The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-02-17 00:00:00, page 2

The following manifeflo was published by brigadier
general Morgan, on his entering the diftria^f
Ninety-fix, in South Carolina, about three weeks
before the victory at the Cowpent. The conse
quence was, tnat the greatef tpart of the militia who
were in that action, and had been long under the
power of the British, joined him immediately, and by
their gallant behaviour on that memorable day,
evinced their sense of the injuries they had received
from a cruel and faithlefs enemy.
To the WHIGS of SOUTH-CAROLINAand
GEORGIA.
Friends and Countrymen,
I FEEL a pride in claiming fellowfhip with men,
whole virtue has exalted them above the reach of
adversity, and whole intrepidity has proved a scourge
to the common enemy in the hour of her insolence.
Such examples of fortitude and perseverance are to be
found only in the annals of a free people, but are ad
mired and applauded by the brave and generous of eve
ry nation.
The commander in chief of the American army in
this department, impressed with a just sense of your
merits, and fympathifing with you in your misfor
tunes, has been pleased to detach me with a body of
troops to co-operate in a general and extensive plan of
affording you protection and assistance. Duty and in
clination unite to render this command agreeable, and
to ensure my utmost efforts to crown it with its deser
ved success. The corps I have the honour to com
mand, are actuated by similar sentiments. They have
the highest ambition of joining their arms with yours,
and anting over again the memorable scenes exhibited
at Hanging Rock, Mufgrove's mill, King's mountain,
Fish-Dam-Ford, and Black Storks, and to revenge the
horrid barbarities exercised on the 16th of August, a
day, which in spite of their dear bought triumph, will
mark the British arms with indelible infamy. But the
zeal of these gallant few must prove ineffectual, unless
you fly to arms, with a determined resolution never to
lay them down until the enemy are expelled from your
borders. Do you with your aged parents to spend the
evening of their lives unruffled by the insults of a li
centious soldiery? Do you with to protest yourselves and
posterity from the most difgraceful slavery that ever
flained the historic page? Do you think it worth con
tending for the fwe?ts of domestic life? Then fly to
arms: for all that can render existence defireable de
pends upon the sword. Should there be any amongfl
you, so deaf to the voice of experience as to hope to
secure your property from deftruaign, and yourselves
from insult by submission, I would call their attention
to their infatuated countrymen within the enemy's
lines, and would with them to learn wisdom from the
misfortunes of these. These men remain d at home
with thefond expectation of being permitted to Hand on
neutral ground, mere fpeQators of the contest, and to
enjoy the benefits resulting from victory, without con
tributing to the success of either party—Aik them if
their flattering profpe&s have been realized, and they
will tell you, that British clemency and justice exist
only in their proclamations: they will tell you, that
they are fubjeded to all the rigours of a military go
vernment, and are constrained to encounter the dan
gers and fatigues of war: a war, too, waged for the
infamous purpose of ruining a country, which they are
bound to proted, by every tye, human and divine ;
and for this ungr iteful service they receive the rich re
ward of flights and indignities: that the evidence of
their slaves is fufficient to flrip them of their possessi
ons, should they be an object worthy British avarice-
Such are the blessed ettefis of a tame and unmanly sub
mission ! It ever was, and ever will be the fate of time
servers, and the votaries of passive obedience and non
refiflance to be neglected and despised. The voice of
religion and society marks them out as hewers of wood
and drawers of water.
Whilst I invite you to the field, to oppose her open
force, I would with to caution you against the secret
insinuations of Great Britain, which have been more
injurious to the cause of freedom than all her batta
lions.—Her emissaries have left no device uneffayed,
which cunning could invent, or villainy adopt, to
hide from you your real interests—Proteus-like, they
have assumed every shape to deceive.—One while they
life the mild insinuating language of entreaty, and eve
ry feature of the royal countenance is foftened into
compassion, to woe ms into submission.—Now the
threatening image of “ offended majesty" is conjured
up to intimidate us.—News-paper undertakers are
hired to declaim against France : To represent her as
perfidious and designing —To persuade us, that there
is nothing facredin treaties. When their importation
of Ruffians became a stale device, we were threaten
ed with the horrors of the inquisition, and all the
dreadful insignia of torture was exhibited to our view.
The illustrious Louis, whose character is a recorded
satire on the tyrant of Britain, is represented by theml
as extending the iron fceptre of despotism over the I
plains of America.' We are told, that the fruits of 4
^e the fair sex. These voluptuaries, loft to every
fentiraent of delicacy and refinement, cannot be fatis
fied with the common indulgencies of vague amours,
but to crown with eternal infamy their libidinous gra
tifications, must plunge themselves into the horrid
crime of facriledge.
The God of Nature has confided to the protection
of men, the most amiable part of creation. The beau
tiful form, the foft, the indearirig pafEons, the modefl
innocence and unsullied virtue of the tender fair, are
the favorite gifts of Heaven !—How despicable, how
base, muff the wretch be, who can contemplate for a
moment, the violation of these sacred deposits !—Con
fcious only of the mod delicate intentions, and igno
rant of the avenues to disgrace and ruin, the inexpe
rienced heart will fpmetimes heave with emotions too
expressive of pleasing deviation: And then, ye Bac
chanalian sons of Venus ! Ye fondly catch the melt
ing eye, and wkh the trembling fair one " Health ; "
yes, ye fly hypocrites ! And wish, at the fame time,
to draw a veil over the bltyh of modefly, which is sa
cred only to the rights of Hymen.
A CITIZEN.
our induflry will be gathered into the royal garner,
and the voice of mirth be ehafiened toy the oppressor's
rod.—Their picture of slavery is'indeed true : but it
is from the d^fpot of Britain only, we are to fear its
being realized. Such gilded falfhoods may deceive the
honest and urifufp&ting heart for a moment ; but the
rancour and want of candor, displayed in the writings
of these hireling scribblers, ensure their deteaion^for
it is a little unfortunate for their cause, that these
gentlemen, when they speak of our allies, fofe their
temper and politeness, and instead of argument and
redlining, use the expressions of wounded mbitidn.
The papers from Charles-Town and New York are
filled with the most improbable absurdities.—The Eu
ropean intelligence they contain, is pointedly contra
dided in the British prints— Inflead of exulting in the
armed neutrality, they speak of it in the language of
despair. They take no pains to conceal their appre
hensions, of its being a combination to oblige Great-
Britain to accede to an equitable peace, and exclaim
against the ingratitude of the confederating powers
with al! the petulance of dotard age.
As the best refutation of their many misrepresenta
tions, I shall lay before you a true state of facts,
relative to the war and tire contending.parties.—Bri
tain, convinced, that as long as we enjoyed the pa
tronage of France, we should rife fitperior to all her
base attempts to enclave us, has laboured, since the
commencement of this co&teft, to defray our confi
dence in this power; but happy , for America, the de
signs of our ally have been so confeffeJly generous and
friendly, that these attempts of the enemy have hit
herto proved. ineffectual, for though the efforts of our
ally, to assist us,,,have not been always fortunate, she
has erected a monument of her attachment to our
cause on the plains of Savannah, cemented with the
blood of her best soldiers, which nd British arts can
undermine or defirdy— Her plan to affift' us last fall,
evinced her unbounded confidence in us, which, tho'
baffled by one of those incidents, which of@.decides
the fate of empires promises yet to be crowned with
its deserved success—A fleet and army are now on
their way, to reinforce the Count de Rauchambeoa
at Rhode- Island.—The combined fleets are riding tri
umphant in the British channel, and have captured
and secured fifty-two ships, having on board two thou
sand land forces and a large quantity of military and
commissary stores for the Weft Indies.
The American army has been represented as dwind
ling into infignificanct, from misfortunes in the field,
and the expiration of eriliftments.—We mean not to
deny faffs—Our army has been weakened by these
causes, but our resources enable us to encreafe them.
Plans are now adopted and carry ng into execution,
which soon will bring a force into the field, which,i
joined with that of our ally, will wake Britain from
her dreams of conquest.—They tell you, that your
councils are pervaded with a party spirit, and that
instead of taking care of the public interest, are em-;
ployed in aggrandifing themselves. That Congress
have bargained with France, to betray your liberties.
It is to be lamented that all human institutions are'
prone to corruption, bad men will insinuate them-,
selves unto the good graces of the most virtuous peo
ple, nor can America exped to escape this general
misfortune ; but the interests of the legislators and
their constituents are so intimately connelled, that she
has no reason to fear being betrayed by her public
bodies —Would it not be madness in a pilot, to wreck
a ship for the fake of defiroying the crew, when he
must perish with them ? Tho' file has entrusted men,
who have abused her confidence. Tho' she has had
an Arnold in her army, and a Zubly in her Congress,
she has the pleasing reflection to console her, that gal
lant soldiers and virtuous statesmen are not wanting,
to give energy and wisdom to her councils, and to
make her formidable in the field.
As the fads I have Rated, and the arguments I have
adduced, will bear the test of reason and of truth, I
have addressed myfelf to your understandings, rather
than passions, and flatter myfilf, the rough unpolished
language of a soldier, will not be unpleasing to men,
who dignify the military and civil characters.
Grend J's Ford, on Pac let, December 26,
1780, and in the fifth year of our Inde
pendence.
By General's command, Dn. MORGAN, B. G.
E. Giles, A. D. C. Com. on weft fide Catawba.
A NE C' D O T E.
AT the battle of the Cow-Pens, in South-Caroli'
n,, and in the moment that victory had declared
itfelf in favor of America, the Highlanders of the 71st
British regiment, famous for their butcheries upon
those whom the fortune of war had heretofore put'
within their power, plucked the feathers from their
caps, and presenting them on their knees, cryed,
“ dear, good Americans, have mercy upon us ! It has
not been our fault, that we have skivered* so ma
ny : we were obliged to obey our officers, and they
commanded us to take no prisoners." Well, (said
several American soldiers,) what voere your orders this
time ? “ We were ordered to take no prisoner, ex
cept a few continentals." We with, it was replied, that
this had been known a little sooner ; but we do not
destroy even our enemies in cool blood, especially
when they are so much in our power.
* Skiver, is a well known term in the adverse ar
my, for bayonetting/he wounded and caken, and which
has been the constant practice of that regiment since
its service in this country ; and if there is any thing
remarkable iR the close of that important action, it is,
that the law of retaliation was not executed upon such
monsters.
N EW -LONDON. January 30.
Yesterday week, four ships from the British fleet in
Gardiner's Bay came to fail, and went as far etitward as
Narraganfet-Bay (it is supposed their views were to
fall in with three of the French fleet who that morning
failed from Rhode Island, but returned into port again
the fame day) at night there came on a heavy gale of
wind from the N. E. attended with a very thick snow,
which scattered the abpve British ffiipis ; one of them
(said to be of 74 guns) the fame night was drove on
Shagwaggonook Reef, about three or four leagues to the?
eastward of Gardiner's- Island, where she is entirely loft
and it is said that all her crew perilled ;, a feconct
(said to-be of 64 guns) rode out the galea few miles
e. E. of the Gull Brands but loft-jall her mefts and
bowsprit, and threw over her upper tier of guns -
she was towed into Gardiner'^ Bay on. Weduj-fday -
a third rode out the gale near the fame place, bur if
is said forking her masts and threw part of her guns:
The fourth came to near Watch-point, but parted her
cable in the night, ancTnot since been heard of. About
70 fathom of her cable has been since taken up by
some people from Stonington.
Philadelphia, Feb. 17.
The following extract of a letter from an officer of the
state of Georgia, giving a particular and authentic
account of the action of the 29th of December, pre
, ceeding the important and compleat vidory obtain
ed over the British troops on the 17th of January
last, is published to shew that the cruelties of the
enemy, in the southern states, are- no longer borne
with impunity
“ Camp, Fair Forest River, Jan. 1, 1781.
“ We bave just had a report, that colonel Twiggs
and captain Watson, who went with a flag to Augusta,
in order to bring out the distressed women and chil
dred, have been most ftockingly butchered. Besides
these, between forty and fifty others of our unfortunate
countrymen have been hanged by the enemy, with
out any fort of ceremony, as well as a number of
South-Carolinians. This savage proceeding has pro
duced a great national resentment, both in the troops
and the people; and if the report, refpeßing those
meritorious officers, should prove true, you may rely
upon it, that the firft persons of consequence that
may be in their power, will be made objeds of retali
ation by the Georgians.
“ General Morgan has arrived, and taken command
of the western army, which was quite unexpected by
the enemy. In confluence of a late check our bri
gade met with near Ninety-Six, and its eventual re
treat, a parcel of tories in Georgia, embodied under
Waters, crossed the Savannah, and joined general
Cunningham, at Williams's fort, between the Saluda
and Enoree. Three hundred and fifty, under Waters
were detached to Fletchall, on this river. The Geor
gians having been a good deal fezttered since the check,
we >"V T °°, eek to attack, but were taking measures
to assemble them for that purpose. AT this crisis, co
lonel Washington arrived with eighty dragoons; we
immediately joined him, and advanced againft'the
enemy. I had the honour to command the few of our
state myfelf. The enemy retreated towards the fort -
we purined all night, and came up with them the next
day, within ten miles of the fort. The attack was in
stantly made in three divisions, and they broke and
retreated in confufion ; but still hoping to reach the
fort. The pursuit continued, upon a full run, for se
ven miles, exhibiting the most bloody scenes. Per
haps some of the greatest villains on the continent com
posed the adverse corps, and who had been guilty of
the most atrocious enormities in the back part of
Georgia, with Brown and the Indians, after colonel
Clarke's expedition to Augufla; but humanity, which
reigns predominant in American breasts, viewed the
unavoidable havock with regret. Some were cut down,
while others loft their nose, their hands, their ears, or
a slice of their heads Seventy were killed, upwards
of one hundred wounded, and fifty taken prisoners.
Waters was among the latter, but stole off afterwards ;
and Moore got away by means of a good horfeZ
Young M'Lean was wounded in two places, and a pri
soner.
“ Upon our arrival at the fort, it surrendered upon
the firft summons, which eompleated our objea.
" The tories curse their leaders, and vow never to
be made such fools of again.
“ That deservedly celebrated officer, colonel Pick
ens, of South-Carolina, has resumed his arms and
command, having experienced that no faith or'depen-J
dance could be placed in the British. The volunteers
of the two Carolinas and our state, have united under
him, for the present, general Elbert being yet a pri
soner, colonel Clarke wounded, colonel- Few sick, and
colonel Twiggs -I ad as brigade-major to the
whole, and which is to form a part of the western ar
my."
By a gentleman just arrived from Virginia,we are in
formed that the Cherokees, having taken up the hatch
et, were proceeding to the frontiers of Virginia and
North-Carolina ; that Cok Campbell,, with the Wash
ington county militia, and about five hundred North-
Carolina militia, had marched up to the Indian settle
ments, killed 30 Indians, and took about 30 prisoners
and destroyed about 23 of their towns, together witli
their corn, &c. This account was from an officer on
the expedition to the governor of Virginia, which arri
ved just before the gentleman came away.
Toe hurricane which was felt severely here on the
23d ult. has also done very considerable injury to 4
Eritilh ships to the eastward, as appears by the arti
cle under the New London head. Accounts were also
received on Tuelday last, to the following effed : that
the Culloden of 74 guns, was drove on Montack Point,
where the was entirely loft, and all her crew, except
x 7, perished : that the London, of 90 guns, had been
drove from her anchors, and was not heard of theist
instant; two other 74 gun ships were difmafted and
obliged to throw their guns over-board.-
TRENTO N, February 7.
We hear from New-York that a fleet of sixty fail
under convoy of four frigates and a forty gun fhip'
(the French Indiiman taken by Rodney) failed la^
week frun that place for Europe, on board of which
is Clipped most of their hard cash.
Previous to the failing of the above fleet, there was a
very hot press In New-York, in which tney took white
and black without diftindion, to the number of about
five hundred persons.