The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-03-18 00:00:00, page 2

In CONGRESS, November ^ CT7°
ReJozN,
''r 1 HI a r Major Central Heath be dieted
1 forthwith to caxfe to be taken down the name
and lank of every commissioned officer, and the name,
"firmer plaice of abode, occupation, size, age and de
fenpiior ri every non commissioned officer and pri
rate fattier, and all other'petfens comprehended in
tie ftn^ation, made between Lieutenant-General
Burgoyne, and Major General Gates, on the i6th of
October, £777, and transmit 20 authentic copy there
of to the Board of War, in order that if any officer,
foldtef/or any other perfen as abovememionetd of the
said army, (bail hereafter be found in arms a'gainft
these States in North America, during the prefect
cohteft/bemay be convicted cf the < ffence, and buffer
the fefeilhment in such case inflided by the law of
nations. . .
That Major-General. Heath be directed, to take
the parole in writing of the officers, according to the
Convention, arid transmit authenticated copies of
fuch' paicte* to the Board of War.
November 2:, (777 k
The Committee to whom were referred the return
of ordnance and 'ftt„&,,,^h from the enemy fioce
the igth day of September, and the letter from the
Conned of Safety of Lew York, and to win m their
former report was re-committed, having taken the
fame ifefoLonfideration, beg ;ekve to observe.
" That there is no mention in the fiid return of
ftandardk military cb~^, medicines or rents.
" That the quantity of powder is very fmaft, be
ing only fifteen barrels grained, and two barrels meal
ed, brid the quantity of fixed ammunion very incon
liderable-A That tfe mufleets amount only to <647,
a. number rot equal to the pnfdners who brrende:-
ed agreeable to the Convention of Saratoga -arid
all these muskets are Vef^rhed “ unfit for fervice.''^
That there are only 6^ cartoLeb boxes.---That the
number of bayonets is greatly inferior to the mus
kets and these, as well as the cudafCs, are retain
ed " without feabbards"artels. In Ihort, the whole
return seems very inadequate to a we 1 appointed ar
ray, and to what might b^ex, eaed,Trom iheaufwers
returned by Lieut. Geri. Burgoyne to the firll pro
portions made by Major "Gen, Gates,
" Year Committee therefore are of opinion, that
as enquiry ought to be made into the caulesof this
deficiency." Whereupon,', ,
Rejoiced. That tire Prefidebt immediately fend an
express to Geo. GaieL and desire anfwets to the fol
lowing qaeftioo3, vrz. . , , -.
What is become of the Standards belonging to the
reip^aive regiments in Gen. Burgoyne's army?
Where is the military chest and medicines?
What is became of the cavtouch boxes >
How comes the quantity ofpowder and cartridges to
be so small?.
How comes it that the number of mulkets is less than
that of the prisoners, and that all the muskets are
unfit for service?
How comes the number of bayonets to be so greatly
inferior tri that of muskets?
Where are the scabbards and belts cf the bayonets
and cutlaff&s?
Was there any dertrufhou, waste, removal or con
cealment, cf the arms, tents, colons, treasure, or
other military stores belonging to Gen. Burgoyne's
army, from the time the firft proposal was made
on the 13th of Gerber to the time of Surrender ?
What was the state and condition, of the arms and
military stores when received by Gen. Caret ?
Were the arms piled agreeable to the articles of the
Convention? If they were not, did any damage
neceffari'y accrue in consequence c'f the failure?
And that Gen. Gates be directed to make the
Tieceffary enquiries, and return his knfwersij Con
grefs, as soon as poffibie.
Revived, That it is not to be underftcod that the
embarkation of the troops under Lieut. Gen. Bur
gyne is in any wife to be delayed, on account of the
foregoing queries, if transports arrive before the
answers are returned and the enquiry directed is 6
Dished. ( To be continued. )
In CONGRESS. Mara 2, 1778.
y^ 7 HEREAS it is efTential to the operations
VV of the army, during the next campaign, that
the most vigorous medlures fhauld forthwith be a
dopted for forming a body cf horse, upon such prin
ciples, as are mo# likely to advance the public m
tereft and the honour of the officers and men who
compole the lame: And whereas in time of public
danger, when the lives, liberties and property of a
free people are threatened by a foreign and barbarous
enemy, it is the duty of those, who enjoy, in a pe
culiar degree, the girts of fortune and of a cultivated
understanding, to stand forth in a difinte efted man
ner in the defence of their country, and by a lauda
abie example to rouse and animate their Countrymen
to deeds worthy of their brave ancefeuis and of the
ficred cause of freedom:
Refofoed, That it be eameftly recommended to
the young gentlemen of property and spirit in the
States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay,
Rhederifland, Connecticut, New York, New Jer
sey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia
and North Carolina forthwith to constitute within
their refpe&ive Staves, a troop or troths of light ri
valry to fervi at their own expence (except in rhe
article of prbvifion for themselves, and forage for
their horses) until the 31st December dexte
That each troop so to be railed confirt of not left
than twenty nor more than sixty rank and file; that
they have a right to chute their own officers )who
(hall receive continental commissions, and that they
rendezvous at the main army on the firft day of
May text, or at an earlier period, if possible:
That, in order to excite a proper spirit of emuli
tion in thefetroops, and to give them an opportunity
of appropriating that fame, which their relpc&ve
merits may entitle them to, during the campaign,
each troop fh'all bear the name of the State in which
it is raised:
That these troops, when raised, shal l not serve ns
expresses, except in time of action, nor as escorts to
the perlon of any General, except that of the Com
mander of the army with whom they serve, unless
with their own choice:
That every horse, which ffiall be killed, and every
horse and all a;ras and accoutrements, which flrall
be taken, by the enemy in action, ihali be paid for
by the United States; the value to be ascertained
under the diredioh of the Commander in Chief;
and all booty taken from the enemy shall belong to
the troop, by whom it (hall he taken.
Refolded, That it be recommended to the 'govern
ment of the refpeeive States, tc countenance and
encourage this design ; arid that the Board of War
transmit to them forthwith cepes of the foregoing
tefohrtions together with a descriptive lift of the ac-
OoLtrements necessary fur man and horse.
Exirad froixibe Minato,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Lift "@f Necefarie: and riccout?emente jor each
Hofman.
T A well tempered fw^rd, the blade ffikighr, and
three feet long, with the back sharpened up fix
inches from the point; an open guard about the
hilt; that will be light and yet defend the hand;
with a fcabhaid of iubilau^al Lather without
wood.
2. A carbine; fu'ec, or fhorr bfanderbufs; the bar
rel of rhe blunderttifs net to exceed two feet in
length.
3. A pair of pistols and lkgfte& r ._
4. A sword belt—a belt for the 'carbide, With i
running Iwivel that will flip to any part of the belt.'
5. A-'cartridge box to buckle round the waifi, with
twelve tin pipes for the 'cartridges
6 A helmet of jacked leather, r and eiTecYuallygnard
ed by feveial rows of (mail chain, iron or dee!
hoops; or a hat with a steel or iron Icull piece
inside the crown.
% A laddie, faddie cloth, breast plate, crupper,
laddle-ftraps and pad.
8. Saddle-bags connected by two broad straps, in
the common fashion, anti not a portmanteau.
C. A double -reined bridle, with a curb and laaHe
bit, and a halter.
10. A cloak fufficient to cover all the arms and
accoutrements, and which is to ftrve allo in the
place of a'blanket.
11. Boots and Ipurs.
The'e articles, made as near as may be according
to the above directions, with a : £ood horie, will fit
each man for the field,
LANCASTER, March i 3.
By the SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
of the Common WeaUh of Pennsylvania.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS the Congress of the United
States of America, by their resolve of the
fevcHth day of March inffant, have recommended
in the following words, viz.
“ WHEREAS Almighty God, in the righte
ous dispensation of bis providence, hath permitted
the continuation of a cruel and defo'aring war in our
land; and it being, at all times, the duty of a people
to acknowledge God in all his ways, and more efne
cially to humble themielves bes re him, when evi
dent tokens of his difyleafure are manifested, to
acknowledge his righteous government, coufets and
foi fake their evil ways, and implore his mercy.
" Refoked, That it be recommended to the Unit
ed Stages of America, to let apart Wednesday, the
twenty -second day of April next, tc be observed as
a Day of Farting, Humiliation and Prayer; that, at
one time and wrh one voice, the inhabitants may
acknowledge the righteous difperfation of Divine
Providence, and cunleH their iniquities and tianl
greffions, for which the land mcurneth; that the,
may implore the mercy and torgivenels of God, and
beseech him that vice, profanenels, extortion, and
every evil may be done away, and that we may be a
reformed and happy people; that they may unite in
humble and earned {application; that it may please
Almighty God tc guard and defend us agaioft our
enemies, and give vigour and success to our military
operations by sea and land; that it may please him
to blels the civil rulers and people, strengthen and
perpetrate our union, and in his own good time,
effablifh us in the peaceable enjoyment of our rights
and liberties; that it may please him to blels our
fchooE and seminaries of learning, and to make them
nurferres of true piety, virtue and ufernl knowledge;
that it may please him to cause the earth to yield its,
increase, and to crown the year with his goodness.
And it is recommended to the inhabitants of the
United States, to abftam on that day from labour
and recreation."
AND WHERE AS it hath pieafed God to fuffer
'the enemy to take pelf ffion of our capital, and the
diftrdffes attendant on war have fallen heavv or , the
State; whereby ir is become peculiarly neceffiry for
the inhabitant's :o bumble themselves before him 'who
governs th'c'uhiVerfe, and turreth the hearts of men
as he p'eafeth. And therefore, as well as in due
refpec? tv the laid recommendation cf Congress, We
do hereby me# carreftly recommend to the good
people of this Commonwealth, to let apart Wednes
day, the said twenty fecund day of April next for
the pious purposes mentioned in the said resolve, and
that they abflain on that dty from labour and re
creation.
GIVEN at Lancafer, Vi; 'thirteenth day of
March, in tie,ear of our Lord One iho&fo^d
Jeven hundred and jeventr eighth
By order of Council,
THOMAS WH IRTON, jun. President.
Attefl. T. Matlack, Secretary.
Extras of a letter ft cm a pent Lem ra near Head ^ur
here, dated March I2 r h, 1778.
" Captain Barry has diftingurihed himfelf exceed
ingly on rhe River, he had collected feve^al of the
gun boars which formerly belonged to the tallies,
with three of them having a four pounder in each,
and others only manned with mutter,; he attack
ed two large Ihips loaded with forage from Rhode-
Ifhwd, ar&r convoy of a render, mounting eight
carriage 0% both of the (hips had 4 fix plunders.
—He attacked them woh great (pint, and after a
warm engagement of half an hour, the fhiys (urrerd
ered^Fk then puifued he fchdoner, and peradirg
all Eis boats, sent a ^ag to demand the urrender,
with wbich she Captain (a Lieutenant in the navy)
thought proper to comply though with a tolerable
stock of spirit he might have kept off doobe the
numberfhe then took all life prizes to Reedy Bland,
and the next tide the Eagle man of war a rd fevera!
other ships of force came vp, feeing these three vtf
fetslaying at the peirs they came too, by ths time
the prizes were unloaded of every thing valuable,
and the men tad formed an intrenchment < f the
bundles cf prelled hay; a fevee cannonade then
commenced, when the little garrifen oh<e vin^ pre
parations to land, they fret fire to the v<#els, except
the feLooner, into wlich Barry m order to save her,
had thrown himfelf—the enemy perceiving the ffiip<
on fire, delved from landing, and our men kept pof
feffioD cf the shore. having mounted the cannon taken
from the flip's, wi<h which they engaged 'he enemy
and bulled Tern repeatedly —Barry was ft,on e ver
taken by one vcffel, who detained him till feme others
came up, fix were observed firing upon him at once.
Finding it 1%-ffibte to get up, he ran the fchoorer
alhore and left her, from whence he was towed off
in a very mutilated condition. Ad the cargo ex
cept the hay are preferred —-the schooner had four
brass howitz and feme curi< us increments in the en
gineers department, with a great number of letters.'
We have taken about ico prisoners; 1 Captain and
a company of artificers, 1 Lieutenant of artillery and
about 60 faiiors, all of whom are fafe at Wilming
ton.— In short, it is as gallant an a&ion as ary during
the w^r, and does great honour to the brave officer
and his aCociates who planned and executed it.
In pursuance of orders from His Excellency, the
Commander in Chief, a General Court Martial wag
held at this place when Henry Maofn (whocor fff d
himfelf an officer in the Brniffi army) and Wrndal
Myer, an inhabitant of this county, were brought
before the Court and citato d with being foies, car
rying on a traiterous coriapondeßce and {applying
the enemy with horses, &c. The Court, after a fair
and ea ndid -tlOl., which rafted lome days, and every
opportunity given to them to make their defence,
found them guilty, and uoan mo u fly fenrenced them
to fufter death ;—-In eoniequence of which, they
were on Monday last executed near this town, a
midst a very numerous concourse cf fptftaio>s.—The
unhappy wretches before their execution, ackaow