The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-06-28 00:00:00, page 1

PHILADELPHIA, June 17.
Laji Wednesday evening arrived Lieutenant Colonel
Terrtant, nvith the following Dfpatcbes from Major-
General Lincoln to Congress.
S I R, Charleftown, May 24, 1780.
nriHE enclosed papers will inform Congress of
I each important circumstance which has oc
■ curred in this department since I did my
„l felf the honor to write them on the 9th ult.
by Mr. Cannon.
They will hereby observe, that after every effort
and exertion made by a handful of brave troops, con
tending with numberless hardships and difficulties,
(to all which they mart chearfully submitted) we
were reduced to the fad necessity of treating with Sir
Henry Clinton, and acceding to the terms of capitu
lation, which accompany this letter.
I Shall net at present go into a detail of the matter
as I exped to reach Congress before this—but Ihould
I not, Lieutenant Colonel Tcrnant, who is the bear
er of this letter, will be able to give a minute Rate of
things: I must beg leave therefore to refer Congress
to that gentleman, and to allure them, that his Ready
attention to duty, and zeal for the service, entitle
him to every refpctt.
I have the honor to be, with the highest regard
and esteem, your Excellency's most obedient
servant, B. LINCOL N.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ternant will be able to inform
Congress what has caused so much delay in getting
off the d'fpatches.
His Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq.
President of Congress.
No. I.
Camp, before Charleftown, April Toth, 1780.
SIR Henry Clinton, K. B. General and Command
er in Chief of his Majesty's forces, in the colonies
lying on the Atlantic, from Nova Scotia, &c. &c. &c.
and Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, Commander in Chief
of his Majesty's Ships in North-America, &c. &c. &c.
regretting the effufion of blood, and the diftrellcs
which mult now commence, deem it consonant to
humanity to warn the town and garrison of Charlef
town of the havock and delolation with which they
are threatened from the formidable force Surround
ing them by land and sea.
An diternative is offered at this hour to the inha
bitants of saving their lives and property (contained
in the town) or of abiding by the fatal confequenccs
of a cannonade and Itorm.
Should the place, in a fallacious security, or its
commander in a wanton indifference to the fate of its
inhabitants, delay the surrender ; or Ihould publick
stores or (hipping be destroyed, the resentment of an
exasperated soldiery may intervene, but the fame mild
and compiffionate offer can never be renewed.
The refpe<ftive commanders who hereby summons
the town, do not apprehend so ralh a part as further
refinance will be taken ; but rather that the gates will
be opened and themselves received with a degree of
confidence, which will forebode farther reconciliation.
H. CLINTON.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT.
To the Commanding Officer in Charleftown.
No. 11.
Head-Quarters, (Charleftown) April 10, 1780.
Gentlemen,
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
IHAVE received your summons of this date. Sixty
days have passed since it has been known that your
intentions against this town were hottile, in which,
'time has been afforded to abandon it; but duty and
inclination point to the propriety of lupporting it to
the lad extremity.
I have the honor to be, your Excellency's
humble servant, B. LINCOLN.
-General Clinton, and
Admiral Arbuthnot.
No. 111.
S I R, Charleftown, April 21, 1780.
I AM willing to enter into the consideration of terms
of capitulation —if such can be obtained as are ho
nourable for the army, and fafc for the inhabitants.
I have to propose a cessation of hostilities for fix hours,
for the purpose of digesting such articles.
I nave the honor to be, your Excellency's
obedient servant,
(Signed) B. LINCOLN.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton.
No. IV.
SIR, Camp before Charleftown, April it, 1780.
ADMIRAL Arbuthnot, who commands the fleet,
Should have been addressed jointly with me upon
this occasion.
As I with to communicate with him, and as I give
my consent to a cessation of hostilities for fix hours, I
derirc an Aid de Camp may pat's to the ships with a
[Vol. lII.]
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 1780.
letter, and my request that the battery on James island
may delilt firing. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) 11. CLINTON.
Major-General Lincoln.
No. V.
Articles of Capitulation proposed by Major-Gen. Lincoln.
Art. I. That all alts of hostility and works Shall
cease between the naval and land forces of Great-Bri
tain and America, in this Rate, until the articles of
capitulation Ihall be agreed on, signed and executed,
or collectively rejected.
2. That the town, forts, and fortifications belong
ing to them, Ihall be Surrendered to the Commander
in Chief of the Britilh forces such as they now Itand.
3. That the several troops garrisoning the town and
forts including the French and American sailors, the
French invalids, the North-Carolina and South-Ca
rolina militia, and such of the Charleftown militia as
may choose to leave this place, Ihall have thirty-fix
hours to withdraw to Lampriere's after the capitu
lation has been accepted and ligned on both Sides—
and that those troops Ihall retire with the usual ho
nours of war, and carry off during that time their
arms, field artillery, ammunition, baggage, and such
of their stores as they may be able to tianfport.
4. That after the expiration of the thirty-fix hours
mentioned in the preceding article, the Britilh troops
before the town Ihall take polleflion of it, and those
now at Wappetaw ihall proceed to Fort Moultrie.
5. That the American army, thus collected at Lam
priere's, ihall have ten days, from the expiration of
the thirty-fix hours before- mentioned, to march
where-ever General Lincoln may think proper to the
eastward of Cooper River, without any movement be
ing made by the British troops, or part of them out
of the town, or Fort Moultrie.
6. That the lick and wounded of the American and
French hospitals, with their medicines, stores, the
Surgeons, and Director- General, ihall remain in the
town, and be supplied with the necessaries requisite,
until provision can be made for their removal, which
will be as speedily as possible.
7. That no soldier Ihall be encouraged to desert, or
permitted to enlilt on either fide.
8. That the French Consul, his house, papers, and
other moveable property, Ihall be protested a. d un
touched, and a proper time granted him for retiring
to any place that may afterwards be agreed upon be
tween him and the Commander in Chief of the Bri
tilh forces.
9. That the Continental ships of war, Providence,
Bolton, and Ranger, now in this harbour, with the
French ship of war the Adventure, Ihall have liberty
to proceed to sea, with the neceflary stores on board,
and go unmolested, the three former to Philadelphia,
and the latter to Cape Francois, with the Frencn in
valids mentioned in article 3.
10. The citizens Ihall be protested in their pei sons
and properties.
11. That twelve months be allowed such as do not
chule to continue under the Biitilh government, to
dispose of their effects, real and personal, in the Rate,
without any molestation whatever, or to remove such
part thereof as they chufe, as well as themselves and
families, and that during that time, they or any of
them ir.ay have it at their option to reside occalional
ly in town or country.
12.- That the lame protection to their persons and
properties, and the fame time for the removal of their
effects, be given to the Subjects of France and Spain,
residing amongst us, as arc required for the citizens
in the preceding articles.
Dated at Charleftown, April 21, 1780,
(Signed) B. LINCOLN.
No. VI.
Camp before Charleftown, April 21, 1780.
SIR, Eight o'clock at night.
WE have in answer to your third article (for we
cannot proceed further) to refer you to our
former offer, as terms which, although you cannot
claim, we yet consent to grant.
These, however, must be accepted immediately,
and responsible holtages of the rank of field officers
must be sent us as securities that the cuftoma of war
on these occalions are itriCtiy adhered to, that 110 per
son of the garrison or inhabitant be permitted to go
out, nothing be removed or destroyed, and 110 ship
or vellcl pals from the town.
All dependent polis arc to be included in the sur
render, and the holtages to be answerable for them
as for the town.
Your answer is expected at ten o'clock, at which
hour hostilities will commence again, unlcfs our of
fers are closed with.
(Signed) H. CLINTON.
Major-General Lincoln. Mt. ARBUTHNOT.
THE
No. VIL
ST R, Camp before Charleftown, May 8, 1780#
Clrcumftanced as J now am with reSpeCt to the
place invested, humanity only can induce me to
lay within your reach the terms I had determined
Ihould not again be proffered.
The fall or Fort Sullivan, the deftruCtion (on the
6 h instant) of what remained of your cavalry, the
critical period to which our approaches against the
town have brought us, mark this as the term of your
hopes of fuccour, (could you ever have formed any)
and as an hour, beyond which refinance is temerity.
By this last summons therefore, I throw to your
charge whatever vindictive severity exasperated sol
diers may inffiCt on the unhappy people, whom you
devote by persevering in a fruitlcfs defence.
I Ihall expert your answer until eight o'clock, when
hostilities will commence again, unlcfs the town be
Surrendered, &c, &c.
(Signed) H.CLINTON.
Major-General Lincoln.
No. taffi
SI R, Charleitown, May 8, 1780.
YOUR letter to me of this date is now under con
sideration—there are so many diffeient interests
to be consulted, that I have to propose that hostilities
do not again commence till twelve.
(Signed) B. LINCOLN.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton,
No. IX.
SIR, May 8, 1780,
I CONSENT that hostilities shall not again com
mence before the hour of twelve, as you desire.
I have the honour to be, Sii, &c.
(Signed) H. CLINTON.
Major-Genet al Lincoln.
No. X.
SIR, May 8, 1780.
AS more time has been expended in consulting the
different interests than I supposed there w ould
be, I have to request that the truce may be continued
until four o'clock.
(Signed) B. LINCOLN-
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton.
No. XI.
Articles of Capitulation propojed b, Major-Gen. Lincoln^
Art. i. That all acts of hostility ana work Shall cease
between the besiegers and beficged, until the articles
of capitulation Shall be agreed on, Signed, and exe
cuted, or collectively rejected.
2. The town and fortifications shall be Surrendered
to the Commander in Chief of the Britilh forces, fugh
as they now Stand.
3. The continental troops and sailors, with their
baggage, shall be conduced to a place to be agreed
on, where they will remain prisoners of war, until
exchanged —While prisoners, they Shall be Supplied
with good and wholesome provisions, in such quanti
ty as is served out to the troops of his Britannic
Maje Sty.
4. The militia now in garrison shall be permitted
to return to their respective homes, and be secured in
their persons and property.
5. The sick and wounded fliall be continued under
the care of their own Surgeons, and be supplied with
medicines, and such necessaries as arc allowed to the
Britilh hospitals.
6. The officers of the army and navy fliall keep
their horses, swords, pistols and baggage, which fliall
not be searched, and retain their Servants.
7. The garrison shall, at an hour appointed, march
out with Shouldered arms, drums beating and colours
flying, to a place to be agreed on, where they will
pile their arms.
8. That the French Consul, his house, papers, and
other moveable property, fliall be protected and un
touched, and a proper time granted to him for retiring
to any place that may afterwards be agreed uppn be
tween him and the Commander 111 Chief of the Bri
tish forces.
9 1 hat the citizens shall be protected in their per
fous and properties.
10. That twelve months time be allowed to all such
as do not choose to continue under the British go
vernment, to dispose of their effects, real and person
al, in the state, without any molestation whatever,
or to remove such part thereof as they choose, as well
as themselves and families ; and that, during that
time, they, or any of them, may have it at their op
tion to reside occasionally in town or country.
11. That the fame protection to their persons and
properties, and the fame time for the removal of their
effects, be given to the Subjects of France and Spain,
as are required for the citizens in the preceding articles.
12. That a veflel be permitted to go to Philadelphia
[Numb. 131.]