The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-03-17 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHIA, March 13.
A letter from London to a Gentleman in Balti
more, dated Dec. 17, 1778, fays, " The number of
troops to be sent out to America is uncertain ; 16,000
is the number voted for 1779 —but these are not yet
raised---and when effected, are to fill up the deficien
cies in the old regiments---of course some of them
will remain at home. In ffiort, the next campaign is
to decide the fate of the two countries---A vindictive
spirit of revenge breathes through every department
of administration---The most vigorous exertions are
to be made, and fire and sword carried through every
part of the continent---The court-martial to be held
on Admiral Keppel is fixed for the 7th of January ; it
is generally believed he will be honourably acquitted.
Since writing the above, I am informed of the arri
val of an express from New-York, of the 19th of No
vember, but not a syllable has transpired that may be
depended on A conjecture is scarcely hazarded,
but every thing expected from the silence of admini
stration---Many persons flatter themselves with the
revolt of the Southern Provinces."
Copy °f General Moultrie's Letter to General
Lincoln.
" Dear Sir, Beaufort, Feb. 4, 1779.
" I wrote to you from General Bull's camp a few
days ago: when I was there, the militia requeued
me to cross the river with them, which I readily con
sented to. The next morning, after leaving a proper
guard to our camp, we began to cross, and got near
two hundred and thirty ever by fun set. We imme
diately marched off, and continued till we got within
one mile of Beaufort ; here I retted the troops a
flw hours, and then proceeded for the town, which
we entered at fun-rife next morning. Having ordered
the troops into quarters, and reposed myfelf a little,
I rode down to view the fort with General Bull and
two or three other gentlemen : We had scarce been
a moment there, when an express arrived, informing
us, that the enemy were in full march for Beaufort,
and not above five miles off. Upon this, I requested
General Bull to ride on for town, and have the men
turned out ; I followed him immediately, found them
all paraded, and had another account of the enemy's
coming on very faft. I then moved off the troops
in order to meet them, and having marched two
niiles, was again informed that they were within
four miles of us. I then proceeded very slowly, look
ing for a proper piece of ground to form upon.—
is by no means calculated to remove the conceived
suspicions.—A jealous community is fearful and
diffident, and if this takes place with refpeCt to the
persons on whom the greatest tranquil confidence is
required, it unhinges in a great measure society, and
places it as it were on a dangerous precipice.
These, my dear countrymen, are a few of the many
evils our nation druggies under. My heart trembles
at the view of the fatal consequences. May God in
his kind Providence direct to the cure before it be
too late ! —I fearl have already been too tedious in
this essay, and therefore Ihall defer pointing out the
things I apprehend to be the causes of these evils, and
the remedies for their cure, to a future opportunity.
I am, Sir, your friend, and the Publick's
Humble servant and real well-wisher,
A true Patriot.
CHARLESTOWN, (S. Carolina) Feb. 9.
Yesterday morning Groundwater, William
Tweed, David Remington, and Robert Dewar, (car
penter) arrived in town, escorted by a detachment of
the country militia. It seems that by the vigilance of
Capt. Duharty's company, Rationed near Skull creek,
these people were apprehended in a boat making for
Savannah, charged with dispatches to the British offi
cer there, containing a full and circumstantial (if not
a true and exact) account of our posts, dores, forces,
&c. &c. together with a very honourable tender, it
is said, of reducing to allies that part of Charleftown
which the humanity of the former incendiaries fuffer
ed to be preserved; kindly offering some plan to re
lieve the different garrisons of the trouble of guard
ing their refpedive forts, &c. On their being hailed
and brought to by the sentry, they fixed a weight to
the packet and threw it overboard, but the tide leav
ing the creek dry, it was very luckily observed the
next morning, and by proper care became plain and
legible. The writer appears to be a Captain Con
stable, a Highland officer now here, who was lately
taken on his passage to Georgia from New-York, and
was in this town admitted to his parole, the terms
of which however in this instance have been grossly
violated. Some interesting discoveries may now per
haps be expected of our most secret enemies.
LETTERS from Lisbon fay, that they are in
hourly expectation of a declaration of war be
tween Spain and England. An ordinance has been
published at Madrid, directing the Governors of all
the Spanish ports to give all necessary assistance to
every French and American ship and vessel of war, to
permit them to bring in their prizes, to condemn and
fell them ; and to receive equipments of every kind.
And by another ordinance published at Madrid, every
foreign merchant in Spain is to make a return of his
name, nation, and nature of trade. This lad ordi
nance always precedes a rupture. The British mer
chants at Lisbon are in the greatest consternation ;
as it is understood that Portugal will declare for
Spain, and they must in that case leave Lisbon.
LONDO N, December 3.
Having soon found a very advantageous spot, I re
mained there an hour waiting for the enemy, and
was then informed that they had, after halting a
while, altered their match, and were going towards
our ferry : I followed them, and had got about three
miles, when I learnt that they were upon their re
turn from the ferry, in full march towards us, and not
more than one mile distant. Having sent Mr. Kin
loch, my Aid, to reconnoitre, and bring mea parti
cular account ; he soon returned, and informed me,
that they were just at hand. I hastened our march
to gain a swamp which was near, but finding the
enemy had already got possession of the ground I had
intended to occupy, I halted at about two hundred
yards, and drew the troops up to the right and left
of the road, with two field pieces in the centre, and
a final! field piece on the right in the wood. On
the enemy's nearer approach, I ordered Capt. Hey
ward to begin with the two field pieces, advanced
my right and left wings nearer the swamp, and the
firing became pretty general. This action was re
versed from the usual way of fighting between the
British and Americans, they taking to the bushes, and
we remaining upon the open ground. After some
little time, finding our men too much exposed to the
enemy's fire, I ordered them to take trees. About
three quarters of an hour after the aCtion began, I
heard a general cry thro' the line of '' no more car
" tridges,',and was also informed by Capts. Heyward
and Rutledge that the ammunition for the field-pieces
was almost expended, after firing about 40 rounds
each piece ; upon this, I ordered the field-pieces to
be drawn off very slowly, and the right and left wings
to keep pace with the artillery to cover their flanks,
which was done in tolerable order for undisciplined
troops: The enemy had beat their retreat before we
began to move, but we had little or no ammunition
and could not of consequence pursue. They retreat
ed so hastily as to leave an officer, one sergeant, and
three privates wounded in a house near the action,
and their dead lying on the field—it is impoflible as
yet to be particular with refpeCt to the latter, two
officers we have found and seven men; they fought
from very thick bushes : Capt. Barnwell with a few
light-horse was of infinite service in giving us fre
quent intelligence of the enemy's motions, and at
tacking their rear as they retreated. He had at one
time a Capt. Brewer, who is much wounded, two
sergeants, and twelve privates prisoners ; but a party
of the enemy, having rallied in their retreat, retook
the Captain, one sergeant, and fix men; the re
mainder however he brought off, with twelve stands
of arms and Brewer's fufee —Barnwell had about 15
men. It makes me happy to assure you that our mi
litia have not loft that spirit which they have always
been allowed to possess; nothing but discipline is
wanting to make them good troops. The Charlef
town artillery behaved gallantly, they stood to their
pieces like veterans, and served them well, till I was
constrained to order them to retire in consequence of
their ammunition being nearly expended.
I had in the action only nine continental troops—
Captain Treville, two officers and fix privates, with
one brass two pounder, and only fifteen rounds: I
must add, in justice to them, that they behaved very
well. It seems absolutely necessary for me to remain
here a few days longer, in order to have the wound
ed properly taken care of, and other matters put in
a right channel —I should be glad of your permission
for that purpose, and to know how long I may day.
This moment died a valuable officer and good citizen,
of the wounds he received yesterday, Benjamin Wil
kins, a Lieutenant of the town artillery. We have
three or four other officers wounded, Capt. Hayward
slightly in the arm, and Lieuts. Sawyer and Brown,
both of the light infantry ; with fix or seven privates
killed on the field, and about fifteen wounded: I
cannot be very particular as yet, having had no regu
lar returns made me. The enemy's body consisted
of two companies of the 60th and one of the 16th,
all picked light infantry.
We had five deserters from them immediately after
the action, who informed us of several particulars
already mentioned, as also that our second shot from
the field piece had disabled a howitzer, which they
had fired but once. I think by all you may coiled
from this letter, you must allow we have beat them.
I am, dear General,
Your affectionate friend and humble servant,
WILLIAM MOULTRIE, Brig. Gen.
" P. S. My Aid de Camp is a very gallant youth, •
and is an honour to his country."
Head-Quarters, Middlebrook, March 3, 1779.
Sir,
I herewith transmit your Excellency an extract of
a letter from Major-General Putnam, containing an
account of the incursion of the enemy to Horfeneck,
which I mentioned in my last.
I also enclose you a return of the prisoners we have
taken from the enemy in their retreat.
With great refpeCt I have the honor to be
Your Excellency's obedient and most
humble servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency John Jay, Efg.
" A detachment from the enemy at Kingfbridge,
confiding of the 17th, 44th and 57th British regi
ments, one of Hessian, and two of new levies, march
ed from their lines for Horfeneck on the evening of
Extrad of a Letter from Major-General Putnam, dat
ed camp at Reading, March 2, 1779.
the 25th ult. with an intention of furprizing the troops
at that place, and destroying the salt-works.
" A captain and thirty men were sent from our
advanced lines at Horfeneck as a scout, who disco
vered the enemy at New-Rochelle in their advance.
They retired before them undifeovered as far as Rye
neck, where it growing light, the enemy observed
and attacked them. They defended themselves as
well as possible, and made their way good to Saw
pitts, where they took the advantage of a command
ing piece of ground, and made some little hand, but
the superior force of the enemy obliged them to re
tire over Byrum bridge, which they took up, and by
that means had an opportunity of reaching Horfeneck
in fafety.
" As I was there myfelf to fee the situation of the
guards, I had the troops formed on a hill by the
meeting-house, ready to receive the enemy as they
advanced. They came on briskly, and I soon dis
covered that their design was to turn our flanks, and
possess themselves of a defile in our rear, which would
effectually prevent our retreat. I therefore ordered
parties out on both flanks, with direction to give me
information of their approach, that we might retire
in season. In the mean time a column advanced up
the main road, where the remainder of the troops
(amounting only to about sixty) were posted. We
discharged some old field pieces, which were there,
a few times, and gave them a small fire of musketry,
but without any considerable effect; the superior
force of the enemy soon obliged our small detach
ment to abandon the place.
" I therefore directed the troops to retire and form
on a hill a little distance from Horfeneck, while I pro
ceeded to Stanford and collected a body of militia and
a few continental troops that were there, with which
I returned immediately, and found that the enemy
(after plundering the inhabitants of the principal part
of their effects, and destroying a few salt-works, a
small sloop and store) were on their return. The
officer commanding the continental troops stationed
at Horfeneck, mistook my orders, and went much
farther than I intended, so that he could not come
up with them to any advantage. I however ordered
the few troops that came from Stanford to pursue
them, thinking they might have an opportunity to
pick up some stragglers. In this I was not mistaken,
as your Excellency will fee by the enclosed lift of pri
soners. Besides these, eight or nine more were taken
and sent off, so that I cannot tell the particular regi
ments to which they belong. One ammunition and
one baggage waggon were also taken. In the former
there were about two hundred rounds of cannisters,
grape and round shot, suited to three pounders, some
flow match, and about two hundred tubes ; the lat
ter was filled with plunder, which I had the fatisfac
tion of restoring to the inhabitants from whom it was
taken. As I have not yet got a return, Icannot tell
exactly the number we loft, though I don't think more
than ten soldiers and about that number of inhabi
tants, but a few of which were in arms."
Lift of prisoners taken at Horfeneck the 26th ult.
17th regiment, 15 privates. 44th ditto, 5 privates.
57th ditto, 3 privates. Loyal American regiment, 5.
Emmerick's corps, 8. First battalion of artillery, 1.
Pioneers, 1. Total 38.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq.
General and Commander iff Chief of the Forces of the
United States of AME RI CA.
WHEREAS it hath been represented, that many
of those soldiers who have been induced from
divers motives to desert their corps, and are now
dispersed in different parts of these States, having
seen their error, would be glad to return to their
duty, but are restrained by the fear of punishment—
In order to quiet such apprehensions, and give them
an opportunity to put in practice these good disposi
tions, I do hereby proclaim full pardon to all those
who shall rejoin their refpe&ive corps by the firft of
May next. At the fame time declaring to all such
who shall neglect to avail themselves of the present
offer of mercy, and who shall persist in their delin
quency beyond the period lierein appointed for their
return, that the most effectual measures shall be pur
sued to deteCt them, where soever concealed, and to
bring them to the most rigorous and exemplary pu
nishment.
Saturday last a fleet of twenty British vessels, chiefly
fllips, put to sea from Sandy-Hook.
PROCLAMATION.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
Head-Quarters, Middle-brook, March 9, 1779.
ALL officers and soldiers absent on furlough from
any part of the army, either immediately under
the Commander in Chief or elsewhere, are requested
without fail, to join their corps before the firft of
May next.
This order is not to affeCt those whose leave of ab
sence will expire before that period ; who will be
expected to return punctually at the expiration of
their furloughs.
Such officers of the Virginia Line who having been
N. B. Seven deserters from Emmerick's corps.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.
TRENTO N, March 17.
Given at Head-Quarters, Middlebrook, March
10th, 1779.
GEO. WASHINGTON.