The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-12-24 00:00:00, page 3

Sf^r^a ofa letterfiou a General Offi er, J^J Chefer
County, December 14, 1777.
'' Last Tharfday the enemy marched out of the
city with a design to forage; but it was necessary to
drive me out of the wav : My advanced picquet fired
on them at the Bridge ; another party of one hun
dred attacked them at the Black Horse: I was en
camped at Charles Thompson's place, where I Rati
oned two regiments who attacked the enemy with
vigour; on the next hill I Rationed thre* regiments,
and ordered the firft line, when overpowered, to re
treat and form behind the second line; and in that
manner we formed and retreated for four miles; and
on every hill we deputed the matter with the enemy.
My people behaved well; especially three regiments
commanded by the Colonels Chambers, Murray and
Lacey. His Excellency returned us thanks in gene
neral orders.
'• The enemy have plundered the country without
partiality or favour to any, leaving none of the ne
cefTiries of life which they could conveniently carry
away or deftgoy.
“ My loss in this aAion cannot be exactly afcer
taiced, but it is not io great as might have been ex
peded ; the killed does not exceed 5 or 6; the wound
ed about 20, and about the fame number priloners.
The enemy acknowledge they had the worst of this
action ; their light horse fuffered much, for they
charged us."
Extract of a letter from a General Officer, eluted De
cember 16, 1777.
“ General Washington's well chosen ground and
refpe&able army presented co the enemy a formidable
front, which had they attacked must to them have
been fatal. They dared not rifque a circuitous march
to manoeuvre behind us, or attack in rear, as, had
they been unfortunate, their retreat to Philadelphia
must have been cut off. At the fame time it must be
allowed, that, taking in the consideration of their
previous boasts, the retreat has veiled the glitter of
their arms ; nor are they less disgraced by their low
cruelty and plundering spirit.
“ No man can more deeply resent the infamous
condu& of such of the Militia as were in reach of
General Irwin when he fed from his horse than I do;
but very few there are to acknowledge they saw him
in that situation, and rhefe are not without their apo
logies, whether true or falfe. Many, too many, of
the Militia are a scandal to the military profusion,
a nuisance in service, and a dead weight on the pub
lic : Yet it is equally Tue, that, taken as a body,
they have rendered services that neither the date, nor
the army, could have dispensed with: They have
constantly mounted guards ; formed many distant
picquets ; perfo^ med niany occafi mal pieces of labour;
patroled the roads leading to the enemy, by day and
by night, and that more than their proportion : They
have taken a number of prifoneis; brought in desert
ers ; fuppre(Ted tories; prevented much intercourse
betwixt the difaffe&ed and the enemy; met and skir
mished with rhe enemy, as early and as often as
others, and, except the battle of Brandywine, of
which from their Ration little fell io their way, have
had a proportional (Lire of fuccels, hazard and loss
of blood. I hate the disagreeable do&rine of com
parison, and only give this detail to /hew the partial
representations you have had of the services of the
Militia of this State. They judge ill of the uses of
a body of men who fix their character from a Angle
a&ion, and still worse who brand the whole with the
infamous conduct of only a part, when others of the
fame body, and on the fame occasion, have fully
evinced their bravery. Take, for instance, that very
affair in which 1 agree the cowardice of a part occa
sioned the loss of General Irwin, and there we find
that a very warm fire was maintained by others of
she Militia for the full space of twenty minutes. And,
if we may believe report, several waggons pome call
them nine in number) were employed by the enemy on
that cccahon in carrying off their wounded, amongst
whom was Sir James Murray : Two graves were also
found on the place: Who, or how many, might be
in them has not been examined."
The firmnefs with which the pafles of the river
Delaware has been defended, has done great honour
to all those who have been concerned in it. And,
notwithstanding the desertion to the enemy of some
cowardly scoundrels, we can afire the public that
the Supieme Executive Council are fully Satisfied
with the condud of the brave Commodore Hazle
wood, and the officers and men belonging to the fleet
under his command, who, in conjunction wi s h the
land forces, under many disadvantages, defended the
passes of the river for near fix weeks agaioft the Bri
tish fleet and army.
A large French brig called the Lyon,
Master, loaded at Yarmouth, in England, for Leg
horn, was taken and carried prize into Newbury
port, and so much of the cargo as was the property
of the people of England, was cordemoed at Salem
the nth of November last; omong which were 60
t^ns of lead, 24^ 'arge bales of Yorkere wObHens,
Norwich Ruffs, See. fuppnfed to have coll in Eng
land, 30.0001. Rerling. Several tons of lead, and a
few bates of goods, &c. the property of some Ita'iar s,
were not condemned, but returned wi:h the veffei to
the Captain, to whom alio the captors paid his freight
money, amounting to 8000 livres, Teurnois.
/in A CTio impower certain Commiffneri appointed
by Congress to take vigorous welfares for the defence
of the IVefeYn Frontiers cf this State, andfer otter
purpoles therein mentioned.
WHERE A S inroads have been made ora the
VV Western Frontiers of this State, and of the
State of Virginia, by tome lavage tribes of fndiars,
inßigated thereto by the Commaidaut of the Bri
tilh g^rrifon of fort Detroit, and other British agents
and emiihries, and aided by many evil ddpoled and
difane&ed perlons on the laid frontiers; wherein a
number of helpless people have been cruellv °maff/-
cred, and the peaceable inhabitants driven frorp their
homes, and reduced to great distress. AND
WHEREAS the Honourable the Continental
Congress have appointed Commiiiiners to leoair with
out delay to fort Pitt, to investigate the rife, progress
and extent of the difafte&on in the quarter aforefaid.
and take measures fur luppteffing the lame, and
bringing the deluded people to a fen(e of their duty,
and for carrying the war into the country and agaitß
the towns of the enemies, both Britub and Indian,
whereby the further progress of tlx invaders may be
prevented, and the frontier inhabitants may he ecured
from further ravages and depredations, And whereas
the laid Congress have earnsfoy recommended to tl e
Legislatures of the States aforefaid, to invett the.
Commissioners with every necessary authority ever
their relpe&ive militias, with powers also to a r e st, and
commit for trial, such of their refye^ive inhabitants
as fhali appear to have been concerned in any con
spiracy or plot agaioft the United States, and other
wife to afford the laid Commissioners, or other commif
fi ners whom Congress may find it necessary her. alter
to appoint, for the salutary purpoles aforefaid, in case
of the death or refufal of the Cemmiffioners already
appointed, such assistance as fhali be necessary to pro
secute with vigour the measures that they may adopt
in consequence of the Resolves of Congress.
For furthering the important and necessary designs
aforefaid,
Be it enabled, and it is hereby enabled by the Represen
tatives of the Freeman of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl
vania, in General dffembly met, and by the authority
of the fame, That the Lieutenants and Sub-Lieuten
ants (or a majority of them) of the Counties of Bed
ford and Weßmoreland in this State, (hall, and they
^re hereby authorifed, impowered, and enjoined, up
on application to them made by the Commissioners
appointed, or to be appointed by Congress, (provided
always, that the Commissioners who may hereafter
be appointed by Congress be approved by the Gene
ral Assembly of this State, or by the President and
Council thereof, in the recess of AlTembly) to take
the most speedy and effectual meafues for railing and
embodying, whether by clalTes or othefwile; such
parts of the militia of their counties respectively, as
fhali from time to time be deemed necessary, and be
required by the said Commiffiooers either for the
protection of their refpe&ive frontiers, or for the re
duction of any British or Indian town or post, which
corps fhali be paid, subsisted, and provided, as Con
tinental troops, and be detained in service no longer
than two months at any one time, uolefs their ser
vice for a farther space of time be judged necessary
for carrying on an expedition against such town or
post, in which Case such additional time of service
fhali be fettled and agreed upon with the troops
when they are engaged for such expedition.
Provided always, That those of the militia engaged
for two months fhali not be again called into ser
vice before the remaining militia of their refpe&ive
counties fhali have performed service for an equal
space of time; and those who fhali have been em
ployed for a longer term on any expedition into the
Indian country, or against any British post, fhali be
exempted from service for two succeeding tours of
duty in the militia: or for a space of time equal to
the time in which they fhali be employed in such ex
pedition.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That the Cemmiffisners aforefaid be empowered, and
they are hereby empowered, to call on the Lieuten
ants of the counties of Bedford and Weftmoreland
iefpe&ively, for such quotas of their refpeltive mili
tias as they, the said Commiflioners, fhali deem neces
sary for the defence and protection of their refpedive
frontiers; and the said Lieutenants refpsdively are
hereby required and enj lined to furohh, with all pos
sible dispatch, the militia that may from time to time
be required by the laid Commiflioners for the par
pofes aforefaid.
4nd be it farther enabled by the authority aforefaid.
That che CcmuJliofurs aforefaid are hereby auchp-
rifed and empowered to a> r est ri e perform, and tc Grize
the papers, letters, and utt© wiitoigs belonging to,
or found in the p.ih C. nos anv of the irh^biAn sos
the counties aforefaid Within this State, who have
been, or Rad be in any wife concerned in any plot,
coolpiacy,or combination again/t the United States,
and, it alter exam.nation they (hall Ye cauie, to com
mit Lch perlons to any goal or place of late cuß^dy
within this State cr eheu'cie, in order tntheir trial
for the off-nces whem&ith they fhali be charged.
And be.it further erafled / » the authority aforefaid.
That this A& fhali be and continue in force until the
end of the firft leffion of the next General AfLmbly,
unless fbooer repeated, and no longer.
JAMkS M'LENE, Speaker.
Loaded into a La% at Lancaffer, on Saturday the
20th day of Dec mber, in the year of our Lord
one thrufand (even hundred and seventy (even,
John Morris, jun. Clk. of General AfLmbly^
Tn CO AG R E S 5, September so, 1777,
P ESOL A E D, T at tie interett which fhaliaufe
aftc tn dire of this it rolution, on LOAN OF
FICE CERTIFICATES, already issued, or which
nall ne iHued befo e tin firft day cf March next, be
annUadv pod at the iHp^ive Loan Offices in Sihs of
exchang : on the Crn-n iffiom rs of the United States in
?ais at t' e rare of five livres of France for every Spa
nith rniUeu driar due hr;iiterett as aforefaid, or in
Continental bibs of c^Tr, tthe option of the refpic
ive lemUrs. Ey crier oj Congress,
JOHN N INCOCK, Pefident.
*,* LOAN OFFICE is kept ar Lancaster,
wiicic cjidtuA arendance is g^en by
rHOMAS 'SMI TH,
Coeinihiuicr of the Loan Office.
Tn CO NG R E SS, November 4, 1777.
DESOLPEb, Tuar the thanks ot Congress in
their own names, ^ d n behall of the inhabitants
of tie r°iitren U dien St+rs, oe presented to M«jur
Gn-rai Gates, Com>nander in Chief in the Norths
Ci 4 Department, and to M jors General Lincoln
*nn Arnold, and the left or the officers and troops
und~r bis command, tor tinir brave and fucceCful ef
forts in fupporr of be independence of their country,
thereby ^ army of the enemy of ten thousand men
has been totally defeated, one large detachment of it,
ftrongiy in Red and entrenched, having been conquer
ed at Bern n/t-m, another repuifed with loss ano dh
gra<e from Foit Schurier. ^nd the main army of fix
thousand men, und-iLYm. General Burgoyne, after
being beaten in d ft. rent actions, and driven from a
formidable g >A and Ihong inrrenchmenrs, reduced to
the necenoy of foriendeiisg themselves, upon terms
honourable and advantageous to these States, on the
17th day of,camber Lit, to Majr General Gates ;
and that a Medal of Gold be ttmek, under the direc
tion of tiie Board of War, in commemoration of this
great ev-nt, and in the n m- of those United States
preferred b) the President 10 Major General G des.
Refolded, That Coni ,rel- have an high lente st the
merit of Col. Greene, and the officers and men un
der his command; in th-ir late gallant defence cr the
fort at Red Bank, on Delaware rfer ; and that an
elegant Sword be provided by the Board of War, aud
presented to C 1. G eene.
Refolded, 1 hat Congress have a high sense cf the
merit ot Leuten nt Colonel Smith, and the officers
and then under his command, in the ; r la e gallant de
fence of Fort Mifflin, on the river Delaware ; and that
an elegant Sword be povi. ed by the Boaid of War,
and presented to Li^u.. Ci. Smith.
Refolded, 1 hat Congress have an high sense of the
merit of Commodore Hazlewood, the Commander
of the naval force on Delaware river, in the service of
the C- m nonwehh or Penn ylv nia, and of the offi
cers and men under his command, in th^r late gallant
drfence of ti^r country agan it the British fleet, where
by two cf their men of war were driboyed, and four
others compelled to retire ; and that an elegant Sword
be provided by the Mature Committee, and presented
to Commodore H zlewood.
Extract from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
MA D E their escape from Leefburg, Vir
ginia, the following people, v z. ISAAC
JOHNSTON, about twenty years of age, about
five frt ten, inches I i;h, smooth face, and dark hair
BENJAMIN KING, a well made man, about
five feet eight inches high, pitted with the small-pox
and appeared to be a middle aged man. JOHA
PORTER, a Rout fellow, near fix feet high, ant
about twenty two years of age. All the above men
tior.ed,,prifcneis were horn in the neighbourhood 0
Shrewsbury, in she J-rfeys, and were taken by Gene
ral Sullivan on Staten IfEnd : each had on a greet
coat, a white waistcoat and breeches. Whoever bring
them to me in Le< fburg, or confines them in any gaol
fhali receive , what the law allows.
ft S. THOMSON MASON,
Commiflary of Prisoners for Loudoun Counts,
IF Mr. Theodore Barrell, brother to the
late Mr. William Barrell, Merchant, of Mar
ket-street, Philadelphia, is yet on the Continent, he
is earnestly requested to give notice to the Printe p
hereof, or to Mrs. Barrell, at Mr. Mullan's, in
Whitr-ft eet, Mount-Holly.——lt is hoped, if any c
his friends can assist her in the requeued information
they will not withhold so great an obligation, as ftp
fl iters herfeifit wouldriot be conferred an an ungrate
ful mind.