The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-05-02 00:00:00, page 2

The following are extracted from Europe
an Papers round on board the Grenville
Packet, lately carried into Chefapeak
by rhe Franklin-privateer.
My particular thanks are due to Lieut. Col. Cruger, who com
manded the front line, for his conduct and gallantry,during the
action; and to Lieut. 'Col. Allen, Majors Dawson, Stewart,
Sheridan and Coffin, and to Capts. Kelly and Campbell, com
manding the different corps and detachment; and every other
officer and soldier fulfilled the separate duties of their flations
with great gallantry : But to Major Marjoribanks, and the flank
battalion under his command, I think ths honor of the day is
greatly due. My warmest praise is due to Capt. Barry, Deputy-
Adjutant-General, Major-Brigade Coxon, Lieut. Ranken, As
sistant Quarter - MafterrGeneral, and to a&ing Major of Brigade
Roorback, for the great assistance they tendered me during the
day*
I hope, my Lord, when it is considered such a handful of men,
attacked by the united force of Generals Greene, Sumpter, Ma
rian, Sumner and Pickens, and the legions of Cols. Lee and
Walhington, driving them from the field of battle, and taking
the only two fix pounders they had, deserve some merit.
Inclofed is the return of the killed, wounded and miffing of
his Majesty's troops.
From the number of corps and detachments which appears
to have been engaged, it may be supposed our force was great;
but your Lordship" will please to observe that the army was much
reduced by sickness and otherwise.
W ] T H particular fatisfaftiun I have the honor to inform
V 7 tour Lor-'ffiip, that on the Sth infl. I was attache: by
the rebel'General Greene, with all the force he could coiled in
this province and North-Carolina; and after an obftjnate eurape
ment, \vhich bfled near two hours, I totally defeated him and
took two fix pounders..
Soon after ' !had the honor of writing to your Lordship from
Thomson’s I received information of Greene's having moved
with tlie rebel army towards Camden, and crossed the Wateree
near that place; and from the befl intelligence I could polka,
was on his march to Friday's Ferry on the C<mgarees.
From the LONDON GAZETTE of February 2.
WHITEHALL, F^b?uary 2.
Ex^a of a letter froa Lieutenant Colonel Steuart to Earl Com
walbs, dated Eutaw, September 9, 1781.
The array under my command being much in want of necefla
rM and there bebw at the fame time a convoy with provisions on
the march from Chadeftown, which would have neceflarily oblig
ed me to m4<c a detachment of at least qco men (which at that
time I could ill ass rd, the army being much weakened by sick
ness) to meet the convoy at Martin's, 56 miles from my camp;
the distance being so great, a smaller escort was liable to fall by
the enemy's cavalry, which are very numerous: I therefore thought
it advisable to retire by flow marches to the Eutaw.s, where I
might have an opportunity of receiving my supplies, and disen
cumber mvfelf of the sick without risking my escorts cr fuffer
myfelf to he attacked at a disadvantage, ffiould the enemy have
trofied the Congaree.
Notwithstanding every exertion being made to gain intelligence
of the enemy's situation, they rendered it impoffi^'e, by way
laving the bye-paths and naffes througli the different swamps ; and
even detained different flags of truce which I had sent on public
buhrefs on b n th sides.
About fix o'clock in the morning I received intelligence by two
doferters, who left General Greene's camp the preceding evening,
about 7 miles from this place; and, from their report, the rebel
army confided of nar 4 oc ° men, with a numerous body of ca
valry, and 4 pieces of cannon.
In the mean time I received information by Major Coffin, whom
Ihad previously detached with 140 infantry and 50 cavalry, in or
der to "gain intelligence of the enemy, that they appeared in force
in bis front, then about 4 miles from my camp.
Finding the enemy in force so near me, I determined to fight
them, as from their numerous cavalry, a retreat seemed to me to
be attended with dangerous confequendes: I immediately formed
the line of battle, with the right of the army to the Eutaw branch,
and its left eroding the road leading to Roache's plantation, leav
ing a corps on a commanding filiation to cover the Charleftown
road, and to aft occasionally as a reserve.
About nine o'clock the action began on the right, and soon
after became general.
Knowing that the enemy were much superior in numbers^ and
at the fame time finding that they attacked with their militia in
front, induced me not to alter my position unless I saw a certain
advantage to be gained by it: for by moving forwards I exposed
both flanks of the army to the enemy's cavalry, which I saw rea
dy formed to take that advantage, particularly on the left, which
obliged me to move the reserve to support it.
By some unknown miflake, the left of the line advanced and
drove the militia and North-Carolinians before them ; but unex
pectedly finding the Virginia and Maryland lines ready formed,
and at the fame time receiving a heavy fire, occasioned some con
fuhen. It was therefore necefl'ary to retire a little distance to an
open field, in order to form, which was instantly done, under
cover of a heavy and well directed fire from a detachment of
New-Yorli volunteers, under the command of Major Sheridan,
whom I had previously ordered to take poft.ia the house, to check
the enemy fhuuld they attempt to pass it.
The adion was renewed with great spirit; but I was sorry to
find that a three pounder, polled on the road leading to Roaches,
had been disabled, and could not be brought off when the left of
t^e line retired.
The right wing of the army being composed of the flank batta
lion, under the command of Major Marjoribanks, having repulsed
and drove every thing that attacked them, made a rapid move to
their left, and attacked the enemy in flank, upon which they
gave - wav in all quarters, leaving behind them two brass fix poun
ders, and upwards of 200 killed on the field of action, and 60
taken prisoners, amongst which is Col. Washington, and, from
every information, about 800 wounded, although they contrived
to carry them off during the adion. The enemy retired with
precipitation to a strong fituatton about .seven miles from the field
of a&ion, leaving their cavalry to cover their retreat. The glory
of the day would have been more compleat, had not the want of
cavalry prevented me from taking the advantage which the gal
lantry of my infantry threw in my way.
I omitted to inform your Lordlhip, in its proper place, of the
army's having for some time been much in want of bread, there
being no old corn nor mills near me; I was therefore under the
receffity of fencing out rooting parties from each corps under an
officer, to colled potatoes every morning at day-break; and un
fortunately that of the flank ba talion and buffs, having gone top
far in front, fell into the enemy's hands before the a&ion began,
which net only weakened my line, but encreafed their number of
prisoners.
Since the a&ion our time has been employed in taking care of
the wounded; and finding that the enemy have no intention to
make a second attack, I have determined, to cover the wounded as
far as Morrlt's corner with the army.
My Loro,
I ho,e your Lordfnip will excuse any inaccuracy that may be in
this letter, as I have been much indisposed by a wound which I
received in my left elbow, which, though flight, from its situa
tion is troublesome. It will give me most singular plcafure if my
• conduct meets with the approbation of his Majesty, chat iff your
Lordship, and my country.
R ETURN of the killed, wounded and miffing, in the army
commanded by Lieut. Col. Stewart, in the action at Eutaws,
on the Sth of September, 1781, viz.
Two cornryriflioned officers. 6 ferjeants, 1 drummer, 75 rank
land file, killed. 16 commissioned officers, 20 ferjeants, 2 drum-
Imeis, 313 rank and file, wounded. 10 commissioned officers,
115 ferjeants, 8 drummers, 224 ranlc and file miffing.
Total of killed, wounded and miffing, 692.
The hustings was not opened till half after one, when the Lord
May r came on with the two Sheriffs, the Aldermen Sawbridge,
Wilkes, Town/hend, 'Newnham, Clark, Lewes, Crichton, &c.'
Lord Hertford's letter to the Lord M„or, containing his Ma
jefly's refufal to receive the remonstrance on the Throne was read,
and the Lord Mayor's answer. A protest fr n m the gentlemen of
the White Hart Club, signed by the names of T. Wellings, Wil
liam Merry, and J. Evans, was then read : The Lord Mayor called
for the Recorder's opinion of the legality of these meetings, which
he gave in the most explicit manner, faying, that his Majefly
had himfelf fan&ified the right by having received the address of
the Livery on his Throne on more occasions than one in the pre
sent reign.
Mr. Merry fp Jee to the illegality and disorder of the proceed
ings of the Common Hall, to which he was very ably answered
by Aldermen Wilkes, Crichton, and Townshend. Mr. Evans
made Several attempts to /peak, but the hikes and noise were so
great, he could not be heard.
Mr. Hertford then brought forward a firing of motions,; the
firtt of which contained their thanks to the Lord Mayor for his
kind and Spirited attention in this business, which his Lordship
answered, by profeffing his willingness and define, at all times, to
support the rights of the citizens.
That whosoever advised the King to deviate from the mode of
practice his Majesty had himfelf fan&ified, by receiving addrefles
of the Livery of London on the Throne, is an enemy to the peace
and prosperity of the British empire.
This day a Common Hall was held at Guildhall, for the pur
pose of confiderirag the report of the gentlemen who went up to
his Majesty on the business of the petition, address and remon
strance. voted for at the last Common Hall.
Lord Stormont said, it was unusual for their lordships
to go into any debate without a motion before them ;
therefore, as the noble duke had said, he would on tha:
day move for pa pers, he thoulJ reserve himfelftill then.
The duke of Richmond replied, that he thought the
candour with which he had treated the question before
the house, if it might be said there was any queflion be
fore it, merited equal candour from the noble lord ; that
however great th e noble lord's property, however high
his influence,he ought not to wrap himfelf up in the cloak
of office, when a business had been so fully and fairly
brought before the house ; perhaps a time might come
when such language would hardly be allowed : indeed,
the notile lord, from having the guidance of the helm
confided' to him, might perhaps arrogate much to him
leU; but he ought still to preserve a less supercilious
language to thole embarked with him in the fame vef
<el, especially when that vessel was brought on the rocks
by the mifeondud of the pilots.
Lord Stormont replied, that he had not been guilty
of any indecorum toward the noble duke, who had him
felf said, that there was no question before the house.
As to his influence or property, he did not mean to pre
tend to, any particular influence or property ; and in
his charge of the vessel of the state, he was sure he had
used no supercilious or improper conduct to any person
whatsoever. The state was certainly in an awful and
perilous situation : But we were allembarked in the fame
vessel, and must ride out the florm, or perish together.
He had been invited into his present situation, and be
ing in the line of his profeffion, he had embraced it : but
he was averse from going into any part of the official
intelligence, as he could not tell to what purpose or ex
tent it might be carried, and in this view lie wished to
decline going at present into any enquiry or difeuffion
upon the topic. This he thought was not difrefpeaful
to the noble duke, or any other person ; at least was
far, very far from his intention.
The duke of Richmond said, he was not a little a flo
nifhed to hear the noble l@rd in the green ribbon fay,
THE duke of Richmond rose and said, that during
the recess he had received a letter from a person of
the name if Longmaf n, a loyalist, under the protec
tion of the forces at Charleftown, which he thought it
his duty to date to the house—he meant to call their
attention to the fate of the unhappy ^colonel Hayr.es,
who had been put to death, as had been suggested to
him, without any legal enquiry. In this view, he gave
notice, that on Monday next he should move the house
for all such papers as administration may have,receiv
ed relative to this affair: he was the more ready to
make this motion, as.having fern, heard and read
much of a proclamation made by general Greene, in
which he threatens to retaliate upon our officers the
punishment undergone by colonel Raynes; for while our
officers remained in this situation, he could not feel
himfelf at ease, till an enquiry was made into the bu
siness. He had v<ry particular hopes that miniflerson
this occasion would, ky their candour, prevent any
motion: he supposed tiny could now give every
information that could be desired ; for the letter
to which he adverted, had been handed to him by
the Secretary of slate, who must at the fame time have
received much better intelligence than could have come
to the hands of individuals. He wished ininiflers there
fore would Spare their lordfllips the trouble of having
these motions brought before them.
That the commencement of the American war is the cause of
all the grievances we complain of, and its continuance will be the
total ruin of this empire.
That the citizens have an undoubted right to petition the Throne,
That a Committee of Livery oc appointed to enquire more fully
into these rights and privileges.
All these, with several others too numerous to mention, were
agreed to by a very great majority.
The Common Hall was<ather refpe.fybje than very large, but
so noisy that even the popular Speaker could hardy be heard.
GUILDHALL INTELLIGENCE.
HOUSE of P E E R S,
Thursday, January 31, 1782.
that he was without influence in this country. He was
very sorry to hear such an assertion fall from the -noble
lord ; unhappy indeed it muff be for the nation, ifthe as.
fermion was true-; for a minister ought to possess great
power and influence. As to himfelf, he had barely
wished to urge the miniflers to declare out, if they had
any official intelligence relative to 2 business which wears
so alarming an appearance with regard to the officers of
this country.
The marquis of Rockingham wondered at the silence
of the minivers on this occasion, when they ought to
(peak out, if they had any intelligence relative to a bu
siness which was at once so difgraceful to the humanity
of the country, and so ruinous to the officers now ant
ing in America.
Lord Hillfborough said, the noble lord in the green
ribbon certainly did not mean to fay that he was with
out power or influence; his great ability, his long ex
perience, and his knowledge of business, must give him
very great influence over the counsels, and great weight
with his Sovereign; therefore the noble lord could not
be supposed to mean to be understood literally. With
regard to the intelligence received from abroad touch
ing this business, be could fay, that for his own part
he had not received any, and he believed that he could
fay as much for bis noble friends on either fide of him;
he added, that it would be severe to go into any enqui
ry relative to this bufmefs ; that able, virtuous, brave,
and noble young man lord Rawdon, who is one of the
principal parties, being out of the kingdom, he con
jured their lordihips not to let any reports to the pre
judice of that great and amiable young man, go out
from among them to the public ; his lordship was now
in Ireland, but he understood would shortly be here,
and he adjured them to flop any enquiry till his return.
The duke of Richmond thanked the noble lord for
his candour, observing that a great deal of trouble
might be yet spa r ed their lordihips, if minifies would
tell whether they had received^ny information from the
gentlemen who came from America, relative to the en
-quiry. He did not wish to confine them to that kind
of intelligence which a minifier puts in his green box ;
there was much other information which more frequent
ly came to them, than that they put into their portfeu
ille. However, he had learned, it was no uncommon
thing for miniflers to enquire, and as s o on as their en -
quiries turned out disagreeable, to flop all further in
formation.
H OUSE of LOR D 3, Monday, February 4.
The duke of Chandos, after a short prefatory speech,
Dating the necessity of enquiring into the causes of the
surrender of his majesty's army, under rhe command
of earl Cornwallis, moved, that their lordships should
be summoned for Thursday, when he would make a
Lord Huntingdon said, that when lord Rawdon was
in London, he had indeed forgotten or omitted to make
any enquiry relative to the present bulinefs ; but when
it afterwards came out that some enquiry might be made
relative to it, he sent to the secretary of slate's office,
and he had received for answer, that there was no 6ffi
cial document whatever in the possession of that mini
"e.r'.""'' refpe& to lord Rawdon, he was not the
principal in command, colonel Balfour was joined with
him in it; and there was a colonel Poole who war
their superior in command. He had fpeken thus much
to clear away any supposition of lord Rawdon being in
a more particular manner concerned than other officers,
not that he meant to ferten him from any consequen
ces which might befal any improper condud, of which
however, he hoped and believed him incapable.
The dyke of Richmond declared himfelf as averse
from attacking the character of individuals, as any one
of their lordships ; that he had as high a deference for
the noble young man's charader and virtues, though
unacquainted withhim, as any of their lordships. He
was very far from wishing to accelerate the enquiry,
but could not forego his notice, unless adminifiratioa
would inform him whether they meant to give any fur
ther information.
The duke of Chandos, however, proceeded. This
melancholy event, he said, had happened near three
months ago, yet, to the furprize of the world and the
disgrace of parliament, no enquiry had yet been infli
tuted into the Cau'e of it ; thus did we lose army after
army, without enquiring how we loft them: We were
become familiarized to surrenders, and we passed them
over as matters of course. For his part, he was deter
mined to difeharge his duty as a senator, by moving
an enquiry int@ the causes which brought disgrace up*
on our arms ; and upon our affairs calamity and ruin.
It was not his intention however, to enter then upon
the business; he would make choice of some future day,
when he hoped it would be fully difeuffed.
Lord Abingdon asked minifiry, whether they meant
to give any information or not ? and the minilers re
maining blent, he said he fhonld take an opportunity
of making them answer.
The chancellor then put the question, that their lord
ships be fummqned to attend, which being agreed to,
they adjourned till Monday.
The duke of Chandos said, their lordships were now
met, after a long recess ; a recess. which, from its
length, might inspire the public with an idea that the
legislature of England knew not of the dreadful and ca
lamitous war in which tin's country was plunged; but
though all was calm and peaceable as when the Haley
on builds its nef lon the unruffled bosom of the deep.
He hoped, however, that being now returned to town,
after enjoying the pleasures of the country, their lord
ihips would now awake from their lethargy, recollect
the dangerous situation of the empire, and give all
that attention to the present state of affairs which their
importance required. From a sense of the duty which
he owed to the public he was resolved to bring before
their lordships an important consideration, wiich, tho'
of the firft magnitude, and no less difgraceful than ru
inous to this country, seemed now to be forgotten as
an event unworthy the attention of parliament. This
was the surrender of the army under lord Cornwallis.
Here his grace was interrupted by
Lord Abingdon, who said it was not orderly to in
troduce a new fubjefl, while another remained before
the house undifpofed of.