The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1777-04-14 00:00:00, page 1

N £ W - Y ORK, March 13.
By he ar ivui of the Earl of Halifax Packet, Captain
Beloerfox, on Sunday, in 47 Gaya, and the Mercu y
Capt, Dillon, on Monday left, in 14 weeks and 5
days from Falmouth, we have the following intelh
gente.
Fromth LONDON GAZETTE Extraordinary.
WHITEHALL, December 30,1776
THIS morning Capt. Gardner, one of otr William
H^wSAid de Camps, a rived in his M,fty's
ship Tamer, here Na^-York, with the following dif
parches from General Sir William Howe, to Lord
George Germain.
New. York, Noy. 30, 1776.
My Lord,
rH E service in wbicb I have bits employed face the
departure of Capt Bel,our, wish advice 0, the reduc
dußicn y New York, would wet allow of an earlier time to
fad an account to, cur Lorajhip of the pregrejs made from
that period.
The ver, ftrang portions the enemy bad taken on this iJland,
and fortified with incredible labour, determined me to get
upon their principal communication with Cenneßicut, with
a view of f rcing .him to quit tbs frong bolds in the neigd
beurbood of King's-Bridge, and, if p&hle, to bring them
to arisen.
All previous arrangements being made, the arm, embark
ed on the 12th of Oriober, .n flat boats and other craft, and
fereffing through the dangerous navigation of Hell-gate
in a very thick fog, landed on Frog's Neck, near the town of
Wes Cbfor, ü beut nine in the soc ning, the Carysjortjrt
gate bring placet to cover the descent. Ibe prfence 0, Lord
House, the ariivi, of commodore Hotham, mes of the Cap
iain't of the army, ano 0, the navy officers in general, avert
infinitely conducive 10 toe king's Jervice, in tuis difficult
movement ; only rue arritles, boat was over Jet, having 3
fix pounders on hard which were left,ana 3 men drowned.
Lieut. Gen dart Percy remained with two brgades of
Britsjb, + nd ©ne ojibe Hflans, in the lines near haram, 10
cover New 1 ork.
The arm, remained in this fixation until the fores and
provisions could be brought up, and three battalions 0, Hej
fans drawn from Staten IJl^^a. vbicb, together wuhjome
bad weather i^ervmtxg occafoxca a acta, , five days.
On the ißthfeveral corps re embarked infat beats, and,
sassing round Frog's Neck, laxd+a ex hall's Point, at the
mouth of Hutchityin's river ;, after which the main boa)
crofid the mouib of that river to the jams place, advanced
immediately and laid teas fright upon Ltr arms, with the
Est upon the creek oppojite to Eaji Cdefier, and the right near
to Rochelle.
Ox tbs march to this ground, a fkirmifo ensued with a
fmail part, of the enemy, pojied to defend a narrow cauje
way, who werepurjuedfor a mile, when a conjiderable bod,
appearing in front behind flone walls and in woods, Jerne
companies of light infau?,, and a party of tie Cbofsurs,
were detached to diJßdge them which they aid tfrish.alty ;
Lieut. Cel, Mufgrave commanded thefrft battalion of tight
infantry, and Capt Evelyn, of the 4/6 regiment, wire both
wounded; the latter is fixes dead and much to be regretted
as a gallant officer, but Lieut. Col MuJgrave is in a fair
wa§of recovery. Three soldiers were kt led, and twenty
wounded. The enemy's 10/s upon this occafon was a Licut.
Cel. killed, a Major wounded, and about nine, men killed
and wounded.
The part of the 16th regiment of light dragoons that ar
rived with Lieut. Col. Harcourt, ex tbs 3d infl (one tran
jpert being fill miffing.) and she whole of the 17th light
dragoons joined the a?m, on the 20 h
On the 21, the right and center of the army moved to a
pojities about two miles to the northward of Rochelle, on she
road to the White Plains, leaving Lisut. Grin Heifer,?witb
two brigades of Hjfons and one of oj Brinjh to occupy the
former ground. Lieu Cd Rogers, with bis corps frang
ers, was detached to iake ptfflim of Mamerkneck, where
the carelftcfs of bis centuries ex, fed him to a Jurprita f eta
a large hod, of the enemy, b, which he Its a fend men kil id
or taken ; ntverthelefl b, a Spirited exertion, be obliged
them to retreat, leaving behind them feme prijoners, ana Je
vcral killed and wounded.
The 6th brigade, commanded by Brigadier Agnew, Ivas
moved the 221 to fufain the pof of Mamaroneck. On the
fame day Lieut. Gen. Knyp^au^n, with the 2d rivifan
of Heftans and a regiment of IPaldsckm, having ar
rivedths 18/b at New York, landed at Rochelle, was order
ed to regain 'here to cover the difabark^ion ftbe force
aha provif^t.
00ft 01g; 'fyil U, i„h
CONNECTICUT
AND
WEEKLY
Colliding the Frtfficft ADV 1C E 3,
Printed and published by EBENEZER WATSON, HEAR the GREAT BRIDGE.
Upon the movement with the army t. Frog's Nick the e
nem, drached a corps to A bite Plains, and quitted tbiir ,0-
fiton about King's Bridge wish feme precipitation, leaving
2000 men for the defence ffort Wfjhtngton, extender their
force behind the Brunx, from Valentin's Hill to White
Plains in detached camps, every where entrenched: Their
left by this means covering an upper communication with
Cenneaicut, as well as the road along the North River, it
was judged expedient to move to White Plains., and endea
vour so bring them to ariion.
Liiu. Gen. Heifer with bis corps, having orders to join
on the march, the arm, movedin two columns, on the 251 b,
and took apofafon with the Brunx in front the right of the
line being at the aifancs of four milesfrom the White Plains ;
upon which the rebels immediately quitted their d^acbed
camps between King's Bridge and Write Plains, cffembling
their wholeforce at the latter place, behind entrenebmonts
that bad been thrown up b, the advanced corps.
The arm, marched b, the right in two columns towards
White Plainssari, on the 28th, Lieut Gen Clinton leading
the right, and Lieut. Gen H+ifer the left column.
Before neon all the enemy's advanced parties were drove
back to their works as the light infantry and Cbaf
fours, and the army formed with the right upon the
road from Mamaroneck to the White Plains about a mile
from the center of their lines ; and the left to the Brunx,
near the fame dipance from the rightflank of their entrench
ments
A corps of the enemy wasformed ox a commanding ground,
federated from the right fath oj their cn ^jibments by the
Brunx which afo, by chunking its c^ye, .J." 1, at tight
angles Operated this corps in front from the left of the
King's army.
Col. Ratlie who commanded a brigade of Hessians on the
left, objerweg the pofiton of the enemy andJesing a bright
on the other file of the Brunx unoccupied by them from whence
their flank mtgot be gaulled took pofffien cj it with great
alacrity, to the approbat ten oj Lieut Gen Heifer., who was
acquainted with this movement by Sir William Erjkine.
Upon viewing the fixation orders were given for a bat
talion of Hffiaus to pass the Brunx and attack this detached
corps fupperted b, tbejeconn brigade ts Britijh under the
command of Brigadier Gen Lfle, and the Beffian Grena
diers, Jentfrem the right, commanded 6, Cos Lonop giving
direrii^s at the jams timefur Col. Raille, to charge the one
m, sflunk as the HJfau battalion advanced in front ; but
there bring fine a faulty in puffing the Brunn the 2.Bth
and 3 frbregiments who werijirf to ju,port, pefrd it in a
place she n.f practicable, aodjormed ox the eppefoe fide,
though under the enemy's fire, with the grtateft jiiadirefs,
ajeended the fee, bill in defiance of all vppcftien, cfasLjhtr.g
onthe exemj , routed, and drove them back to thrir works.
These two battalions were clojd, Ju,ported b, the yb
and 49th regim nts who Jhewed thejams zeal to difingujb
toimjAves ; ''he litfiak Grenadiers alje coming up. and ,off
ing the biunx, ajeended the height with the greatest alacrity,
and id the be, order.,
This material ,0, bring gained, the kiffan grenadiert
were ordered forward upon the heights huetbin cannon fat
of the extrenctmenis, the Brunxfrsm its winding course be
ikgfill between them and the enemy's right flank; the 2d
brigade of Britjh formed in the rear oj the Htfan grenadiers,
and the two brigades of Htfans ox the lejt of 2b the bri
gade with their left upon the road leading from Terr, towd
to Waits Plaint.
The right and center of the arm, did not retavefrem their
ground. In this pefit^n ebe troops lay upon heir arms that
night, and with very little alteration encamped the next day.
The officers and men of the Briifo and Hffian antler,
deserve much commendationfor their aßive jervices on tots
cecafan.
The killed, wounded, and prifners takenfroin the enemy,
during the coitrfe of this day, is Jaid to be not lejs than 2$Q.
The left of bis Majefiy's troops and allies waifmali, as
your Lord/bip willobferve by the general return cmfdering
the flrength of the ground from whence the enemy was forced;
though the loft of Lieut. Col. Carr, of ibe 35th regiment,
who died the next da, of bis wounds, is much to be lammsed.
Thetaemy drew back their encampment on the
night of the zsth, and obfervi^g their lines next
marking .flinch strengthened by additional works, the
designed attack upon th,ra was deferred, and the Jph
brigade, left with Lord Percy, with two battalions cf
th^ &h brigade, were ordered tc join .he army.
Th fc battalions having joined on the 30 h, in the
afternoon, a difpefition was maae for the attack next
day ; but the night and morning proving very wet, it
hh^\ l^^^!&S^#i^ Iff.
^ ^« £ 6 ;
ft ^MBUR CL
CO U R'A # 6
42^rF0R^
intelligence!.
was postponed In he msan time the rebels, having
intelligence by a daferter, of their danger meft pru+
dently evacuated their c^mp, in the night of th frit
ts November after fitting fire to all the houses in a*4
near their lines, molt of which were cot fumed,.arad
retired wih their main tore# towards N ^th Castle,
leaving a strong rear guard upon the height, and iR
the woods, forune mile back from their entrench^
meats, the peffe ffi^n of which was immediately t^ken;
and the H ffi, grenadiers remained upon the grrnnd.,
Ail these motions plainly indicating the enemy's
design to ^void coming to a&ioA, I did not think the
driving th^ir rear guard further back, an obj ^ of the
lead conftquince,
Lieut. Gen. Knyphaufen being ordered, on th®
28 h of Oacber, to leave the regiment of Waldecker&
at R. chellt, & to move with rhe fix battellion# of Hes.
fi^sufhit corps towards Kirg' Bridge, tock post at
Milei-fpuare and Valentine's hill, ana on the fecend
of November encam, ed on the iflard cf Neu Y rk,
near tc King's Bridge, the enem) quitted the ke^hai
of F rdhm, upon his approach, retired to Foig
Wellington.
The army was ordered on the 3d to provide Tre^
days forage, arid the next day &jr Gan. Gis&r
marched with the 4th brigade, to Miles qutre and
Valen iae'lhill, the 6th brigade to ^ bridge ever 'he
Bu^x, it Weft Chefier, acai Dt Larce) b Mi h, 2nd
the Waldeck regiment took post at ancih.r, thtes
miles above the for frier, cm the fame river.
On the 6th; the aim, encamped at Dobb'shnfi
upon the North River. When thik movement w^
made, the Rebels came down frem theii ftrergholds,
burning whut they mad mot before destroyed at White-
Plains, and eiftraffimg the inhabitenis b) small par
ties, in a most wonton dagiti.
?he park of artillery proved to King's fridge el?
the 7th, under a flung elect:, with a detachment cf
Chi ffeurs, to join Lieut. C^,. Knyphaufen.
Two battalions of light 1, ant.y, ard the remainder
of the Chaffeurs, with four fi id pieces, took post rex^
day on the ccmraunicuticn ^ Krug's Bridge.
On the ipth a brigade of Hellixrs was hint ai iiein.
forcemeat to Lieut. Gen. Kryphaufen.
On the ith the army ma chad in two cdltnins tc^
wards King's-B,idge and encamped the diy follows
ing upon the heights ts Fu oh^rn, forming a lame wi.o
the right to the Bronx, upon the Wist Cheftir read;
and the left to the North R^ver.
During the continuance es the arm, at Debt's ft
ry, the enemy feat a la ge detachment over th< North,
Rivir fit m King'sferry to Jersey, and w,re empkyed
in entrtnening at Cretan brirga, and White Plains;
and building barracks at th- ft places, and at Peek's-
Kill, near the foot of the H ghran&, for their winter
habitations.
Lieut. Gen. Keyphzafen had for force, days ehab
lifted his post on the Yq:k fide of kind's bridge, writhe
in cannon ihot ofFort Wslhingtcn, which ^n covers
ed by very firing ground, and exceeding difficult te
achefs; but the importance of this pest, which, wit&
fcrt Led on the oppose /fibre of Jersey kept the ene
my ie command of the navigation of the North RL
ver, while it barred the communication with New.;
Turk by l^nd, made the ptfUfficnef it ibfelutel, ne
cessary. Preparations were therefore made for a gene^
ral attack,,nd thirty Sm boats, under the dinair a c |
Captains W^kiefon and Molloy,ps fa up th&Nerth-
River, on thenightef the ifh, ußdihovered by th§
enemy.
E9#ry thing being prepared, and the attack Axed
for the moruiug of tut io,h, Lieut. Col. Patterson.
Arjamt General; was feat the ifyh to fumfaon th^
commanding officer to surrender, a^d to warn him of
the cons quinces that must attend a general attack 3
to which he replied, he would defied himfirf to the!
left extiemity.
Four attacks were determined upon ; thesisl 9 un&^
the command of Lieut. Gen. pyph^ufe,, against
the enemy's left on the fide of Kiagh Bridge, in two!
Columns, formed by detachments from the Heffiaae
of his corps, the brigade cf Raille and regiment of
Waldeck. The id, by the itt and id battalions of
light infantry, arid two battalions of guards, uidef
the command of Brigadier Gem. Matthew, to land bf
Harlem creek, upon the enemy's right, 60^, ^ ^,
fat,^ which «u^ was to be feppemd by ,ht ^^
Both FOREIGN and DOMESTIC.