The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-10-18 00:00:00, page 3

Had Quarters, Martin's Tavern, near Ferguson's Swamp,
South-Cat olma, September it, 17^1.
1 N my di'fpatch of the 25th of August I informed your
l excellency, that we were on our march tor Friday s
Ferry to form a jun&idn with the State troops and a bo
dy of militia cNle&mg at that place, with an intention to
make an attack upon the British army laying at Col.
Thompson's, near M'Coid's Ferry On the 271 b, on cur
arrival near Friday's Ferry, I got intelligence that toe
enemy were retiring. „ _ , . 1 a
Wecroffed the liver at Howell's Ferry, and took polt
at Motte's plantation. Heiel got intelligence that th^ ene
my had halted at the Eutaw Springs, about 40 miles below
ns • and that they had a reinforcement, and were making
preparations to eltablifh a permanent polt there. To pre
vent this I determined rather to hazard an ?&ion, notwith
standing our numbers wero greatly inferior to theirs. On
the cth we began our march, our b?tggage and Stores hav
ing been ordded to Howell's Ferry under a proper guaid.
We moved by flow and easy marches, as well to dilgu fe
our real intention, as to give General Marion an oppor
tunitv roj>in us, who had been detached lor the support
of Col. Harding, a report of which I tqnfmitted in my
letter of the s th, dated at Maybrick's Creek. Genera l
Marion joined us on the evening of the 7th, at Buidell s
plantation. 7 miles from the enemy s camp.
We made the following disposition, and marched at 4
o'clock the next morning to attack the enemy. Our front
line was composed of four small battalions of militia, two
cfNarth and two of South-Carolinians; one of the lat
ter was under the immediate command of Gen. Marion,
and was polled on the right, who allo commanded the
front line ; the two North-Carolina battalions, under the
command of Col. Malmady, were potted in the centre,
and the other South-Carobna battalion, under the com
niand of Gen. Pickens, was posted on the left. Our se
cond line confided of three small brigades of continent
al troops, one from North-Carolina, one from Virginia,
and one from Maryland. The North-Carolinians were
formed into three battalions, under the command ol
Lieut. Col. Aih, Majors Armstrong and Blount, the
while commanded by General Sumner, and posted upon
the right, 'The Virginians confided of two battalions
commanded by Major Snead and Captain Edmonds, and
the whole by Lieut. Cel. Campbell, and polled in the cen
ter. The Marylanders allo confuted of two battalions,
commanded by Lieut. Col. Howard and Major -Hardman,
and the brigade by Col. Williams, Deputy Adjutant Ge
neral to the army, and were posted upon the left. Lieut
Col. Lee with his Legion covered our right flank, and
Lieut. Col. Henderson with the State troops, commanded
by Lieut. Cols. Hampton,,Middletop and PUk, our left.
Lieut. Col Washington with his horse, and the Delaware
troops under Capt. Kiikwood, formed a corps de reserve.
Two three pounders under Capt. Lieut. Gaines, advanced
with the front line, and two fixes under Capt. Browns
with the second.
The Legion and State troops formed our advance, and
were to retire upon the flanks upon the enemy's forming.
In- this order we moved on to the attack. The Legion and
State troops fell in with a party of the enemy's horse and
foot about four miles from their camp, who miltaking our
people for a party of militia charged them briskly, b'ut
were soon convinced of their miltake by the reception
they met with, the infantry of the State troops kept up a
heavy fire, and the Legion in front under Captain Ru
dolph charged them with fixed bayonets, they fled on all
lides, leaving four or five dead on the ground, and several
anpie wounded. As this was fuppoled to be the advance
of the British army, our front line was ordered to form
and move on briskly in line, the Legion and State troops
to take their position upon the flanks. All the country is
covered with timber from the place the action began to the
Tutaw Springs. The firing began again between two
arid three miles from the British camp. The militia were
ordered to keep advancing as they fired. The enemy's
advanced parties were soon driven in, and a molt tremen
dous fire began on both sides from right to left, and the
legion and itate troops were closely engaged. General
Marion, Col. Malmady and Gen. Pickens conducted the
troops with great gallantry and good conduct, arid the
militia fought with a degree of spirit and firmnefs that
reflects the highelt honour on this class of soldiers. But
the enemy's fire being greatly superior to ours, and con
tinuing to advance, the militia began to give ground. The
North-Carolina brigade under Gen. Sumner was ordered
up to their support. Theie were all new levies, and had
been under difcipiine little more than a month ; notwith
ftandihg which they fought with a degree of obftin^y
that would do honour to the belt of veterans; and I could
hardly tell which to admire most, the gallantry of the of
ficers, or the bravery of the troops. They kept up a
heavy and well-directed fire, and the enemy returned it
with equal spirit, for they really fought worthy of a bet
ter cause, and great execution was done on both sides. In
this stage of the a&ion the Virginians under Lieut. Col.
Campbell, and the Maryland troops under Col. Williams,
were led on to a briik charge with trailed arms, through
a heavy cannonade and a (hower of mufq.net balls. No
thing could exceed the gallantry and firmuefs of both of
ficers and soldiers up n this occasion--- they preserved
their rder, and pufhad on with such unlhaken resolution,
that they bore down all before them. The enemy were
routed in all quarters. Lieut. Col. Lee had with'great
address, gallantry and good' conduct, turned the enemy's
left flank, and was charging them in rear at the fame time
the Virginia and Maryland troops were charging them in
front. A most valuable officer Lieut. Col. Henderson got
wounded early in the a&ion, and Lieut. Col. Hampton,
who commanded the State cavalry, and who fortunately
succeeded Lieut. CoL Henri rfon in command, charged a
party of the.enemy, and took upwards of joo prisoners,
Lieut. Col. Washington brought up the corps Ue re
serve upon the left, where the enemy seemed dUpofed to
make further refinance, and charged them so briskly with
the cavalry and Captain Kirkwood's infantry, as gave
them no time to rally or son.
Lieutenant Colonels Folk and Middleton, who com.
trended the State infantry, we;e no icfs tunfoicuous for
their good conduct thm their intrepidity; and the troops
under their command gave specimens of what may be ex
pelted fr m men naturally brave, when improved by
proper difei: line.
Captain-Lieutenant Gaines, who commanded the three
poand rs with the front line, did great execution, until
he pieces were difinounted.
I We kept close at the enemy's heels after they broke,
j until we got into their camp, and a great number of pri
' loners were continually falling into our hands, and some
hundreds of the fugitives ran off towards Charleftown.
ißut a party threw themselves into a three-story brick
house which stands near the Spring; others took post in
a picquetted garden, and in the impenetrable (hrubs; and
the rear allo being fecu ed by the springs and deep hol
low ways, the enemy renewed the a&ion.
Evety exertion was made to dislodge them; Lieut. Col.
Washington made molt astonishing efforts to get through
the thicket to charge the enemy in the rear, but found it
impracticable, had his horse (hot under him, and was
wounded and taken prisoner.
Four fix-pounders were ordered up before the house,
two of our own, and two of the enemy's which they had
abandoned ; and they were pushed on so much under the
command of the lire from the house and the party in the
thickets, as rendered it impracticable to bring them off
again when the troops were ordered to retire. Never were
pieces better served, molt of the men and officers were
either killed or wounded.
Washington failing in his charge,upon the left, and the
legion baffled in an attempt upon the right, and finding
our infantry galled by the fire of the enemy, and our am
munition mostly consumed, though officers and men con
tinued to exhibit uncommon aCts of hefoifm, 1 thought
proper to retire out of the fire of the house, and draw up
the troops at a little-distance from the woods, not think
ing it advifeable to push our advantages further, being
persuaded the enemy could not hold the polt many hours,
and that our chance to attack them on the retreat was bet
ter than a second attempt to dislodge them, in which, if
we succeeded, it must be attended with considerable loss.
We collected all our wounded, except such as were un
der the command of the fire of the house, and retired to
the ground from which we marched in the morning, there
being no water nearer, and the troops ready to faint with
the heat and want of refreshment, the a&ion having con
tinued near four hours. 1 left on the field of a&ion a
Strong prequet, and early in the morning detached Gen.
Marion, and Lieut. Colonel-Lee with the legion horse be
tween Eutaw and Charleftown, to prevent any reinforce
ments from coming to the relief of the enemy, and allo to
retard their march Should they attempt to retire, and give
time for the army to fall upon th ir rear, and put a finish
ing Stroke to our successes. We left two pieces of our ar
tillery in.the hands of the enemy, and brought off one of
thei s.
On the evening of the 9th the enemy retired, leav
ing upwards of 70 of their wounded behind them, and
not lets than a 1000 Stand of arms that were picked up on
the field, and found broke and concealed in the Eutaw
springs. They stove between 20 and 30 puncheons of
rum, and destroyed a great variety of other Stores which
they had not carriages to carry off. We pursued them
the moment we got intelligence of their retiring. But
they formed a junction with Major M'Aithur at this place,
Gen. Marion and Lieut. Col. Lee not having a force fuf
ficient to prevent it. But on our approach they retired to
the neighbourhood of Charleftown. We have taken 500
prisoners, including the wounded the enemy left behind ;
' and I think they cannot have Suffered less than 600 more
in killed and wounded. The fugitives that fled from the
field of battle Spread such an alarm that the enemy burnt
their Stores at Dorchester, and abandoned the post at Fair
Lawri, and a great number of negroes and others were
employed in falling trees across the road for some miles
without the gates of Charleftown. Nothing but the brick
house, and the peculiar Strength of the portion at Eutaw,
Saved the remains of the British army from being all made
prisoners.
We putfued them as far as this place, but not being
able to overtake them we Shall halt a day or two to re
fresh, and then take our old petition on the high hills of
Santee. I think myfelf principally indebted for the vic
tory we obtained to the free use of the bayonet made by the
Virginians and Marylanders, the infantry of the legion,
and Capt. Kirkwood's light infantry ; and tho' few ar
mies ever exhibited eq,pal bravery with ours ire general,
yet the conduct and intrepidity of these corps were pecu
liarly conspicuous.. Lieut. Col. Campbell fell as he was
leading his troops to the charge, and tho' he fell with
distinguished marks of honour, yet his loss is much to be
regretted : He was the greet Soldier and the firm patriot.
Our loss in officers is cofidefably more from their value
than their number, for never did either men or officers
offer their blood more willingly in the service of their
country. I cannot help acknowledging my obligations
to Col. Williams lor his great activity on this and many
o:her occasions in forming the army, and' for his uncom
mon intrepidity in leading on the Maryland troops to
the charge, which exceeded any thing I ever saw. I also
feel myfelf greatly indebted to Captains Pierce and Pen
dleton, Major Hyrne and Capt. Shirbrick, my Aids de
Camp, for their a&ivity and good conduct throughout
the whole of the a&ion.
This dispatch will be handed to your Excellency by
Capt Pierce, to whom I beg leave to refer you for further
particulars. I have the honour to be, with great refpe&,
Tour Excellency's most obedient,
and most bumble ferwant,
NATHANIEL GREENE.
His Excellency the President of Gongrefs.
Names of continental commiflioned officers ' killed and mounded
in the action oj Eutaw, September 8, 1781.
Maryland Brigade. Captains Dobfon and Edgerl,, and
Lieutenants bewail and Gould; killed. Eieut. Col. How
ard, Capt. Gibson, Capt. Lieut Hugon, Lieuts. Ewing,
Woolford, Lynn, and Ensign Moore, wounded,
Virginia Brigades Lieut. Col. Campbell, Captain Old
ham, and Lieut. Wilson, killed. Capts. Edmonds and
Morgan, Lieuts. Miller and Jarritt, wounded.
North-Carolina Brigade. Capts. Goodman, Goodwin
and Porterfield, and Lieut. Dillon, killed. Capt. Hadley,
Lieuts. Dixon, Andrews, Dudley, Ensigns Lamb and
Moore, wounded.
South-Carolina Line. Lieut. Col. Henderson wounded.
Cavalry. Lieut. Col. Washington wounded and pri
forer of war; Capt. Watts, Lieuts. Gordon, Simons,
King, and Steward, wounded. Mr. Carlifle, volunteer,
killed.
Artillery, Capt. Lieut. Finn, wounded ; Lieut. Carson
ditto mortally; Lieut. Drew wounded; Lieut. M'Guire
wounded and prisoner of war.
Legion Infantry. Lieut. Manning wounded; Mr. Car
rington, volunteer, wounded.
South-Carolina State Officers. Major Rutherford, Lieut.
Polk, and Adjutant Lufk, killed. Lieut. Col. Hender
son, commandant of brigade, Lieut. Col. Middleton,
Capts. Moore, Giles, N. Martin, Cowan, Lieuts. Eakins,
Culpepper, Hammond, and Spragins, wounded.
Soutb-Caroltna Militia. Lieuts. Holmes and Simons,
killed. Brigadier Gen. Pickens, Lieut. Col. Horry, Capts.
Gee and Pegee, and Lieut. Boon, wounded.
Return of killed, wounded, and miffing of the Southern
army, commanded by the Honourable Major Gene
ral Greene, in the a&ion of Eutaw, the Bth day of
September, 1781.
Maryland Brigade.—2 Captains, 2 Subalterns, 1
Serjeant, 21 rank and file, killed. —1 Lieutenant Colo
nel, 2 Captains, 4 Subalterns, 7 Serjeants, 64 rank and
file, wounded. —9 rank and file miffing.
Virginia Brigade.—l Lieut. Col. 1 Captain, 1 Sub
altern, 1 Serjeant, 13 rank and file, killed.—2 Cap
tains, 2 Subalterns, 4 Serjeants, 24 rank and file
wounded.— 4 rank and file miffing.
North Carolina Brigade. —3 Captains, T Subaltern,
r Serjeant, 43 rank and file, killed.—i Captain, 5 Sub
alterns, 10 Serjeants, 80 rank and file, wounded.-- 10
rank and file miffing.
Delaware Battalion .---2 rank and file killed.---6
rank and file wounded.---! Serjeant, 1 rank and file
miffing.)
Legion Infantry.-- 4 rank and file killed,---i Subal
tern, i Serjeant, ictrank and file, wounded.---! rank
and file miffing.
Cavalry of the Legion. 5 rank and file killed.—
i Subaltern, 1 Serjeant, 9 rank and file wounded.=—
I rank and file miffing.
Do. Wellington's detachment of ift and 3d Regts.--
I Serjeant, ro rank and file, killed.—l Lieut. Co'. <
Captain, 4 Subalterns, ! Serjeant, 8 rank and file,
wounded. .--3 rank and file miffing.
Artillery Companies.---1 Captain, 3 Subalterns, %
rank and file, wounded. ^-3 rank and file miffing.
TOTAL of Continental Troops. 1 Lieut. Col. 6
Captains, 4 Subalterns, 4 Serjeants, 98 rank and file,
kited,—2 Lieutenant Colonels, 7 Captains, 20 Subal
terns, 24 Serjeants, 209 rank and file, wounded.—.t
Serjeant, 32 rank ank file, miffing.
6 Horses killed, seven ditto wounded.
Return of State Troops and Militia,
South Carolina State Troops. 1 Major, 2 Subalterns,
4 Serjeants, 6 rank and file,' killed. 2 Lieutenant-
Colonels, 4 Captains, 4 Subalterns, 7 Serjeants, 26
rank and file, wounded.
South Carolina Militia. 2 Subalterns, 4 rank and
file, killed. 1 Lieut. Col. 2 Captains, 1 Subaltern, 1
Serjeant, 34 rankand file, wounded. 8 rank and file
miffing.
North- Carolina Militia. 6 rank and file killed. 31
rank and file wounded.
TOTAL of State Troops and Militia. 1 Major,. 4
Subalterns, 4 Serjeants, 16 rank and file, killed, g
Lieut. Cols. 6 Captains, 5 Subalterns, 8 Searjeants,
91 rank and file, wounded. 8 rank and file miffing.
TOTAL of Continental, State Troops and Militia.
I Lieut. Col. I Major,6 Captains, 8 Subalterns, 8 Ser
jeants, 114 rank and file killed. 5 Lieut. Cols, 13
Captains, 25 Subalterns, 32 Serjeants. 300 rank and
file, wounded. 1 Serjeant, 40 rank and file, miffing.
One Brig dier-General of Militia wounded.
O. H. WILLIAMS, D. A. G.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
®®®o©©®@ @®X®@@@@®&®
D Y virtue of a writ of venditioni exponas,
to me dir<&ed, V/ill be exposed to Sale, by Public
Vendue, at the house of George Bakeoven, in Ken
sington, on Monday the sad da, of this instant, O&o
---her, at Three o'clock in the afternoon, a certain Let or
Piece of GROUND, situate in Kenfigntoo, in the-
Northern Liberties, and nertht :Point-no- Point rdad,
contain : ng 40 feet front on the north fide of Hanover
ftreet,. and zo> feet deep, adjoining land oi John Che
valier and urr,; Richard Footman and others, fubjed
to a ground-rent of 20 (hillings, Pennsylvania curren
cy, per annum, being fixfence per foot. Seized and
taken in execution as the estate of Edward Morris, at
the suit of Laetitia Biles and Others, administrators of
Jonathan Bi'es, deceased.
WILLIAM WILL, Sheriff.
AUCTION of BOOKS.
Jewels and Diamonds
FOR
SENTIMENTALISTS
Consisting of a very considerable variety of the most
excellent ancient and modern authors, in arts, fei
enres, poetry, plays, novels, and entertainment,
Will begin to be exhibited by AUCTION,
On Tuesday the ^d of October,
^ys l )
Ani will be continued for several evenings farceffvefy
at the Book-ftcre of ROBERT BELL, near ST
Pauds Church, in ThirLftr^t.
JOHN BAYARD, Auctioneer.
N. B. Printed Catalogues of the books will be rea
dy for those gentlemen who choose to call or fend to
the rdace of I I ', on Monday the 22!. Hours of hie
from Six to Niue each ever ng.
Was left at the fubferiber's fta
bl.sii rhiM-itret, at the timr the Fin.h army march
ed through this city,by a person unknown,a Black HoT,,
about 14 hands high. The owner is defined to <fl,
prove his property, pay cha ges, and take him away,
otherwise be will be fold, in three weeks from the date
of this advertisement, for the cost, by
PAUL C. BRETON.
PWb Wpbia, Ceob^r 16, 1781.