The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-11-07 00:00:00, page 2

bright updh the redoubt on the left of the enemy's
lines.
Agreeable to your orders we advanced in two co
lumns with unloaded arms, the right composed of
Lieut. Col. Gimat's battalion and my own, com
manded by Major Filh. The left of a detachment
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Laurens, deftin
. to take the enemy in reverie, and intercept their
.reat. The column on the right was preceded by
a van guard of twenty men, led by Lieut. Mansfield ;
and a detachment of tappers and miners, command
ed by Capt. Gilliland, for the purpose of removing
obftrudions.
The redoubt was commanded by Major Campbell,
with a detachment of British and German troops,
and was completly in a state of defence.
The rapidity and immediate success of the assault
are the best comment of the behaviour of the troops.
Lieut. Col. Laurens distinguished himfelf by an
exadt and vigorous execution of his part of the plan,
by entering the enemy's works, with his corps, among
the foremoft, and making prisoner the commanding
officer of the redoubt. Lieut. Col. Gimat's battalion,
which formed the van of the right attack, and which
fell under my immediate observation, encouraged by
/ decilive and animated example of their leader,
advanced with an ardour and resolution superior to
every obstacle. They were seconded by Major Fish
with the battalion under his command, who, when
the front of the column reached the abbattis, un
locking his corps to the left, as he had been directed,
advanced with such celerity, as to arrive in time to
participate in the assault. ;
Lieut. Mansfield deserves particular commendati
on, for the coolness, firmnefs and punctuality, with
which he conducted the van guard. Capt. Olney,
who commanded the firft platoon of Gimat's batta
lion, is entitled to peculiar applause. He led his
platoon into the work with exemplary intrepidity,
and received two bayonet wounds. Capt. Gilinand,
with the detachment of sappers and miners, acquitted
tbemfclves in a manner that did them great honour,
I do but justice to the several corps, when I have
the pleafurc to allure you there was not an officer
nor soldier, whose behaviour, if it could be particula
rized, would not have a claim to the warmest appro
bation. As it would have been attended with delay
and loss to wait for the removal of the abbitis and
pallifades, the ardour of the troops was indulged in
passing over them..'
There was a happy coincidence of movements.
The redoubt was in the fame moment inveloped
and carried on every part. The enemy are entitled
to the acknowledgment of an honourable defence.
Permit me to have the fatisfa&ion of expreHing
Mir obligations to Colonel Armand, Captain Segonge,
me Chevalier de Fontivieux, and Captain Bedkin,
officers of his corps, who, acting upon this occasion
m volunteers^ proceeded at the head of the right
~)lumn, and entering the redoubt among the firtt,
by their gallant example contributed to the success
of the enterprize.
Our killed and wounded you will perceive by the
enclosed return. Ifenfibly felt, at a critical period,
the loss of the assistance of Lieutenant-Colonel Gimat,
- ho received a musket ball in his foot, which obliged
im to retire from the field. Capt. Bets of Laurens's
corps, Captain Hunt and Lieutenant Mansfield, of
Gimat's, were wounded with the bayonet, in gal
lantly entering the work. Capt. Lietit. Kirkpatrick,
of the corps of Tappers and miners, received a wound
in the ditch. Enclosed is a return of the prisoners.
The killed and wounded of the enemy did not ex
ceed eight. Incapable of imitating examples of bar
barity, and forgetting recent provocations, the soldie
ry spared every man who ceased to refill. I have
' the honour to be, with the warmest esteem and at
tachment,
s r R,
Tour mofl obedient humble servant,
A. HAMILTON, Lieut. Col. Com.
The Marquis De la Fayette.
P A R I S, June 9.
The French merchants, whose principals have Of
fered by the conduct of Admiral Rodney, at the
taking of St. Euftatia, have learnt by the last (hips
from Martinico, that M. de Bouille had not only
threatened to make reprisals, but also that the Count
de Durat, Governor of Grenada, exasperated at the
ill treatment all the merchants had met with at St.
Euftatia, had fignified, that if, within the day, Rod
ney did not set at liberty the French, and restore
them their effects, books, money, &c. he would im
mediately fend him all the English fettled in Grenada,
ftript to their shirts. The Admiral performed what
was required of him ; and we know that the Court
of London, has even given frefh orders to the En
glish commanders, not to put themselves, far the
future, in the predicament of receiving fimilat re
monstrances from the Governors of the French
islands. '.
Versailles, June 6. We shall have fie happiness of
feeing the Emperor here, but not until after his tour
to the low countries. The Queen advances happy
in her pregnancy, and is in perfect health.
Hague, June 7. We are informed that the aug
mentation of the troops to the number of 17.680
men, according to the plan of the Prince Stadtholder
and the Council of state, presented on the 18th of
April, passed yesterday in the Rates of Holland and
Weft-Friefland. ^
June to. The Rates df Holland and Weft-Frlef
land, have resolved to advance for the Eaft-lndia
company, the sum of 1,200,000 florins at 3 per cent,
for the defence of their possessions, reimbursable in
33 successive years, each year the sum of 36,000
florins, and the fourth year the remaining 12,000.
Madrid, June 16, 1781. The crew of the Dutch
frigate le Brille, complain bitterly of the Englilh for
having had the cruelty to fire on them with guns
charged with pieces of broken glass and earthen
ware; by means of which the wounded have fuffer
ed the utmost torture, and their wounds rendered
incurable.
Peterjburgb July 3. The ratification of the King
of Prussia's accession to the armed neutrality, was
exchanged on the 29th of Taft month. On this oc
casion the usual presents have been sent to the Pleni
potentiaries whd signed the accession. The magni,
ficent presents from our Court to the two Minitters
of State, Count Finckenfen and Baron Hertfberg,
and also those to the three firft Secretaries of the
Cabinet, to his Prussian Majesty; will be transmit
ted to Berlin by a courier, who will be sent off in
three days. The Minister from Berlin will fend the
ratification to the Court by the fame conveyance.
From the London Gazette Extraordinary.
Admiralty-Office, August 9, 1781.
Lieutenant Rivett, of His Majesty's cutter the Sur
prize, arrived here this afternoon, with a letter
from Vic&Admiral Parker, to Mr. Stephens, of
which the following is a copy.
Fortitude, at Tea, August 6, 1781.
S I R,
YE ST£RDA Y morning we fell in with the
Dutch squadron, with a large convoy, on the
Dogger bank. I was happy to find I had the wind
of them, as the great number of their large frigates
might otherwise have endangered my convoy.-———
Having Separated the men of war from the merchant
Blips, and made a signal to the last to keep their wind,
I bore a way with a general signal to chace. The
enemy formed their line, confuting of eight two
decked ships, on the starboard tack; curs, including
the Dolphin, conlifted of seven. Nota gun was fired
on either fide, until Within the difiance of half musket
shot. The Fortitude being then abreast of the Dutch
Admiral, the adion began, and continuing with un
ceasing fire, for three hours and forty minutes; by
this time our ships wpre unmanageable. I made an
effort to form the line, in order to renew the action,
but found it impracticable. The Beinfaifant had loft
a main-top-if aft, and the Buffalo her fore-yard; the
rest of the ships were not less fluttered in their malts,
rigging, and fails; the enemy appeared to be in as
bad a condition. Both squadrons lay too a confidera
b!e time near each other, when the Dutch, with their
convoy, bore away for the Texcl; we were not in
a condition to follow them.
His Majesty's officers and men behaved with great
bravery, nor did the enemy shew less gallantry. Ihe
Fortitude was extremely well seconded by Captain
Macartney in the Princess Amelia; but lie was un
fortunately killed early in the action. Lieut. Hill
has great merit, in so well supporting the conduct of
his brave Captain.
As there was great probability of our coming into
action again, Captain M'Bridge very readily obliged
me by taking the command of that ship; and 1 have
appointed Mr. Whaghorne, my firft Lieut, to the
command of tne Artois. This gentleman, although
much hurt in the action, refuted to leave my fide
while it laded. Capt. Graeme, of the Preston, has
101 l an arm.
Enclosed, I transmit a return of the killed and
wounded, and an account of the damages fuftaiued
by the ships.
The enemy's force was, I believe, much superior
to what their Lord ships apprehended.—l flatter my
felt they will be fatisfied that we have done all that
was possible with ours.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient,
and mod humble servant,
H.PARKER.
P. S. The frigates this morning discovered one of
the Dutch men of war funk at 22 fathom water, her
. top-gallant-masts were above the furface, and her
pendant itill flying, which Capt. Patten has ftiuck
and brought to me on board. I believe the was the
second fllip in the line, of 74 guns,
A RETUR N of the killed and wounded in the
action on the sth of August, 1781.
Ships Names. Killed. Wounded. Totals
Fortitude, 20 67 87
Beinfaifant, 6 21 27
Berwick, 18 58 76
Princess Amelia, 19 56 75'
Preston, iq 40 50
Buffalo, 20 64 84
Dolphin, JI 33 44
104 339 445
Admiral Parker's squadron, at the time of the ac
tion, conlifted of one ship of Soguns, two of 74, one
of 64, one of 60, one of 50, one of 44, one of 38, one
of 36, and one of 32. [Befides the Dolphin.]
B O ST O N, Oftober 4.
Much has been said by the Britons and their parti
zans, against the national character of the French,
They cannot, however persuade us not to credit ouv
senses, We have found the character of this nation
diredly the opposite of what our enemies have affeft,
ed to represent it. We have found in France not
only a faithful, but a moll generous ally. In the
aids they have sent us in specie, in warlike flores x
and in land and sea forces, they have gone far be-,
yond what their engagements with us encouraged
us to expert, and have astonished the world. Ri
a fad to be depended on, that His Most Christi..
Majesty has io,cco land forces, and 35,000 me
in the fleet, that are at this moment employed fa
the fuccour of the United States. The manner in,
which this decisive superiority of force was Rut 1
has been so sure, and so unexpected by the enem,
as to demonstrate the measures of the Court of
France, to be as politick as they are just and generous.'
QRober 11. Last Tuesday a vessel arrived at New
bury-Port, in 50 days from Bilboa, the master of
which gives the following very important and inte
resting intelligence—" That afterhe came to fail, on
his Intended voyage, he was hailed by a principal
merchant from the fliorc, informing, that an ac
count was that moment received from France, of an
engagement between the combined and Britdh
fleets—that the former had taken 7 fail of Britilh
men of war,'and that the combined fleets were tri
umphant in the Englilh channel."
Extract of a letter from a principal merchant at
Bilboa, to a gentleman here, dated August 21, 1781.
“ We have only time to inform you, that ou'r ex
pedition against Mahon, departed from Cadiz tin,
2%d of last month ; and as the troops Viewed the
greatest spirits that could be wished for, we hope
toon to have the very high iatisfadiion of communi
cating to you the pleating and agreeable news of its
having fallen into our hands,"
A Spanish news-paper of a late date, brought by
the vcficl arrived at Newbury-Port from Bilboa, con
tains an account that docks had fallen in England,
17 per cent, owing to advices lately received, ax hich^
though the Ministry endeavoured to suppress, had
yet obtained credit ; that Hyder Ally had taken Ma
drafs, andcut to pieces a body of British troops
that had been nevi ly sent to that quarter.
HARTFOR D, Oft. 2.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Boflon, Sept. 27.
" I have the pieafure to acquaint you, that Gover
nor Trumbuil s son, who was a prifonerin England,
is arrived at Falmouth, Cafco-Bay, and a number
of.ycgels from Holland."
NEW-LONDON, Od. 19.
Last Monday the brig Samson, Capt. Brooks, and
the schooner Freedom, Capt. Brainerd, anchored at
the harbour s mouth; the former in company with
the Young Cromwell, last Saturday took a large bp,
from Quebec, fix weeks out, bound to New-York°
laden with lumber and essence of spruce.
N O R WI C H, Oft. 18.
Since our last arrived at New-London, a sloop
from Cork, prize to the Fair American, Captain
Champlin. She was bound to New-York, and has
on board 1100 firkins of butter, a quantity of En^-
li(h leather,&c. "°
F I S H - K I L L, pa. 18.
Accounts from the norths ard, give us firong in
dications of a hostile visit in that quarter. It is said
they have advanced to the fohth end of Lake George,
in tome force, but their numbers not afeertained.—
E n ,§ e tic measures are taking by the militia in that
vicinity ; a brigade of regular troops, part of which
are already at Albany, passed through this town last
Monday, on their way to Fish-Kill Landing, and
theie to embark on board of vessels provided to carry
them up.'
The British prisoners now in the provost in this
town, part of them lately taken at Fort Slongo, on
Long-Island, having formed a design to obtain their
liberty, with indefatigable diligence, and with a
cow's horn only, dug under ground till they were
nearly clear of the pickets. One of their number,
whether more timid or more honest than his compa
nions, we cannot tell, informed the Provost Master
of the plot, and prevented their escape.—They vow
ed vengeance against the informer, and abnfed him
much, which rendered his rimoval necessary to save
his die ; when their rifentment against his person
was prevented, they unanimously agreed to call him
by the name of BENEDICT ARNOLD THE
TRAITOR.
November 1. We have just heard from Albany,
that a party of the enemy, upwards of 500 strong,
commanded by a Major Ross, came down the Onida
Lake, and committed depredations as usual; they
burnt twenty dwelling and Several out-houses, and
then crossed the Mohawk river. Col. Willet, with
his usual bravery, though greatly inferior to the
enemy, gave them battle ; the aGion was fevere—
'tis said he loft in killed and wounded, between 30
and 40: They took his field-piece and ammunition
cart, which he retook, but with the loss of the am
munition ;—he kept the ground, drove tl e enemy,
who left seven of their dead on the field, and three
of his own men; and it is not doubted, but their
number of wounded is not inferior to his; the ene
my retired about three miles into the woods. Col.
Willet took upwards if twenty prisoners. A party
was sent to endeavour to destroy their boats :—lk
went the next morning in pursuit of the enemy.