The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-11-25 00:00:00, page 4

NARRATIVE of Colonel Ethan Allen 9 ,
treatment during bit Captivity.
(Continued)
MAJOR Levi Wells and Captain Ozias Biffel were
apprehended and taken under guard from their parole
on Long Island, to the Provost, on as fallacious pre
tences a§ the former, and were theie continued till their
exchange took place, which was near five months.
Their fidelity and zealous attachment to the'r country's
cause, which was more than commonly conspicuous,
was undoubtedly the real cause of their confinement.
Major Brinton Payne, Captain Flahaven, and Cap
tain Randolph, who had at different times distinguish
ed themselves by their bravery, especially at the several
actions in which they were taken, was all the provoca.
tion they gave, for which they fuffered about a year's
confinement each in the fame filthy gaol.
A few weeks after my confinement, on the like falla
cious and wicked pretences, was brought to the fame
place, from h:s parole on Long-Island, Major Otho
Holland Williams, now a full Colonel in the Conti
nental Army.) In his charader are united the gentle
man, officer, soldier and friend ; he walked through
the prison with an air of great disdain; laid he, " Is
th ; s the treatment which gentlemen of the Continental
army are to expect from the rascally Biitifh, when in
their power ? Ileavens forbid it !" He was continued
there about five months, and then exchanged for a
Eritilh Major.
John Fell, Esq; (now a Member es Congress for the
State of New-Jerky)was taken from his own house by
a gang of infamous tories, and by order of a British
General, was lent to the Provost, where he was conti
nued near one year. The Bench of the gaol, which
was very loathsome and unhealthy, occahoned a hoarse
ness of the lungs, which proved fatal to many who were
there confined and reduced this gentleman near to the
point of death; he was indeed given over by his friends
who were about him, ^d himfclf concluded that be
must die. 1 could not endure the thought that so
worthy a friend to America should have his life Hole
from him in such a mean, base, and fcaudalous a man
ner and that his family and friends ffiould be
bereaved of so great and desirable a blessing, as his fur
ther care, ufelulnefs and examples, might prove to
th.m. I therefore wrote a letter to Gen. Robertson,
(who commanded in town) and being touched with the
mod sensible feelings of humanity which chdidted my
pen to paint dying didrefs in such lively colours that it
wrought conviction even on the obduracy of a British
General and produced his order to remove the now
honourable John Fell, Esq; out of gaol, to private
lodgings in town ; in consequence of which he slowly
recovered his health. There is so extraordinary a cir
cumfiance which intervened, concerning this letter,
that it is worth noticing.
Previous to the fending it, I exhibited the fame to
the gentleman on whose behalf it was wrote, foi his
approbation, and he forbid me to fend it in the most
positive ^d explicit terms; his reason was, " That
the enemy knew by every morning's report, the condi
tion of all the prisoners, mine in particular, as I have
been gradually comihg to my end for a considerable
time, and they very well knew it, and likewise deter
mined it ihould be accompliflied, as they had served
many others ; that to ask a favor, would give the merci
less enemy occasion to triumph, over me in my last mo.
ments, and therefore I will aik no favours from them,
but refiga myfelf to my supposed fate." But the let
ter 1 sent without his knowledge, and I confess 1 had
but little expectations from it, yet could not be e.fy
till I had sent it. It may be worth a remark, that this
gentleman was an Engliffiman born, and from the be
ginningof the revolution, has invariably asserted, and
maintained the cause of liberty.
The British have made so extensive an improvement
of the Provost during the present revolution till of late,
that a very fhert definition will be fufficient for the
dullest apprehensions. It may be with propriety called
the British Inquisition, and calculated to support their
oppreflive measures and designs, by suppressing the spirit
of liberty ; as al foa place to confine the criminals, and
most infamous wretches oftheirown army, where many
gentlemen of the American army, and citizens thereof,
were prcmifcubujly confined, with every fiecies of
criminals; but they divided into different apartments,
and kept at as great a remove as circumflances permit
ted, but it was nevertheless at the option of a villainous
ferjeant who had the charge of the Provost, to take any
gentleman from their room, and put them into the dun
geon, which was often the case 1 At two different times
1 was taken down flairs for that purpose, by a file of
soldiers with fixed bayonets, and the ferjeant brandish
ing his sword at the fame time, and having been
brought to the door of the dungeon, I there flattered
the vanity of the ferjeant, whole name was Keef, by
which means I procured the furprizing favour to re
turn to my companions; but some of the high mettled
young gentlemen could not bear his insolence, and de
termined to keep at a distance, and neither please not
displease the villain, but none could keep clear of his
abuse ; however mild measures were the bast; lie did
not hesitate to call us damned Rebels, and use us with
the coarsest language. The Captains Flahaven, Ran
dolph and Mercer, were the objects of his most flagrant
PHIL ADELPHIA: Printed and Sold by JOHN DUNLAP, in Market-ftrat.
and repeated abuses, who were many times taken to the
dungeon, and there continued at his pleasure. Capt.
Flahaven took cold in the dungeon, and was in a de
clining Bate of health, but an exchange delivered him,
and in all probability saved his life.
It was very mortifying to bear with the insolence
of fuc.li a vicious and ill-bred imperious rascal. Re
monstrances against him were preferred to the commander
of the town, but no relief could be obtained, for his su
periors were undoubtedly well pleased with his abu
sive condud to the gentlemen, under the severities of his
power, and remonstrating againfl his infernal conduct,
only served to confirm him in authority, and for this
reason I never made any remonstrances on the lubje&,
but only Groked him, for I knew that he was but a cat's
paw in the hands of the British officers, and that if he
Should use us well, he would immediately be put out
ofthat trust, and a worse man appointed to succeed him ;
but there was no need of making any new appointment,
for Cunningham, their provost marshal, and Keef, his
deputy, were as great rascals as their army'could boast
of, except one Joshua Loring, an infamous tory, who
was their commissary of prisoners, nor can any of these
be supposed to be equally criminal with general Sir
William Howe and his affociaces, who prescribed and
directed the murders and cruelties, which were by them
perpetrated.
This Loring is a monger ! — There is not his like
inhuman shape. He exhibits a smiling countenance,
and on a fu perficial acquaintance, seems to wear a phiz
of humanity, but has been instrumentally capable
of the moil consummate ads of wickedness, (which
were firhiy projected by an abandoned Brit sh council,
clothed with the authority of a Howe) murdering
premeditated y (in cool blood) near or quite two thou
sand helpless prisoners, and that in the most clandestine,
mean and fhameful manner, (at New York.) He is
the most mean Spirited, cowardly, deceitful, and def
tructivean mal in God's creation below, and legions of
infernal devils, with all their tremendous horrors, are
impatiently ready to receive Howe and him, with all
their deniable accomplices, into the mod exquifit ago
nies of the hotted region of hell fire.
The sixth day of July, 1777, general St. Clair, and
the army under his command, evacuated Ticonderoga,
and retreated with the main body through Hubberdton
into Caftleton, which was but fix miles distance, when
h.s rear guard commanded by colonel Seth Warner,
was attacked at Hubberdton by a body of the enemy
of about two thousand commanded by Gen. Fraser.
Warner's command confided of his own and two other
regiments, viz. Francis's, and Hale's and some Mat
tering and enfeebled soldiers. His whole number, ac
cording to information, was near or quite one thousand,
part of which were Green Mountain Boys ; about seven
hundred out of the whole he brought into action. The
enemy advanced boldly, and the two bodies formed
within about Sixty yards of each other. Col. Warner
having formed his own regiment, and that of col.
Francis's, did not wait for the enemy, but gave them
a heavy fire from his whole line, and they returned it
with great bravery. It was by this time dangerous for
those of both parties, who were not prepared for the
world to come; but Col. Hale being apprised of the
danger, never brought his regiment to the charge, but
left Warner and Francis to hand the blow of it, and
fled, but luckily fell in with an inconsiderable number
Of the enemy, and to his eternal £hame, surrendered
himlelfa prisoner.
The conftid was very bloody. - Colonel Francis
fed in the fame; but Colonel Warner, and the officers
under his command as also the soldiery, behaved with
great resolution; The enemy broke, and gave way on
the right and left, but formed again, and renewed the
attack ; in the mean time the British grenadiers, in the
center of the enemy's line, maintained the ground, and
finally carried it with the point of the bayonet, and
Warner retreated with great reluctance. Our loss was
about thirty men killed, and that of the enemy amount
ed to three hundred men killed, including a Major
Grant. The enemy's loss 1 learnt from the confeffion
of their own officers, when a prisoner with them. I
heard them likewise complain that the Green Mountain
Boys took fight.
The next movement of the enemy, of any material
consequence, was their investing Bennington, (with a
design to demolish it, and subject its Mountaineers, to
whom they had a great aversion) with fifteen hundred
chosen men, including tories, with the highest ex
pectation of success, and having chosen an eminence of
strong ground, fortified it with flight breast works, and
two pieces cf cannon; but the government of the
young Rate of Vermont, being previously jealous of
such an attempt of the enemy, and in due time had pro.
cured a number of brave militia from the government
of the Rate of New Hampshire, who together with the
militia of the north part of Berkshire county, and stat e
of Maffachufett's, and the Green Mountain Boys, con.
ftituted a body of desperadoes, under the command of
the intrepid General Stark, who in number were about
equal to the enemy.
Colonel Herrick, whs commanded the Green Moun
tain Rangers, and who was fecorid in command, being
thoroughly acquainted with the ground wher^the enemy
had fortified, proposed to attack them in their works
upon all parts, afthe Lme tme. This plan being
adopted by the General and his , Pencil of war, the little
militia brigade of tmdtfciplincd'heroes, wi fr h their long
brown firelocks, (the best security o f a free people)
without either cannon or bayonets, was, on the 16th
day of August, led on to the attack by their bold com
manders, in the face of the enemy's dreadful fire, (and
to the astonishment of the world, and bnrlefque of dis
cipline) carried every part of their lines in less than one
quarter of an hour after the attack became general, took
their cannon, killed and captivated more then two thirds
of their number, which immortalized General Stark,
and made Bennington famous to posterity.
Among the enemy's firin were r ound Col. Baum
their commander, a Col. Pfefter, who beaded an infa!
mous gang of tories, and a large part of his command.
and among the prisoners was Major Meibome, their se
cond in command, a number of British and Hessian of
ficers, furgebns, &c. and more than one hundred of the
aforementioned ffete's command. The prisoners be
ing collected together, were sent to the meeting-house in
the tdwn, by a fttong guard, and General Staak not i
^agining any present danger, the militia scattered from
him to rest a id referefh themselves ; in this situation he
was on a sudden attacked by a reinforcement of eleven
hundred of the enemy, commanded by a Gov. Skene,
with two field pieces: They advanced in regular order,
and kept up an incessant fire, especially fiorn their field
pieces, and the remaining militia retreating flowlv be
fore them, disputed the ground inch by inch. The e
oemy were heard to halloo to them, faying flop Yan
kees.
In the mean time Col. Warner, with cbout one hun
dred and and thirty men cf his regiment, (who were
not in the firft adion) arrived and attacked the enemy
with great fury, (being determined to have ample re
venge on account of the quarrel at Hubberton) which
brought them to a hand, and soon after Gen. Stark and
Col. Herrick brought on more of the scattered militia,
and the action became general ; in a few minutes the e
nemy were forced fiem their cannon, gave way on all
parts and fled, and the shouts of vi&ory were a second
time proclaimed in/avour of the militia. The enemy's
loss in killed and prisoners, in these two actions, a
mounted to more than twelvehundred men, and our loss
did not exceed fifty men.
(To be continued)
^^^^^^^
JAMES H AY E S,
PRINTER and STATIONER,
In Market ftrect, n^xt door to th^ Post Office, Phila.
delphia, ha# for SALE,
GERMAN Almanacks, House and Pocket ditto
for the year 1780, by the thousand, hundred or
dozen. Also Dilworth's Spelling-Books, Blank Book#,
and a variety of German Books.
He performs all kinds of PRINTING in the
neatest and best manner, with dispatch. Such Gentle
men as chafe to favor him (being a young beginner)
with their commands, (half be punctually served and
gratefully attended to.
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
W AS STOLEN, last night, out of the house of
' V the fuhfcriber,in Eaftbwn township, Cheftercoun
ty, the following articles, viz. Anew light coloured
coat, made of finecountry cloth; a new 'bro^n linen
coatee; a pair of buckskin breaches, almost new; a half
worn lead coloured cloth jacket; a furr hat ali-cft
new, two silk hankerchiefs, three country made shirts,
two pair blue yarn ribbed flockings, also three fiber
dollars, and some eleven penny pieces end old copper#
in the breeches pocket. The above articles were flolen
by a certain George Atkifon, an Englishman, between
thirty and forty years of age, a thin spare man, about
five feet fix inches high, black complexion, black Mir,
and has a double row of upper teeth, one I^rge one of
which in each fide of his mouth appears outside cf his
under iip when he laughs ; he is remarkably given to
drink : Had on when he went away, a failor'sjacket
made of brown cloth, and a pair cf tow trowfers ; it is
supposed he will wear the above described hat, as he
left his own. Whoever takes up and secures said thief,
so that he may be brought to juftice,ad the owner may
recover the cloaths, fhail receive the above reward and
reasonable charges, paid by
November s. JAMES MORRIS.
«>¥ NQUIRY has been made the week
P^ft for Mr. John Pigeon, who has some con
ne&ion or correlpondence with the house of Hope and"
Co. in Holland, and who was supposed to have been in
this city; but he is not yet found : If he is here, or in
any part of this or the neighbouring States, he is re
quested to give notice thereof to the fubferiber; or if
any person can give information of the said Mr. Pigeon,
be is desired to communicate the fame to me, at my
lodgings at Mrs. Robeson's in Chefnut. Greet. Business
of consequence to Mr. Pigeon as well as the said house
of Hope and Co. occafion^ this enquiry.
PAUL FOOKS, Notary- Public.
Philadelphia, Nov. S.
WAS FOUND last Thursday, near the City
Tavern, a BILL of the last emission of Conti
nental monev. The owner by applying to PETE R
D E HAVE N, near the College, proving his properly
and paying the charge of this advertisement, may have
it again.
Philadelphia November 1, 1779.