The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-02-21 00:00:00, page 2

TH E duke de Lauzun colonel of the legion of his
name, and the fieur Dupleffis Pafeau, captain of
a fllip, arrived here this day, charged with dispatches
to the king, with an account of a naval engagement on
the sth of September, and to inform hismajefly that the
army of lord Cornwallis, consisting of 6000 men, which
had retired and entrenched them'felves in York-Town,
on the river of that name, in Virginia, capitulated on
the 19th of Odober last, and surrendered prisoners of
war
Subfiance of a Journal of the operations of a French
corps, under the command of conut de Rochambeau,
lieutenant general of the king's armies, since the 25th
of August last.
ON the 14th of September, general Washington, my
felf and the chevalier de Chattelelux, arrived at Wil
liamsburg, where we found the marquis de la Fayette,
in conjunction with the count de St. Simon, who had
taken an excellent position, waiting for us.
Lord Cornwallis was employed in entrenching him
felf at York and Gloucester, barring the river of York
with some of his (hips, and others funk in the channel.
It is computed that his corps of troops, regulars and
sailors from the disarmed ships, amounted to about 5
or 6000 men.
LONDON, October 17.
Extract o' a letter from Lisbon, Sept. 24.
" A treaty of commerce was lately concluded be
tween her moftFaithful Majesty apd the Emprefe of
all the Ruffias: in consequence of which a Ruffian
Consul will reside here, and a person will be sent in the
fame character to St. Peterfburgh.''
Extract of a letter from Falmouth, Oct. it.
“ Wehave had this day a most awful and alarming
fight.- This morning re Firebrand file ship took
fire, and burnt with most aftonilhing fury. By the
activity, so common to our seamen, who instantly got
into their boats, they towed the other fire-lhips out
®f the harbour, or they mofl have Glared the fame
fute. She blew up between four and five o'clock, and
drove on shore fortunately on that fide of the harbour
wuere flie could do no damage. Her guns all went
off, but did not the least hurt."
On the 15th Off. died in : ond street, the right hon.
Alexander Erskine, earl of Kelly, Viscount Fenton
Falmouth, Oft. ri. This day the Happy, Lightning
and Firebrand fir -fleps, lying at anchor in our har
bour, the latter caught fire, and blew up; all the
people were saved. The other ships cut their cables,
and providentially escaped the flames, and we do not
hear of any other damage being done.
As a number of gentlemen were firing after dinner
in a tavern in Si. James's rtre^t, about two months
ago, the chairman called for a toafl, and a gentleman
gave the comma ders inuhe Weft-Indies, fir George
Rodney and general Vaughan. In some time after the
foaft had gone round, th. chairman called upon the
next gentlemen, who happened to be an Irishman, for
his toast • h immediately give Chrirtie and Ansell.
The chairman flared and ask d, if that was the com
pany he intended to giveour admiral and general. The
Irishman replied, " I beg pardon fir, but I believe I
“ was under a mirtake ; sure enough I thought we were
" going to have a round of Auctioneers!"
The late elopement from Brighthelmftone, was Miss
Wombwell, daughter of tho late fir George Womb
well, a young lady of 15, with a Mr. Roach, a gentle
man of the county of Cork, remarkable for the extra
ordinary operatio he submitted to have performed
upon one of his eyes, two or three years since, in Paris.
Two nights dancing together in the rooms effected the
business, as they had never seen each othe< but upon
those public occasions. The young lady's fortune is
nearly 30,0001.
Oft. 27. Tre Morning Port of Thursday mentions,
that, " As the New England provinces were princi
pally supplied with provisions from St. Eurtatia (not
railing any quantity tlvmfelves) by the capture of
the said island of St. Euflatia, the 'New England pro
vinces will be obliged to return to their allegiance to
avoid starving. [The writer of the above paragraph is
very sensible and well informed ! but he did not tell
the whole truoth ; he fliould have added, that as the
said New-England colonies used to be supplied with
frefh water from the islands of St. Kitt's and Antigua,
and with firewood from Ireland, if the Britifll navy
would keep a good look out and prevent those supplies
from Ireland and the Weft-Indies, the said New-Eng
land colonies murt soon be at “ unconditional sub
mission to that country,'' for want of wood and water,
as well as for want of provision !
After all the most inquieting news we had received in
the rout, of the appearance of the enemy's fleet, the
departure of that of count de Gr ffe, of an engagement
©n the sth of September, the appearance of two Eng
lish frigates in the bay, we at length received, in the
night of the 14th, by a letter ft om the count de Graffe,
a circumflantial account of the following fcas—
Admiral Hood had joined on the 21th of August ad
miral Graves's squadron before New-York. They
both failed the 31st to Chtfa peak-bay, at the instant
our movement by land towards Philadelphia had been
discovered.
The English fpuardron, consisting of 20 ships, arriv
ed the sth at Cape Charles, intending to get the start
of count de Graffe. The latter then having 1500 men
in his chaloups, which had debarked the troops of
count de St. Simon, and were not yet returned, with
out hesitation, cut his cables, and went to engage the
enemy with 24 (hips, leaving the rest to blokade lord
Cornwallis in ' the rivers York and James. Admiral
Graves bore to the windward, and the van guard of
count de Graffe, under the orders of the fieur de Bou
gainville, came up with the rear of the English, which
was roughly handled.
The count de Graffe having pursued some time, re.
turned the ^th into the bay, where he found the (qua.
From the iuppliment to the French Gazette of No
vember 20;
VERSAILLES, November 19.
Foreign Intelligence.
dron of count de Barras, which failed the 25th of Au
gust from Newport, with ten transports, having on
board our siege artillery, and entered the ba, on the 10th
of September in good condition.
The two English frigates being between the two fqua
droos, were taken.
Immediately the ten transports of the count de Bar
ras, the frigates, and the prizes of count de Graffe,
were dispatched to carry our troops to Annapolis, un
der the orders of the fieur de Villeburne, commander
of the Romulus, who, with the baron de Viomenil, used
such expedition, that they arrived on the 25th in Wil
liarofburgh creek, where they disembarked the army on
the 26th and 27th.
On the 20th, the allied army marched from Williamf
burgh at break of day for York-Town, and the French
corps of 7000 men began the investment from the head
of York river to the morass near colonel Nelson's house,
taking advantage of the woods, creeks, &c. in such a
manner as to blo k up the enemy within piflol fllot of
their works. The three French brigades marked out
the ground, and encamped securely from the enemy's
cannon. The baron de Viomenil commanded the gre
nadiers and cnaffeurs of the army as the van-guard.
On the 29th the American army passed the m rafs,
and the investment of York-Town became complete,
and was quite blocked up.
The infantry of Lauzun being being debarked on
the 23d, marched under the duke de Lauzun to join
t eir cavalry, which had marched by land into Glou
certer county, under brigadier general Wieden, who
commanded there a body of 1200 American militia.
The whole legion was joined thereon the 28th, the day
of the investment of York-Town
On the night between the 29th and 30th, the enemy,
fe ring to be infuhed in the confined portion which
they had fortified, abandoned all their out works.
We employed the 30th in lodging ourselves io the
abandoned works, which enabled us to block up the
enemy in a circle of very little extent, and gave us
great advantages.
The fame day the tranfpo ts, with the artillery for
the siege, came down to Trubello landing, seven miles
from hence, when we set about disembarking it.
On the 3d of October, the fieur de Choify marched
to block up Gloucester, and take a position at three
miles distance from th it place.
The corps of the fieur de Choify was composed of the
lrgion of Lauzun, of his infantry drafted from the
ships, and of 1200 American militia under brigadier
general Wieden.
Tarleton was with fix hundred men in this port, four
hundred of which were horse, and two hundred infan
try. The duke de Lauzun attack'd him so vigorous
ly, that, notwithflanding the fire of his artillery, he
threw them into disorder, wounded Tarleton, and
forced the detachment to return to Gloucerter, will
the loft of fifty men. The fieur Billy, Dillon, and Du
tre, second captain, were wounded ; three hussars were
kiiled, and eleven wounded.
The entrenchments were opened in two attacks, a
bove and below York river, in the night between the
6th and 7th of Odober, and different engagements
took place till the 17th, when tne enemy began to
come to a parley.
The capitulation was signed on the 19th in the mor
ning, by which lord Cornwallis and his whole army
were made prisoners of war. The American and
French troops took possession of the redoubts ot noon.
The garrison of York Town filed off at two o'clock,
by beat of drum, with their aims, which were then
piled up, with 20 pair of colours. The fame took
place at Gloucerter.
The companies of grenadiers of Eowrbonnois and the
Americans are in the redoubts, and the enemy's troops
will evacuate it to-morrow, and be conduced to the
interior parts of the country.
The vifeount de Noailles and colonel Laurens have
drawn up the articles of capitulation, in conjunction
with two superior officers of lord Cornwallis's army.
It is supposed there are about 6000 or 7000 prisoners,
and about 170 pieces of cannon taken.
We hear from Martinico that the French squadron,
confiding of 27 fail of the line, with transports, and
ten thousand veteran troops, failed from Fort Royal
on Friday the 28th ult. on an expedition ; it was fun
pofed that St. Lucia would be their firft ebjed. The
British squadron it is said was at that time at Barba
dos.
“ Providence, 18th December, 1781.
" Gentlemen, these are to inform you, I failed from
the island of Coracoa, the 26th of November, with the
schooner Favourite, having on board 37 bales of cocoa,
and 36 bales of cotton, bound for your island. On the
sth of December, at a quarter past five, in the evening,
the vessel was brought to anchor at the north fide of St.
Croix, in four fathom water, opposite the weft end of
Buck Island; the sailors took the boat and went on
shore, left me and the boy on board. At three quartres
past five I wai boarded by a number of men in a boat
It is reported that advices from France fay, that the
neutral powers have come to a resolution to declare
Amer ica ihdependant.
Jan. 16. A ship belonging to Brirtol, that arrived
from St. Kitts at Tortola on Saturday last, left St.
Kitts^on the appearance of a large fleet standing in for
the island, supposed to be the French fleet f om Mar
tinico, and afterwards confirmed by the Russel man of
war, who lay at St. Kitts going out, and throwing out
her signals, which was not answered by the fleet ; the
Russel then made the best of her way off, fleering S. W.
to avoid them.
We are told that two vessels are since arrived at St.
Thomas's from St. Kitts ; their accounts fay, that when
they left the island the French were then landing their
troops.
Jan. 19. The following tetter, containing a fact,
happened to the captain of a vessel belonging to mer
chants of this town, is thought worth the notice of the
public, as a provoking instance of cruelty hardly known
amongst barbarians, and the highest degree of impu
dence.
CHRISTIANSTTED, (St. Croix) January ~
belonging to the armed brig Ranger, Daniel Webber,
mafler, out of Tortola ; the firft lieutenant of the said
brig being in the boat, demanded the vessels papers,
got under way, and put to sea in company with the
brig; after getting clear of the land, the boy and my.
felf was ordered on board, the captain demanded the
vessels papers, he overhauled them, and said these arc
just the papers he wanted^ and they would never be any
service to me again, for he would hang every Danish
buggar he could come athwart, and make prizes of
their vessels. I was then ordered to be put in a posture
to be hung at the fore yard-arm, with a rope round my
neck, my legs tied, and weights at them, and placed
on the starboard cat-head, outlide of the vessel; they
boy at the fame time was receiving his punishment on
the quarter deck.
I was in that posture from eight in the evening until
one in the morning, when I was cast off by some of the
sailors. I continued forward until the hour of ten next
day, being the 6th of December, without any thing to
subsist on, when I was ordered on board the schooner,
and dispatched off for this place, where I arrived the
16th of December and remained destitute of either
friends, money or eloathing, and scarcely any thing to
subsist on; neither can I tell what wilt be the event of
it until the vessel comes to trial, as she was sent in un
der Dutch colours. The Danish coloursand papers was
kept on board the brig, and a letter signed by the cap
tain of the brig, directed to his agent here, certifying
that the vessel had not any papers at the time of be
ing captured. Gentlemen, I have and shall take every
flep that in my power lies, concerning your interest
you have been pleased to intruft me with ; misfortunes
cannot always be avoided, though ever so careful; I
should have wrote you more particular, so conclude,
and am, gentlemen,
Your humble servant,
A gentleman from St. Kitt's, who left it on Wed
nesday last, informs us, that afterthe French had made
good their landing at Baffaterre, the inhabitants made a
capitulation for themselves, which was granted ; that the
troops then marched and inverted Brimflone Hill, but
were continually fired on by the besieged when within
cannon shot; he did not hea # of any material damage
yet done to the besiegers : that the marquis de Bouille's
fixed determination is to carry it either by storm or
mine if possible, as he has not yet d fcovered a hill on
which he can bomb it from ; that the befegers as well as
the besieged ad with equal caution and valour, the one
to carry the place the other to defend it; that general
Shirley, commander in chief of his Britannic majesty's
leeward Charibbee islands was among the besieged, and
not at Antigua, as was reported ; that all the standing
canes round the hill were set fire to by the British before
the enemy inverted it ; that on Wednesday the whole
town of Sandy-Point was destroyed by the fire from
the besieged ; that two or three ships of the line from
America, had arrived at Antigua, but no accounts of
the arrival of the reinforcement of ships from England
said to be commgto join admiral Hood. The French,
it is said, have landed 7000 chosen veteran troops, be
sides militia, seamen, &c. The number of the garrison
on the hill we have not learned, some fay 2500 regular
troops.
BASSATERRB, (St. Chriftophers,) Dec. tt.
Yeflerday arrived here from New-York, the schooner
Polly packet, after a short passage; the intelligence by
her is"of the most gloomy cast. The frave Cornwallis
had arrived at New York. His lordship had surrender
ed for want of ammunition; the heaviest artillery he
had was one 24 pounder and some >8 pounders landed
from the Charon frigate, to those was opposed a num
erous train of battering cannon, well served, and which
kept up a conflant fire in airport every direction,
by which they beat down his defences, and killed
and wounded fevera! of his men. Several days previous
to his surrender, he was reduced to the necessity of
firing nine pound shot out of his 24 and 18 pounders,
and the day of the surrender had but five rounds of
ammunition left.
We have been favoured with Philadelphia papers
down to the Bth of November, but they contain nor
thing remarkable, except the mournful catalogue of p i
foners, ordnance and military stores, provisions vessels,
&c. taken from lord Cornwallis by the combined force#
of Washington and Rochambeau.
Admiral Digby has given two ships of the line be
longing to his squadron to fir Samuel Hood, and re
queued admiral Graves to give admiral Hood the Lou
don of 98 guns; but that gentleman refufed to do so,
and has gone in her to Jamaica.
Soon after the surrender of lord Cornwallis, the Bri
tish fleet under admiral Graves appeared of the Chefa
peak ; they amounted to 25 fail of the line and 2 50's •
the F ench fleet, conifling of 32 fail of the line, offered
them battle ; a council of war, held on board the Lon
don, resolved not to risk an engagement ; on the back
el this resolve admiral Hood entered a PROTEST,
giving it as his opinion, that the British fleet should
make a spirited and united effort to dertroy the French
fleet.—lt was the general opinion in New-York, that
had his advice been followed they would have succeed
ed, as it has been since known that the French ships
were wretchedly manned, several of their feventy
fours not having more than 300 men and boys ora
board.
Lord Cornwallis v as to take his pa ffage in a fleet pre
paring to fail for England under escort of two ships of
the line.
St. TOHN's (Antigua) December 15, 1781.
Accounts from various quarters seem to confirm the
reports that the French have now a large fleet of men
of war at Martinico, some fay 31 fail of the line and
one fifty. It is added, however, that most of their top
marts are hruck, and the lower marts of some out.
Three of those which came from America are said to
have i een towed in.
The lord Hyde packet, captain Jeffry, which failed
from hence on the iff instant, left St. Kitts on the Btto,
but returned iq toSaqdy pointa ,that iflan,don the 10th,
having been chafed back by a large ship which after
wards flood to the southward.
W. M."