The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-09-01 00:00:00, page 2

lowing interrogatories—!/, during the whole of the
American war, there ever have been a period of it,
when the British troops were to be thought adequate
to the reduchigthe rebels by force of arms? Or whe
ther they would be so by the reinforcement intended
to be sent from hence the enfoing campaign? His
Lordship also refuted to answer, Whether Gen. Howe
had or had not been supplied with the necessary force,
or that force which he had demanded from home ?
Colonel Barre desired much that the noble Lord
would give the house some account of the opinion he
had formed, or of the character he thought the pro
vincial troops of America deferred, or whether they
were to be terrified by our pursuing the war with
more severity than we have done. The firft part of
the Colonel's question the noble Lord was rather shy
of answering ; but (peaking to the latter part, he did
not think severity on our tide would now terrify the
rebels; it would rather tend in his opinion to ani
mate them.
The Col. then begged leave to trouble the noble
Lord with the three following questions.
Col. Barre. Has not the American war been a
mere war of polls ?
Lord Cornwallis. I think the history of the war
will determine that.
Col. Barre. If the war should be continued, will
it not be a war of posts, and nothing clfe ?
Lord Cornwallis. That is a question of opinion.
Col. Barre. Is not a war of polls both tedious and
expensive ?
Lord Cornwallis. I have no difficulty in answer
ing that question, but think the Right Hon. Gentle
man, as a Member of Parliament, as well able to
tell as I am.
Col. Barre. (The House being in a laugh.) I sin
cerely thank the noble Lord. If I underhand him
rightly, his Lordship fays, " the votes of the house
will answer the question."
Many other questions were suggested to the noble
Lord, some of which he chose to put by as questions
of opinion, and some because that they would dis
close fads, at the possession of which he had arrived
from conferences, and confutations with the General.
At 8 o'clock Sir William Ijowe moved, That Ge
neral Grey be called in, and the fame being done,
the General answered the fame questions Lord Corn
wallis had done, to prove the difficulty of getting any
information from the inhabitants of America for mi
litary purposes, to prove that it was a country of all
others the best calculated by nature for a defenfive
war, and to assure the House that it was so adapted
for ambufeades that our army were hardly ever free
from the danger of a furprize.
Sir William Howe particularly asked the General,
If he had ever treated the rebels with any improper
lenity ? Who replied, that the Commander in Chief
had never shewn them any lenity but what was ex
tremely proper, highly to the service of the King,
and much to the honor of the British troops ; and up
on his being further allied, If a more severe course of
war would have been attended with any good conse
quences ? The General was of opinion, that it would
not have had any such effed, but would have exaspe
rated the rebels to more vigorous exertion of their
strength, which (in his opinion) had always been su
perior to ours.
The General then went over the fame questions
Lord Cornwallis did refpedting Sir William Howe's
Several movements and manoeuvres, particularly his
expedition to Philadelphia, which he deemed a very
proper and judicious Rep. Sir William Howe, he said,
could not, with any propriety, or indeed fafety, go
'up to the northward for the purpose of assisting Gen.
Burgoyne, so that the intended junction might have
been formed firft, or the possibility of it tried, as Gen.
Washington would, in that case, have possessed him
felf of New-York, or he might have followed Sir Wil
liam Howe in his rear, who must have kept a chain of
posts up on both sides the North River, and thereby
have fubjeded himfelf to the attacks of the enemy,
who might, in that case, have annoyed him with great
advantage.
General Grey having, at the beginning of his exa
mination, fignified his readiness to reply to all q^efti
ons of opinion, as well as of fads, which he conceiv
ed he was in duty bound to do, Colonel Barre ten
dered him a long series of questions that Lord Corn
wallis had avoided, and the General readily and ex
plicitly declared that the American war had been a
war of posts; it continued, and would certainly re
main so, as the rebels were, from the nature of their
country, able to dispute every inch of ground as it
were wrh us ; and he was further of opinion, that the
British forces never could carry on, or extend the o
perations of war any great diflance from the fleet, as
from that alone they could only expert their fopplics
of provisions.
The General, in answer to the Colonel, also freely
declared, that at no time of the war had the British
troops been adequate tothe fubdudion of the rebels.
Mr. Fox asked the witness, It a comparison between
our force and that under Mr. Washington, was a
comparison by which our future success was to be e-
Aimated ? And was answered, It was not : And, by
way of explanation, said, he meant the rebel force in
general, and not those immediately under Mr. Wash
ington. Colonel Barre afterwards asked him, If he
thought the British troops would be competent to
the subduing America, if General Grant and his ar
my, now in the Weft-Indies, were returned there,
together with the 4000 men that are to go from Eng
land ? and the General replied, That be could not
think it would enable us to do any thing effectual the
ensuing campaign.
The General then, in answer to some further que
stions, gave the house to underhand, that no good was
to be expected from any violence on our part towards
the Americans ; and though they possibly might have
been terrified at firft, it was not to be done now.
Any penetration too up the country was, he thought,
unlikely to take place, as the rebels had neither mo
ney nor provisions for the King's troops to take, and
that at present Sir Henry Clinton possessed nothing
more at New-York but the city itfelf.
The General being asked, What force he thought
would be Sufficient in America to subdue the rebels?
answered, He really could not pretend to fay.
The Committee broke up a little after 12 o'clock,
and adjourned till Tuesday next, when they will re
sume the examination of the rest of the officers, who
arc said to be fourteen in number.
BRISTOL, (England) April 21.
On Friday last died, at his feat at Hill-Court, in
the county of Gloucester, Sir John Fuft, Bart, the
latt of the male line of that family, lineally defend
ed from Fuftinus, who invented the art of Printing.
BOSTO N, August
Last week arrived at Salem the schooner Porcupine,
John Hastier, matter, from the Island of Antigua,
bound to New-York, 16 days out, captured off Sandy
Hook, by the privateer Macaroni, Captain William
Paterion ; also arrived the schooner Boon, Richard
Puller, matter, captured by said privateer 24 hours
after her leaving the Hook.
Tuesday last arrived here three vessels from Havan
nah, one commanded by Capt. Sears, in 14 days from
that place : By them we have a confirmation of the
iubftance of what came by the way ot Newfoundland
on Saturday last, that war had at last commenced
between Spain and England. A snow packet had
arrived at the Havannah, in a short passage trom the
Groyne in Spain, with defpatches from the Court of
that nation, and with a declaration of war against
Great-Britain, or such orders for hoftilitics as were,
equivalent to it. Accordingly all the British subjects
in the Havannah had been taken up and confined,
even tome that had resided there a number of years.
The packet brought an account that the Spanill. fleet
had tailed from Cadiz, consisting of 28 ships of the
line, ,°j°i n the Breh fleet under Count d'Orvilliers.
The junction of thofc fleets will make up such a for
midable naval arman-ent, as has not been feeri opera
ting at once for many years in Europe; So that we
may loon hear of lome defeent upon the British or
Irish coast; or of some capital naval action in the
channel ; or that the British fleet is ihut up in the ports
of England, and the channel, that source of the Bri
tish commerce, entirely at the command of the com
bined squadrons of France and Spain. For by the last
accounts the British ships of the line, destined for the
defence of their own coasts, did not exceed 30, a num
ber not more than equal to the force of Count d'Or
villiers alone.
By the above-mentioned vessels from the Havannah,
we further learn, that the Spaniards had 7000 troops
on the island of Cuba, and thet 2000 were embarking
on an expedition against Pensacola, and the British
settlements in that quarter, which must soon make a
powerful diversion in favour of Geoi gia. One of these
vessels had taken a schooner from Pensacola bound to
Jamaica, with a Lieutenant of a British man of war
on board, who is brought in here: The prize was
carried to the Havnanah, but on account of some
formalities, not fold at that place.
Our last accounts from the Eastward inform, that
a ship of the enemy was lately on that coast not far
from Falmouth, and had taken one or two of our
small vessels in that quarter, and that one or two
men who had been captured by her were put on fliore,
from whom this account came.
PHILADELPHIA, August 24.
Sir, Paramis, August 20, 1779.
T Moved from the camp at Ramopogh, to Hacken
fack New-Bridge, that evening I sent off Major Lee
who had taken great pains to gain a knowledge of the
enemy's situation, with about 400 men, in order to
furprizethe garrison of Powles-Hook, which they ef
fedled before day-light the next morning ; and brought
off about 160 prisoners, which I have sent on to Phi
ladelphia. The killed and wounded left behind is un
certain, as it was necessary for the troops to come off
before the day appeared. They are all returned fate
to camp, with the less of not more than four or five,
after a march of upwards of 80 miles in less than three
days. Further particulars you wil no doubt receive
through his Excellency General Washington, this I
write on my way to camp at Ramopogh. And with
sincere regard and esteem,
I am, your mod obedient humble servant,
STIRLIN G.
His Excellency John Jay, Esq.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Cadiz, to his
friend at Oratara, Teneriffe, dated July 4, 1779.
" The British, Spanish and French fleets were all
at sea last month, the former met in the channel by a
Danish ship ; it consisted of 32 ships of the line and
frigates—That of France consisted of 35 ships of the
line, was off the Groyne, from which place they were
to be joined by 12 Spanish fail of the line.
“ The Spanifli grand squadron failed the 2:d in the
morning from Cadiz, confining, it is said, of 32 fail
of the line and frigates, and iuppofed to be gone a
gainfl Gibralter; where troops were already march
ing—I now forward you a Spanish paper, in which is
published the King's Edict, forbidding under the pe
nalty of High Treason, his fubjeds from trading, cor
responding, or having the leak intercourse with thole
of Great-Britain :- likewise bis Catholic Majesty's de
claration, letting forth his realons for commencing
hostilities with Great-Britain. The fame paper informs
of the taking the Ofterly Eafl-Indiaman, richly laden,
by two French frigates, who carried her into Morlaix.'
Aug. 26. Yesterday was lent into this port by the
privateer schooner Mars, Capt. Taylor,,he brig Polly,
Capt. Atkinson, from London, loaded with flout ; and
consigned to Malcolm and George Ross, in New-York.
The fame day was sent in by the brig Holker, Capt.
Geddes a privateer sloop from New-York, late com
manded by Capt. Hunt —the has some dry goods on
board.
AUGUST 28.
Extrad of a letter trom Major General Lincoln, to
the President of Congress, dated Charleftown,
July 9, 1779°
Sir,
" I have the honour to inform Congress, that the
enemy have evacuated their posts at Stono-Ferry on
the„main, and retreated from John's Island to St.
H_fcna, Port-Royal and Savannah. It is said they
have lent their licit to St. Augustine.
" Col. Twiggs with a body of Georgia militia, at
tacked near Ogechee, on the 26th ultimo, forty-feven
British troops, commanded by Capt. Muller and two
Subs, killed the Captain and three privates, wounded
one Lieutenant and 12 privates, (four mortally) and
made the remainder prilomaL except two. It is said
that not more than 32 of tl^&ilitia were engaged."
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Extract of a letter from Charleftown, South-Carolina,
dated July 3, 1779.
" The enemy have marched 90 miles along the fea
^coaft, and plundered the richest settlements, and ruin
edQi^ ly of the molt rtfpettable inhabitants in this
State, 'fyere are individuals who have loft from 3 to
4co negroes, .x6oc ounces of plate, 20 blooded horses,
and houfhold furniture in proportion. Their booty
would fell in London for i,0c0,0001. Iterling. They
have made no diftindtion between whig and tory ; and
the very pei sons to whom they gave protection, have
notwithstanding been plundered. Widows have, in
some cases, lolt their all. Many are so stripped, that
they have not a second suit of clothes. Buckles, rings,
watches, and other personal ornaments, have been
taken from people of all ranks, conditions and sexes."
Extract of a letter from Bedford, dated August 14.
'' I have dilmal news to tell you of our poor old
friend W illiam Holliday's family. On Tuesday, the
3d hist. as the old man, his two sons arid daughter,
and one M'Donald were returning hoftfc from bawling
hay, they were fired upon by a party of Indians :—
Adam was killed ; Patrick ran offabout 40 yards, and
was foot through the head; M'Dcnald alighted, and
ran to the Indians; the old .man from his horse fired
at the Indian fcalpmg his daughter, but miffed him, on
which five of them fired at him at 15 yards dittance,
but miffed him and shot his mare through the neck—
before she fell, the ran away with him out of their
fight, and providentially at that moment M'Donald's
horse came up, and Rood till Mr. Holliday got on him
and carried him off. Next day they went to Morrison's
Cove, and killed I-loufer's family; and on the iith
they ihot at young Dunlap on Dunning's Creek. A
scout went out after them, but could not come up
with them.
"The loss of that valuable officer, his fun, who
fell in the battle of Brandywine, bravely fighting in
his country's cause, Mr. Holliday bore with the pa
triotism of an ancient Spartan, and the resignation of
a Christian ; but this stroke will, I am afraid, soon
bring his grey hairs to the grave. You know how
many remarkable rifques he has ran, and what pains
he has taken to keep Frankftown fettlemcnt together,
and how often he has implored the Lieutenant to keep
a small party there, which would not only have saved
the lives of his children, but also have afforded pro
tection to a great part of the country."
The following Address from the President of the Slate
to the officers and privates of the militia, is prefix
ed to an abstract made for their use from the Baron
Steuben's plan of discipline for. the army ; and as
it seems very probable that we may be soon called
to a furious difchaige of this, duty, it is litre pub
lished to convey more general information, and to
animate the officers and men to the molt vigorous
exertions.
To the Officers and Privatfs of the Militia of
Pennsylvania.
Gentlemen,
PERMIT me to recommend to you the following
1 extracts from a system of military discipline, form
ed by the Baron Steuben, Infpe&or General of the
armies of these United States. "I hey are the result of
great experitnee, and compiled by this valuable and
judicious officer, for the use of the continental troops,
approved by his Excellency General Washington, and
established by Congress, as the rule of practice and
discipline in their armies. The whole is simple and
easy ; but this abftratt renders it more so, as every
motion and evolution, not absolutely necessary for
actual service, is retrenched. To set before you the