The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-09-12 00:00:00, page 2

TheT-lannibal was the ship which was difmafted;
the Hero led in, and fuffered damages next in pro
portion to the Hannibal; the Artelien, Sphynx, and
Vengeur came in according as they are named, but the
lad three did not receive much injury. The Captain
of the Artefien, to which fliip the prisoners belong,
was killed by a grape foot on the Moulder.
They informed me that they failed from Brest the
aid of March, with Monsieur le Graffe, and 20 fail of
the line, three of which are of three decks, bound to
Martinique, betides the Sagittaire frigate of 50 guns
bound to North-America.
That they separated off Madeira, and their purpofc
was to attack the squadron under my command where
ever they could find it, of which they had received
a corred lift at Brest : that the Artefien firft dilcover
cd us lying in the road, and tacked towards Monsieur
Suffrein to acquaint him of it ; that he instantly or
dered them to prepare for the attack ; and being
asked by Monsieur Cardailliac, the Captain of the
Artefien, what they fhbuld do if the Portuguese forts
should fire upon them? He desired them to fire at
the Portuguese forts also.
After an action of such length, in such a situation,
in smooth water, with large ships so near each other,
it is furprizing to find how few men have been killed
and what flight damages his Majesty's ships have
received.
The Monmouth lying within a cable's length had
not a man killed, and only 6 wounded.
The Jupiter had two wounded.
The Ills had four killed, and five wounded.
The Romney had seven wounded; and the other
ships according to the lift inclofcd.
The Jason and Latham India ships, who lay at the
furtheft distance from the edemy, had 4 killed and
14 wounded; among the number of the killed is
Lieut. Keith of the Jason, a brave and worthy officer.
Several of the East-India ships have fuffcred in their
mails, yards, and rigging, but nothing that will
impede the voyage, or which cannot be repaired
even here with security.
The fate of the Infernal firefhip, and Terror bomb,
deserves to be particularly related: They had come
from the isle of May two days before, and lay to
the eastward, without all the ships, notwithstanding
my orders in writing had been ftridly given, and
punctually communicated, for all the small ships to
anchor within the rest. The Terror had sprung her
bowsprit, and was fifhing of it, with her rigging
loofe,' when the enemy appeared, and one of the 64
gun ships layed her on board.
The Terror catched fire, and the enemy durst not
take possession of her, though often invited so to do
by Captain Wood. She then cut her cable, and drove
to sea, where die loft her bowsprit and foremaft.
One of the French ships again followed her in this
miserable condition, and fired several foot at the
Terror; yet Captain Wood, feeing us preparing to
come out, would not strike his colours, but bravely
contrived to set fomc stay fails, and Hide off in that
shattered condition.
The firefhip went to sea, and was taken by the
enemy, by what means I cannot relate; but I have
good reason to believe the was afterwards either
abandoned by the enemy or retaken by the crew, as
.the Jupiter saw her next day to leeward, and find
ing towards us, with her distinguishing vanes and
answering flag abroad.
The Fortitude India ship behaved with uncom
mon bravery. She was boarded by the Artefien,
who fired many guns into her; several of the enemy's
crew jumped on board the Fortitude; yet in this
situation Captain Jenkinfon, of the 98th regiment,
kept up a constant fire with small arms; several of
the enemy were shot on the shrouds, and two were
forced over board, and taken up again into the For
titude, after the two ships had separated.
The Hinchinbrook was also miserably cut and
mangled by the Artefien, before she was taken.
Many of the other India ships fuffered considerable
damages, particularly the Lord North, Ofterly and
Asia; and the Edward victualler was nearly funk and
carried out to sea, though afterwards abandoned.
With great difficulty, after turning many days,
we recovered this bay with the Fortitude, and we
towed in the Hinchinbrook and Edward.
Every possible exertion has been used since to repair
the various damages which the drips had sustained
and the whole convoy are as completely refitted as
circumstances will allow; in the execution of which
service I am chiefly indebted to the indefatigable at
tention of Captain Pafley, whose zeal in this, and
every other occasion, I with may be represented to
His Majesty./
To add to our embarrassments, the Porto fioop,
who joined us that day we got back, run foul of the
Hero, and loft her fore mast and bowsprit.
I have judged it proper to put Captain Sutten, of
the Ills, under an arrett.
Since writing the above account, the Infernal fire
fhip has joined us. The enemy had abandoned her
on our approach, having taken away Captain Darby
and five seamen, and nine soldiers of the 98th regi
ment.
Lieutenant Hamilton has been ever since turning
up to gain this port, which shews the impossibility
of joining the convoy if I had followed the enemy.
The firefhip has sustained little or no damages.
We shall fail from this island to-morrow ; and the
Porto fioop will be ready to proceed for England the
day after with these dispatches.
I am, with the greatest refpe&, my Lord,
Your Lordfllip's most obedient,
and mod humble servant, 1
GEO. JOHNSTONE.
Lift of the killed and wounded in the fliips and vessels
under the command of Commodore Johnftone, in
an action with a French squadron commanded by
Monsieur de Suffrein, on the 16th of April, 1781,
in Port Praya road, in the island of St. Jago.
Romney. 7 seamen or petty officers wounded, 5
ditto since dead of their wounds.
Monmouth. 1 seaman or petty officer, 5 soldiers or
marines wounded.
Hero. 2 seamen or petty officers wounded.
Isis. I seaman or petty officer, 3 soldiers or marines
killed, 4 seamen or petty officers, 1 soldier or ma
rine wounded, 1 seaman or petty officer since dead
of his wounds.
Jupiter. I seaman or petty officer, 1 soldier or ma
rine wounded.
Jason. 2 seamen or petty officers killed, 4 seamen
or petty officers, 3 soldiers or marines wounded.
Active. None.
Diana. 3 seamen or petty officers, 3 soldiers or ma
rines wounded.
Rattlesnake. None.'
Infernal. 1 seaman or petty officer killed, 2 seamen
or petty officers wounded, 4 seamen or petty offi
cers, 9 soldiers or marines taken prisoners.
Terror. 2 soldiers or marines killed, 6 seamen or
petty officers, wounded.
San Carlos. 3 seamen or petty officers, 3 soldiers
or marines wounded.
Pondicherry. 4 soldiers or marines killed, 1 seaman
or pettey officer, 9 soldiers or marines wounded, 1
soldier or marine since dead of his wounds.
Royal Charlotte. 1 soldier or marine killed, 1 seaman
or petty officer, 3 soldiers or marines wounded.
Porpoise. None.
Resolution. Ditto.
Manilla. Ditto.
Elizabeth Bomb Tender. Ditto.
Efl'ex. 2 soldiers marines killed. 1 seaman or petty
officer, 6 soldiers or marines wounded.
Lord North. None.
Queen. 1 seaman or petty officer, 2 soldiers or ma
rines killed, 6 seamen or petty officers, 4 soldiers
or marines wounded.
Chapman. None.
Latham. 2 soldiers or marines killed, 1 seaman or
petty officer, 6 soldiers or marines wounded.
Hastings. I seaman or petty officer killed, 2 seamen
or petty officers wounded.
Southampton. None.
Ofterly. 1 seaman or petty officer killed, 6 seamen
or petty otficers, 2 soldiers or marines wounded.
Valentine. 4 seamen or petty officers wounded.
Asia. 3 ditto wounded.
Hinchinbrook. 7 seamen or petty officers killed, 7
ditto wounded, 7 ditto taken prisoners.
Locko. 2 soldiers or marines killed, 5 seamen or
petty office-s, 2 soldiers or marines wounded.
Fortitude. 2 seamen or petty officers, 2 soldiers,
. or marines wounded, 3 ditto since dead of their
wounds.
Sykes, None.
Elizabeth. Ditto.
Admiral Keppel. Ditto.
Jupiter. Ditto.
Prudence. Ditto.
Union. Ditto
Edward. Ditto.
Nancy. Ditto.
Three Sitters. Ditto.
Content. 1 soldier or marine wounded.
Eagle. None.
Mvrtle. Ditto.
TOT A L.
16 seamen or petty officers killed, 77 ditto wounded,
4 ditto since dead of their wounds, 11 ditto taken
prisoners.
20 soldiers or marines killed, 63 ditto wounded, 4
ditto since dead of their wounds, 9 ditto taken
prisoners.
OFFICERS KILLED.
George Keith, firft Lieutenant of the Jason.
Captain Crawford, of the 100th regiment, on board
the Ofterly Eaft-Indiaman.
Lieutenant M'Donal, of ditto, on board ditto.
Lieutenant Griffin, of the 98th regiment, on board
the Pondicherry armed transport.
Lieutenant Morris, of ditto, in a boat coming from
the shore.
Henry Roach, master of the Porpoise armed trans
port.
The Surgeon of the Ofterly East-India ship.
OFFICERS WOUNDED.
Lieutenant Donald Campbell, of the Terror bomb
vessel.
Lieutenant Hind, of the 98th regiment.
Ensign Scott, of ditto, on board the Fortitude East-
Indiaman.'
PRISONE R.
Captain Henry D'Efterre Darby, commander of His
Majesty's firefhip, Infernal, taken prisoner by the
French.
GEO. JOHNSTONE.
BOST O N, August 30.
On Saturday last, being the anniversary of the order
of St. Louis, His Excellency the Governor, the
Council, and a number of gentlemen of diftindtion,
French and American, were invited by Commodore
Bouchterre, to dine on board the royal frigate the
Magicienne, which with other French frigates in the
harbour, was brilliantly dressed on the occasion.
After an elegant entertainment, at drinking His
Mod Christian Majesty, the royal faiute of 21 guns
was given by the frigate; immediately upon it the
fame number of guns from the cafile. Upon some
interval of time a feu de joye was filed from all the
French frigates in the harbour. —What greatly added
to the brilliancy of the day, was the arrival of the
Refold frigate from Brest, in which came paflenger
Colonel Laurens, with a convoy of two large trans
ports. —These vessels, after a passage of 86 days,
have happily arrived with a large turn in specie,
and a great quantity of eloathing, and all kinds of
military stores for Congress; an event that must dif
fufe joy through the United States of America, and
is a frefh pledge of the affection of the Court of France
to our glorious cause.
We are informed that before the arrival of Colonel
Laurens at the Court of Versailles, Dr. Franklin had
obtained for the United States a loan of ten millions
of livres; and that after the arrival of the Colonel,
who has executed his commission with great dispatch
and an happy success, ten millions more were readi
ly obtained. Part of this loan has happily arrived
in a large quantity of military Lores of all kinds, as
well as in specie.
When Col. Laurens took leave of the King of
France, His Majesty presented him with his picture,
richly set, and at the fame time said to him, " allure
my friends, the United States, of the finecrity and
warmth of my regard for them; and that 1 am still
ready to afford them every aid that the circumstances
of my kingdom will allow, and the events of the war
may demand."
We have an account that may be relied on from
the Well-Indies, that a French frigate in thole seas
meeting with an English one, a smart engagement
en sued, when the latter funk in so sadden a manner,
that no affiftauce could be given to the men, all of
whom perished.
We have good information through the fame chan
nel, that another French frigate, of 32 guns, was
lately attacked in those seas by a British ihip of war
of 44 guns, which, after an obstinate engagement,
was obliged to leave the frigate. The fame frigate,
before she could reach a port to icht, met with a
British one of 36 guns, which she also beat off, and
then made her way to St. Domingo, where she ar
rived without a mast Landing. We have not been
able to obtain the name of either of these brave com
manders. 1
We have the best information from France, that
the credit of the United States of America Itanos
high in Europe.'
PPILADELPHI A, Sept. $.
Extract of a letter bom Major-General Greene tc
the Prelident of Congress, dated head-quarters,
high hills of Santee, July 26th, 1781.
" In my letter of the 17th I informed your Excel
lency of having detached Gen. Sumpter to attack the
enemy's lower polls. The'troops were divided and
moved down the several great roads. Lieutenant-
Colonel Lee at Dorchester took all the waggon hors
es and waggons belonging to a convoy of provisions
going up to Lord Rawdon. Colonel Wade Hamp
ton made a charge on a party of the enemy's horse
at the Quarter-lioufe, and took there and at Straw
berry, upwards of 50 prisoners and several officers.
On the appearance of our horse below the Quarter-
House, the alarm guns were fired in the town, and
the gates shut. Colonel Hampton with other detach
ments, burnt four.veffels loaded principally with va
luable Lores for the Britilh army. General Sumpter
when he got in the neighbourhood of Monk's-Cor
ner, which was on the i6tb, found the garrison of
Bigger's Church had been reinforced, this together
with his having detached largely and those not hav
ing joined obliged him to move with caution. Col.
Horry was ordered to reconnoitre the poll and watch
the motions of the enemy, while another party was
sent to destroy Wadboo- bridge to cut off the ene
my's retreat. The garrison confined of upwards
of 500 infantry, and between too and 150 cavalry.
Part of the cavalry under Colonel Frazer, made a
charge upon Colonel Horry and Major Lacey, but
were soon repulsed and drove back with great pre
cipitation, with the loss of two officers and ten men
killed. They again advanced with horse and foot
and our people retired. This was late in the af
ternoon. Under the cover of this party the ene
my evacuated the post, and fled towards Charlef
town, and though they set the Church on fire to
destroy the stores, which were very great, their re
treat was not difeovered until four o'doc le next day.
'' The detachment having joined that night Lieu
tenant-Colonel Lee with the legion, and Col. Hamp
ton with the hate cavalry pursued, and Generals
Sumpter and Marion with the rest of the troops
followed. Unfortunately the bridge at Wadboo had
not been destroyed effectually, the enemy soon repaired
it and crossed. However the legion came up with
their rear near Shoebrick's plantation, and took their
rear guard and all their baggage, and was pufbing
on to charge their main body, when Lieutenant-
Colonel Lee was informed that the enemy had cros
sed Guinby-bridge and were in a lane with their ar
tillery. He sent forward to order the legion to halt,
but before the orders could reach the advanced corps