The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-01-21 00:00:00, page 3

pear in our next week's Gazette.] The mindo of
the people of England were prepared, by accounts
via France, for the intelligence from Saratoga.—The
taking of Philadelphia was reported, and by many
credited in London;—General Haldimand svoyage to
Canada was postponed.—Capt. Dean is appointed
commander of the Ruby, a new 64 gun man of war.
The parliament of Great-Britain was expected to
meet the 20th of November, for the dispatch of pub
lick business.
BAL TIMOR E, December 9:
Extras of a letter from General Wafoington, dated
November 26, 1777,
" The Marquis de la Fayette went to Jersey with
General Green, and I find he has not been inactive
there; this you will perceive by the following ex
trad of a letter, just arrived from General Green :
“ The Marquis, with about 400 n ilitia_ and the
rifle corps, attacked the enemy's picquet last even
ing, killed about twenty, wounded many more, and
took about twenty prisoners. The Marquis is charm
ed with the spirited behaviour of the- militia and
rifle corps. They drove the enemy about hair ,a
mile, and kept the ground till dark. The enemy's
picquet confided of about 300, and were reinforced
during the skirmish. The Marquis is determined to
be in the way of danger."
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secs
In C ONGRESS, Pecember 3, 1777.
WHEREAS the Baron de St. Ouafy, a gallant
gentleman of France, engaged as a volunteer in the
Service of the United States, was lately, by the for
tune of war, made prisoner by the British troops.,
RESOLVED, That General Washington be di
rected to propose to Gen. Howe, that tae Barqnde
St. Ouary be permitted to return from hi $ 'captivity,
agreeable to the practice of Europe resetting volun
teers: That if Gen. Howe shall refufe this, it be
oropofed to take the Baron's parole for his enlarge
ment, Congress engaging, when an exchange takes
place, to return a British officer for tlre Baron de St.
Ouary: And that Gen. Howe be informed, if nei
ther of these propositions be accepted, that it is ex
pected the gentleman will be treated as a prisoner of
war, having refpe& to his merit and rank in the
French army.
Extract from the minutes,
PubliJbed by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secy.
LANCASTER, Dec. 31,
To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Packet.
SIR,
The following ^ili enable the ferblich to judge property,
of the conduct, of General Nocue towards those who
by the fortune of cuar become bis prisoners: lour
inferring it cvill oblige one who was an fyeer on
board the Delaware frigate when Jhe unfortunately
fell into the enemy's bands.
ON the 27th of September last, by unavoidable
accident, the Delaware frigate was captured by
Gen. Lord Cornwallis, at Philadelphia, The treat
ment received from the officers and foidici s.at tneir
firft coming on board I shall wave, and only inform
the publick that federal of the fame soldiers since,
while on guard over us, declared that the General
ordered them to plunder whatever might be of use
to them ; which ordet was exactly obeyed.
From the ship we were taken to the provost, (the
New Gaol) where we were complimented with hav
ing our cockades pulled out and hove in our faces,
with—" Damn you, ye rebel b—rs, how dare you
wear cockades."
All the officers, and as many others as made 20 in
number, were for three days locked next to the dun
geon, without victuals, &c. and were obliged to case
nature in the fame place. We were kept nine days
in the provoff, during which time we received about
,Ib. of ship-bread, one half of which was of such a
quality as not to be fit for use ; and as to meat one
pound and a half was the extent.
The tenth day we were removed to the fiate
h'oufe, as were the officers of our army: The firft
week our case in regard to provision- was the fame
as in the provost, being served only once with a small
loaf of bread, and once with beef, not exceeding two
potinds.
As to the rest of our treatment, it exceeded any
thing that can be conceived: We were excluded
from feeing our nearest friends ; prevented from the
use of the state-house yard, although we only re
quested a few hours in the middle of the day: one
peffon only was allowed the use of the neceffary
houfe, and he with a bayonet at his back, notwith
standing our number was about seventy : We were
forbid lilting up any of the windows, so that we
were prevented from receiving the benefit of what
freth air that might have been communicated that
way: And a certain Captain Hogfhaw not only re
fund to punish a negro for striking one of our offi
cers, but in direH words said that the negro was as
good as any of us.
In order to know whether General Howe would
remove any of these severities, we remonstrated and
prayed for relief, but relief was only to be found in
fortitude. One part of his answer, refpeding pro
vifiohs and wood, I shall lay before the public,k, viz.
" If not enough we might take the benefit of the
market." I would alk any man how we were to avail
ourselves of a .market, when his orders were such as
I have described above. And in order that-the pub
lick may the better judge" whether we had reason to
complain or no, I do declare, that for the nine weeks
I was a prisoner, there was never more served than
from 4 to 6 ounces per dky, and if the time should be
reckoned that we were without any, it would reduce
that quantity to from 3 to 4 ounces per day'/ and a
bout half a pound of drip bread such as it was. Well
may the publick believe the many reports refphding
the cruel treatment of prisoners in Ncw~York, &c.
when officers are used as above.
Tire case of the privates confined in the Provost
in Philadelphia is really melancholy, and the more
so as the charity of certain inhabitants isterid^red less
tifefui than it would be by the cruelty of him that
has the care of the said gaol (Cunningham is his
name), who has deliberately overfet at the door,
victuals font to the needy within, and latfghihg Hid,
“•Damndhem, let them swallow their spittle and-be
damn'd.', 'However the serious mind may 'defpile
such a wretch, mod certain It is that for hisgAid arid
faithful services he has been preferred. 1
BURLINGT'ON, Jan. ^..
A corfffondent defres us to/inferf the .fallowing, .
Extract 'from a letter dated 'Philadelphia ff. 9, 1%%^
“ This city has lately been entertained wify a inoft
aftoniihing mßance of the qdivity, %raycrfo and mi
litary Bull of the royal navy of Great-Brtya. The
affair 'is somewhat particular, and deferxes your no
tices ' Some timedalt week two boys observed a keg
of a singular confirmation,' floating in the yiver oppo
site tp the city, they got into atmall bo^t, and at
tempting to take up the keg, it burst —ith .a great
explosion and blew up the ^unfortunate boys... On
Monday last federal kegs of a like conftruaion made
their Appearance—An alkfni was immediately spread
thro' the city —Various 1 epyrts.prevailed filling the
city and the royal troops with unfpeakabL conifers
nation™ .Some reported 'that these kegs were filled
with armed rebels; who were to iffiie f^rth in ^he
dead of'mght, as the Grecians did of old : fonr their
wooden horse at the siege of Troy, and take the
city by furprize; allcrt:ng that they had seen the
points of their bayonets thro' the bung-hoks of the
kegs. Others said they, were charged with.the mod
inveterate combustibles, to be kindled by secret ma^
chinerm, and setting the whole Delaware in flames,
were to confame all the flipping in the harbour ;
whilst others asserted that they were contracted by
art magic, would of themselves ascend the wharfs in
the night time and roll all flaming thro' the Itreets
of the city, deftre^ing every thing in their way.-=-
Be, this as 'it may+-Certain it is that the ihipping in
the harbour, and all the wharfs of the city were fully
manned---The battle begun, and it was furprizing to
behold the. incessant blaze that was kept up against
the enemy, the kegs. B.oth officers and men exhi
bited the. raoft unparallelled skill and bravery on the
occasion ; whilst the citizens flood gazing, as solemn.
witnesses (of their prowess. From the Roebuck and
other ihips of war, whole broadfideS were peered
into the Delaware. In short, not a wandering chip,
ftitk, or drift-log but felt the, vigour of the British
arms. The adidh began about fun-rife, and would
have been completed with great success by noon, had
not an old market woman coming down the river with
provisions, unfortunately let a small keg of butter
fall over-board, which (as it was then ebb) floated
down to the feene of action. At fight of this unex
pected reinforcement of the enemy, the battle was
renewed with frefh fury—the firing was incessant
till the evening closed the affair. The. kegs were
either totally demolished or obliged to fly, as none
of them have shewn their beads since. It is said his
Excellency Lord Howe has dispatched a fwift failing
packet with an account of this victory, to the court
of London. In a wotd, Monday the sth of January
1778, must ever be distinguished in history for the
memorable BATTLE OF THE KEGS."
From Boston We learn, thMrin the Blip Hammond,
Monsieur Sandis Commander, lately arrived at Ports
mouth in New-Hampihire, came passenger the Baron
de Stueben, General Quarter-Mailer, Lieutenant
and Aid de Camprio his Prussian majesty ; he brought
over with him two officers, and is believed to come
here with the design of serving America, and to bring
letters from out commissioners in France, Messrs,
Franklin and Detin, and it is thought will serve in
our army.
• General LEE, we hear, lately set out on parole
from New-York for Boston, to fee his old triend
General Burgoyne.
An ANECDOTE.
When Colonel Webb with some others were taken
in a late expedition to Long-liland, a little fifer of
the smallest size belonging to the state of Conedicut
was made prisoner with them, and carried into
Rhode-Ifland. The Colonel being/called before the
British .General, the little fifer fondly followed close
at his hcels 2 as anxious to know his fate. Says the
General to him, Who are you? I am, answered the
boy, one of king Hancock's men. The General alks,
Can you fight? The boy replies, yes fir, I can.
Upon this the General calls in one of his fifers, and
alks our Tripling, whether he dare fight him ? He
anfwevf, y e s hr. The General orders his lifer to
strip, and give him battles The boy Gripped as fag,
and fell on with fuch,fqry, that in a few moments
the British fifer was so beaten, that it was thought
our little, hero would soon hav£ finished him, had he
not been refc ed. The British General, with a gc
nerofity natural to great niinds, but seldom displayed
by modern Britons,; ordered him, to be set at liberty
for his valour, and he isjince returned home.
grefflon, January 12, CTR
?o z/^MAGISTRATES ^TRENTON.
Gentlemen,..;"
I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that having
I the command of a corps, which, from the fatigues
of a laborious campaign, and the feverit'y of the sea
son, is undgr the nec&lity of taking shelter to recruit
and re-establish itfelf in your State, am desirous of
guarding agkinft any attempts of the enemy which
might bring dihrefs upon the good people of this
town and it^neighbourhood, as you must undoubt
edly be fenfib/e thaf the feat of war is ever exposed
to the fury hfl'&,depredatfon^ of the enemy —Nothings
bn inf part 'ilikll be negl&ted to prevent such evils ;
but afl my vigilance may 'hot fuffice, without the
Affiftau.ee cf the inhabitants, -to render my quarters
fecuxe :.,I, therefore ' request 'of you gentlemen, and
the gb©d peopU of this towfi," to give me the earliefl:
mteliigencAofany movement ofthe enemy you may
'difco.verut6waxds this quarter, when, upon all fuph
occasions, I flrall take the most efficacious paeafures
to exempt the inhabitants of this town from falling
victims, to the rage of a desperate and cruel enemy,
and convince the publick that the zeal of the troops
I command, will prove the justice of those ipeftima
ble rights they defend. I further request you will
use yout endeavours to procure me every conveni
ence neceffhry for the fubfißehee of my troops while
they occupy this post, in order that 1 may be enabled
to make head against any incursions of the enemy.
I expert that your patriptifm will inspire you with
that diligence and activity requisite to give fatisfadion
to thofe,men, who from motives of honour, facri
fce themselves to A cause so righteous as that of
liberty These my requests may, if you judge ne
cchary, be printed and handed to the inhabitants of
this neighbourhood.
Ihate the honour to be,
with reflect, Gentlemen, four
_tmofl obedient humble feriant,
^, C. PULASKI, Gen. of Cavalry.
Cumberland County, Weft New-ferfe,, Jan. 21.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN .AWAY from the fubferiber, on the 20th of
August lat, an indented MULATTO BOY
named Levi, eighteen years of age ; he has a down
look, him and straight built: Had on and took with
him five shirts, two of them striped flannel ; three pair
of trowfers, one pair of them striped ; three vests,
one a light colour, the other a pale red ; one pair of
light coloured cloth breeches ; a cloth coloured great
coat. He passes for a free negro, fays he has work
ed about Cohanfey Bridge. Any person securing said
servant, so that his matter mhy get him again, shall
have the above reward paid by
6w* ABIIAH HOLMES.
Lancajier, Jan. 6, 1778.
Just publi/bed ana to be fold by
FRANCIS BAI L E Y,
At his Printing-Office the North fide of King-street,
a few doors below the Market,
The LANCASTER
POCKET ALMANACK,
For the YEAR.I77B.
A fecund edition of the GERMAN CALEN
DAR is now in the prefs,' anil -will be published the
latter end of this mont\
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq.
General and Commanded in Chief of the Forces
of the United States of America.
IT Y virtue of the power and direction to me efpe
.D cially given, I hereby enjoin and require all
persons, reading within seventy miles of n y Head
Quarters, to thresh one half of their grain by the
firft day of February, and the other half by the firft
day of March next enfumg, on pain, in case of fail
ure, of having all that shall remain in sheaves after
the period above-mentioned, seized by the Com
miffarics and Quarter Matters of the army, and paid
for as ftrawb
Given under my hand at Head Quarters, near the Tal
ley Forge, in Philadelphia County, this twentieth
day of December, T 777.
G. WASHINGTON.
By His Excellency's command,
Robert Harrison, Secy.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY