The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-11-17 00:00:00, page 4

Philadelphia, Nov. ig.
fitad Quarters, Continental Village, November 8, 1781.
SI R,
CINCE I had the honour of addressing yeur exc lien
° cy this morning, I have received the inclofed papers
from major general lord Sterling, by which Congress
will perceive that the enemy have been compleatly dis
appointed in their designs on the northern frontiers o'
this state, and defeated with considerable loss. Th
address, gal'antry, and persevering activity exhibited
by colonel Willet on this occasion, do him the highest
bonder. The conduct of major Rowley, and the brave
militia under his command, at a critical moment, me
rit# particular commendations.
I have the honour to be, with the highest refpefl,
your excellency's mofl obedient fervaut,
W. HEAT H.
His excellency the President of Congress.,
Extract of a letter from major general lord Sterling,
dated Saratoga, November 6, 1781.
T HAVE received a letter from colonel Willet, copy of
' which is inclofed. The returns he alludes to were ne
ver (ent. The vigilant, prudent conduft of this officer
through the whole affair was such as refleftsthe highest
honour upon the military chara&er ; and the essential
service be has done his country will give him a pleas
ing remembrance in every honest bread. The number
he has taken, killed and wounded, with the difreffed
ffituation in which he left thm, will amount *o little
ihort of a total defeat : eight days march will fc rcely
bring them to a country where they can be supplied
with provifons.
(Copy) Fort Renffeiaer, November 2, 1781.
My lord, -~
nAV ING just returned from pursuing the enemy, my
firfl buftnefs is to acquaint your lordihip ofthe par -
fculrr tr&nfaaioas that have taken place in this quar
ter Gore the time of their 6rft appearance.
Eight o'clock, P. M. of the 24th ult. I received ad
vice that a considerable body of the enemy were difeo
vered in the upper part of lire Mohawk difirid ; every
ream was ioftauriy t^ken to colled the force of the
country, in order to oppose them without loss o: time,
so that by one o'clock, the following day, I was
within two Miles of Fort Hunter, with between four
and £ve hundred levies and militia; there I learnt that
the enemy, having burnt several houses and barns at
Warrealbufh, had crofted the river at a ford some d f
tance below, and were marching to Jolmflowa. This
obliged me to cross the river as soon as p ffible, and
march by the Alorteft route to the place whither they
were directing their course. When within two miles of
Jonnflown, I was informed they were already there,
had baited, and were busy in killing cattle belonging
to the inhabitants. Thus situated, I was determined
to attack them as soon as poffiblt; and ordering the left
wing of the few troops I had, to perform a circuit
through the woods, and fall upon their right flank,
while the right wing advanced in front.
A few minutes brought us in view of them. The troops
of this wing were pushed on to a field adjoining to the
one possessed by the enemy, where they aifplayed to
the ^ht and advanced in a line towards them, who re^
ri-^ &ith precipitation to a neighboring wood, closely
p-effed by our advance, who began to Ikirmdh with
them while the remainder of the wing was advancing
torn, in two columns.—ln this pleating Situation,
without any apparent cause, the whole of this wing
tamed about and fled, nor was it possible to rally them.
A field-piece, which was left upon a height at a ball
dift^nce from the wood to secure a retreat, was aban
dor^ and fell into the hands of the enemy. At this
critical period, our left wing commanded by major
Rowley, of the Maffachufett's state, and competed of
the militia of this county, except about sixty of the
Series of the above state, made their appearance in the
enemy's rear.
Tnefe feon regained every thing our right wing had
fofi, and enore. Nightcame on, and the enemy retired
into the wood, leaving a great number of their packs
behind them. After marching fix miles, they en
camped on the top of a mountain. By information
from prisoners who made their efcipe from them in the
migut, it appeared to be their intention to firike at
the frontiers of Stone- Arabia, inorder to furnish them
selves with provision. This induced me to march to
that place the next morning, where we remained all
that day and night, without hearing any thing further
from them, than that they were pointing their route
farther into the wilderadfs. I was now sure they were
enable to make any sudden fhroke below the Lit
tie Fails, and in consequence, on the morning of the
27th I removed to the German-Flatts, in order to be be
tween the enemy and their boats, winch tney had left
at Oneida Creek. On my way I learnt that the par
ty, which I had detached to destroy them, had return
ed without doing their duty. The zßth was passed in
furai&ing thechoiceft of the troops with five days pro
visions, and 60 Oneida Indians who had this day joined
me. It now appeared clearly, that the enemy, having
given up the hope of returning to their boats, were dj
retting their march to Buck's Island, or to Offwagawe
ha. The troops intended to purfee them, to the
amount of 400, besides Indians, crossed the Mohawk
at Fort Herkimer, and encamped in the woods. The
day following we marched upwards of 20 miles north,
into the woods, through a snow florm, and about 8
o'clock A. M. of the morning of the 30th, we fell in
with the enemy,between their rear guard and a detach
meat of 40 men with some Indians. Taefe, it was in
tended Ihould procure a frelh supply of provisions, and
follow after their troops, who were to continue their
route. Some of this party were taken, some killed,
and the rest djfperfed. Their main body fit out on a
trot in Indian Me, and were pursued as warmly and
closely as possible, until quite night Our pursuit they
but once endeavoured to refill, which was at a very
bad ford on Canada Creek, where they left major Wal
Philadelphia: Print ed and Sold by DAFID C. CLAYPO OLE.
ter Butler and federal more. (This is the fame Butler
who commanded the massacre at Cherry Valley in No
vember 1778.) We have loft but one man on the pur
suit. Our Indians were very ufeful, and behaved with
their usual alertness upon such occasions. Your lord
ship knows tin y ire the best cavalry for the ervice of
the wilder.nefs. Strange as it may appear it is true,
that notwithflanding the enemy had been four days in
the wipieruefs with only halt a pound of horse flefh
per man per day, yet in this famifhed fixation they
trotted go miles before they flopped. Many of them
indeed fell a facrifice to such treatment. Their packs
and i>lankets were Brewed through the words All
their horses, except five which were sent a considera
ble difiance forw # rd in tlnir van, with their wounded
and a few prisoners, fell into our hands.
In this fituatiou I left the unfortunate major Ross;
unfortunate I call him; for he was surely so in taking
charge of so fine a detachment of men to execute so
dirty and trifling a piece of business as he was sent 00,
at fuct iimmenfe hazard and exquisite toil. To fatigue
the bra e troops any longer appeared unnecessary.
The enemy who continued their flight great part of
the night, had got greatly the dart of us, and aimoft
certain deftruaion appeared before them—A (even
days march, rivers passable but upon rafts, a barren
wilderness, in an inclement season of the year, to be
encountered with before they can obtain any provisi
ons; besides, our situation, had we pursued them a
day or two longer, might become little better than
their's§ for our Indians, and many of the troops, in
order to pursue them with greater vigour, had thrown
aside their blankets and provisions, which were now
twenty miles or more in their re r: in 6ne, we left
them in a Situation, perhaps, more suited to their de
merit than a musket, a ball, a tomahawk, or captiviy.
I Iha'i not attempt to give your lurdfhip an account
of the whole of the enemy's loss from the beginning to
the end of the affair. The fields cf Johnstown, the
brooks and rivers, the bills and mountains, the deep
and gloomy marshes through which they had to pass;
tuefe mufl test—these only can tell ; and, perhaps, at
least the officer, whoever he is, that detached them on
this- paltry expedition. The deflate region 1 eg tra
versed in their flight, while we were pursuing them,
ties upwards of thirty miles north of Fort Ilmyler
It would te wrong in me to cloe this letter, with
out assuring your lordihip, that the troops in general,"
who were with me on .this service, supported the great
fatigues they bad to encounter, with a loluier-hke for
titude. Io Andrew Frink, enquire, formerly a cap
tain in colonel Van Schaick's regiment, but at present
a magistrate in thiscounty, who performed the service
of a brigade major, I am under great obligations, for
his particular attention, great diligence, and manly
deportment, through the whole of this expedition.
inclofed is a particular return of the force of theene
my ; returns of our killed and wounded, 2nd such as
mail be proper to transmit to your lordship, ffiall be
sent forward as soon as collected.
I remain, with sentiments of the greatest
efteern and refpe&,
Your Lordship's very humble servant,
MARINUS WILLET.
The ten. major general
lord STERLING.
FORCE of the Enemy ; taken from Walter Bugler's
Pocket-Book.
Eighth Regiment 25
Thirty-fourth ditto
Eighty fourth ditto, Highfiaders 30
Sir John's x2 q
Lake's Independent 40
Butler's Rangers ^0
Vaugers ^
Indians , rgo
607
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec%y.
^@©@^@^@^@@@9
Mordecai Lewis, and Co.
Have for Sale, at their flore in Se-rn 4 street, near Spruce
street, a variety ci MERCHANDIZE, among which
are;
Broad cloths,
Worsted Hob,
Dino Mitts,
Coloured and white kid
Mrtts
Drk and light „ round,
Cdbcoes and Chintz s,
Nonbatu, Pontivy, and
Royalle linens,
3 4, and yard wide Britta
n>a% Checkr,
Damage table clothe and
Napkins
Just imported in the Nonfuch and o f h cr v ff ^ ,q jm
France, and other pam of Europe & . And to be
Sold by
Peter & William Wikoff,
At their house in Front-street, between Arch and Rare
street, for specie, bills of exchange, loan office cert fi
citrs and paper money ot the late emiff-n r ,
SUPERFINE broadcloths o' various colours, ca'i
cots, cl intz, and bTt.-s, cambricks, linen,, forge de
Rome, needles, wool cards flocked and in the leaf
coffee in calks and bags, wine, copperas, gin, bottled
cyder cf the belt quality r a good neat tulky &c, &c.
October 25th, 1781.
White Sheeting,
Plain and fprig'd Muffin,
Mantuas,
Ell wide Persian Taffaties
Rose, ^blnk, and blue 3 4.
Persians,
& Sowing Sts and Thread,
6 ; , 81, rod, and rod,
Nais,
CLr^t in ho,hfbeads,
And a Quantity o'
1 Op Bin.
The Commissioners of the city
and county of Philadelphia, proprfe to LET, for the
term of 4 year:, the PUBLIC LANDING PLACES
belonging to the .county; one of them situate at the
east end of Callow-hill- street, the other on the east end
of Front-ftrect, continued in the Northern-Liberties,
toother with the PUBLIC SCALES, for weighing of
Hay. The Tenant to Rp^ir the Wharf and keep the
whole in good Repair, and deliver d em so at the expi
rrti-n of said Term. Any person inclining to Rent the
a rove-mentioned B/emifts, may deliver their Propos
als in writing, at the Court House, the 16th of this
instant. November 1, 1781.
To the PUBLI C.
WE the subscribers, being inhabitants of Pitts
burgh, take the liberty of informing the Public,
w ^ reat f^cefs in the cure of Cancers, on these
"? te "> performed b, Do&or HUGH MAR
- IIN, of this place, kte firgeon of the Bth Penttfylva
ma regiment ; tince bis ret ament from public service.
and but a few months Enc m , in which time we have
fen toeur great furprize, so many of the most invete
rate cases cured b, Irm, that we Lok upon it cur du
ty to a quaint our fellow citizens of it. that those of
them who are languilhing under this deplorable difer
dir may know where 10 find a f a fe, speedy and fare
remedy : And what great!, adds to the honour of that
ingenious perfeveiing young gentleman, is that the me,
dicine ne i n the cure, is his o^n difeovery, which
he has to cur great fatisfaaior, feurd in this country
in large quantities s Nor Las hu labours been lefe i&
oe^tigaol. and meccEful in the cure of all other dif
eaLs common to thee parts, as well as his induftryin
Cultivating and improving the many natural produao
ons peen i^r to this foil, to the great advantage of this
ne country, paricifafly those things which belong
to bus o^n proitffio& °
BE it known to as men, that doctor Hugh Martin,
of Pittsburgh, has elßaudly cured my wife Esther
Handtead of a cancer in ler nose, which had eat aw y 1
greet p:rt of it, and a!fo her eye-lid, but is now per
fc&!y restored to health : She had been afflifted with
it theft fif.eee yesrs, and without a remedy, tho° I ap
plied to many 10 have her cured, but till now all reme
dies failed ; and (he is m age upwards of seventy.
Given under my hard, n^ar Kanna's town, thia
2,5 th day of Aupuft, ftr.
WILLIAM HAMSTEAD.
THIS certifah, that do&or Hugh Martin, of Pitts
burgh, has curod ray mother A: na Perry of a cancer
in her temple, which die had for upwards of twelve
months.
Given under my ^ r d, at Lewicktey Settlement,
, Wtftmorland county, this izh day of Odo
ber, i 7 $L JAMES PERRY,
BE it knownto allaen, that doßor H-gh Martin,
0! Paifbu.gh, has effa&uzlly cured my lon Thomas
S ^aringen of a cancer on the nose, which he hd Lr
upwards of two reais. VAN SWEARINGEN.
Augu& 23, 1781.
I do hereby <erbf , that I have been cured by drear
Hugh Martin, of a cancer on my cheek, which I had
for the fpa.e of fix yeare.
Given under my band at Hanna's town, count,
of Westmorland, this toth day of O&ober,
17^ HANS IRELAND.
N. B. The Printers in the different states are r%
quefttu to publish the above, f r the good of th# Public.
Nor humberiand county, fl-
T) Y vi tue of a writ of levari lacias, to me, the fub
fcri er, dir-&t<b will be put up and exposed to
fee, on Monday, November 26th inftart, at three
(/clock m th, afternoon, at the heyfe of Mr. Laughlin
M'Cartn,, cf Northurnhedand town, in this county, a
certain Lot 0: Piece of Ground, No. 5, situate in the
said to^n and counts, bounded westward by Northway,
northward ly 'o' Nr 6, eastward by the Quay, and
fouthwa-d by D lehie^t, containing in breadth, on
Northway, 50ie c, and in length, on Duke-ft:eat, 180
'act. Seized and taken in execution as the property of
John Freeman, de cated, at the suit of James Hepburn,
affignte. JAMES CRAWFORD, Sheriff
November 1, 17^1. 0; Northumberland county.
Scales and Weights, for weigh]
ing of geld; best plated SPURS; and a varied)of
Silver Work;
To be Sold by DANIEL DUPUY, in Second-street
next door but one to the Meeting houfe<
BE it known to the public, that Doßor Hugh Mar
tin, of Pitt urgn, h^ cured roe of a cancer, which <
md the space of twelve months, and made such pro
gress as to e.t awaj pvt of the palate and <oof of my
m^u h, so th it I hud dmeft left my speech and hearing,
in fpight of many (tiers, who in vain attempted to
cure m- before I i&t with dc&or Martin, who effiaed
it in two maMhs. My | e ring I am p-r^ctiy recov
ered of, and my speech really as good a# formerly.
He at the fame time cured me of another cancer on my
tide ,which is now per'e&ly well.
Given under my hand near Pittsburgh, the 2, th
of August, 1781. JAMES HAMILTON.
A. FOWLER, auditor gc
n^ i ^eft©n department.
EWD WARD.
JOHN IRWIN.
Wm. AMBERSON.
DEVEREUX SMITH.
JOHN ORMSBY.