Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-01-04 00:00:00, page 2

Publifed by order if toe Council cf Safety.
G. BICKHAM, Secretary, pro tent.
By an authentic account Since received, the follow
ing is a liftof prisoners taken, viz. One Colonel, two
Lieutenant Colonels, three Majors, four Captains, eight
Lieutenants, twelve Ensigns, two Surgeon Mates, nine
tynine ferjeants, twenty-five drummed, nine ^uficicns,
twenty-five servants, and seven hundred and forty pri
vates.
Last Monday morning the ab^ve prisoners, with a
number of women and children, amounting in the whole
to near one thousand, were brought to this city. The
wretched condition of these unhappy men, most of
whom were dragged from their wives and families by
a despotic and avaricious Prince, must sensibly affect
every generous mind with the dreadful effects of arbi
trary power.
Colonel Rohl died at Trenton on Thursday the 26th
of December, of the wounds he received in the engage
ment that morning.
PHILADELPHIA, fo^f 4>
ty ATELY was launched at this port the fourth
J 4 Continental Frigate, called the EFFINGHAM,
in honor of the patriotic Earl of that name, who no
bly refufed to draw his sword in support of British ty
ranny and usurpation.
Tuesday fe'nnight arrived here the Continental brig
Andrew Doria, Capt. Robeion, from St. Euftatia and
Martioico, laden with gun-powder, arms, and feme
woollen goods. On her paflage she took two prizes—
One a sloop of ten guns, fitted out by th? Antelope man
of war at Jamaica, and commanded by Lieut. Jones,
of the Boreas frigate, who engaged Capt. Robeson near
three glasses, in which he had two men killed and one
wounded, and the sloop seven men and her commander
wounded; the number killed unknown; as they were
thrown overboard during the engagement. The other
prize a brig mounting fix carriage guns and fix swivels,
commanded by one Nicholson, bound from Jamaica to
London; her cargo unknown. Capt. Robeson took
fifty seamen out of the above vcfTels.
Extras of a letter from an officer of difinfiion at New
town, Buch County, dated December 27, 1776.
" It was determined feme days ago, that our army
should pass over to Jersey, in three different places,
and attack the enemy. Accordingly about two thou
sand five hundred men and zo brass field pieces, with his
Excellency Gen. Washington at their head, and Ma
jors Gens. Sullivan and Green, in command of two di
visions, pahed over on the night of Christmas, and a
bont three o'clock, A. M. were on their march, by two
routs towards Trenton. The night was fleecy; and
the roads so slippery that it was dayb r eak when we were
two miles from Trenton. But happily the enemy were
not apprized of our design, and our advanced party
were on their guards at half a mile from the town,
when Geh. Sullivan's and Gen. Green's divihons Came
into the fame road. Their guard gave our advanced
party federal smart fires, as we drove them; but we
soon got two field pieces at play, and several others in
a short time; and one of our Colonels pushing down
on the right, while the other advanced on the left, in
to the town. The enemy, confiding df about fifteen
hundred Heffiins, under Col. Rohl, formed and made
feme smart fires from the mqfketry and fix field pieces,
but our people pressed from every quarter, and drove
them from their cannon. They retreated towards a
field behind a piece of wood up the creek, from Tren
ton, and formed in two bodies, which I expected would
have brought on a smart engagement from the troops,
who had formed very near them, but at that instant,
I came in full view of them, from the back of the wood,
with his Excellency Gen. Washington, an officer in
formed him that the party had grounded their arms,
and surrendered prisoners.
^ The others loon followed their example, except a
part which had get off in the hazy weather, towards
Princeton, and a party of their light horse which made
off on our firft appearance. Too much praise cannot
be given to the officers of every regiment by their
aftive and spirited behaviour, they soon put an honor
able issue to this glorious day.
" 1 was immediately sent off with the prifonefs to
McConkey's ferry, and have got about seven hundred
and fifty fife in town and a few miles from here, on
this fide the ferry, viz. one Lieutenant Colonel, two
Majors, four Captains, seven Lieutenants, and eight
Euligps. We left Col. Rohl, the Commandant, wound
ed, on his parole, and several other officersand wound
ml men at Trenton. We loft but two of our men that
I can hear of, a few wounded, and one brave officers
Capt. Walhington, who assisted in fecuririg their artil
lery, foot in both hands. Indeed every officer and pri
vate behaved well, and it was a most fortunate day to
our arms, which I the more rejoice at, having an active
part in it. The success of this day will greatly ani
mate our friends, and add freSh courage to our new ar
ray, which, when formed, will be fufficient to secure us
from the depredations or insults of our enemy.
“ Gen. Ewing's division could not pass at Trenton
for the Ice, which also impeded Gen. Cadwallader
paffiog over with all his cannon and the militia, though
part of his troops were over, and if the whole could
have palled, we Should have swept the toast to Phila
delphia. We took two Standards and fix regimental
Colours, fix fine brass cannon, and about one thousand
fiands of arms."
Refoked, That all perfohs whole (hops, stores or
warehouses have been heretofore flint up, and have
been retrained from carrying on a commercial inrer
courfe with the inhabitants of this state for refuting
Continental Currency, shall be released from such re
straint, and permitted to open their shops, stores and
warehouses, and that all persons who are in confine
ment for the fame offence be immediately discharged
from such confinement, to be fdbje6l nevertheless to the
penalties described in the foregoing Resolution for fu
ture offences. By order of the Council,
THOMAS WHARTON, fun. Prefdent.
Httef. Jacob S. Howell, Secretary.
In AS S E Ml 3 LY, December 24, 1776.
Refolded, That the following address to the inhabi
tants of Pennsylvania be forthwith printed, and sent to
the several counties of this State.
Friends and Countrymen,
IT is much easier for you to conceive, than for us to
describe, the evils consequent on the invasion of a
country by a rapacious and plundering soldiery. Such
is now the fituarion of the neighbouring state of New-
Jersey, 2nd such soon will be ours, unless the enemy,
who have taken advantage cf the accidental weakness
of our army, to make a winter campaign, are repelled
by the firongeft and most immediate exertions.
A CONGRE 6 S, Deafer 27, 1776,.
Refolded, That the Council of Safety of Pennfyf
vania be requested to take the mast vigorous and spee
dy measures for punishing all such as Shall refufe Con
tinental Currency, and that the General be directed
to give all necessary aid to the Council of Safety for
carrying their measures on this fubje& into effectual
execution. By order of Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK," Prefab
Gentlemen, Baltimore, Dec. 27, I77™*
THE great importance to the welfare of these Uni
ted States of supporting the credit of the Continental
Currency, will suggest the propriety of the above Re
solve, which I am commanded by Congress to trans
mit to you, and to request you will take measures for
an immediate compliance therewith.
I have wrote to the General to give yotl every nh
ceffary assistance in carrying your determinations on
this fubjeft into effectual execution.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
Hon. Council of Safety Your most humble servant,
of Pennsylvania. JOHN HANCOCK, Prefdent.
^ COUNCILrfSAFETY, Pbiladejbia,
January ~ 1777.
IN conference of the foregoing Resolve of Con
gress, and the intelligence received from several parts
of this State, that the difaffeded and enemies to the
United Spates of America are pursuing the most dan
gerous schemes to destroy the credit of the money is
sued under the authority of Congress, which wicked
and mifehievous practices are likely to be attended
with the most pernicious consequences, tinlefs imme
diately suppressed by a speedy and vigorous exertion
of the powers invested in this Council : Therefore
Refolded, That if any person or persons, from and
after the publication of this Resolve, shall refufe to
take Continental Currency in payment of any debt or
contrast whatsoever, or for any goods, merchandize,
or commodity offered for sale, or shall afc a greater
price for Any such commodity in Continental Curren
cy than in any other kind of money or specie, on full
proof made thereof before any three members of any
County Committee, or any three field officers of mi
litia of this State, the person or persons so offending
shall for the firft offence be considered as a dangerous
member of society, and forfeit the goods- offered for
sale or bargained for, or debt co^traded, to the per
son to wh^m such goods were offered for sale, or by
whom they were bargained for, or from whom such
debt is due. And shall moreover pay a fine of Five
Pounds to the State, to be levied immediately by the
perlons to whom forfeitures are directed to be paid by
this resolve, provided such debt or contract do not ex
ceed that sum. But if the debt due or price of such
goods bargained for or offered for sale exceed the furri
of Five Pounds, then the person offending as aforefaid
shall; besides the debt due, goods contrasted for or
offered for sale, forfeit to the full amount of said debt,
contra& or price agreed on or demanded; one third
part of such forfeiture to be for the use of theinformer,
and the remaining two thirds to theufeof this state, to
be paid to the Committee of the county where the for
feiture hincurred; or Where no such Committee exists
to the three field officers of the militia of the next near
est battalion, to be by them transmitted to the public
Treasury of this State, after deducting reasonable costs,
such forfeiture to be levied immediately by the direc
tion and authority of the said Committee or field offi
cers. And everv person f) offending shall for the se
cond offence be fubjed to the aforementioned penalties
and be banished this State, to such place and in such
manner as this Council shall direct. Nevertheless, if
any person shall think him or herlelf agrieved by the
determination of any of the said Committees or field
officers, he or she mail be allowed an appeal to this
Council, provided the said appeal be made within fix
weeks after such determination made and information
thereof given by the said Committees or field officers to
the parties in writing.—A regular record of the pro
ceedings in every case to be transmitted to this Board
in four weeks after determination.
JOSIAH CRAWFORD, Clerk, pro. tern.
In CONGRES S, December go, 1776.
IT appearing to Congress that it will be extremely
difficult, if not impracticable, to fupp!y the army of
the United States with bacon, salted beef and pork,
soap, tallow and candles, unless the exportation there
of be prohibited: Therefore
Deforced, That none of the said articles, except such
as may be necefiary for the crew, be exported from any
of rhe United States after the fifth day of January next,
until the firft dayof November next, or until Congress
shall make further order therein.—And it is earneftiv
recommended to the executive powers of the several
United States to fee that this Resolution be ftri&ly com
plied with. By order of Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK, Preffent.
^COUNCIL OF SAFETY, PhiDdeJhia,
January 2, 1777.
Refolded, That all those perlons who have been ap
pointed, on the new eftabliihment, to any office in any
of the regiments ordered to be railed in this State,
and who have not received their commissions, do ap
ply on or before the 10th in<t. to this Council for the
fame. All such who neglect to comply with this Re
solve, may expert to be superseded, as the public ser
vice requires their immediate attendance.
Refolded, That all the officers who have been in the
Continental service in any of the regiments railed io
this State, or belonged to Col. Miles's or Col. Atlee's
battalions, and have not been appointed under the new
arrangement of Congress, or in the regiment of this
State, and who intend to continue in service, be re
quired to fend in their names to this Council, witli
the name of the regiment they belong to, and their
rank, on or before the 10th inst. and this Council will
proceed immediately to fill up the vacancies. And ia
order that the merits and claims of the applicants ma,
be better known, it is expe&ed that they produce cer
tificates cf their conduf f from some General or Field-
Officer, which will be duly attended to in making the
new appointment. Extra's from the Minutes,
JACOB S. HOWELL, Secretary.
WANTE D,
IN the Ration of an HOUSE-KEEPER, in the
country, a middle-aged worn in of a good difeofition:
It will be necessary that she understands country business
well, the care of a small family where there is no children,
and cooking in a middling way. —Such a person applying
to the Printer hereof, will he informed of a good place
and TWENTY POUNDS a year. t
Just publifted and to be fold by JOHN DUNLAP,
in Market freef, Philadelphia,
Father ABRAH AM's
ALMANAC K,
For the Year of our LORD 1777.
Containing, besides the vfual Agronomical calculations,
a variety of ufelul ard entertaining matter, in prose
and verse.
*, Our kind customers are requested to observe, that
the ingenious David Rittenbeufe, A. M. of this city, has
favoured us with the Agronomical calculations of our
Almanack for this year, therefore they may be most
firmly relied on.
Every species of ravage and calamity hav^ alr<.,
marked the footfteps of our enemy, and they are now
within a few miles of your metropolis, waiting to croi's
the Delaware, to glut their inordinate just of rapine
and desolation in the plunder of that rich and popul«
city. The most insensible cannot but perceive the
fliocl: our common cause must fuffer, if this unfor
tunate event Ihould take place. Every one must be
awake to the misery that must in this case attend every
individual of this country. The love of ease, we hope,
can hot so far prevail on you as to keep you from the
field at this critical and alarming time.—We speak to a
people that a few months ago would with eagerness
have flown to arms at the firft appearance of their
country's danger. We know the value you have ever
set oh liberty; that bed gift bf God; With the main
tenance of liberty is now connected your personal hap
piness, and every dear and valuable blessing—the chas
tity of the wives of your bosom, your daughters, which
else may be violated by a brutish soldiery.—But it is
not a temporary evil only that is to be luffered should
our enemy prevail, the power of “ binding us in all ca
ses mbatfoe^er,” claimed by a British parliament, is to
reach your posterity, and to rivet chains upon them
for ever. You once seemed sensible of this, and were
determined to die rather than fubmit—rhe fame grounds
of dilpute remain between Great Britain and us, the
fame spirit and determination mould also still remain.
We are not insensible to the fatigues and hardships
of those who engage in a winter's campaign, but we
hope and believe this call on the militia will be the last
•—the Continental army will shortly be more formida
ble than eVer, 2nd as once before will again, by Gon's
blessing, give a favourable turn to our affairs; but if a
fatal necessity should again require your exertions, it is
now, and will be the business of your representatives
in this house to fix, as soon as possible, the military
eftablifliment of the state upon such just and equitable
principles, as will make the common duty of defence a
common and equal burthen to all its inhabitants.
Extra/? from the Minutes,