The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-08-08 00:00:00, page 2

to march to Coxheath, the only cavalry that wi^
appointed to that Camp.
BOST O N, July 19.
A cartel is fettled for an exchange of prisoners be
tween the Hate of Vermont, and Canada ; in conse
quence of which, numbers have lately been sent
from thence to that quarter.
The Marquis La Fayette privateer, has sent into
Newport, a prize ship bound from Bristol for New-
York, said to be worth gojoool. sterling.
July 23 Thursday last arrived at Newport a valu
able prize, the envoice of which amounts to 22,000].
sterling, captured by the privateer brig Marquis La
Fayette off Charleftown bar.
WORCESTE R, July 26.
Last Friday a flag arrived at Boston from Antigua.
The enemy's privateers from Penobfcot, which
continue in our bay, have lately taken feveralhome
ward bound vessels that had valuable cargoes on board.
NE W - LONDO N, July 27.
We hear, that last Wednesday fe'nnight a frigate
and fevcral armed boats went up the North-River as
far as Tarry-Town, where they landed a party of
men, who set fire to a dwelling house and barn ; —
they were attacked by a party of Col. Sheldon's
light horfc, who beat'them off and obliged them to
embark: in the action Capt. George Hurlbut of this
town, it is said, was dangerously wounded in, the
groin by a musket ball, and that several others of
the party were wounded, and a sergeant killed.
Monday last, the flbop Randolph, Captain Peck,
returned into port with the prize ship Polly, John
Webb, late master, from Bristol, bound to New-
York, 12 weeks out, which the Randolph captured
near Sand,-Hook. Her cargo consists of about 1400
barrels flour, 100 boxes window glass, a quantity of
dry goods, &c. the prize had on board the crew of
the letter of marque ship Loyal Britain, who hav
ing met with a violent gale of wind in lat. 33. about
We learn that Admiral Arbuthnot lately failed for
England in a frigate, and that the command of the
British fleet in America has devolved on Admiral
Graves.
Wednesday last Capt. Alger, in the lloop Indus
try, arrived here, in 26 days from Grenada. —He
informs, that his Molt Christian Majesty's fleet,
commanded by Count de Graffe, arrived there from
Tobago on the 10th of June, and after landing the
late Garrison of that island (contifting of between 4
and SCO British Troops) put to sea again on the
12th.
On Thursday arrived the sloop Humbird Captain
Phineas Potter, in 16 days from Cape-Francois.
Last Week two of the enemy's armed boats, from
Long-Bland, entered the eastern found. On Satur
day they took a small sloop from Nantucket, and
after plundering the hands, and a number of passen
gers that were on board, permitted her to proceed
on her vo) tge. Col. Demmick, frith some armed
Boats from Falmouth, went in quest ofthe enemy,
who had captured two or three vessels beside the
sloop above mentioned, one of them a sloop from
Grenada, bound to Salem, having some swivels
mounted; on board this veffcl the enemy had hoist
ed one of their boats. Col. Demmick came up with
her, on Wednesday last, off Nantucket, and was
brilkly fired on; but he immediately boarded and
carried her. The enemy had one man killed, and
another wounded. The largest of the boats made
her escape.
July 21. A Gentleman from Boston informs, that a
flag of truce arrived there from Antigua on Thursday
last, after apaffage of 18 days, with a number of mas
ters of velfelson board, who had been prisoners at that
island. His Molt Christian Majesty's fleet, under
the orders of Count de Grarfe, was said to be at
Dominica when the above flag failed, and the Bri
tish fleet at Barbadoes.
We learn that a flag of truce from New-York,
bound to Newport, arrived at Fiber's island last
Wednesday evening, where the landed 2 perlons be
longing to Connecticut. She had an board about
20 other Americans, to b- landed at Newport. The
flag we are informed left New-York on Tucfday
morning last. —
N E WP O R T, July 4.
Head-Quarters, Phillipfburgh, Friday, July 6,1781.
“ Th # con mander in Chief with pleasure embra
ces 1 cariieft publick opportunity, of expressing his
tha to his Excellency the Count de Rochambeau,
so : unremitting zeal with which he has profecu
td .is march, in order to form the long w,fhed
f>ijunction between the French and American forces.
“ An event which muff afford the highest degree
of fatisfattion to every friend of his country, and
from which the happiest con sequences are to be ex
pected.
" The General entreats his Excellency the Count
de Rochambeau, to convey to the officers and foi
diers under his immediate command, the grateful
sense he entertains of the cheerfulnefs with which they
have performed so riong and laborious a march at
this extreme hot season.
" The regiment of Saintonge is entitled to pecu
liar acknowledgments for the spirit with which they
continued and supported their march without one
day's respite."-
PROVIDENCE, July 14.
On Sunday evening, the 15th inst. two Hoops of
war, two tenders and one galley, all British, came
up Hudson's river, with intention, as is supposed,
to destroy the stores then moving from Weft-Point
.to the army. There were at that time two Hoops
going down the river, laden with cannon, powder,
&c. As soon as they difeovered the enemy, they
put about and stood in for Tarry-Town, where they
ran aground ; the enemy having a fair wind and tide,
came up the river so faft that it was impossible to
march infantry down, in time to unload or protest
the stores ; there were no troops at Tarry-town, ex
cept a sergeant's guard of the French infantry. Col.
Sheldon (whose regiment lay at Dobb's ferry) im
mediately marched his mounted dragoons to the
place, where he ordered his men to dismount and
assist to unload the stores, which was done with great
dispatch : By this time, the enemy having come to
anchor off Tarry-town, began a heavy cannonade,
under cover of which, they sent two gun boats and
four barges to destroy the vessels, &c. Capt Hurl
bert, of the 2d regiment light dragoons, was station
ed on board one of them with twelve dragoons,
armed only with piftok and swords; he kept his men
concealed till the enemy were along fide, when he
gave them a fire, which they returned and killed one
of his men: Capt. Hurlbert finding himfelf sur
rounded, ordered his men to jump overboard and
make for the shore, which they did, he following:
The enemy immediately boarded and set fire to the
vessels; but were obliged immediately to retire, ow
ing to the severe fire that was kept up by the dra
goons and French guard. Capt. Hurlbert, Capt.
The following agreeable and interesting intelligence
from Tryon county, from authority which renders
it indisputable, would have been given to the
publick last week, but the printer was disappoint
ed in publishing a paper as he expected.
On the 10th inst. on the discovery of a great
smoke, by Col. Willet, who commands the levies at
Fort Rensselaer, towards the settlement of Corey's
Town, Capt. Gross (who had been sent with a de
tachment of 35 men to Thurloch, about eleven miles
from Corey's Town' was ordered immediately to
repair to Corey's . a r n to make difeoveries, at
which place he arrived in time to extinguish several
houses which the enemy had set on fire. —In the
mean time Col. Willet ordered in such of the militia
of the neighbourhood as he could coiled, and hav
ing received particular information of the place where
the enemy had lain the night before, and where they
had left part of their baggage, marched with the
militia and levies under his immediate command, in
the evening, in hopes of reaching them before day
light; which he would have effected, had it not been
for the darkness of the night, and his guide miffing
the way—this prevented his reaching their encamp
ment before fix in the morning. They having dis
covered him on his approach, took a more advan
tageous position and commenced an attack, which
was returned with great spirit, and soon became
general; and upon our troops advancing to close
quarters, the enemy were compelled to give way ;
but Ihortly after, renewed the action on the right of
our troops, where C '. M'Kean, who commanded
the reserve, met and opposed them with such spirit,
that a total rout ensued---and the enemy dispersing
in small parties, seeking fafety in flight---The acti
on laded an hour and a half---the best account of
the enemy's force is, that they confined of upwards
of 2oe---our's was far inferior to that number. Our
loss in killed, was 5, miffing and wounded 9 ; among
the latter was the brave Capt. M'Kean, who is since
dead of his wounds, deservedly much regretted---the
enemy's loss cannot be afeertained, but it is not left
than forty, as great part of that number, were found
dead on and near the place of action. Col. Willet,
and the officers and troops under his command,
merit the highest applause, for their gallant and spi
rited behaviour on this occasion ; and great advan
tages may be expected from the event, as it will tend
to damp the spirit of enterprise in our savage enemy.
lift inst. had I.—A qua?
were taken out of faiu liup.
By the above prize we have British papers to the
17th of April, but they contain no news of impor
tance.
Last Sunday several large parties from General
Washington's army, scoured the country from the
encampment to Morriffania, Frogg's-point, &c. at
tacked and drove in the enemy's guards, took a
number of prisoners, and brought off all the cattle
and dock in that quarter.
Wednesday a cartel, sent from New-York with
39 American prisoners, arrived here. After landing
the above prisoners the cartel proceeded to Newport,
with several French gentlemen which came from
New-York in the veilel.
The Rattlesnake 'vateer, belonging to the east
ward, was carried :/ New-York about a fortnight
ago.
Wednesday arrived the letter of marque schooner
Arbuthnot, of 10 guns, bound from New-Yorli to
Newfoundland, laden with tobacco and salt, captur
ed by the brig Minerva, Capt. D. Saltonftall, from
this port, and the ship Rising-Sun from Philadelphia.
The sloop Conquest, Capt. Friars, from this port,
is arrived at Cape Francois.
POUGHKEEPSIE, July 30.
FIS H-K I L L, July 26.
Tut. Miles, quartermaster Shaylor, and 0
jumped into the river and made for the flooi
order to extinguish the fire; which they did
saved tbe vessels: While in the water, Capt I
bert received a musket-ball through the thigh
.is now in a fair way to do well.—About day.
Gen. Howe arrived with a division of troops
some artillery ; a battery was opened on the en
which obliged them to flip their cables and fail (
the river about two miles, where they continue
Tuesday about noon ; when Gen. Howe again op
a battery on them, and obliged them to make fa
the river: They continued near Taller's point
Thursday, during which they sent their gun-b
on shore, and burnt the elegant house 0. cam-,
bert, at Haverlfraw. About noon, the enemy,
ing advantage of a fair wiru and tide, made fail
stood down the river ; when coming near Dobb's
ry, (where we had erected a battery of two 18 pc, .
ders, two French brass 12, and 7 half inch how
we commenced a heavy fire on them from the wo
on both sides of the river; they returned the ;
but did not the least damage. The largest of
enemy's ships sustained the greatest damage; m..
Biot were fired through her; one of our shells bu
ing on board her, threw them into great confufic
18 or 20 of their men jumped overboard, three
four of whom swam on shore, and the rest arc fi
posed to be drowned.
Last Saturday Col. Sheldon's dragoons went
Frog's Neck and Moriflania, and brought offl
wards 200 horned cattle; a considerable number
horses, hogs, sheep, &c. said to be Col. Delance
property, which he had plundered from the niha
tants, in order to fatten and tell to the New-Yc
butchers; a profitable trade he has pradifed a 1c
time.
Extraft of a letter from a gentleman in Capt. Moo
troop of Baltimore light-dragoons, dated Hea
Quarters, Hdlt's-Forge, New-Kent county, We
nefday, July it, 1781.
" Cornwallis having encamped near James-Town,
the Marquis sent General Wayne, with the Penn
sylvania line, to take their station within a small
distance of the British army, and watch their moti
ons. About 300 riflemen occupied the ground be
tween General Wayne and Lord Cornwallis, who
were directed to scatter themselves in the woods,
without order, and annoy the enemy's camp. This
they did with such effect, that a small party was sent
out against them, to dislodge them ; each fide con
tinuing to reinforce, at length the whole of General
Wayne's' division were engaged ; they drove the ad
vanced detachments back to their lines, and with
out flopping there, attacked the whole British army,
drawn up in order of battle, and charged them with
their bayonets.—The action was obfrinate for the
little time it lasted; big the disproportion of num
bers was too great. —The Marquis arrived in person,
time enough to order a retreat, and to bring off the
Pennfylyania troops, before they were surrounded,
which the enemy were endeavouring to effrct, being
able greatly to outflank them. —Cornwallis did not
pursue them more than about half a mile in the re
treat, apprehending that the rest of our army were
near enough to fapport them, and not choosing to
risk a general engagement. —We loft two field pieces,
which could not be brought off, all the horses be
longing to them being killed. Captain Savage did
great execution with a third field-piece under his
command, situate in such a manner as to rake, with
grape-fliot, a solid column of the enemy on their
march, with which he cut lanes through them, and
repeatedly drove them back with the utmost confu
fion.—The riflemen and light-infantry were of great
service, and gave the enemy some very heavy and
well directed fires.—The whole of our troops which
were engaged that day, did not amount to more than
1100. —Wayne's division loft 107 privates and non
commissioned officers, killed, wounded and miffing,
and 12 commissioned officers; among the last Capt.
Stakes, wounded in the leg, and Capt Cunningham
in the foot, both fligbtly. Of about 40 of the woun
ded, whom I have leen, but one is thought dange
rous. We fuffered no loss of any consequence, ex
cept in General Wayne's division,
" The British, immediately after the action, which
ended about 9 o'clock in the evening, crossed James-
River. The whole army were crossed over by the
morning excepting a part of their light-horse, for
which they had boats ready to bring them over in
stantly, in case of an emergency.—Saturday after
noon, or evening, they crossed also.
" Those of our wounded, who were left on the field,
to the number of about 25, were treated by the ene
my with more humanity than usual, and were left
behind.
" Cornwallis finding, among the killed and wound
ed, none but the Pennsylvania line, from that cir
cumstance, and the information of his prisoners,
learned, that only that line, with a few riflemen and
light-infantry, had been in the action, and found grea
ter cause of chagrin, that such a handful of men
should have made so spirited an attack on his army,
than of exult'ation for having repulsed them.
“ It is said a part of their troops are embarking
for New-York, that a garrison will be left at Ports
mouth, and the rest probably go to the Southward.
The Marquis is moving up James-River.
“ J had the pleasure cf feeing the Marquis i-
BALTIMORE, July 24.