The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette — Portsmouth, N.H., 1777-06-28 00:00:00, page 3

WILLIAMSBURG, May 36?
Lift Saturday upwards of 40 Cherokee Iti~
dians arrived in this city, among them On
canaftota & the Little Carpenter,with other
chiefs of that nation ; & on Wednesday they
had a talk at the palace, with the Governor
and Council, premising in future,the most in
vinfible friendship to this &; the other United
HARTFORD, June 23.
We hear the Honorable Congress have
ordered a< monument to be erected in this
State^to the memory of the late gallant and
venerable General WOOSTER.
From New-York we are informed, that
the Hessians continue very sickly, & die faft.
That those persons who are friendly to Ame
rican Independence, are severely treated, es
pecially by the RENEGADO AMERI
CANS, ( alias TORIES) That the French
men, taken at sea, in French or American
vessels, are confined in the Provost guard,
and treated with great cruelty ;— and that
They now fell the cargoes of the several
French vessels heretofore taken.
BOSTON, June 26.
Extract ofa Letter from Camp near Middle
Brook, dated June 14, 1777.
"We have been for many days past in con
flant expectation of being called upon to fol
low the enemy to the banks of Delaware, &
have been frequently troubled with falfe a
larnls. This morning, however, we had
certain intelligence they were on their march
and had reached to Somerset Court-house. —
Our tents were immediately ftruck,the bag
gage pack'd, and the arms paraded—the ad
vance guard under Brigadier General Scott
has marched, and we expert every moment
to follow. A choice body of rifle men under
Col. Morgan, has been upon their flanks aU
the morning, & a constant fire has been kept
up; but we have not yet been informed with
what success. Our army are all in high fpi
fits, and wishing for an opportunity to fina
lize themselves.— Tell the Boston lads they
must make haste, or they will be too late."
On Saturday Zaft arrived here, a large sloop
in 18 days Torn S:.E:rih'iz, lacr with cor
dage and fait (owned in Providence ) which
brings an account of the privateer fliip Oli
ver Cromwell, belonging to Philadelphia,
being taken by the beaver sloop of war,after
an obflinate engagement, and carried into
Antigua. The above intelligence they got
at Euftatia, two days before they failed.
We are informed, that Capt. Fdk, in the
Maflachufetts State vessel of war, has taken
and font into Cape Ann, a prize, laden with
beef and butter.
Two Or three tr% sports, wirh recruits,ar
rived at Rhode-Ingrid last Wednesday from
Europe.
Extras of a Letter from that excellent, not
too enthufiaflied Tilofopber, Father Becca
ria of Turin, to Dr. Priestly. In English.
am sorry that the political World,
which ,is so very transitory, Should take the
Great FRANKLIN from the World of Na
ture, which can never change or tail." I
own, it is with peculiar flealure, that I quote
this Paffage,refpe&ing this truly Great Man,
at a Time when some of she infatuated Po
liticians of this Country,are vainly thinking
t@build their wretched and deftru&ive Fro
je&s,on the Ruins of his established Reputa
tion : A Reputation as extensive as, the
spread of Science ufelf, and of which it is
frying very little indeed, to pronounce that
it will last and flourish when the Narites of
all his Enemies shall be forgotten.
Extract from the Preface of firft Volume
of Briefly on Air.
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman of
unquestionable Veracity, dated Camp,
near Bound Brock, June 8.
“ Our Army i^now upon so refpe&able a
Footing, that we are ready to receive Mr.
Howe,whenever he may think proper to pay
us a visit ; but this I imagine he will rather
decline in our prefect Situation, as Nature
has taken Care to throw up an aimoil inac
ceffibfeßarrier of Mountains around us,which
would give him some little Trouble, were he
to attempt to pass them.
“ The Rage of Desertion has prevailed
greatly of late in the British Army. 1 may
venture to fay, that not less than an Hun
dred have come out to the different Polls
PHILADELPHIA, June 3—7.
Extr^a of a letter from His Excellency General
WASHINGTON, to Congress, dated Head Quar
ters, Middle Brook Camp, 31st May, 1777.
<< —_J have the pleasure to communicate a very
agreeable piece of intelligence, which I have receiv
ed from General Parsons, of the dftradion of 12 of
the enemy's vessels, in Sagg Harbor, upon the east
sH of 1 00g Island I give you fats jetw atlength,
which I thlik refleSs high honeur^pon &e condua
and bravery of Colonel Meigs, hL officers and men."
New-Haven, May 2§, 1777.
DEAR GENERAL,
HAVING received information that the enemy
were collecting forage, horses, &c. on the east
end of Long Island, I ordered a detachment from the
feverai regiments then at this place, confiftiag of 1
Major, 4 Captains, viz Throop, Pond, Mansfield and
Savage, 9 Subalterns, and 220 non com&rffioned
Officers and Privates, under the command of Lieu
tenant-Colonel Meigs, to attack their different pests
on that part of the Hand, and destroy the forage, &c
which tfiey had collected. Colonel Meigs embarked
his men herein 13 whale-boats the zift instant and
proceeding to Guilford ; but the wind proving high,
and the sea rough, cduld not pass the Sound until
Friday the 23d. He left Guilford at one o'Clock
in the afternoon of the 23d, with 170 of his detach
ment, under convoy of two armed sloops, and in com
pany with another unarmed(to bring off prisoners) a
cross the Sound, to the North Branch of the island,
near Southold; where he arrived about ^ o'clock in the
evening, The enemy's troops on Bis branch of the
island had marched for New-York two days before :
But about 60 of the enemy remaining at a place call
ed Sagg Harbour, near t§ miles diffant, on the South
Branch of the island : He ordered the whale boats,
with as many as could be tanf,ort?d, across the bay,
^-m hod to the by,wbe;e fry re embarked to h?
number of 130, & at about *2 o'cDck, arrived iafe
across the bay, within about 4 miles of the harbour ;
where having fecufed the boats in he wood, under the
care of a guard,Colonel Meigs formed his little remain
ing detachment in prtyer order for attacking the dif
ferent posts. and quarters of the enemy, and Louring
the veffe's & forage at the fame rime. They marched
in the greatest order and fierce ;and at two o'clock
arrived at the harbour : The several divisions, wi b h
fixed bayonets, attacked the guards and polls aligned
them ; whilfl Captain Throop, with the detachment
under hit command, secured the vessels and forage
lying at the wharf : The alarm soon became general;
when an armed schooner of 12 gunsand 70 men,ly
ing within one hundred and fifty yards of the wharf,
began a fire upon our troops (which continued with
out cessation, for about three quarters of an hour) with
grape and round shot; but the troops, with the great
est intrepidity, returned the fire upon the schooner, &
set fire to (he vessels and forage, & killed and capti
vated all the fhldiers and fallers except about fix who
made their escape undercover of the night. Twelve
brigs and flcops, (one an armed vessel, with 12 guns)
abdut J2O tons of pressed hay, oats, corn, and other
forage, 10 hogsheads of rum, and a large quantity of
other merchandize, were inthely confuraed. He
gives me great fatisfaAion to hear the officers and
footer; without exception, behaved with the great
est bravery, 0 der and inrreprdity. Colonel Meigs
having fin ffied the buiffnefs ^1 which he was sent,
returned fafu with all his men to Guilford, by 2
o'clock, P,M.yefterday With 90 prisoners ; having in
25 hours by land and water, uarfported his men full
90 miles, and succeeded in his attempt beyond my
moil fanguinc expectations, without having a single
man killed or wounded. It gives me fingulaf plea
fu;e to hear no disposition appeared in any one sol
dier to plunder the inhabitants, or violate private
property, in the smallest degree; and that, evan the
eloathing, and other articles, belonging to the priso
ners, the foldiets, with a generofiy (not learned from
British troops) have with great chearfubefs, reftofed
to them where they have fallen into their hands.
Major Humphrey, who waits on your Excellency
with the account, was in the adton with Col. Meigs,
and will be able to give any further information. A
lift of the prisoners is inclofed.
I am your Excellency's
Most obedient humble servant,
(COPY) SAMUEL H. PARSONS.
His Excellency General Washington.
A LIST of prisoners taken at the east end of Long
Island, by Colonel Meigs.
I Captain, Raymond, z Commiflaries, Ch^w a r [|
within ten Days past. We have been joined
by some of the Carolina Troops, and many
more are on their Way. I hope our Coun
trymen will not be backward in affixing us
as soon as possible."
NEWBERN( North-Carolina) May 2, „
A few days ago the Pennsylvania Farmer, an armed
brig belonging to this state, arrived from the island
of Guadeloupe, and brings an account that twelve
fail of French line of battle ships, twelve frigates, and
a number of tranfporta, with eight thousand troops,
were certainly arrived at Martinico from Old France,
but their destination was a profound secret.
.A Negro Girl's Time to be fold
From 9 to 21 Years ; Enquire at the Print-office,
On Wedmefday the Ninth Day of July text, (iz
o'Clock A. M. at the Ceffee-Houfe in Portsmouth,
THE PRIZE SHIP CHALKLEY, with her
CARGO of LOGWOOD and MAHOGA
NY on Board. Said Ship is about 300 Tons
Burthen, Philadelphia built, well found, and a Prime
Sailor. ^An Inventory may be seen at any Time
on Board said Ship, laying at Sherburne's Whaiff.
JOHN PARKER, Sheriff,
Portsmouth, June 20th, 1777.
Wanted a Negro Girl or Boy,
From 12 to 18 Years [of Age. Enquire at the
Printing Office. ||6 ||
Bell. 10 Masters of vessels, 3 Serjeants. 1~0
poral. 45 ;Privates. 27 Se me^ 1 obldier lick,
wHofe parole was taken —6 killed. In all 96.
2d Jane, 1777 Pu^Hfhed by order of Congress.
CHARLES THOMP ON, ^^%.
It is reported, and believed, that ammunition and
cloathing are depofited,by order of a certain European
Court, at New-Orleans and the Havsnnah, with di
reftiops to lend them to such American vessels as may
call for them
The army of the United States, now in the field at
different polls, amount by an exad calculation,to near
30,000. They dre all enlisted either for three years,
or during the war.
The Supreme Executive Council of this State have
appointed Brigadier-General John Armstrong Esq;
to be a Major-General. p
By a gentleman from Charleftown,South- Carolina,
we learn, that seven armed French vessels, one o' t! era
mounting twenty guns, arrived there about the flh of
May.
FISH-KILL, June 19.
By the Western Post we are informed, that the
greater part of the Brit sh forces are moved, from
Jrur/wick to Mill-ftono ; at which place they were
encamped when he crime away ; and that General
Washington's head quarters were still at Middle
brook.
Last Sunday arrived at Cape-Ann, from Halifax,
in Nova-Scotia, 10 American Sailors, in a Whale-
Boat, who made their Escape from the Lord-Stanle,
Prif^n-Ship in that Harbour, theist Inflant. They
were part of 75 American Prisoners, that were
draughted from on board the said Prison-Ship, to
help man the Rainbow, of 44 guns; the Milford,
of 28 ; and the Cabot, of 36.
We learn by the above Men, that all the Rein
fo/Gments coming to America, from Europe, con
filled but of 4000 Men ;and that they had all failed,
h concert with a large Fleet of Victuallers.
We likewise learn, that two Transports, laden
with all Kinds of Brass Cannon, Ammunition, &t.
arrived at Halifax, some Time in May, from the
Enemy at New York.
It is said, that a large Ship from France, with *
valuable Cargo, belonging to the Continent, has
lately been taken by the enemy.
The pirate Ship of 64 Guns, (lately mentioned
to have been chafed, by Commodore Manly) with
the two Transports under Convoy, it is said, are ar
rived fafe at pirate Road, near Sandy Hoek.
General Prescott, who commands at Rhode- Island,
has, by advertisement, offered a reward of 200 dollar,,
for diicQVffing the author of a treasonable paper post
ed up in a public place in Newport.
L is asserted that a reinforcement is arrived at New-
York, but what number, or from whence, we co not
learn..
. PORTSMOUTH, June 28.
We hear that Solomon Coit is arriv'd at a
fafe Fort in a Prize Brig from Falmouth in
England, bound to New-York, laden with
Salt, Wine and Fruit, and a Quantity of the
Bark, taken by the Ship General Miffiing,
Capt. William Day, Esq; Commander.
We also hear, the McClary Privateer of
this Port, commanded by Capt. Dalling, has
sent a Prize Vessel into a fafe Port, laden
with Fish and Salt.
Last Tuesday a large Tree was fttuck by
Lightning, at Rye,and torn in pieces, many
of which were carried above 100 Feet dif*
tance from she Root of the Tree.
This Day about 7,0 Hessian Men and seven
Women, from the Eaflward, passed through
this Town on their Way to Boston.
Last Week, a Vessel bound to this Port, from Mar
tinico, was chafed ashore on the Highlands at the
Cape, by a British sea plunderer. The Cargo tea
saved.
A Gentleman from Newport (Rhode-Ifland) la^
Week, informs,That it was currently talked of there,
that Mr. Howe had determined on the Attack
of Philadelphia, at the Rifque of his whole Army 9
TO BE SOLD by PUBLIC VENDUE,