The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-10-24 00:00:00, page 2

Lieut. Col. Eyre, who behaved with great gallantry, having re
ceived his wound near the works) and Major Montgomery being
killed immediately after, the command devolved on Major Brom
field, whole behaviour on this occasion does him great honour.
Lieut. Col. B.ufkirk; witli the New-Jersey volunteers and artillery,
being therfecond debarkation, came up soon after the work was car
ried, having been retarded by the roughnefi of the country; I am
much obliged to this gentlemen for his exertions, although the artil
lery did not arrive in time.
. I have enciofed a return of the killed and wounded, by which your
Excellency will observe, that our loss, though very considerable, is
very short of the enemy's, who loft mod of their officers, among
whom was their commander Col. Ledyard. Eighty-five men were
found dead in Fort Griswold, and sixty wounded, mod of them mor
tally; their loss on the opposite fide muff have been considerable, but
cannot be afeertained. I believe we have about 70 prisoners, besides
the wounded, who were left paroled.
Ten or twelve of the enemy's drips were burned, among them
three or four armed vessels, and one loaded with naval dores; an im
inenfe quantity of European and Wed-India goods were found in the
stores, among the former the cargo of the Hannah, Capt. Watson,
from London, lately captured by the enemy; the whole of which
was burnt with the ilores, which proved to contain a large quantity
of powder, unknown to us. The explosion of the powder, and change
of wind, soon after the stores were fired, communicated the flames
to part of the town, which was, notwithstanding every effort to pre
vent it, unfortunately 'deftroyed^
Upwards of fifty pieces of iron cannon were destroyed in the dif
ferent works (exciufive of the guns of the ships) a particular account
of which I cannot do myfelf the honour to transmit to your Excel
lency at this time.
A very considerable magazine of powder, and barracks to contain
three hundred men, were found in Fort Griswold, which Capt. Le
moine of the royal artillery had my positive directions to destroy; an
attempt was made by him, but unfortunately failed ; he had my or
ders to make a second attempt; the reasons why it was not done,
Capt. Lemoine will have the honour to explain to your Excellency.
I should be wanting in justice to the gentlemen of the navj, did I
omit to acknowledge that upon this expedition I have received every
possible aid from them. Capt. Beasley has made every exertion to assist
our operations, and not only gave up his cabin to the sick and wound
ed officers, but furnifhed them with every assistance and refrefhment
that his fliip afforded.
Lord Dalrymple will have the ,honour to deliver my dispatches; I
beg leave to refer your Excellency to his Lordship for the particulars
of our operations on the New-London fide. I feel myfelf under great
obligations to him for his exertions upon the occasion.
Captain Beckwith, who was extremely Serviceable to me, returns
with his l.ordfhip. His spirited conduct in the attack of Fort Gris
wold does him gipat honour, being one °f the firll officers who en
tered the works. I beg leave to refer your Excellency to him for the
particulars of our operations on that fide, and to lay I have the highest
opinion of his abilities as an officer.
I am greatly indebted to Capt. Stapleton (who a&ed as Major of
Brigade) for his spirited conduct and assistance; in particular, on the
attack upon Fort Trumbull, and his endeavours to prevent plunder
ing (when the public stores were burnt) 4 and the deftru&ion of pri
vate buildings.
The officers and troops in general behaved with the greatest intre
pidity and firmnefs. I have the honour to be, with the greater ref
pe&; your Excellency's mod obedient and mod humble servant,
B. ARNOLD.
^ho amended the fraize were obliged to silence a nine-pounder, which
niila&d (he plate on which they flood, until a fufficient body
bad collected to enter the works, which was done with fixed bayon
nets, through the embrazures, where they were opposed with great
obhinagr by the garrison with long spears. On this occasion I have
,o regret the lofsof Major Montgomery, who was killed by a spear
in entering the enemy's works; also of Ensign Whillock, of the 40th
regiment who was killed in the attack. Three other officers of the
fame regiment were wounded: Lieut. Col. Eyre, and three other
officers of thcs4th regiment were also wounded, but I have the fatis
faaion to inform your Excellency that they arc all in a fair way to
recover.
Return of the hilled and Grounded.
I Major, I F.nfigv, 2 Serjeants, 44 Rank and File, killed.
I Lieut. Col. 3 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 8 Serjeants, 2
Drummers, 127 Rank and File, wounded.
Of the wounded officers, 1 Captain, and I Lieutenant, and one
Ensign are since dead. JOHN STAPLE TO N.
RETURN of Ordnance, Ammunition, Efe. taken this day in Fort Grifc
mo!J, and its dependencies, by a detachment of bis Majesty's troops under
the command of Brigadier-General Arnold, on an expedition to Connecti
cut, viz.
in Fort Griswold. Ordnance iron mounted on carriages: garrison,
I -eighteen-pounder, 14 twelve's, 2 nine's, 1 fix, 1 four, I three;
travelling, 1 twelve, 2 four's. Total 23.
In the Fleche. Ordnance iron on travelling carriages, 3 four
pounders.
On, the lower battery. Ordnance iron mounted on garrison car
riages, 7 eighteen-pounders, 2 twelve's. Total 9.
I'utal of iron ordnance 35.
French mufquets, 106; pikes, 80; round shot, 1680 eighteen
pounders, 2100 twelve's, 290 nine's, 100 fix's, 200 four's, 40 three's;
grape, 2.30 cighteen's, 340 twelve's, 75 nine's, 70 fix's, 90 four's,
75 three's.
Cartridges, paper filled, 12 eighteen-pounders, 23 twelve's, 8
nine's, 4 fix's, 14 four's, 6 three's; mufquet, 10,000. Powder,
corned, 150 cwt.
Spare carriages, garrison, 1 thirty-two-pounder; travelling,,!
twelve-pounder.
Ammunition Waggons, 2; gyn triangle complete, i; stores for
the Laboratory, &c. &c. &c.
(Signed) J. LEMOINE, Capt. of Artillery.
Betsey Hoop, New-London harbour,
6th September, 1781.
RE TURN of Ordnance found and foiled by a detachment of the army under
the command of Brigadier-General Arnold on the Neiv-London fide, Btb
September, 1781.',
Iron eighteen-pounders mounted at Fort Trumbull 18, fix-poun
ders at ditto 3; twelve or nine-pounders mounted at Fort Folly 6,
ditto difnibunted 2; twelve founder on the road to New-London 1.
Total 24.
A quantity of ammunition and stores of different kinds were de
stroyed in the magazine at Fort Trumbull, and in the Meeting House
at New-London. Wm. HORNDON.
Ift. Licut. Royal Regiment of Artillery.
Philadelphia, September 18.
Extract of a letter from the Marquis de la Fayette's army, elated
Williamjburgb, September 7, 1781.
" The light-infantry are advanced to Williamfburgh: the
Pennsylvanians lay near this place, and it is the talk of the
camp, that the French troops will take their position to-mor
row in its vicinity. The French Ships lay in James-River,
to prevent a retreat, in York-river, and at the Capes.
'' You are a soldier as well as a philosopher, and will ex
perience pur feelings on the present occasion. We have a
brave army to contend against, furnifhed in provision, with all
the necessaries tor a gallant refinance, and in number fully fuf
ficient for the defence of their post ; but we shall do very well,
for to the common motives of our profeffion will be joined an
emulation arising from fighting by the fide of our allies.
" Ih^enemy are entrenching at York with great industry.
Every thing is landed from their (hipping, and dispositions
made for their deftrudion.''
Extract oRa letter from a gentleman in Albany, dated Sept. 8.
" We have just received the disagreeable news, that outof
Forty men Col. Willet sent out on a scout from fort Plain (his
present Ration) only twelve returned; the rest either being
killed or taken, by a Superior force of the enemy."
WANTED, a young man of a good character, to serve as
as an apprentice in a Lore. Apply to the Printers.±
ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, August 9, 1781.
Lieutenant Rive tt, of his Majefy's cutter the Surprise, arrived
here this afternoon, <witb a letter from Vice-Admiral Parker,
to Mr. Stephens, of which the following is a copy.
SI R, Fortitude,, at Sea, Augufl h, 1781.
YESTERDAY morning we fell in with the Dutch squa
dron, with a large convoy, on the Dogger Bank. Iwas
happy to find I.had the wind of them, as the great
number of their large frigates might otherwise have endan
gered my convoy. Having separated the men of war from the
merchant ships, and made a signal to the last to keep their
wind, I bore away with a general signal ta chace. The enemy
formed their line, confining of eight two decked ships, on the
starboard tack; ours, including the Dolphin, consisted of Se
ven. Not a gun was fired on either fide, until within the
distance of half musket shot. The Fortitude being then a
breast of the Dutch Admiral, the action began, and continued,
with unceasing fire, for three bours and forty minutes'; by
this time our ships were unmanageable. I made an effort to
form the line, in order to renew the action, but found it im=
practicable. The Bienfaifant had loft her main-top-mast, and
the Buffalo her fore-yard; the rest of the fliips were not less
Shattered in their mails, rigging and fails. The enemy appear
ed to be in as bad a condition. Both squadrons lay-to a con
siderable time near each other, when the Dutch, with their
convoy, bore away for the Texel: 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. The Fortitude was
extremely well Seconded by Capt. Macartney in the Princess
Amelia; but he was unfortunately killed early in the adioh:
Lieutenant 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, Capt. Machride very readily obliged me by taking the
cemrr and of that ship ; and 1 have appointed Mr. Waghorne,
my firft Lieutenant, to the command of the Artois. This
gentleman, although much hurt in the action, refuted to leave
my fide while it lasted. Capt. Graeme, of the Preston, has
loft an arm.
Inclofed I transmit a return of the killed and wounded, and
an account of the damages sustained by the ships.
The enemy's force was, I believe, much superior to what
their Lordfliips apprehended. I flatter myfelf they will be
fatisfied that we have dohe all that was possible with our's.
lam, &c. H. PARKER.
P. S. The frigates this morning discovered one of the
Dutch men of war funk in 22 fathom water, her top-gallant
masts were above the furface, and her pendant still flying,
which Captain Patton has struck and brought to me on board.
I believe ihe was the second ship in the line, of 74 guns.
A return of the hilled and wounded in the action on the yrb Augufl.
Ships Nantes. Killed. Wounded. Total.
Fortitude, 20 67 87
Bienfaifant, 6 21 27
Berwick, 18 58 76
Princess Amelia, 19 36 75
Preston, 'lO 40 50
Buffalo, 20 64 84
Dolphin, ii 33 44
104 339 443
OFFICER S.
Fortitude. Lieutenants Waghorne, Harrington, Hinckley, the
Boatswain and Pilot wounded.
Bienfaifant. Gunner wounded.
Berwick. Lieutenants Skipfey and Maxwell, Capt. Campbell
and Lieut. Stewart of marines, and 6 Midshipmen wounded ;
Pilot and two Midfllipmen killed.
Princejs Amelia. Captain Macartney and Gunner killed; Lieu
tenants Hill, Smith, and Legget, wounded.
Prefan. Captain Gramme, and 3 d Lieutenant, wounded.
Buffalo. First Lieutenant and Boatswain wounded.
Dolphin. Lieutenant Dalby killed; Boatswain killed.
N. B. Lieutenant Rivette relates, that the homeward
bound trade from the Baltic, consisting of upwards of 200
fail, proceeded on their way to England, under proper con
voy, before the action began, and may be hourly expelled.
Admiral Parker's Squadron, at the time of action, confided of
the undermentioned ships and frigates, viz.
Cans. Ships. Commanders.
74 Fortitude ? r"^^ P " ker
J Capt. Robertson
80 Princess Amelia Macartney
74 . Berwick Ferguson
64 Bienfaifant Braithwaite
60 Buffalo Trnfcott
50 Preston * Graeme
44 Dolphin Blair
40 Artois Mcßride
38 Latona Sir Hyde Parker
36 Belle Poule —— Patton
32 , Cleopatra Murray
10 Surprize [Cutter] L euten'ant Rivett.
London, Augifl 17. The Ruffian fleet, which failed lately
for the Mediterranean, are said to be gone for Mahon ; should
the French make any attempts on the island while they con
tinue there, a commencement of boftilities, and a war be
tween the two powers will be the consequence.
Sr. James's, August 11.
, Extra# of a letter from Mr. La Touche, (dated Bafforh, June
11, 1781) to Sir Robert Ainslie, his Majefly's Ambafodor at
Constantinople, and by him transmitted to the Earl of Hill-
Jborougb, in bis letter dated July 16, received this day.
I HAVE the pleafare to inform you, that by letters fiom
Madras, dated February 1, it appears that the French squa
dron, consisting of fix ships of the line, and three frigates,
which I mentioned to you in my last, instead of entering the
road of Madras, as it was imagined they would, proceeded to
Pondicherry. It farther appears, that this squadron is in bad
repair, and has neither transports nor troops with it except
marines, and consequently could not spare any to Hyder Ally,
who has been obliged to raise the frege of Wandewafh and
Velore, had [oft Carangolly, and seemed to be collecting his
whole force, in order to try the event of a battle with Sir Eyre
Coote. It was expected that Sir Edward Hughes would leave
Bombay with his squadron, in the course of the month of
March, and that peace would take place with the Marrattas.
London, Auguf 18. Sir Hyde Parker, son to the Admiral, in a
74 gun ship, with fix frigates, is left cruizing off the Texel,
with a view to intercept two East-India snips which are daib,
expeded to arrive there.
Hague, (Holland) Augufl 12. The following is the report
made by Rear Admiral Zoutman, to his Serene Highhefs the
Prince of Orange, Hereditary Stadtholder, Captain and Ad
miral General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries,
&c. of the engagement with an English squadron.
“ Sunday, August 5, 1781, at break of day, between the
hours of three and four in the morning, we taw a great num
ber of strange ships to the North North Weft of us; we
every thing ready for an engagement; the wind was North
Bast, rather frelh, and our course was North-Weft; we mad
tht signal to form the line of battle, at the distance of a cable's
European Intelligence.
" I have the honour to recommend myfelfto the gracious
protection of your Serene Highness, and to fubferibe ni,uf
with refped to your Serene Highness, your most humble and
obedient servant, (Signed) J. A. ZOUTMAN."
London, Augufl 21. On Tuefdey last an express from the
Admiralty arrived at Harwich, and was immediately forward
ed by one of his Maiefty's armed cutters to the ships of war,
A signal for failing was immediately thrown out, and the next
morning at day-light the following ships failed for the coaftef
Holland viz. the Sampson of 64 guns, Apollo 36, Amphion
3 2, Myrmidon 24, and two large' cutters. The Arrogant
°f 74, and Princess Caroline of 54 guns, are expected every
hour to join them. The sudden departure of these ships, we
hear, is with an intention to intercept a fleet of 200 fail of
Dutch Merchantmen, from different ports of Holland, which
are now collecting in the Texcl to go North about. A final!
cutter which failed with the snips of war returned to Harwich
in the evening: the left them seven leagues from the land,
fleering E. by N- with a favourable gale
From a review of the account sent by Admiral Zoutman,
to tire Statholder, it appears that our fleet seems to have had
greatly the advantage in the late action, the enemy having
fullered more than our ships, much as they have differed,
Never was a more emphatic picture of distress than that drawn
in the Dutch Admiral's letter! All - their great-ships, so bat
tered in their bodies and rigging,'and so shot between wind
and water, that they could neither work, nor hardly swim,
and unable to. help one another : All the assistance theifae of
battle ships could leceive, was from the frigates, and the
merchantmen; and the former cf these had enough to do to
take care of the latter. The poor Admiral yet "'hopes that
it will please God they shall regaiuTome port of the Repub
lic ;" yet that hope is very faintly expressed, and rumour ftp
they fell short of it, for some funk; for the fake of humanity,
let us hope the lives were fared!
length from each other, and we advanced. The AhX&m
Capt. Count de Welderen, came up in the mean time to mV'
a report, that the fleet we saw was a convoy of the en>
which had tailed Ybe 26th through the Sound, escorted 1
ven English men of war, and four cutters. At fcven 1
the fliips of war hoisted their English colours, among wl°V
these was a Vice-Admiral's flag, and bore down upon,
their convoy remaining to windward; I made the signal"/ '
tack, and we came up thus in order of battle, and tool" ,°
Ration to the Eaft-Sonth-Eaft, and ordered our merchant °"
to the Westward; we saw that the eight English men 'of
that bore down upon us in a line, were of 60, 74 Qo
one of 40 guns; At eight, the English Vice-Admiral bfr
abreast to windward of me, they turned with us, and the
tion began; at that instant the fire was very bri& o ,
tides, and our whole line was engaged. It confided of the fol
lowing ships: the Hereditary Prince, of 54 guns, Cant
the Admiral General, of 74, Capt. de itmfbergen; the A,
of 44, Capt. Storing; the Batava, of 54, Capt.' Van Bentinch
the Admiral de Ruyter, of 68, Capt. Zoutman, Rear Adm’
ral, the Admiral Piet-Hein, of 54, Capt. Van Braam and
the Hollande, of 64, Capt. Dedel. I was constantly and %
briskly cannonaded by two large ships; the engagert-nt | 2 fJ
until half pad: eleven, and was very bloody. Our ships nif
included, were greatly disabled, and had received so mirk
damage that they could not be worked any longer. The Eno
lifh Vice-Admiral must have equally fuffered, for he woretfo
the eastward; At noon we took down the signal to engage
and bore away to the westward, to repair our ships as much
as possible, all being extremely crippled by the constant fireof
so long an engagement. We perceived also, that the
Vice-Admiral tacked about at half pall twelve with his
and flood to the North-Weft, where they remained floating
to repair also their damage. Among their ships we saw one a
three-decker, whose main-top-mast fell by the board.'
“ We found ourfelvesQt noon, accordingly to our effima.
tion, at 55 degrees 56 minutes North latitude, and confe
quently the point of Terneus in Norway N. N. £. one third
North 30 miles from ns.
", As all the fliips of war were become unfei viceable, we
made the signal for the convoy to run it, with the frigates the
Medenblik and Venus, and put themselves, according to the
circumstances, out of danger, to avoid being taken falling into
the hands ofthe enemy. .. °
" In bearing away, the Batava, whose mizen-yard wrs
turned upside down, and who had loft her miztn-maft, a!mo'ft
fell on her fide; her Officer cried out to us that her Captain
was wounded, and the ship so disabled, that the was no ton.
ger manageable. I sent two frigates to assist and take her in
tow, if necessary; but before they could come up with the
Batava, fire drove before the wind and came up to us. Cap.
tain Kinfb&gen sent a boat with Captain Abr son and Capiat
Staringh, to report their situation; I told them that as soon
as we should be a little refitted, and able to manage the ships
I would make the signal to return. Captain Dedel madea
signal of being very much damaged; Captain Van Braam, that
he was much embarrassed; I made a signal for the Zaphyr hi.
gate to come along-fide; the reported having spoke to Captain
Van Braam, and that his ship had some shots under water;l
sent her off immediately to give all possible assistance to the
Captains Van Braam and Dedel.
" In the mean time Captain Dedel fired several guns of
distress, and fleered his course Southward towards the coaftef
Holland. I made a signal for Capt. Van Wonfel to come to
speak to me, and I detached him to assist Captain Dedel, with
orders to flay with him, and seek a port. Between four and
five I made a signal to fail, upon which all the ships nearus,
after having repeated the signal to Capt. Kingfbergen, bore a.
way as well as they could, with what fails they could make
use of. I drew near to Capt. Braak, who cried out to me that
he had several shot under water, and that his (hip, had made
much water , but was now much diminished by the help of the
pumps: in the evening we saw all the fhips,under fail with us,
" The Admiral de Ruiter has many killed and wounded;
and is, as well as all the ships in general, damaged in their
hulls, masts, and rigging: but I hope that, with 'the help of
God, we shall be able to gain a port of the Republic.'
“ I fend this dispatch by Capt. Count de Welderen, who
can, in person, make a more ample report of the whole to
your Serene Highness.
^" e Zuid, Beveland, of 68 guns, one of the Dutch fliips;
which failed with Admiral Zoutman from the Texel, and wasj
in the engagement, is omitted in the Dutch account of th:
light; from what cause time must determine.
Extra# of a letter from Oflend.
" The papers which are handed about here, Rate the loss of
'^° ~° utc ' l ' n the engagement between Admirals Parker and
Zoutman, to amount to 1100 men killed and wounded;"l
London Augu/l 25. A convoy is appointed to fad fortiie
Weft-Indies and New-York, in the course of next week,
which several Gentlemen will 'go pafTengers, particularly Lord'
Dunmore, as Governour of Virginia; Gen. Mathews, as
Commander in chief of his Mahfty's forces in the Weft Indies,
'ate under the command of Major General Vaughan, and Bed;
amin Thomson Esq; late one of the Under Secretaries d*
otate.
Auguji 28. This day at noon an officer arrived atthe Ad
miralty, express from the errand fleet, with an account that
Admiral Darby, with the whole of the fleet under his co^'
mand, arrived fafe at Torbay yesterday morning ]
Admiral Darby's fleet coalifls of three fidps of 100 e""'' ;
hree or 98, three of ,0, one of 80, ten 01 74, two r /
one 60, twelve large frigates, and i£ tire ships; and the A.!