaining an inglorions security, are daily
taking the benefit of the declaration of the
Convention, of the 10th of May last, which
offers free pardon to such of their fujefts as
have committed treasonable ads, and shall
return to their allegiance.
The truftces of New ferfe, College boros conferred tbs de
gree of D@r in Divinity on the Rev. Abitl Leonard, of
Woodbeck in this State.
Extrea of a Letter frem an Officer of Difinßion in the
Continental Arm,, to bis Correfbondent in this Place,
dated, Middlebrook, June 30, 1777.
'' Bfire this comes to band you will have heard of the
movement of the Britifo and American Armies -In confe
quence of which the militia of New ferfy and Pennfjlroania
turned out univerfall,, and their brave and spirited beha
viour has convinced me that there is no better soldiers on earth
The, bung on the enemy's flanks and rear to Ambo, and
did them great damage. I flatter m,felf if the enem, come
"? a J ,'* a visa i* Conne&icut, the militia will few tbefe
fens of tyranny that the, dore defend their families and efates.
I have beard so man, rfiaions on the militia, I bad deter
mined to be of the Continental Arm, at an, rate, rather
than of the militia : but I assure jen, notwitbranding m,
agreeable fixation in the Continental Army, I have entire/,
changed m, opinion of the militia ; and I believe ours in Con
neaicut are as good as an, other, and have no apprehensions
that the enem, fauld the, come that wa, will meet with left
reffonce from them than from the Jerfe, and Pennsylvania
militia.
" H/aven will smile on and ,ref,sr our arms if we will
use them like men-.lf we are brave we phalli be free..
A&ri<a& Independence is toe f^b tfoibfed to & c^,.
thrown b, all the pewtrs of Halor Great fcrtttin. F.j^e
jefoxs of America, continue to be brave and,eufballh f ce >'
W. WATSON,
jHAYEfentyou the above entraa which Ids sj^ , 0
publifb- , I bavcfvsral times been in little Jk:r%/h;
^itb our militia of tbssfate, and am of th fa^ ^f^^
TC itb m, friend, " The, are as good at other militia fy
■of of the misfortunes that have attended their arms have
keen owing to their being badly squipt and want ofdfcipfy.
I hope both theft evils art now tn feme measure remediedi
but as we tn„a the tutr,, will fan pa, us a vft, is „ a 6_
folutel, neceffar, that the militia rfficersfa to „ & .fair
men are pro,erl, equipt and read, sn thefartef notice to Qe
thefold--their negka and inattention st ths taster m.^ be
fatal to us. No time feuld be if in making the nsetfar,
preparations, and our enemies will be convinces at fa# ap
proach that men fighting for life, libert, and proper,,
Superior to hirelings with all ibrir boafad militar, fill.
Ibave been informed that the militia law of uis Sate
bas net been properl, attended to : ---Theftperjons whji
t, it is to enforce the law are called upon to rouje frm their
letkarg,, and immediatel, put it in execution - I, the,
glea it, the bleed of their country wif l,e at their doer, and
the vengeance of an irjured people will overtake th m.
A MIDDLING WHIG.
Mr. WATSON,
Pleafs to infer! the following in,ear next.
WILLIAM DRIAKWAzER. of N.„-Milf.rd, iu
this flats, and now 1 foidier in ihe C&Mh%m
'arvicv, wha was taken prifener by the e^my at Q%
bee, while he was baldly figuring by th 4 fio& cf^
intrepid and defarvedly famous Col. E& R A%%
and was with him carried to Ireland, Eugleac, &l
and ha# since made his wfcaps ; beiup determined
if necessary, literally and #% 1, to fecrifice ku life,
and property in the cause cf America ; lauly mid# h^
will, and ho thereby given and deviled all his pro
perty, confining of about 150. lawful rauney, i M c sffi
and Stat* notes, to such man, at shall immediately up
on his, the testators, decease, &*lht himfelf during th#
war, into the farae company and battailion to which
the tuftater flull belong at the time of his death -
provided such man belong to this State, and be a per!
fen E#ll aff.&ed to the cuf# cf the United S at##,
and be approved of by the Select men u s @ Naw'
Milford, fcr the time being; whem he has alfe cen
ftitetdd the executors es his afon fad will, and order
ed them to pay said fam to fech man as fh,ll s o inlift
upon hi being accepted and nraftmd,--.he to take
no reward but the above dovife, and the continental
state encouragements. The tetiator devised his estate
in the above manner, in preference to hi# brethren
aid relatives ; and declares, he will net only fight
those mercenary enemies, who have treated him and
his countrymen with such unheard of cruelty, as 16,g
as he lives ; but will find a man to fight them
lung a# his money lefts, after he is deac. So may
every Ameicen, while living fee, and when deed,
" yet fpeak."'
/ Thejiberal prevision made by C^gref in the
new medicinal arrangements,; ined with a humane
d<fi e to prevent the repetition of the difirgfiA, whici
sfd &sd the brave American fridiers the left c^m
paign, have drawn men of the firft abilities into the
field, to watch over the health and preserve the live#'
of the soldiers, many of them from very exxerfive and
prefita ble ,ia&iee, and every fades cf demeftic hap
piness. Dr. William Brown of Virginia, Dr. Jarnos
Clark of Maryland, and Dr. Thon 3 Bead, jura, es
Philadelphia, are appointed Affi^t Dream Gena
ral. Dr. Walter Jme# of Virginia, a^d Dr Berj^min
Ruin ot Paihdelpaie, Physician and Surgeon Gener
alsof the hefpitah cf the middle dt^rtment. Un
der those none but gentlemen cf the heft education,
and well qhalified, are employed a# Geier Phyficia&e
Sergaans, & . The eattern and northern departments
arc filled with gentlemen cf the firfl chara&r# in
thofi countries ; and the pub? c may depend or it,
that th# greater exertions of &LI and hdifry ffiall
bi ceaftantly made, a^d no cast (pared, to raake the
sick and wounded soldiery comfortable a^d happy.
A$ a coafiqaence $f the above liberal arrangement of
the Henourab^e Coegrefi, we do, with greet pleasure,
add equal truth, tflare t:ia public (notwithstanding
the m^ny filfe and wicked reports propagated by th#
ensram of American liberty, asd only ca 7 coattd to
retard the r^uirirg ferricc) that all he milliter, bef
pitals or the United S & sa are in excellent ercer, and
that the army n^jy a degree of health faidera to bo
fien @r r^d of. W. SHIPPEN, jun.
Dire&or General of the American H^ fpirais.
JOHN COCHRAN, P^fiSamsnd Sergton
General of Army in the M^d'e Department.
Head Quarters, Middle-Bteek, Jane 4 1777.
° # * Lis requeued that ;he above may ce publifh
edin all the newspapers on the continent.
To the P ÜBL I C.
I JOHN GARNSEY of Naw.Lebanon in King's
Diftria and coarty cf Albany, have he^oftra
b^ea inimical to the Spates of America and thereby
have given just renfons of offence to the public, v : z by
being intimate with the greater enemies to the States
of America, and in refuting to take up arms to d^fiid
my bleeding country, and in f,eaki*g in behalfrflh#
kin, a^d against my country, f er which lam ferry,
and! elk the forgivenefief my fellow men, and d,#4-
gage far the future ta raanifeft the finceriiy of this
canf-ffi 'u by breaking eff m, fsrraer cerrefyendence,
a^d in taking up arms to vindiert; the rights and pri,
vileges efthe States of America.
This cenfiffijA I sign wit^cu+ ary compw'fi-n.
JOHN GARNSEY.
Niw-Liba^un, 7th May, 1777.