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

From the LONDON GAZE I 1 E.
Admiralty-Office, June 14, 1781.
±xtra# of a letter from Capt. Hope, Commander of bis Ma
jeflj's ship the Iphigenia, to Mr. STEPHENS, dated Tinmoutb
Roads, July 4, 1781.
YN the afternoon of the 2d of this month, Flambrough
I Head S. W. about 11 leagues, 1 fell in with and took the
£ American Union, a privateer belonging to Dunkirk, com
manded by Christopher Codnor, mounting 6 three pounders,
and 19 men; he had been out of Dunkirk four days and
had taken nine prizes; one he had sent in, and had ransomers
on board tor the rest ; the matter and most # ,>f the crew ap
pear to be Englishmen, though they call themselves Ameri
cans. It appears by his log-book that, since the 12th of
May, he has ransomed vessels to the amount of 59101. besides
prizes manned and sent into Dunkirk. The Fury parted with
me during the chace to chafe a cutter, that was following the
lugger, when we firft saw her.
Whitehall, June 23; 1781,
Extras of a Letter from Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. to Lord
George Germain, otte of His Majefy's Principal Secreta
ries of State, received by Col. Leland, <vbo arrived m the
'Tbywie Packet, 'which left Sand,-Hook the 2,7 th of May.
My Lord, New-York, May 18, 1781.
I AM happy in being able to congratulate your Lordship on
the very important success which the King's troops in Vir
ginia have had on their late expedition to Peterfburgh, &c.
(as defcribod in Brigadier-General Arnold's letter) which
mutt ultimately be productive of the very best consequences
to his Majesty's service; as it is creditably reported that the
greater part of the tobacco collected there was French pro
perty, and almoit their entire annual remittance.
Extract of Brigadier-G'eir ral ARNOL d'j letter to Sir Hen RY
Clinton.
SI 11, Peterfourgb, Ma, 12, 1781.
I Ahf extremely sorry to inform your Excellency, that
Major-General Phillips is reduced so low by a fever, which
fazed him on the 2dirritant, that he is incapable of bufihcfs,
and the Phylicians are not without fears for his fafety. In
this fituation ± I think it Trey duty to transmit to your Excel
lency, by express, a detail of the proceedings of the army
under the orders cf Major-General Phillips lince they left
Portsmouth, which his indisposition prevented him from
doing as he intended.
On the 18th of April the light-infantry, part of the 76th
and 80th regiments, the Queen's Rangers, Yagers, and Ame
rican Legion, embarked at Portsmouth, and fell down to
Hampton Road; on the 19th proceeded up James River to
Bud-well's Ferry; on the 20th Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrom
bie, with the hght-infantry, proceeded up the Cbickahomany
in boats; Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, with a detachment,, to
York; Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas, with another detach
ment, la ided at the mouth of the Chickahoinany; and Ma
jor-General Phillips and myfelf landed with part of the army
at Williamfburgh, where about 500 militia were ported, who
retired upon our approach. The militia at York croifed the
pver before the arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, who
made a few prisoners, spiked and destroyed some cannon, and
next day returned to Williamfburgh.
On the aid the troops marched to Chickahomany. We
nvere met on the road, five miles from the mouth of the river,
by Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas, with his detachment. This
evening the troops, cavalry, artillery, &c. were reimbarked.
The next morning we were joined by Lieutenant-Colonel
Abercrombie, with the light-infantry, who had been ten or
twelve miles up the Chickahomany, and destroyed several
armed Blips, the date fliip-yards, warthoufes, See.
At ten o'clock the fleet weighed and proceeded up the
James-River, within four miles of Weftover.
The 24th, weighed anchor at eleven, and ran up to City
Point, whercthe troops, Ac, were all landed at fix, iuThe
evening.''-
The 25th marched at ten o'clock for Peterfbiirgh, where
we arrived about five P. M, We were opposed about one
mile from town by a body of militia ,under the orders of Bri
gadiei -General Muhkmhurg, fappoted to be about one thou
find,men, who were foop obliged to retire over- the bridge
with the lofa of near one hundred men killed and wounded,
as we have since been informed; our loss only one man kil
led and ten wounded. The enemy took up the bridge, which
prevented our pursuing them.
26th. beftroyed at Peterfburgh four thousand hogsheads
of tobacco, one ship and a number of final! vessels on the
flocks' and in the river.
27th. Major-General Philips, with the light - infantry,
part of the cavalry of the Queen's Rangers, and part of the
Yagers, marched to Cherterfield Court-Hoyfe, where they
burnt a range of barracks for two thousand men, and three
hundred barrels of flour, &c.
The fame day I marched to Osborn's with the ,6th and
80th regiments, Queen's -Rangers, part of the Yagers, and
American Legion, where we arrived about noon. Finding
the enemy had a very eonfiderable force of Blips four miles
above Osborn's drawn up in a line to oppofc uq J sent a flag
to the Commodore, proposing to treat with him for the sur
render of his fleet, which he refufed, with this answer, "That
he was determined to defend it to the laß extremity." I im
mediately ordered down two fix and two three pounders,
brass field pieces, to a bank -of the river, nearly level with
the water, arid within one hundred yards of the Tempest, a
twenty gun State ihip, which began immediately to fire upon
us, as did the Renown of twenty-fix guns, the Jefferfon, a
State brigantine of fourteen guns, and several other armed
ihips and brigantines. About two or three hundred militia
on the opposite foory, at the fame time kept up a heavy fire
of mufquetry upon us ; Notwithstanding which, the fire
of the artillery, under the direction of Captain Fage and
lieutenant Rogers, took fitch place, that the ihips were soon
obliged to Bribe their colours,.and the militia drove from
the opposite shore. Want of boats, and the wind blowing
hard, prevented our capturing many of the seamen, who
took to their boats, and escaped on shore ; but not without
firft scuttling and fctting fire to fume of their flips, which
could not be laved.
Two ihips, three brigantines, five sloops, and two fchoo
neis, loaded with tobacco, cordage, flour, &c. &c. fell into
our hands..
Four ships, five brigantines, and a number of small vef
tels, were funk and burnt. On board the whole fleet (none
of which escaped) v ere taken and destroyed about two thou
sand hogsheads of tobacco, &c. &c. &ch and very fortunate
ly we had not a man killed or wounded this day; but have
reason to believe the cnem) r Buffered considerably. About
rive o'clock #. >l. we were joined by Major-General Philips,
with the light-infantry..
28th. The troops remained' at Osborn's, waiting for boats
from the fleet ; part of them were employed in securing the
prizes, and carrying them to Osborn's as a place of fafety.
29th. The boats having arrived; the troops were put in
motion. Major General Phillips marched with the main body,
at the fame time 1 proceeded up the river, with a detach
ment in boats; and met him between Cary's mills and War-
Vfck.
European Intelligence.
30th. The troops marched to Mancheftcr, and destroyed
, twelve hundred hogmeads of tobacco. The Marquis de Fay
ette having arrived with his army at Richmond, opposite to
Mancheßer, the day before, and being joined by the militia
drove fiom Peterfburgh and Williamfburgh, they were fpeCta
tors of the conflagration, without attempting to molest us.
The lame evening we returned to Warwick, where we de-
Broyed a magazine of 500 barrels of flour, and Col. Cary's
fine mills were destroyed in burning the magazine of flour.
We also burnt several warehouses, with one hundred and fifty
hogsheads of tobacco, a large Blip end a brigantine afloat,
and three vessels on the flocks, a large range of public rope
walks and store-houses, and some tan and bark-houses full of
hides and bark./
May ift. Marched to Osborn's, and dispatched our prizes
and boats down the river; and in the evening marched to
Bermuda Hundreds, opposite City Point.
May 2d. Embarked the troops, &c. &c.
May 3d. Fell down the river to Weftover.
May 4th. Proceeded down to Tappahannock.
sth & 6th. Part of the fleet fell down to Hog-Island.
7th. Major General Phillips having received a letter from
Lord Cornwallis, orders were given for the fleet to return op
the river again. We arrived at Brandon about five o'clock,
and moB of the troops, cavalry, &c. were landed this evening,
though it blew a gale of wind.
May Bth. # Remained at Brandon. Major General Phillips
being very ill, and unable to travel on horseback, a poft
chaife was procured for him.
May 9th. The light infantry, and part of the Queen's
flangers, in boats, were ordered, with the Formidable and
Spitfire, to proceed to City Point, and land there. The rest
of the army were put in motion for Peterfburgh, where they
arrived fate' in the night, having marched near thirty miles
this day.
On our leaving Bermuda Hundred, and going down the
" ie Marquis de Fayette, with his army moved towards
vV Bhamiburgh, and by forced marches had eroded the Chic
kanomany at Long Bridge, when our ffeet returned to Bran
don ; which retr,ogade motion of ours occasioned him to re
tiniF as rapidly by forced marches to Osborne's where he ar
rived the Bth, and was preparing to cross the river to Peterf
butgn, wnen we arrived there, which was so unexpected,
that we surprised and took two Majors, (one of them Aid de
Camp to Baron Stnbens, the other to General Smallwood) one
Captain, and three Lientenarrts of Dragoons; two Lieute
nants of foot, a Com miliary, and a Surgeon: Some of these
Gentlemen arrived only two hours before vs, with an inten
tion of collecting the boats for the Marquis to cross his army.
On the loth the Marquis made his appearance on the op
pohte fide of the river with a strong escort, and having staid
"o *° reconnoitre our army, returned to his camp at
Ciboias; and we are this day informed he is marched to
'"°"°"'. where, it is taid, Wayne with the Pennsylvania
me has arrived; this is however uncertain, but he is certain
ly expected there..
p An expiefs paßcd through this place the day before our ar
rival here, who left Halifax on the 7th, and informed that
the advance of Lord Cornwallis's army arrived there that
11101 rung ; 1 his report we have from several quarters, and
I am inclined to believe it is true.—Several exprefles have
Been lent . to his: Lordfllip, informing him of our being here
ready to co-operate ^ ith his Lordihip.—We are in anxious
expectation of having p^rticul^r intelligence horn him every
minute..'
t " 3 '°°r° as * is red " ced to 2 certainty that Lord Cornwallis
nas crossed the Roanoke; and is on his march for this place,
tire ai my will advance one or two days march from lienee to
arm' ^'' C ^ 2 '"PP'Z °f provisions for his
A eonfiderable magazine of flour and bread has fallen into
out hands near this place,, and the country abounds with
cattle.
Major-General Pbilhp; is so weak and low, that it will be
°J" c ccuhderable time before he can go through the fatigue
°„.,''""} "'"" s critical situation lam happy to have the
afliftance 0, so many good and experienced officers with me,
commanding corps. I have the Honour to be, &c.
Signed B. ARNOLD.
Admiralty-Office, June 30.
'*'r°? °f a Letter from C«pt, William Pierre Williams,
bis Majeft, jfQ &y% to Mr« STEPH^XS, dated Spitbead,
sane 27, 1781,
.'/"j."''3d °' May I failed from Port Mahon, in company
withJus Maiefty's ihip Crefc^ with an invent to get through
the gut as soon as .pebble,
• y l ,.? ri hng & of the 23d, at day-light, we discovered
eight.fail or square rigged MRls to windward of us; about
''' Plainly discovered they were a Spanish squadron,
c<)ulmmg pt a 74 gun ship, four xebecks, an armed ihip, and
bombs, which we were informed a day or two preceding,
""' '° r Gibraltar. At the fame time the Spanish
Commodore made the fign/J to chace, and bore down upon
US his whole force. At nine he made another signal,
and ue of his squadron hauled for thoSpanifh shore, while, he
in the 74, with the two xebecks of 36 guns, continued to
pursue us. About eleven one of the xebecks got within gun
, „. thc Crescent, and a running fire, in which bk Majes
ty s Blip received no damage, continued between them for
upwards of three hours. Between two and three in the after
noon, finding the Crescent closely pursued by the xebeck,
and apprehensive an accident might happen to occasion her
falling into the enemy's hands, I Shortened fail, luffed up,
and diopped with the flora in between them, giving the lat
''S "'"" guns f could bring to bear upon her; and when I
the Credent well out of reach of the enemy, I made
fail after her. I had the misfortune to lose one man, arid the
aim of another, fi-pm their too great eagfrnefs in loading their
gun without dunging it. Between four and five the xebeck
brought-to, to repair feme damage she had received from the
Cieicent in her masts and rigging, and to give the Commo
dore* who was feme diftaiice a-stern, an opportunity of com
ing up with her. At fix they renewed the chace; but we,
altering our course in the night, saw nothing of them the day
following. This event drove us back as far as Cape Palos, off
which we cruized for two days. Meeting with nothing but
neutral vessels, we stood over for the Barbary shore, and,
taking every advantage of @e wind, arrived off Gibraltar the
29th. At five in the morning we brought to off the rock, to
apprize General Elliott ofthe Spanish squadron. I then stood
over towards Ceuta, in company with the Crescent, to make
two large Blips weriiad observed at day-break to windward of
us, Difeovering them to be Dutch frigates, we prepared our
(hips for immediate action ; but the wind increasing in the gut
to a Borm, obliged us to wait a more fhvouiable opportunity.
At levci iin the evening the gale abated, and the next morn
ing the sea was considerably fallen. Having kept the enemy
in fight all night, at day-break we edged towards them, and
at five commenced the a&ion, Ihip against Ihip, within a ca
ble's length of each other, which was continued without in
termdfion for two hours and a quarter, when our adversary
Bruck her colours. She proved to be the Castor frigate, of
Rottc rdam, commanded,by Captain Peter Melvill, mounting
26 twelve and ;o fix pounders; her complement confining of
230 men. • °
As soon as the damages of the three ships were repaired in
the best manner we were able, which employed us five days
we proceeded on our passage without interruption, till the
igth instant; when, early in the morning, in lat. 47. N.
10n ^ 6: 30 W. being in chafe of a privateer brig, which
dogged us all night, and part of the preceding day, I disco
vered, upon the clearing away of a fquaH y two ships to
windward edging towards me ; whereupon I veered Blip, and
returned to the Crescent and Castor, flattering nryfelf the ap
pearance of our force united would check the ardour of their
pursuit ; but hr this I was mistaken; they Bill continued the
chafe, encouraged, I have no doubt, by the difatfed appear
ance of my consorts, and gained upon us very fart. Confci.
ous of our actual want of Brength, I did not think it advife
able to hazard an adion. and my officers were unaarmonfiy
of the fame opinion. Each ffiip therefore Shaped a different
course, and about one o'clock, p. M. I had the mortificati
on to fee the Carter retaken by one of the frigates, which fi
red a gnn and hotted French colours, though till that mo
ment they' had chafed under Engliffi. The other frigate,
not being able to come up with the Flora, bore away about
.three o'clock, after the Crescent, and, as the night was clear,
I ani very apprehensive she shared the fame fate as the Carter.
11 /hen their Lordfliips reflect how reduced the complement
of his Majesty's ships were by the loss ofthe killed and woun
ded, and from the number of men sent on board the prize,
viz. 38 from the Flora, and nearly the fame number front
the Crescent, (which men were constantly employed at the
pumps to keep the Blip free) I flatter myfelf they will acquit
me of having adted improperly on this occasion.
N. B. The Flora had 36 guns, and 270 men; the Crescent
2,8 guns, and 200 men.
C°/% °f « Letter from the Honourable Captain Pakenham, of
bis eHajfyjfbip the Crescent, to Captain WILLIAMS. , of the-
Flora, dated at Sea, the May, 1181.
SIR,
I HAVE the mortification to inform you, that, after n
a'"' 2l ? „°f two hours and twenty minutes, the ahfolute im
possibility of fighting longer, reduced me to the difirefling ex
tremity of surrendering to a Dutch frigate of fupcrior force,
his Majesty's ship I had the honour to command. The dis
abled Bate of our opponent prevented his being able to take
poffcffion; and the flrip is retaken by having drifted down
under your protection, I request you will fend an officer to
command her, until my conduct has been investigated by a
Court-Martial, 'though the quarter-deck, foi ecafde, and
four of the main deck guns, were disabled, and our head
yards and foils were shot away early in the engagement, I
had no reason to apprehend that the contert would have end
ed so unfavourably ; but the wreck of our main, mizen-maft
and booms, falling into the waist, rendered useless all the
guns before the main-mart, as well as loft all government of
the ship; and o^r being to leeward left us no chance of get
ting on board him; in this situation ihe fell round off with
her Bern, expofcd to the enemy's broadside ; when having
no guns to fight, and not a yard of canvas to fit, I deter
mined, with the unanimous, advice of the officers, to strike
his Majesty's colours. The petition which I was obliged to
take to engage our enemy close along-fide, was exceedingly
disadvantageous with refpeCt to the other Dutch frigate, who
did us some material damages, by taking us in tlic course of
the action ; we, however, omitted an opportunity of returning
her fire, when our guns could do no execution. The uni 9
verfal alertuefs and intrepidity of the King's officers and
ship's company, merit my warmest acknowledgements; and
it concerns me excessively to acquaint you, that (though no
exaCt returns have yet been made) the number of killed and
wounded must, to a certainty, exceed eighty. Among the
killed is Captain Hayward, and among the wounded Lieu
tenant Elley; both officers, whose behaviour, on this uufor-.
tunate occasion, excite my admiration.
Admiralty-Office, July 3, r?Br.
Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant Haynes, cf the Crater
c "'f, " ^idmiral Sir I homas Py e, Commander in Chief
of bis Najef, s /hips at Pargyoatb} dated off LeacL'j lima,
'January 30, 1781.
, ()N the 29th, at four in the morning, we law a cut' er close
in with the And near Shoreham, and at fcveu took hit. She
The adion between the Crescent and Brill, a fi.; frrf p
fame rate as the Castor, mounting 26 twelve, "'
four pounders, continued feme minutes longer;
lucky shot carrying away the main and mizen niaft^ -
Crescent, and the wreck falling within board, wh er ' ^
guns were rendered useless, and the ihip ungovernable o'
tain.Pakenham, as you will observe by the inelofed "''
duccd to the disagreeable necessity of fa-iking the Kit !'
Tours. Seeing her situation, we, with great difficult,, 8 "
our Chip's head towards her, and by that means prevent £ ot
enemy taking poffeffiop of her, who made off in tI A I
manner they could. Had our disabled Bate been fuel, " ft l
have permitted us to have pursued, the bad condition
Crescent and Caßor (both which ihips,made between €
and five stet water an hour) would have rendered ^+\
unjuhifiable. a |
7 he Beady and resolute behaviour of my officers and
on this occanou, merits my warmest praise and admirati^'
and 1 hope will recommend them to their Lordibips favour"'
It would be doing injustice to the merit of Captain Pfo
bam, his officers, and fhip's company, if I concluded
letter, without acknowledging they did as much as men
do to support the dignity of the British flag, till that unfa'
tunate accident, which deprived them of every mean< #
'V""^'', ld the success that would otherwise have attend
c , ^J. " rd ' mo ^ have received eonfiderable damage fm, 'I
the Creicent; her main-mast was fcen to go by the '
early in the afternoon. 9 f b ° aid
1 beg you will acquaint their Lordflfe, that I took n fr
me to recommission his Ma : cftv's Blip the Crescent and^
pointed my firft Lieutenant, Mr. John Bligh, to the c^'
mand of her; reinstating the rest of the officers; and th^
Lieutenant Ellery, feeond Lieutenant of the said ihip
ing hnce died of the wounds he received in action, lh' % ?
appointed M r . Peter Creed, Master of the Flora, whom'i
strongly recommended to their Lordihips for promotion after
toe action with the Nymph, to Succeed him; which Beps' j
hope their Lordihips will approve. In my own Ship I have
appointed Mr. John Evans to adt as third Lieutenant
young man who has Served his time in the navv, and whoi's
very deserving of promotion.
1 he following is an account of the killed and wounded H
board his Majesty's frigates Flora, Crescent, mid the Dutch
frigate Carter."
Flora, 9 killed, and 32 wounded. Among the latter \
Lieutenant Poffel of the Marines; Mr. Stewart, Gunner
who I fear will not Survive; and Mr. Hutchinson, M&X
Mate.—Eighteen have since died of their wounds.
Crescent, 26 killed, 67 wounded. Among the former is
greatly to be regretted, Captain Hayward of the navv, who
vo ' un t eer in the Crescent, ano fell diftinguilhing him
felf in a most gallant manner. The latter, Lieutenant Ellerv
Second of the Crescent, who died a few days after the wound
he received; as also one of the Seamen.
Cailor, 22 killed, and 41 wounded. Among the farmer
was their Officers of Marines. 11 of the latter are since dead
lam sorry to add to this letter a cirtumßance which
me infinite Concern.'