The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-07-22 00:00:00, page 2

I I THERTO, Sir, I have addressed you as a Bri
tdh Commiffouer; [ now have the pleasure of wfi
t^g a few lines to you as the British Commander in Chief.
Accept them Sir Harry, they will celebrate your exploits.
There is reafen tothiak, that your defeat and iubfequent
inaawiiy the last fuminer, were to be contrafled by your
vaflories and activity in tne present campaign. Your pre
oecHfor, Sir William Howe, gave notice to his fupenur
ofois intended /orivardmovement to White-Marfa: And,
it is probable that you have observed the fame line of con
duri rHpecbng your enterprize up the North-River. Sir
William marched to crush General Washington: You ad
vanced —but what was your object ? was it Fort Arnold at
Welt Point—was it the small Fort La Fayette and Stoney
Point — was it to take an actual Survey ol the Nortn Ri
ver—wnat was it? We know, that Sir William returned
re inieda. General Wayne writes in the C.tfarian stile,
ani I will not anticipate his account of the conclusion of
your enterprise.
Eat, what was your objed ? Great were your prepara
tions. They were of a secret complexion. They were
madeat }our leisure North-River at len th beheld you
in all your might. You appeared like a Colrifus flriding
horn New York to Albany. You seemed to threaten,
taatat a blow, you would divide the United States of
America.—What would not have been your honors and
your rewards, Sir Harry, had you in executing tais threat,
done that, which Sir William Howe, with a much Supe
rior force, had notdared to attempt!
In the plenitude of your power, you advanced up the
North River. La Fayette had the boidntfsto obtru leup
on your attention. Indignant—you revenged the affront:
Yet, this was not the w ,rk of a moment. After the exer
tion oi your power by land and water, during a day and
an half, at the head of the British forces, you, Sir Henry
Clinton, found it expedient to grant an honorable capitu
lation to a garrison of fifty men!
Here you planted the British colours; and on the opposite
shore, with eight hundred fatigue men, for weeks you la
boured to render Stoney Point impregnable. In idea,
you already curbed the haughty States of America; and,
you fat down 111 your tent to announce your conquest to
your Sovereign. But, Sir Harry, how incautiously did you
pen y<>ur triumphal dispatch ! —ViHory urged — She was a
new attendant---a favourite; and she maliciously prompt
eda conduit, to give pangs to your master, and luftre to
the American arms.
I think I fee the court of St. James'^ devouring the con
tents of your dispatch. “ The attack upon La Fayette---
the csoi valour 01 his Majesty's officers in the army and
navy-- L,e ardour of the troops and seamen --the Strength
of the works taken -the commanding Situation of Stoney
Point and rhe endless train of advantages to yourfelf,
and of difficulties to us, fr»m your possession of it."-- The
monarch is m n extacy of joy! his ministers congratulate
each otner, asif rescued from Tower-Hill. The royal ap
payments resound with, “ Clinton !''-- " Sir Harry !”---
'• North River !"- -" communication cut off!" - " eas
tern provinces Surrounded !"--" Starving” - '* submitting
to the anticipated prowess and vigour of Sir George Colli
er and General Tryon!" --with one voice, all the minis
ters celebrate thy lame, 0 1 Sir Harry Clinton ! thefwo'rd,
tue fpe ir of Britainia !-- ihe bells ring appeal---bonfires
glare---conduits run- Shouts rend the air---and rockets
hy up, and decorate the heavens with new stars in honor of
Sir Harry Clinton!
But, how transient is thy glory ! already it is in the
<u;a,i£. Hark! a thunder from Stoney Point! fee I the
gallant Wayne in silence and by iiarlight marching up to
the mouths or your roaring cannon ! without the discharge
bf a single musket, he mounts your laboured ramparts---
" avbat !''- -and with twelve hundred American troops in
a moment captures five hundred British veterans---their
Works, their cannon, arms, flores, baggage--their honor !
-It is Wayne's rt-furprize. The American troops feel
their own force, and your's, Sir Harry, feel and acknow
ledge it. In this stage of tne campaign, these sensations
do not tend to enable you to fend laureled mefferigers to
White Hall. As brilliant as was the joy in the British
court upon the news of your conquest and establishment
at Stonry-Pomi; so gloomy will be their Sorrow, upon
the news of your ruin in that quarter. Your labours and
your glories since the commencement of the campaign in
the latter end of May to the 16th July 4 are overturne 1 and
defireyed by Starlight in a single hour! can you bear this
reverse, Sir Harry ! what will you fay of your troops and
your discipline! what mus iyou fay of our troops and our
discipline! with the British army and navy under your
Orders, on tile fecund of June, after an attack of a day and
an half, you captured a small fort and fifty men on tee
east fide of North-River. With twelve hundred Ameri
cans, on the 16th of July at 2 o'clock in the morning,
without firing gun, and within an hour, General Wayne
flormed and carried five hundred of your men in a regular
fortification in an almost inaccessible situation, on the op
posite shore of the river. T^cbanks of North-River con
trufi, t ie atchievemeuts and the glories of a Clinton and a
Wayne. America with pleasure and confidence fees, and
Europe with afloniShment and expectation will hear, that
1200 Americans with the loss of only far men, have ren
dered vain Seven weeks operations by the grand army of
Britain: And, have reduced them to the necessity of re
commencing, in the middle of the campaign, their opera
tions for the Summer; and to labeufTrith reduced num
bers, and a loft reputation.
Certainly, Sir Harry, you most feafibly must feel an
aukwardnefs in continuing the language and appearance
of conquering the United States of America. ris it possible
that Sir George Collier and Major General Tryon can
read their threatening addrtfs of the 4th of July to the in
habitants of Connecticut, and not fink within themselves !
General Burgoyne's proclamation, even at that time of day,
w^s thought a very extraordinary performance, aitho' it
wai f made at the head of a powerful army, but too likely
to give it full effeCt. The just ridicule universally thrown
upon it, and its fate, might have served as lessons to fu
ture military composers. But it is for Sir George Collier,
and General Tryon, at the head of a few armed vessels,
and a few hundred troops, and in a situation of our affairs
far more, and of theirs far less prosperous than they were
in fum@r 1777, to publish a more extravagant address
than that by General Burgoyne. Let them enjoy their ad
dress, their conflagrations, their cruelties and their murders,
not in the least tending to terminate the war, or even their
W. H. D. ioSir HENRY CLINTON, K. B.
FHILADELPHI A, July 22.
^x6ra3 ofa letter from a gentleman 0, cbara&er and di
flinßion at Neve-Haven, in the State of Connecticut, to a
gentleman in this city, dared New Haven, July 12.
" Lord's day evening, the 4th instant, at 9 o'clock, we
were by express advised here that the fleet was this fide
Fairfield, handing eaftw.rd. Upon this our alarm guns
were fired, and we sent out boats to reconnoitre their ap
proach, or p ffing by. At two o' lock in the morning they
were difeovered m iking for Well Haven Point, on the weft
fide or the harbour Signals were iven to th! fort, and an
alarm then made in earned ; and Col. Sabin, 01 the militia
regiment in this diftri&, rdered to beat to arms at half
after two o'clock on Monday morning, the ^th instant.
" From the tower of College steeple, through a telescope,
we saw the landing of the enemy at Weft-Haven, four
miles from the town, at 6'veollotk, or a little after sun
rise They formed and marched forward to Allentown,
two miles from town, here they should have turned and
1 crossed over the cauieway and bridge to town, but Col.
Sabin with armed mhathmts, and two pieces of artillery,
had Rationed themselves there, and by a well directed fire
repeled them Thereupon they turned off, and went
round thro' Weftfield al^ng up the left of the river, four
rriles further to Darby road. At their coming out of Weft-
Haven. Col. S.bin had advanced over the bridge to
Milfprd-hill to meet them ; and Capt. Hillhoufe, with some
very spirited young men, proceeded, attacked and drove _
in their advanced party. Upon their coming up to Allen
town, a little neighbourhood so called, Pfofeffor Dagget
was taken, wounded with bayonets, abused and carried
off, tho'afterwards left in town. As the enemy pro ceded
up the river,, a cc'rps of volunteers under Col. Burr of
New Jersey harraffed their left flank; —and Cel Sabin
with the artillery, and a constantly encreafing force of
armed inhabitants, crossed the fields from the Weft Bridge
along the right of the river, to the bridge at Weft Rock
on Darby road, two miles from town. Here we itiade a'
Hand on both fees tne river, --a detachment of she enemy
aimed at the powder mills, a quarter of a mile from the
bridge, but were repulsed by Major Huges, &c. ot tne
continentals, occasionally here, and the spirited militia
which began by this time to pour in from all parts, and a
corps from Darby with M jor Smith Perhaps Im?y be
mistaken in some of these particulars, mad not (efficiently
informed to do justice to individuals, either officers or sol
diers. We captivated some, and turned them from the
mills. The enemy marched in three divisions, guarded on
the left with lig^t infantry, on their right by the river. A
part of them crossed over or forded the river, twenty rods
below the bridge, while the main body crossed at the brid; e.
At the top of the hill our people met them, and gave them
annoyance, a, well there as in the rest of their march to
town, about two rules. At four o'clock afternoon they en
tered the town, our people fighting ftil on the retreat, till
they came to Neck Bridge, a mile N. E. of the town.
While tuefe things were carrying on on the townfide,
Gen. Tryon landed the other half of the army at Five-
Mile Punt, and possessed himfelf of that part of Eafl-Haven
adjoining the water, and set fire to a house, and after an
obstinate resistance carried our fort at Black Rock, three
miles from town,--,then he took his ftationon Bacon. Hill,
over against us. The militia flocked from 30 miles round,
perhaps tour or five thousand or more, and accumulated
at four places;. -Neckoridge, w.dch the enemy had pulled
up at East Haven, attacking and annoying Tryon's corps
at Mill-Lane, where they had a picket guard, ana at Ditch
Corner, at the N. W entrance of the town, on Cheshire
road. At this place, and at Eafl-Haven, there was incessant
firing with field pieces and fire arms all the rest of the day,
and with considerable execution on both sides. Among
others, the fludents ofthe college diftinguifhod themflves
for bravery and heroic enterprise. The town was given up
to plunder, firft by the soldiery, from their entrance into
town till eight o'clock in the evening, when the General
ordered all to rest till one o'clock in the morning, and
then to parade for departure; secondly by the bailors,
predatory incursions in their favour. Let them glory in
leading troops so totally abandoned, as that, when having
set fire to the Meeting House and Episcopal Churca of Nor
walk, they called aloud " now God Almighty come and
defend your own house!" and do you also, iliuftrious Sir
Henry Clinton, do you glory in being the commander in
chief of such officers and such troops, under your trders
outraging every principle of decency and humanity !
Pbi.adtlphia, Jul) 2^, 1779.
from one o'clock in the morning, till their departure. I am
obliged to catch different moments to write, and perhaps
may repeat things.
“ Tie fleet was counted differently. I saw it, and from
the bed observation I could make, I believe they may be
considered about ,o fril of men of war and transports, be
sides tenders, &c. of which 15 only were topsail veffels^
As to the army, they are generally called 3000, comman
ded by Gen. Tryon and Brig. Gen. Garth. Tryon, with
one half, landed 011 the east fide; Garth, with the other
half, landed on the weft fide of the harbour, came round
into town, and next morning crossed over made a junction
at Bacon-Hilf in Eafl-Haven. I doubt these numbers,
and from some efiimates formed upon the length and depth
of their marching column, I believe they were not above
6 or 700 which entered the town, and all agree the army
was equally divided. I judge their total under 2000 troops.
They are the fame plundering and destroying legion which
burned Suffolk, in Virginia. They said they confided of
eight regiments. By numerous accounts it appears that
Gen. Garth and his officers were extremely intimidated in
town, for fear the militia from without fliould rush in—to
that degree, that Get). Garth was for going over to Eafl-
Haven, and joining Tryon's division that night, and not
lodge in town; but Tryon assured him of certain assistance
in case of accidents. Garth gave out for his division to pa
rade at one o'clock onTuefday morning, which accordingly
they did, intending fileatly to have wiffidrawn before
day;---but they drd not march till after sunrise, and about
five o'clock the town was evacuated with great stillness.---
The^nemy spared all the public buildings and dwelling
houses, but at their departure fired four flores on the Long
Wharff and (even vessels. They plundered and insulted
the inhabitants most amazingly. They carried offwith
them (undry prisoners, John Whiting, Efa; justice of
the Peace and Judge of Probate, the only officer tarrying
in town anting under the State There went off voluntarily,
Joshua Chandler, Esq; C. Camp, and Amos Botsford,
Ef^uifes, with their families.
" On Tuesday the feene of action was chiefly on the east
fide. The enemy took their policion on Bacon-hill across
the river and one mile east ofthe State- House in town.
Four or five regiments were assembled under Gin Ward
on the east fide. Here they fought on both sides in diflant
scattered firing, in sallies, ikirmifhes and attacksill our
American manner, killing and captivating, til! v^smade
considerable dcftruflion arpong them. We forced the ene
my frompthe hill, who retreated towards the fort, and em
barked at sun-set, being Tuesday the 6 instant, under co
ver of their gallies with 18 pounders. We bad four men
killed in East Haven, In the course of the day they set fire
to a number of dwelling-houses at Eafl-Haven, and the
barracks in the forts. In the wholeaffair we had about 27
killed, of which two were murdered in town: Perhaps 20
captivated inhabitants, not in arms. The wounds cannot
be so *ell afeertained, as they were carried off the field by
their friends. We certainly did the enemy more damage
than would have been expeHe ' Trey left a Colonel,
Adjutant Cambell, killed, fevers officers wounded mor
tally, and some died immediately. Tneir wounded were
carried in fix or eight chairs, and eight or nine other car
riages, some of which had eight or ten wounded in them.
Their loss is eeaeraliy eflimated at 150 killed, wounded
and miffing. We captured 39.
ft The enemy failed fr^m hence Tuesday evening.—
Wednesday, the 7th instant, at three o'clock P. M. they
landed at Fairfield, a town of about xooheufes, which they
plundered and laid in ashes. burning the Meeting-House,
Episcopal Church, Court House, and about 70 or 80
Dwelling-Houses, leaving only 15 or 16 within two miles
around
" They landed at Norwalk on Lord's-day Morn ; ng, the
tith inst. plundered and buned the town, leaving only half
a dozen houses, and embarked the fame day.—They burned
the Meeting House and Episcopal Church, using this most
horrid, blasphemous, and heaven dafiez language when
they set them 011 fire, —'' Now, God Almighty, come
and defend your own house." —lndeed I believe this to be
the mofi abandoned, vile and hellish corps, that were ever
permitted by Heaven to exist.—The whole British army
has been lifted, to abflraß and feltft officers and troops of
the most merciless barbarity, and every way of the most
debauched and savage characters, for this last national ven
geance of burning and desolation. Let the memory of Go
vernor Tryon and hiskhofen bloody plundering legion be
ever accursed, and go down to posterity with infamy thro'
all American ages;
" J & ( yQ The main body of the K'ng's army were
yesterday on the Weft Heights ofßyram River, as 1 have
it from a gentleman who left Norwalk yefierday morning.
They call themselves 6000 at Byram, and 3000 with Try
on. Their 6000 I judge 3000 ; thus. 22 b 2nd nd 37th,
or however three regiments of British, fay 700 (the 37th
is the largest, amd has but 300) Queen's rangers 00, E-
Hierick's corps 150, Cathcart's British legion 200 hefides
grenadiers, light infantry and horse. But suppose their
whole force at Rhode-Ifland, New York, North-River
and on the Connaaicu route, to be 12, doo-- what is t is
to 600,000 intrepid sons of America? What the conflagra
tion ofthe whole sea-coast, in comparison with the sweets
of liberty, and the glcry of independence .'"
Extract of 4 letter from Neiv-Londtn, da'cd July 7.
" The privateer Sheelah. Capt M Ribbon, of 8 carri
age guns, belonging to New-York, is taken and carried
intp Stonington by the American Revenue.'
Yesterday was sent into this port by the brig Imperti
nent, Jot n Young, commander, the sloop of war Harlem,
of 14 carriage gtihs and 85 men, belonging to his Britan
nick Majefly. During t,e chate, the people hove all her
guns overboard- -the captain took to the boat with some of
her men; which Was oveffet in carrying too much fail;
they undoubtedly have perished---the lieutenant (Rogers)
and men was landed at Sinnepuxent, and ordered for this
city;
It was intended to burn Salem, but the approach of
some American troops prevented the execution. Deserti
on very great. Eight others came off with the informant ;
on their way they met nine tories and refugees driving e
leven head of cattleand 15 horses to the enemy; they con
du&ed the whole to General Washington's head quarters ;
heard some of them fay that the day before, one hundred
and fifty head of cattle had been driven in. About twelve
or fourteen days since, near fifty of the legion and rangers
deserted in one night, five of whom were overtaken and di
re&ly Slaughtered. Orders are given out not to make a
ny deserters prisoners. It is generally reported amongst
the troops that no reinforcements are expected.
On Sunday afternoon last, off our Capes, the letter of
marque brig Hibernia, Capt. Angus, of 10 guns and 30
men from this port for the Weft Indies, fell in with the
Revenge cutter of 18 guns and 80 men, whom he bravely
engaged from three to five o'clock, when the cutter being
well handled pushed off.— Capt Angus had three men
wounded, and his rigging so torn to pieces, that he could
not follow the cutter —As soon as he could repair it he
put back, and arrived here last night.
COMMITTEE-ROOM.
Philadelphia, July 16, 1779.
On motion Resolved, That no person who does not pro,
duce his Certificate of having taken the 0 A TH®f A L
LEGIANCE to this, or the United States, be admitted
into the State-House Yard, at the next General Town
Meeting, on Monday the 26th instant; and that is to be
published in all the Newspapers of this City.
Signed by Order of the Committee,
WI L LIAM HEHR Y, Chairmsn.
By a person from King street, close to the White-Plains,
we are informed that the Queen's Rangers, the legion of the
17th regiment of light dragoons lay there.
The Sunday before last the rangers burnt New Bed
ford, and on Monday, North Castle, and the Saw-Pins,
together with a schooner in a cr%k near the latter.
Orders have been issued to avoid lighting, but to burn
andideftroy the whole country, and not to give quarters
to any militia man. The second part of these orders are
so pundually executed, that not a fruit tree is left hand
ing. The informant fays he was witness to the following
barbarous a&ion last Friday was a week, about three
o'clock in the morning, some of the raragers forced into a
house, where they found but a single perfen in bed, whom
they brought out and found to be a very old mas not
worth carrying off, and finding a hogshead of rum in the
house, they knocked in one head, and dipping a sheet in
it they tied up the old mail in it, laid him on the floor and
set the house on fire.