Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-03 00:00:00, page 4

BOSTO N, Aaguft 15.
THURSDAY last a fine prize ship, from St. Augus
tine for London, laden with dried (kins and indigo,
was sent into Salem by a privateer commanded by Capt.
Skimmer.
Aug. 22. Last Thursday was sent into Marblehead, by
the Franklin vessel of war, Capt. Skimmer, and on Satur
day last was conveyed round to this harbour, a brig from
St. Augustine, bound for Bristol, with 3000 raw and half
drefled Deer-Skins, and about two tons of Indigo.
There were on board said brig, a lieutenant, sergeant and
a drummer, of the 14th regiment, going on the recruit
ing service.
Capt. Skimmer was in chafe of another vessel at the
time he took the above brig ; but having carried away
his mainmast, was obliged to leave her.
Laftwe,k the Warren privateer of Dartmouth, carried
in there a ship from the Weft-Indies for Newfoundland,
laden with lugar and molasses ; Die was commanded by
Capt. Cockran of Watertown, and owned by Thomas
Boylftone, E # q; of this town.
NEWBURY-POR F, August 16.
Yesterday Crpt. Wingate Newman, arrived in the
Privateer named the Hancock, from Philadelphia ; she
brought in a pri^e, (which is now fafely anchored before
this town) the ship Nincy from Antigua, Capt. Keys,
bound 0 London, having on board about 4.00 hotheads
of sugar, 90 of rum, and a few cafk< of Madeira wine.
A lady and several gentlemen were passengers in the
above ship.—He likewise brought in with him the Sloop
Industry, Capt. William Hazen, bound to St. John's in
Nova-Scotia, in ballast.
A fewdays before taking the above ship, Capt. New
man had a (mart enga rment with a flcop of war, of
much superior force, for three glares, but night coming
on, they parted, both having received much damage, but
on hoard of Capt. Newman no lives were loft, nor none
much hurt.
NE W-L OND ON, Auguftzg.
Daft Saturday a French sloop arrived here from the
W:ft-Indies, loaded with lugar, molasses and coffee, and
a f- % articles of European goods.
Since our last, three vessels have arrived here from
N^v York, with tories cohered from that city, and
Long Isl and; who are sent into the country towns.
By means of the great number of Prizes carried into
different Ports at the eastward, Jamaica rum is fold at
4.4./. per Gallon by the hogshead, and sugar at fi /c dol
lars per 100 Wt, in Boston.
Three of our People (Soldiers) who were Prisoners
at Quebec, have made their escape, and arrived at Rhode-
Illand ; they report that the officers who are Prisoners
in Quebec meet with hard usage.
N E W Y () R K, August 26.
Tuesday last a number of ships with troops on board
failed from Staten Island out cf the Narrows ; next day
they were followed by many more, and about ten o'-
clock Tourfday morning, about 10,000 men landed
between New Utrecht and Gravefend, on Long Ifixnd.
Friday a party of them came and took possession of Flat-
B'rfh, which immediately brought on a very not fire from
our troops, who are advantageously potted in the woods,
and on every eminence round that place.
An advanced party of the regulars are encamped a
little to the north weft of Flat-Bulb church, and have a
battery somewhat to the westward of Mr. Jeremiah Van
derbelt's, from whence they continue to fire briskly on
our people, who often approach and difeharge their
rifhs within 200 yards of their works. We have had
only 4. men wounded since the enemy landed ; but we
are certain many of them fell ; one, a Hessian, was killed
last Friday : several dolla rs were found in his pocket,
and he had an excellent rifle, and many of the regulars
are in rifl. dresses.
PHILADELPHIA.
A propfed 0 RDINANCEof the State of Pennsyl
vania, declaring tebat foal be Treason, and for
punifoing the fame, and other crimes andpraflices againfl
the tate.
WHEREAS it ought at all times to be the par
ticular care of government to take the most ef
fe&ud measures for the fafety and security of the state,
be it therefore ordained and declared, and it is hereby
ordained and declared by the Representatives of the free
men of the state of Pnnfylvania, in General Convention
met, That all and every person and persons (except pri
soners of wir) now inhabiting or residing within the
limits of the state of Penrifylvania, or that shall volunta
rily come into the fame hereafter, to inhabit or sojourn,
d , and ihal!owe and pay allegiance to the state of Penn
sylvania.
And be it farther ordained, by the authority aforefaid,
That all and every such person and perlons, so owing
allegiance tQhe state of Pennsylvania, who, from and
after the publication hereof, shall levy war against this
state, or be adherent to the King of Great-Britain, or
others the enemies of this state, or to the enemies of the
United States cf America, by giving him or them aid or
afliflance within he limits of this state, or elfewhcre, and
shall be thereof duly convicted in any court of oyer and
terminer hereafter to be ere&ed, according to law, shall
be adjudged guilty ot High Treason, and fuffer death,
and forfeit one moiety or halt part of his lands, tene
ments, goods and chattels, to the use of the state.
And be it farther ordained and declared, by the au
thority afoiefaid, That any perlon or persons (except as
before excepted) residing, inhabiting or sojourning in
this state, who shall hereafter know of such treason, and
conceal the fam*, or that shall receive or assist such traitor,
knowing him to be such, and shall be thereof duly con
vi&ed as aforefaid, shall be adjudged guilty of misprision
cf treason, and fuffer the forfeiture of two thirds of his
goods, lands, chattels and tenements, to the use efthe
state, and be imprisoned any term not exceeding one
year. Published by order of Convention,
JOHN MORRIS, jun. Secretary.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by JOHN DUNLAP; at the Newest Printing-Office ^ Market-greet, where
Subscriptions at Ten Shillings per Annum, Advertisements, &c. are thankfully received for this Paper.
Extras cf a letter from Neiv York, August 26.
" Skirmilhing continues, but little execution done on
either fide. A Lieutenant and four of our men were
taken prisoners, being deceived by the enemy's rifle
shirts and mistaking them for our men.
" On Saturday a letter was discovered which was
written by Lieutenant Col. Zedwitz to Tryon, he fays,
that having confuted him, he had accepted a commission
through neceflity and now commands part of the rebel
mob. —That the difeovery of Forbes and the Mayor had
like to have ruined his scheme; that he had been at Ge
neral Wethington's who wanted him to tranferibe an ad
vertifetnent to be dittiibuted among the Hessians, the
purport of which was, that he would give each delerter
among them, if they would join our army, 200 acres of
land, a horse and a cow ; and the land only if they did
not join cur army,—that a person at head-quarters could
be prevailed on to give a weekly return of the number
and state of our army for 4.000). in hard money, and he
was not to be discovered even if Zedwitz loft his life in
the scheme; that he said he did not think 4000!. would
be given, but he would promise him 20001. that'he
(Zedwitz) was now Lieut. Colonel, but daily expected a
full commission, when he was to go and have the com
mand of the forts up the North-River, &c. &c.
" He was tried this morning, and c< nfeffid the writ
ing 5 said he did it to deceive Tryon, and get feme mo
ney which was due to him from the crown, for services
performed in Germany. Sentence is not pronounced.
“ Our people at Elizabeth town, and the enemy on
Staten-island, cannonaded each other yesterday after
noon, without doing any damage, except disturbing the
congregation."
Extract of a letter from New-York, Augufl 27, 1776.
" I fit down in the midst cf confufion to tell you that
our ,eopl? have been engaged with the enemy on Long
Island all this morning, and are at it yet: We c nnot
get at particulars. Those who have come over fay, the
enemy have loft the most men. Lieut. Colonel Parry, of
one of the Pennsylvania battalions, is killed; he died he
roically, urging his men on against the enemy. Your
kinsman, Hermanus Rutgers was killed yesterday. Se
veral of the enemies ships hive attempted coming up this
morning, but wind and tide are a-head, and they ar?
hitherto baffled. Our men on the Island behave bravely:
Heaven fend them vi^ory.
“ Thirty-five minutes past twelve noon. Firing Rill
continues, with intermissions. A man of war coming np
said to be the Roebuck, has just loft, by a flaw, all she
gained last tack. Several fires are kindled on the island.
I believe our people set fire to bay, grain, &c. to prevent
the enemy's getting possession of them. Capt. Farmer,
of Colonel Miles's regiment, is slightly wounded in the
foot, and brought to this city. I think some men of war
will be up next tide.
Extraß of a letter from Neuv-fork, Angus 28, eight
o'clock, P. M.
" This minute returned from our lines on Long. Island,
where I lefthis Excellency the General ; from him I have
it in command to inform Congress, that yesterday Jie
went there and continued till evening, when, from the
enemy having landed a considerable part of their forces,
and many of their movements, there was reason to ap
prehend they would make in a little time a general at
tack. As they would have a wood to pass though before
they could approach our lines, it was thought expedient
to place a number of men there on the different roads
leading from whence they were Rationed, in order to har
rafs and annoy them on their march. This being done,
early this morning a smart engagement ensued between
the enemy and our detachments, which, being unequal
to the force they had to contend with, have fuftamed a
pretty coifiderable loss; at le*ft many of our men are
miffing. Among those that have not returned are Gen.
Suliivan and Lord Stirling. The enemy's loss is not
known certainly, but we are told by such of our troops
that were in the engagement, and what have come in,
that they had many killed and wounded. Our party
brought off a Lieutenant, Serjeant, and Corporal, with
twenty privates, prisoners. While these detachments
were engaged, a column of the enemy descended from
the woods, and marched towards the center lines, with
a design to make an impression, but were repulsed. This
evening they appeared very numerous about the ikirts cf
the woods, where they have pitched several tents; and
his Excellency inclines to think they mean to attack and
force us from our lines by way cf regular approaches ra
ther than in any other manner. To day five ships of the
line came up towards the town, where they seemed de
sirous of getting, as they turned a long time against an
unfavourable wind. And on my return this evening, I
found a deserter from the 23d regiment, who informed
me that they design, as soon as the wind will permit
them, to come up, give us a severe cannons^, and to
filer.ee our batteries, if pcffible. lam, &c."
Dear Brother, Camp Long-fland, fuf 13, ,776.
WIT H the greatest difficulty I have procured this
small piece of paper to inform you of ray being
very well, notwithstanding the miserable situation we
are in.
We have been encamped on this island for this month
past, and have lived upon nothing else but salt pork and
peafe. We deep upon t>e sea shore, nothing to shelter
us from the violent rains, but our ccats or miserable
paltry blankets. There is nothing that grows upon this
island, it being a mere sand bank, and a few bushes
which harbour millions of mufketoes, a greater plague
than there can be in hell itfelf.
By this sloop of war you will have an account of an
action which happened on the 28th June, between the
ships and the fort on Sullivan's Island. The cannonade
continued for about nine hours, and was perhaps one
of the briskest known in the annals of war ; we had two
50 gun ships, and five frigates from 24 to 30 guns play
ing on the fort, I may fay without success, fir they did
the battery no manner of damage, and kill'd fifteen,
and wounded betwixt forty and fiity. Our ships are in
the most mingled situation you can conceive. The Ac
tion, a 30 gun frigate, run aground during the adion,
and as it was imp^ffitle to get her off, we were obliged
to burn and blow her up.
Our killed and wounded amounts to betwixt two and
three hundred. Numbers die daily of their wounds.
The Commodore is wounded in two afferent places.
His Captain loft his left arm, and right band, and was
wounded in different parts of his bod), be lived but t^
days after the a&ion. Capt. Scott, cf the Experiment
cf 50 guns, died of bis wounds, and numbers of the
other officers.
If the ships could have flenced the battery, the arm,
was to have made an attack on the back of the ifFnd„
where they had about one thousand men entrenched u^
to their eyes, besides a small battery of four funs, one
eighteen pounder and three four pounders, all loaded?
with grape shot, so that they would have killed halt of
us before we could make our landing good.
We are new expending to embark for New-York, to
join Gen. Eowe with the grand army. My anxiety to
inform you of bad news had well nigh made me forget
to mention our passage to Cape Fear, where we arrived
fafely the firft ot May, after a voyage ofthree months.
Though it was long, yet it was not disagreeable after
we got out of the Bay of Bifeay, where we met with the
worst weather ever known at sea, and continued in that
situation for sixteen days; after that time we had very
fine weather ^ll along ; sometimes we were becalmed for
four or five days together, not going above ten knots a
day. Upon cur arrival in Cape-Fear we difembarkcd d
and were encamped in the woods until the 27th of May,
when we went on board again, and failed for this infer
nal place. The oldest of the officers do net remember
of ever undergoing such hardships as we have done since
our arrival here.
I hope you will be so good as to watch every oppor
tunity to let me hear from you and Mrs. Falconer, and
at the fame time to inform me how I shall do in case I
shall be obliged to purchase my Lieutenancy. I beg you
will make my excuse to my dear filter for not writing to
her at this time ; it is not owing to want of afß&ion,
but to the want of proper materials. lam obliged to
write on the ground. You will be so good as to let
Captain Falconer know the fame thing. I shall write
again from New-York. I am, dear Sir,
Your meft affectionate bother,
WILLIAM FALCONER.
To the Non. Anthony Falconer, at Mentrofe, Scotland.
The foregoing letter was found on Long- Island, South-
Caiolina, and forwarded to Congress, 2nd is new made
public by order of Congress.
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
August 29, 1776.
In CONVEN LION of the State of NEW-JERSEY.
Brunfavick, Auguf 17, 1776.
Refilled unafreufy, That the Bdls of Credit emitted
by the Honorable Continental Congress, be a legal ten
der within the State cf New-Jersey for ail furns of money
due, and owi^g from one person to another.
Whereas, the difference of the several currencies with
in this State very greatly perplexes many <t the good
people thereof, and now especially such of the people of
the neighbouring States as have come hither for our de
fence against the common enemy, and gives occasion for
great impositions and deceipts.
Refolded unanimoufy, That all payments and receipts
be made in every part of this State in Procl mation Mo
ney of New-J^rfry, it Seven Sellings and Six-pence the
Dollar, reckoning the difference between the usual pri
ces heretofore taken in any other currency, and reducing
the fame to Proclamation.
Extracts from the minutes,
WILLIAM PATERSON, Secre^r,.
Head Quarters, Woodbridge, Augufl 25, 1776.
(Orders)
The battalions of Associators from the city of Philadel
phia, having compleated fix weeks military service for
the defence of the Colony of New-Jersey, are hereby
agreeable to orders cf Convention, relieved from further
duty on this Ration, and directed to proceed to Philadel
phia as soon as the necefftry accommodations for their
march can be procured. General Mercer t^kes this on.
portunity to return his hearty thanks to those gentlemen
for the readiness with which they have, on every occasi
on executed such parts of military service as their Rati
ons required. °H. MER CER
Brigadier General.
WAR-OFFICE, Philadelphia, August 2,3, 1776.
AS there is the most prefling necessity for all the
troops, without exception, who are now in Phila
delphia, on their way to the camp, to march toAmboy,
in the State of New Jersey, it is hereby most earnestly
requeued, that they do immediately proceed, without
waiting for farther Supplies of arms or any other matter
or thing, as care will be taken to furnish them when
they arrive at camp.
RICHARD PETERS, Secretary.
*%^M>:>#<> C>^-CW)^^^
Port of Philadelphia,? T .
NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of Admi
ralty, for taking cognizance of and trying the julL
t:ee of captures of vessels made pursuant to the Resolves.
of the Honorable Continental Congress, ar d brought in
to this port, will be held at the Court Hpufe in the city
of Philadelphia, on Wednesday the fourth day of Sep
tember next, at ten o'clock in the frercon of the fame
day, then and there to try the truth of the fa&s alledged
in the bill of John Ci:.i„ cenur ander cf the pri
vate sloop of war called the Congress, (who as well &c.)
against the brigantine or veffe! called the Richmond, bw
then about sixty tons, with her tackle, apparel, furniture
and cargo, lately commanded by George Folger, To the
end and intent thrt the owner or owners of the said bri
gantine and her cargo, er any pnion concerned therein,
may appear ani shew cause, if eny they have, v-hy tha
fame should not be condemned according to the pravec
of the said bill. Ry oM< r rd ?he Judge,
Adg.l7, 1776. ANDREW ROBESON, Regifier.