The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-10-24 00:00:00, page 2

new gulphs, victory itfelf finds a new precipice; from
all these obstacles united, arifcs the most dreadful of
all: Famine flies after victory, flops her in the ra
pid courfe,' stamps the pallid seal on the front ofthe
vanquisher, and forcing him to a retrogade march
to seek bread elsewhere, gives him the appearance of
being defeated in the midst of the most glorious
pursuit! Where were those friends, whole solid
assistance was promised to the conqueror of Guil
ford? If they were too timid to appear with arms in
their hands, they might at least have offered to their
warriors, to their deliverers, a part of their fublut
ance: They could not have been in a state of want,
for General' Greene, with an army more numerous
than ours, found means to subsist afoongft them.
Not a morsel of bread, nor a sack of flour; our good
friends the royalists kept every thing for themselves
and for their inveterate enemy, the rebels. Lord
Cornwallis fays, that in the midst of their excellent
friends, his troops wanted bread during two days.
And men dare, for so many years, insist that such a
war should be kept up! and they are not yet tired
of repeating it! Let us examine quickly the curious
arguments which have been from ihe commencement
of°this deftrudive system produced for the support
of it. Let us follow the chain of inconsistencies
and absurdities, which in the course of five or fix
sessions, have served as a basis to the resolutions of
both houses. In the firft instance that America
shewed her resistance by marks of a reflected firmnefs,
they said file would not dare to resist: It is fufficient
to suppose firmnefs to her obstinacy; a few regular
troops for these undisciplined colonies without arms.
It is fufficient that this untradable continent per
ceives in the metropolis, a serious intention of adopt
ing coercive measures towards them. They tried
the experiment; a handful of men were sent, who
could not undertake any thing; the next step was
forefeen becanfe it was natural, they embarked a
more considerable force, and in taking these hostile
measures, negociation was not neglected; fine words,
bayonets, cannon, all was equally ineffectual; the
noble Lord in the American department, promised
us to bring the rebels to unconditional submission ; that
promise is to fulfil: they sent off Geneial Gage, tell
ing him, you will be warrior or negociator as occasi
on shall require; the forces which they gave him at
the fame time, were infufficient for the purpose, and
too much to regain confidence: Gage was as unfor
tunate in negociation as he was in pitched oatties.
The new Minister undertook it —lie would have a
more active General, he chose General Howe; he
tried his forces, but was repeled, fliut up in Boston,
and in short, obliged to evacuate that place: This
trial disgusted them with those provinces; they said
that it was a mere nursery of rebels, the most intract
able of the whole, and the last to be taken into hand.
That those of the middle were not so obstinate, that
nine-tenths of their inhabitants were loyal fubjeds,
attached to the mother country, and we mull begin
there; our belt friends, had therefore the preference,
when the affair in question was, to cut people's
throats; they did not seem fatisfied with that predi
lection, they were found to be as rebellious as those
to the northward, and Howe could not beat them;
they harraffed him with so much perseverance, that
having forced him to shut himfelf up in New-York,
they never fuffered him to take an inch of ground in
that province where his successor is to this day con
fined to the fame limits; they took Rhode-Ifland,
but what did they do with this conquest: That is
a question we must ask M. de Rochambeau! Dis
gusted with the middle colonies as we were with
the northern, there was nothing left but to try those
to the southward: With fixed bayonets, and the
point of the sword, no converts are made, the major
part of the inhabitants of Georgia and South-Caro
lina were not brought back to their allegiance, but
part of them were subjugated, they took possession
ofthe two Carolinas, in the last of which they form
ed the project of subjugating North-Carolina also,
by the assistance of the numerous friends which we
have there; they made.the attempt, they penetrate
with difficulties, with infinite losses into that pro
vince; Lord Corr lis, there plants the King's
standard, gains d victory, and is afterwards
quite aftoniO himfelf surrounded by timid
friends, o- : rebels; to fee his troops in
want r very thing necessary for their
or-' .orced to give up every object of
uom the general plan ofthe campaign,
.oid bread on the sea-side, where he hopes
. from our fleet the fuccour and protection
.ch he stands in need of. He abandons the theatre
of his glory, leaves all his posts behind him, as well
as the brave men to whom he had entrusted their de
fence, to the mercy ofthe enemy. In a word, he
does not fly—but he disappears in the very moment
of victory! And they talk of hill continuing the war,
of pursuing a conquest, the impossibility of which is
manifefted in proportion to the efforts which are
made in that pursuit. Let us frankly acknowledge
that America never will be conquered by the force
of arms, let ns confefs once for all that it is loft to
ue. Terrible truth. Alas! I have foretold it an
hundred times: an hundred times I had the secret
fatisfaCtion to find that my predictions were not
ineffectual, and my arguments carried conviction to
the mind of every member that heard me; to day
again I enjoy the fame triumph, I fee clearly that J
persuade; every member thinks as I do, I will not
except the noble Lord in the blue riband, I will not
even except the other noble Lord who presides at
the American department; but if they do not agree,
all is loft, the majority which supports them will
never agree to it.
But they will ask me, when they agree to all this,
to what does my motion tend? Will you pretend to
fay that because the Americans cannot be reduced as
easily as we imagined, we must acknowledge their
independence, and purchase peace at that price? To
that I answer, that it would be purchasing it cheap,
as 1 look upon America as loft: i will not, however,
make the motion; I shall just confine myfelf to a
proposal, that the house, in a committee, make a seri
ous enquiry refpeCting the war with America; and
if, by the result of that inquiry, it Ihould appear
evident to this house, that the war is impracticable,
that it is abfolutcly without any object, that it cruel
ly torments England, then I shall propofe,,that there
be presented to His Majesty an humble address, in
order to supplicate His Majesty to inftruCthis Mini
sters, that henceforth they adopt no other measures
towards America, than those which tend to the
establishment of peace between that continent and
Great-Britain.
" My proposition differs essentially from that lately
made by Colonel Hartley, the objeCt of which was
confined to give to Ministry a power which was not
seconded by their will—that ofmaking peace. Mine
imposes it on them, as a duty, independent of their
will or intentions."
After a long debate, the question being put, there
appeared 99 tor it, and 172 against it.
PHILADELPHIA, OCt. 17.
Yesterday morning arrived here, Capt. PIERCE,
Aid-de-Camp to General GREENE, with the fol
lowing despatches for his Excellency the Prefid,ent
of Congress.
Head-Quarters, Martin's Tavern, near Ferguson's
Swamp, South-Carolina, September 11, 1781.
S I R,
IN my defpatch of the 25th of August I informed
your Excellency, that we were on our march for
Friday's Ferry, to form a junction with the State
troops and a body of militia collecting at that place,
with an intention to make an attack upon the Bri
tifti army laying at Col. Thompson's near M'Cord's
Ferry. On the 27th, on our arrival near Friday's
Ferry,! got intelligence that the enemy were retiring.
We crossed the river at Howell's Ferry, and took
post at Motte's plantation. Here I got intelligence
that the enemy had halted at the Eutaw Springs,
about 40 miles below us: and that they had a rein
forcement, and were making preparations to efta
blilh a permanent post there. To prevent this I de
termined rather to hazard an a&ion, notwithstand
ing our numbers were greatly inferior to theirs.
On the sth we began our march, our baggage and
stores having been ordered to Howell's Ferry under
a proper guard. We moved by flow and easy mar
ches, as well to disguise our real intention, as to
give General Marion an opportunity tojoin us, who
had been detached for the support of Colonel Hard
ing, a report of which I transmitted in my letter of
the jth, dated at Maybrick's Creek. General Ma
rion joined us on the evening ofthe 7th, at Burdell's
plantation, 7 miles from the enemy's camp.
We made the following disposition, and marched
at 4 o'clock the next morning to attack the enemy.
Our front line was composed of four small battali
ons of militia, two of North and two of South-Ca
rolinians; one of the latter was under the immedi
ate command of General Marion, and was posted
on the right, who also commanded the front line ;
the two North-Carolina battalions, under the com
mand of Colonel Malmady, were posted in the cen
tre, and the other South-Carolina battalion, under
the command of General Pickens, was posted on the
left. Our second line Consisted of three small bri
gades of continental troops, one from North-Caro
lina, one from Virginia, and one from Maryland.
The North-Carolinians were formed into three bat
talions, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Afli, Majors Armstrong and Blount, the whole com
manded by General Sumner, and posted upon the
right. The Virginians confided of two battalions
commanded by Major Snead and Captain Edmonds,
and the whole by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell,
and posted in the center. The Marylanders also
confided of two battalions, commanded by Lieute
nant-Colonel Howard and Major Hardman, and the
brigade by Colonel Williams, Duputy Adjutant-
General to the army, and were posted upon the
left. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee with his legion co
vered our right flank, and Lieutenant-Col. Hen
derson with the State troops, commanded by Lieu
tenant-Colonels Hampton, Middleton and Polk, our
left. Lieutenant-Col. Waihington with his horfc,
and the Delaware troops under Captain Kirkwood,
formed a corps de reserve. Two three pounders
under Captain-Lieutenant Gaines, advanced with
the front line, and two fixes under Capt. Browne
with the second.
The legion and State troops formed our advance,
and were to retire upon the flanks upon the ene
my's forming. In this order we moved on to the
attack. The legion and State troops fell in with
a party of the enemy's horse and foot about four
miles from their camp, who mistaking our people
for a party of militia charged them briskly, but were
soon convinced of their mistake by the reception
they met with, the infantry of the State troops kept
up a heavy fire and the legion in front under Capt.
Rudolph charged them with fixed bayonets, they
fled on all sides, leaving four or five dead on the
ground, and several more wounded. As this was
supposed to be the advance of the British army, our
front line was ordered to form and move on briskly
in line, the legion and State troops to take their
position upon the flanks. All the country is cover
ed with timber from the place the action began to
the Eutaw Springs. The firing began again be
tween two and three miles from the British carrip.
The militia were ordered to keep advar h 6 as
they fired. The enemy's advanced parties were
soon driven in, and a molt tremendous fire began
on both sides from right to left, and the legion and
State troops were closely engaged. General Mari
on, Colonel Malmady and General Pickens con
ducted the troops with great gallantry and good
conduct, and the militia fought with a degree of
spirit and firmnefs that reflects the highest honour
on this class of soldiers. But the enemy's fire be
ing greatly superior to ours ? and continuing to ad
vance, the militia began to give ground. The North-
Carolina brigade under General Sumner was order
ed up to their support. These were all new levies,
and had been under discipline little more than a
month ; notwithstanding which they fought with a
degree of obstinacy that would do honour to the
belt of veterans; and I could hardly tell which to
admire most, the gallantry of the officers, or the
bravery of the troops. They kept up a heavy and
well-directed fire, and the enemy returned it with
equal spirit, for they really fought worthy of a bet
ter cause, and great execution was done on both
sides. In this stage of the action the Virginians un
der Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, and the Mary
land troops under Colonel Williams, were led on to
a brilk charge with trailed arms, through a heavy
cannonade and a Shower of mulquct balls. Nothing
could exceed the gallantry and firmnefs of both of
ficers and soldiers upon this occasion—they preser
ved their order, and pushed on with such unShaken
resolution, that they bore down all before them.
The enemy were routed in all quarters. Lieute
nant-Colonel Lee had with great address, gallantry
and good conduct, turned the enemy's left flank,
and was charging them in rear at the fame time the
Virginia and Maryland troops were charging them
in front. A most valuable officer Lieutenant-Colo
nel Henderson got wounded early in the action, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Hampton, who commanded the
state cavalry, and who fortunately succeeded Lieu
tenant-Colonel Henderson in command, charged a
party of the enemy, and took upwards of 100 pri
soners.
Lieutenant-Colonel Washington brought up the
corps de reserve upon the left, where the enemy
seemed disposed to make further refinance, and
charged them so briskly with the cavalry and Capt.
Kirkwood's infantry, as gave them no time to rally
or form.
Lieutenant-Colonels Polk and Middleton, who
commanded the State infantry, were no less con
spicuous for their good conduct than their intrepi
dity ; and the troops under their command gave
specimens of what may be expected from men na
turally brave, when improved by proper discipline.
Captain-Lieutenant Gaines, who commanded the
three-pounders with the front line, did great exe
cution, until his pieces were dismounted.
We kept close at the enemy's heels after they
broke, until we got into their camp, and a great
number of prisoners were continually falling into
our hands, and some hundreds of the fugitives ran
off towards Charleftown. But a party threw them
selves into a three-story brick house which stands
near the Spring; others took post in a picquetted
garden, and in the impenetrable flirubs; and the
rear also being secured by the springs and deep hol
low ways, the enemy renewed the action.
Every exertion was made to dislodge them: Lieu
tenant-Colonel Washington made most astonishing
efforts to get through the thicket to charge the ene
my in the rear, but found it impracticable, had his
horse foot under him, and was wounded and taken
prisoner.
Four fix-pounders were ordered up before the
house, two of our own, and two of the enemy's
which they had abandoned; and they were pushed
on so much under the command of the fire from the
house and the party in the thickets, as rendered it
impracticable to bring them off again when the
troops were ordered to retire. Never were pieces
better served, most of the men and officers were
either killed or wounded.
Washington failing in his charge upon the left,
and the legion baffled in an attempt upon the right,
and finding our infantry galled by the fire of the
enemy, and our ammunition mostly consumed, tho'
officers and men continued to exhibit uncommon
aCts of heroism, I thought proper to retire out of
the fire of the house, and draw upthe troops at a little
distance from the woods, not thinking it advifeable
to push our advantages further, being persuaded
the enemy could not hold the post many hours, and
that our chance to attack them on the retreat was
better than a second attempt to dislodge them, in
which, if we succeeded, it must be attended with
considerable loss.
We collected all our wounded, except such as
were under the command of the fire of the house,
and retired to the ground from which we marched