The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-03-21 00:00:00, page 2

Major Martin, on returning from a pat.c._, , i
a party of Indians, killed two, and drove several
into tire liver. The fame evening, in another ikir
mifh, we loft Captain James Elliot, a gallant young
officer, being the firrt and only man the enemy had
power to hurt on the expedition: the Indians loft
three mep on the occasion.
" The 29th I let out for Hiwaffee, distant about 40
'miles, leaving at Kai-a-tee, under Major Christian, a
garrison of 150 men. The 30th we arrived at the
Hiwaffee, and found the town of the fame name a
bandoned. In patrolling the environs we took a
sensible young warrior, who informed us, that a body
of Indians, with M'Donald, the British agent, and
some tories, were at Chiftowee, 12 miles dirtant,
waiting to receive us. I had reason to believe the
enemy had viewed us from the hills above Hiwaffee ;
for which reason I ordered our camp to be laid off,
fires kindled, and other shews made, as/ if we in
tended to Ray all night. At dark we let out with a
bodt 300 men (the Wattago men refufing to go far
ther) eroded the river at an unexpected ford, and
that night got near the town. Early in the morning
of the sift, we found that the enemy bad fied in
haste the evening before, leaving behind them as
they had done at the other towns, almost all their
corn ,and other provisions, together with many of\
their, utensils for agriculture, and all their heavy
houfhoid furniture, with part oftheir Rocks of horses,
cattle and hogs. These towns I expected would have
been contended for with obstinacy, as moll of the
Chickamogga people had removed hither after their
visitation 111 1779. Our troops becoming impatient,
and no other object of importance being in view, it
was resolved to return homewards. Major Martin,
with a detachment was ordered to pass by Sattoga,
and the other towns on Telico river. In his route
he4o L k four prisoners, from whom he learnt that
several of the chiefs had met a fev days before, to
consult on means of procuring peace. As I found
the enemy were humbled, I took the liberty to fend
the chiefs a message, of which I fend your Excel
kucy rfcopy.
"Our whole loss on this expedition was, one
man killed by the Indians, and two wounded by ac
cide^t. It would have been very pleating to the
troops to have met with the whole force of the nation
at once on equal ground, but so great was the panic
that seized them after feeing us in order over the
Tenaffee, that they never ventured themfclves in
fight of the army but on rocky cliffy, or other ground
inacceffibic to our mounted infantry. By the return
of the officers of different detachments, we killed 29
men, and took 17 priioners) moflly women and
children; the number of wounded is uncertain. Bo
lides these we brought in the family of Nancy Whrd,
whom for their good offices we do not confider as
prisoners. The whole arc in Major Martin's care at
the Great-Illand, until the sense of government is
known how they are to be disposed of. We have
destroyed the towns of Chote, Seitego, Tufkecgo,
Chilhowe, Toque, Mjeliqua, Kai-a-tee, Sattoga,
b'elico, Hiwaffee and Chiftowee, all principal towns,
belides some Email ones, and several Scattering settle
ments, in which were upward of 1000 houses, and
not less than 50,000 burtiels of corn, and large quan
tities of other kinds of provisions,all of which, after
taking fufficient fubfißencetfor the army whillt in the
country and on its return, were committed to the
flames, or otherwise deltioyed. No place in the
Over-Hill country remained unvisited, except the
Email town of Telaffee, a scattering settlement in the
neighbourhood of Chickamogga, and the town of
Calogee, situated on th? sources of the Mobile. We
found in Okanaftota's baggage, which he left behind
in his fright, various manuferipts, copies of treaties,
commissions, letters, and other archives of the na
tion, some of which shew the double game that peo
ple have been carrying on during the present war.
% There seemed to be not a man of honour among the
chiefs, except him of Kai-a-tee, whom I would wil
lingly have diferiminated, had it been in my power.
Never did a people so happily situated ad more fool
ifhly, in losing their livings and their country at a
time an advantageous neutrality was held out to
them ; but such are the consequences of Britifli fe
duffion. The enemy in my abfcnce did some naif
chief in Powell's Valley and on the Kentucky path,
near Cumberland Gap, besides three children that
they scalped on Halftein ; one of the perpetrators of
which we killed on our return, and retook a number
of horses. The Botetourt and Montgomery militia
were too flow in their movements to do any service.
" Your Excellency will please to excuse the length
of this narration. I thought it my duty to give a
circumrtantial detail of fads, as the undertaking had
something singular in it, and may lead to important
consequences. I am, Sir,
Your most obedient and very humble servant,
ARTHUR CAMPBELL."
Thomas Jefferfon, Esquire.
Message to the Indian Chiefs.
" Chiefs and Warriors,
'' WE came into your country to fight your young
men; we have killed not a few of them, and dertroy
ed your towns. You know you b gan the war, by
listening to the bad councils of the King of England,
and the falfehoods told to you by his agents. We
are now fatisfied with what is done, as it may con
vince your nation that we can distress them much at
any time they are so foolifh as to engage in a war a
gainst us.
L . ,ou desire peace, have understood you
do,—we, out of pity to women and children,
are disposed to treat wit on that fubjed, and
take you into friendfhip more. We therefore
fend this by one of you. ^ng men, who is our
prisoner, to tell you if you are also disposed to make
peace, fix of your head men must come to our Agent
Major Martin, at the Great-Island, within two
moons. They will have a fafe passport, if they will
notify their approach by a runner with a flag, so as
to give him time to meet them with a guard on Hal
ftcin's river, at the boundary line. The wives and
children of those men of your nation that protested
against the war, if they are willing to take refuge at
the Great-Bland until peace is relrored, we will give
them a supply of provisions to keep them alive.
" Warriors listen attentively,
" If we receive no answer to this message until the
time already mentioned expires, we shall then con
clude you intend to continue to be our enemies,
which will compel us to fend another strong force
into your country, who will come prepared to fray
a long time, and take pofieffion thereof as conquered
b\ us, without making any restitution to you tor lands.
Signed at Kai-a-tee the 4th day of January, 1781, by
' Arthur Campbell, Col.
Jo,hn Seveir, Lieut. Col.
Joseph Martin, Agent and
Major of Militia.
Published by Order of Congress,
C. THOMSON, Secretary.
SALE M, March 6.
Last Wednesday arrived here the brigantine ,
prize to the privateer ship Rhodes, of this port, John
Buffinton, commander. Said brig was part of a fleet
bound from Charleftown for England; her cargo
consists of rice, indigo, deer-skins, &c. She aifo
brings advice that the Rhodes had captured another
brig of the fame fleet (which is hourly expected) and
was still chafing the fleet in hopes of more.
By accounts from the Eastward we learn, that two.
or three British vessels of force have lately arrived at
Towns-End, where they have burnt and destroyed
several houses, barns, &c. and plundered the inha
bitants of almost every thing they pofleffed.
HARTFORD, March 13.
The General Assembly ofothis state have in their
prelent session, empowered Congress to impose a
duty, not exceeding five per cent, for a limited term,
upon all goods and merchandize of foreign growth
and manufacture, imported into this state, and upon
all prizes and prize goods ; provided the other dates
of the union shall adopt the fame measure. The
money collected by thi^ import to be appropriated to
the use of the continent. The happy consequences
of this measure, will be fetfbly felt by thole upon
whom the burdens of the war fall heaviest. A con
siderable sum will be eventually railed upon the vain
and fupei fluous consumer, while the industrious and
frugal, who have a small landed interest, and gene
rally eat, drink and wear of their own growth and
manufacture, and have little that they can spare for
market, wiil by their own frugality be exempted from
bearing the duty. It wilHikewife be a great encou
ragement to home manufacture, by enabling the ma
nufacturers to underfel the importers of foreign goods,
and thus promote industry, which is the ftrcngth and
glory of a states
FIS H-K ILL, March 15.
We learn that the French troops and squadron are
failed from Rhode-Bland; and that General Lincoln
has taken the command there, with four thousand
militia.
We hear that a strong party have come out from
New-York, supposed with a design to attack a block
house opposite Dobbs's ferry. The militia in that
quarter have collected with spirit, and we hope the
enemy will have reason to repent their excursion.
Some vessels have come up the North-River, and a
gentleman ' from Connecticut informs that a fleet of
large vessels were seen in the Sound two days ago.
The Legislature of this state have parted an act for
railing the value of the new emission money tp feven
ty-fivc for one.
CHATHA M, March 14.
On Monday last about fifty of the ebemv made
their appearance in Bound-Creek, upon which the
militia in the neighbourhood assembled and obliged
them to retire. After which one Clifby, of Lyon's
Farms, difeharging his musket, unfortunately killed
Mr. John Colhoun, of the fame place.
A very considerable movement in New-York is
taking place, the particulars of'which we have not
been able to learn, though some people, more san
guine than ourselves, imagine a general embarkation
is on the carpet, as our Comthiffary-General of pri
soners, a few days ago, was ordered to leave the city.
BALTIMORE, March 6.
Extract of a letter from Martinico, dated Jan. 15.
" Admiral Rodney has been at the Island of St.
Vincent, with ten ships of the line, seven frigates, se
veral transports, and landed there 4000 men. All our
force to defend if, consisted of only 620 regular
troops, and 200 militia. Generals Vaughan and St.
Leger, who commanded the British forces, were re
pulsed at every attack upon our advanced ports, so
they durst not advance to our intrenched camp.—
They re embarked, after taking from the plantations
500 Negroes. You fee they make war like pirates.
" This expedition must certainly have humbled
Admiral Rodney. General St. Leger was wounded.
" We learn from St. Lucia, that they landed jeo
wounded on their arrival there. The number of kill
ed unknown. On our fide only a grenadier, belong
ing to the Martinico regiment, was wounded in his
knee."
The merchants, traders, and other principal inha
bitants of this town, having taken into their serious
conlideration the necessity of giving an immediate cir
culation to our state money and continental state mo
ney, and of carrying in the old continental ^d con
vention money to be exchanged within tl e limit
ed by law, without which we cannot ha. certain
circulating medium in this state, have, with great
unanimity, Resolved, That after the 20th day of this
prefen- month, they will not receive, dire&iy or in
dire&ly, in exchange for commodities, nor in pay
ment of debts, any sum or funis of the old continen
tal or convention money, and that whatever sums
they may then have in their hands of such emiflions,
they wiil immediately carry in to be exchanged for
the new money.
It is reported that the French fleet, from Rhode-
Island, confiding of seven fail of the line, and several
frigates, are now either within Chefapgake, or cruis
ing off the Capes.
Captain Caulfield, in the brig Duke ofLeinfter, be
longing to this port, on the morning of the loth ult.
near Gwin's island, in Chesapeake, was attacked by
two of the enemy's privateers, (a schooner and sloop)
lx th which, after an hour's brisk engagement, he 0-
bliged to fhecr off, considerably damaged. The Duke
of Leirifter sustained very little injury, and had but
two men slightly wounded. As the enemy were much
exposed, (by the badness ofthe schooner and sloop's
quarter ) it is thought the incertant and well-directed
file ofthe Duke mult have produced a copious effufiou
of blood amongrt them.
P lIILADELPHI A, March 14.
MARCH 9 , £ 7 &i.
7 HE United States in Congrels artcmbled, confi
deiing it as a tribute due to diftiuguilhed merit,
to give a public approbation of the conduct of Briga
dier-General Morgan, and oi the officers and men
under his command on the 17th day of January last,
wh^n, with eighty cavalry and two hundred and
thirty-seven infantry, of the troops of the United
States, and five hundred and fifty-three militia, from
the dates of Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Caroli
na and Georgia, he obtained a complete and import
ant victory over a ftleCt and well appointed detach
ment of more than eleven hundred Britifl itroops,,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, Do
therefore resolve,
That the Thanks of the United States in Congress
assembled be given to Brigadier-General Morgan and
the officers and men under his command, lor their
fortitude and good conduct, displayed in the action
at the Cowpens, in the Rate of South-Carolina, 011
the 17th of January last.
That a Medal of Gold be presented to Brigadier-/
General Morgan, and a Medal of Silver to Lieutenant
Colonel Washington of the cavalry, and one of Silver
to Lieutenant Colonel Howard of the infantry, ofthe
United States, severally, with emblems and mottos
descriptive of the conduft of those officers respective
ly on that memorable day.
That a Sword be presented to Colonel Pickens of
the Militia, in tertimony of his spirited cdndudt in the
action before mentioned.
That Major Edward Giles, Aid-de-Camp to Bri
gadier-General Morgan, have the Brevet Commifliba
of a Major; and that Baron de Glafbuck, who served
with Brigadier-General Morgan as a volunteer, have
the Brevet Commiliion of Captain in the army of the
United States, in conlideration of their merit and
services.
Ordered, That the commanding officer in the sou
thern department communicate these resolutions in
general orders.
Extract from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.
"Dear Sir, Cheraws, Jan. 25, 1781.
" I requert that you will be plcafed to accept my
warmest and most cordial thanks, and that you will
present them to the brave officers and men under your
command, for the good conduct and intrepidity ma
nifefted in the action with Lieutenant Colonel' Tar
leton on the 17th instant. This total defeat of chosen
veteran British troops, by a number far inferior to
theirs, will, for ever, diftinguilh the gallant men by
whom the glorious victory was obtained, and endear
them to their country. I reflect on it with the great
est pleasure, as a presage of the happiest consequences:
It will excite many to emulate their patriotism, and
by the undaunted courage and perseverance of free
men, who are determined to maintain the indepen
dence of America, that must (with the blessing of God
on our arms) be firmly cßablilhed. Col. Pickens's
behaviour juftifies the opinion I have always had of
that excellent officer. Enclosed is a Brigadier's com
mission, of which I desire his acceptance. lam with
great regard, dear Sir, your most obedient servant
( c °py) J. RUTLEDGE.
The Hon. Brigadier-Gen. Morgan."
Our latest advices from the southward mention,
that Lord Cornwallis had retreated to Hillfborough,