The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-01-17 00:00:00, page 2

LONDO N, September 1.
Extras of a letter from an officer belonging to the Hillf
borough Eajl- Indiaman, at Cadiz, dated August 25,
to bis friend in. London.
" I am very, sorry to write to you from this place.
It was our misfortune to fall in with the combined
fleets of France and Spain, in the night of the ninth
instant, and at day light found ourselves in the centre
of 30 ships of the line and four frigates ; we tried to
run, but found it impossible, as we had four feventy
fours round us, and a frigate a-head. We received
14 shot from one of the seventy-sours, had two men
killed and fix wounded, our bowsprit Shot and fhiver
,d as far up as the gammoning, when we Hruck to
the Ferme, a Spanish 74. We were all except the
ladies and their husbands, the Captains, firlt and se
cond officers, and about fix other gentlemen, order
ed on board the Ferme, but on going on board had
it at their option to return, which they all did, and
we met with the greatest civility, humanity and gene
rosity on board, and on our coming on shore we were
permitted to bring every thing we had with us, and it
was sent to our lodgings by the officers who conduct
ed us on fliore, without the least examination, or any
expence to us. We are to wait on the Governor to
morrow, and have reason to believe we Ihall very soon
have liberty to leave this for England.
" The great kindness of the Spaniards makes our
misfortune scarcely felt, as every thing is done by them
to alleviate our misfortune, we have not felt that we
were prisoners : They fay that Admiral Rodney be
haved so well to them, that they think themselves
bound in honour to treat us well. We have messages
every day from the Governor, to know if we have
every thing we want, and a request that he may be ac
quainted if it is otherwise, and it shall be immediate
ly remedied. We were taken in the latitude of 36,
52, N. and longitude at noon the day before by ob
servation 16, 1, W. and by account 14, which I own
I think a very extraordinary longitude: The Spaniards
asked what brought us there ? They took between 40
and 50 fail ; the Ramilies, the two frigates and about
eight or ten merchantmen escaped ; all the rest fell
into the hands of the French and Spaniards, and were
brought in here the 20th instant, luch a light as this
country never saw before. I cannot tell you our in
tentions at present, as we can form no plan before
we have our liberty. I shall write to all my friends
in London in a post or two, but at present have no
time, as I am much employed getting my lodgings
made comfortable. l am, &c."
Extract of a letter from the Groyne.
" A French frigate has sent in here an English let
ter of marque, called the Foxhunter, mounting 18
nine pounders, and about 250 tons burthen. She
was bound from London to New-York, and has a
cargo on board worth 15,0001. The Captain fought
her bravely for some time, but his mainmast being
shot away, he then thought proper to strike. She
v/as taken in latitude 46, long. 11."
It is an undoubted fad that the naval stores brought
in neutral bottoms to Ferrol, for the use of Cadiz and
the Spanilh navy, brought a clear profit of upwards
of 250 per cent, which was paid in ready money upon
delivery.
RICHMOND, (Virginia) December 30.
Extract of a letter from Col. Campbell to the Gover
nor, dated Walhington, December 5, 1780.
" By recent intelligence from the Cherokee coun
try, it appears that the whole of the towns had agreed
in a late treaty with our enemies, to the southward,
to take up the hatchet, and attack the inhabitants of
Virginia and Carolina, fettled the back of the moun
tains, immediately; which country was to be given
them by the King over the great water, betides a sti
pulated quantity of goods for every scalp they might
take. Some of the American traders were murder
ed, others confined, and every preparation making
by the tories and Indians to give a general and unex
pected blow to our defencelefs inhabitants, when Mr.
John Martin with three other traders, by the good
net's and address of an Indian woman, made their e
scape from the towns. From the traders account,
that have got in, which I am fatisfied may be depend
ed on, our warning is but Ihort, the enemy intend
ing to set out within two or three days alter they left
the towns. I am however endeavouring to raise a
force that I hope will not permit them to advance far
in the country, until fuccours can be sent from the
more interior parts of the state, where families can
be fafe in the absence of the men.
A N NAP OL I S, January 5.
' We are requested to insert the following lines, ad
dreffld to those American Ladies, who have late
ly didinguifhed their patriotism, in generously con
tributing to the relief of the soldiery.
'' The attempt is praise."
ALL hail ! superior sex, exalted fair,
Mirrors of virtue, heav'n's peculiar care,
Form'd to inspirit and enoble man,
The immortal finifh of creation's plan ;
Accept the tribute of our warmed praise,
The soldier's blessing and the patriot's bays !
For fame's firft plaudit we no more contest, ,
Conftrain'd to own it decks the female bread ;
While partial prejudice is quite difarm'd,
And e'en pale envy with encomium charm'd ;
Freedom no more shall droop her languid head,
- Nor dream supine, or sloth's lethargic bed
No more fit weeping with the vet'ran band,
Those virtuous brave protestors of her land,
Who nobly daring, stem despotic sway,
And thine the patriot wonders of the day :
For lo ! these sons her glorious race renew,
Cheer'd by such gifts, and smiles and pray'rs, from —
you —
More precious treasure in the soldier's eye.
Than all the wealth Potofi's mines supply,
Or costly gems th' enlivening fun awakes—
They prize the offerings for the donors fakes.
And hence, ye filler angels of each state,
Their honelt bosoms glow with joy elate,
Their gallant hearts with gratitude expand,
And trebly feel the bounties of your hand ;
And wing'd for you their benedictions rife,
Warm from the foul, and grateful to the ikies!
Nor theirs alone ; th' historian patriots tir'd,
Shall feel the gen'rous virtue you've infpir'd;
Invent new epithets to warm their page,
And bid you live admir'd from age to age ;
With sweet applauses dwell on ev'ry name,
Endear your mem'rics, and embalm your fame;
And thus the future bards shall soar sublime,
And waft you glorious down the dream of time,
The breeze of panegyric swell each fail,
And plaudits pure perfume th' encrealing gale;
Then freedom's enlign, thus inferib'd, shall wave —
" The patriot females who their country save,"
'Til time's abyss, abforb'd in heav'nly lays,
Shall flow in your eternity of praise.
' A Soldier.
PHILADELPHIA, January 9.
ExtraCt of a letter from Frcderickfburgh, oated Ja
nuary 2, 1781.
" About 48 fail of vessels arrived in our Bay, Sa
turday evening last, supposed from New-York."
Extract of a letter from North-Carolina, dated Camp,
near 12 mile creek, October 24, 1780.
'' A short narrative of our late and present situation
will not, I hope, be disagreeable to you, although tne
mod material facts may reach you before this.
'' About the Bth of lad month the enemy advanced
in force to'Waxaws, at which time Ferguson advanc
ed on his left as far as Burke courthouse. I was in
defatigable in urging my neighbours and acquaintance
to take the field immediately, in the defence of our
country, which was beset on different quarters, and
thought proper to set the example by my own con
duct ; and accordingly joined the troops under Ge
neral Davidson on the 14th, at M'Galpm's cieck, 8
miles below Charlotte. General Davidson's force at
that time did not exceed 600, and sometimes not
more than one-third of that number. On the 22d we
were joined by General Sumpter with about 800 mi
litia ; the fame evening Colonel Davie returned from
Waxaws with 116 cavalry and infantry, having that
morning defeated about an equal number of tories,
two miles in the enemy's rear, killed 12 on the spot,
took 40 hoifes with their furniture, and 14 hand of
arms ; he had not a man killed, and only one Ilight
ly wounded.
" On the evening of the 24th the enemy advanced
in force toward Charlotte, and our main body retreat
ed early on the 25th to the Cross-Roads, four miles
above the town on the road to Salisbury, ' and sent off
our baggage, determined to avoid a general action ;
but at the fame time keep out light parties to Ikrrmifh
with and retard the enemy's rapid progress, and if
potlible, to prevent their cavalry and light infantry
from annoying our main body in farther retreating.
Early on the 26th the enemy marched into the town.
Col. Davie Ikirmifhed with their advance from below
the academy to the Cross-Roads, where the enemy
halted. As they were much superior to us in force,
it was judged proper to retreat and take post on the
north bank of the Yadkin : On that occasion you can
not conceive the distress and condemnation of the in
habitants, who almost universally appeared disposed
to fly with the little property they could take with
them, and look out for an asylum in some other part
of the world, rather than be under the domination of
Great-Britain.
On the 29th Major Dixon, with a party of horse,
furprized a final! party of the enemy at Mr. M Cree's,
took 17 prisoners, together with the old man, his
sons, and Peter Johnston, who had taken paroles,
which conduct we were determined to bring into dis
grace in the firft infiance.
" On the 30th General Davidson, with the Rowan
and Mecklenburg militia, re-eroded the river, and
supported Col. Davie, who had been left with the
light troops to observe the enemy, and annoy them
in their attempts to ravage the country. Parties of
riflemen were then detached to take off the enemy's
picquets and furprize their foraging parties, in which
we were fuccefsful and terrified them much : Take
one inHance for all —Captains Thompson and Knox,
with 14 men, attacked above 300 of a foraging party,
who were entering Mr. Bradley's plantation (eight
miles from Charlotte) with near 60 waggons, and
drove them back with such precipitation that, as I
am well informed, many of their horses fell dead in
the Hreets on their return.
" I suppose you will have the particulars before
this can reach you, of the complete victory obtained
over Ferguson, on King's mountain on the 7th inst.
The conduct of our militia friends on that occasion
cannot be excelled, and deserves to be recorded, not
only for the information, but also for the imitation
of poHerity. On the ixth Col. Davie was sent with
Teo light horse and infantry, and patroled witfirm
three or four miles from Charlotte, with a view to falK
upon any foraging parties which might be sent out :
He was so unfortunate as not to hear that the enemy
had retreated on the evening of the 12th, until next
day. When the enemy retreated they took M'Caf
ferty (who had taken fficlter under hrs Lordship's
wing) for their pilot, to Armor's ford on Catawba
river ; about Barnett's mill M'Cafferty left them, and
under cover of the night, made his way to us against
lun-rife: On his defection the enemy were extreme
ly embarrassed; not a creature who could conduct
them a Hep on the right way. One resource only re
mained; one of the militia, who was paroled in
Charleftown and lived near the mill, was sent for im
mediately, and obliged to pilot them toward Nation
ford. This hindrance and embarrassment obliged
them to leave 20 waggons, two loaded with arms,
one of whicli they burned, in the other was 70 Hand
of arms, the rest chiefly loaded with tents, camp fur
niture, and the greater part of the legion's clothing,
all tell into our hands : The legion at that time were
in quest of our troops who had defeated Ferguson.
"You may easily conjecture with how many curses
M'Cafferty must be loaded, having made himfelf as
obnoxious to the enemy as he could be to us.
"In contequence of M'Cafferty's information Ge
neral Davidson, with the light troops, marched im
mediately into the town, and ordered the main body
to file off to the right by way of J. M'Alexander's, ap
prehending the enemy might manoeuvre.
" Col. Davie then pursued the enemy, and found
them encamped on strong ground two miles on this
fide the ford, so that he could not give a blow to any
of their out-posts, and narrowly escaped a consider
able body who were endeavouring to fall in his rear
at a defile. Before we could collect force enough to
ad offensively, they thought proper to cross the river
at Land's ford, and have^ since taken post about 45
miles south-west of Cambden. Whilst the enemy lay
at Charlotte they were confined within their lines by
our riflemen, who nabbed them if they set out their
heads. In short, his Lordship never found himfelf so
far from home as at that place; and it may appear
Grange, that altho' we were more than two weeks
within furprizing distance with our raw militia, yet th:
enemy never attempted it, owing, I suppose, to the
great attention of our Commander in preventing them
from obtaining intelligence, and moving his troops
every night.
" General Davidson and Colonel Davie possess the
entire confidence of their troops, and discipline is bet
ter received than formerly, when it was more lax. It
would give you pleasure to fee the order our camp is
in at present, and are much pleased with General
Smallwood's arrival yesterday to take the command.
" Our guard is burthened with deserters from Bry
ant's tory regiment. Many applications have been
made to General Davidson by the tories to know on
what terms they can be received ; they seem very pe
nitent at present, how long their conviction may last
is not so certain ; the leaden arguments lately'ufed
with them have been infinitely more efficacious than
the more gentle perfuafives."
Extract of another letter, dated Camp, New-Provi
dence, October 25th, 1780.
" James Kerr, of Sallifbury, fellow adventurer and
apoHate with the infernal Booth, is our ptifoner ; he
fays, the reasons of Cornwallis's retreat were, the de
lay or disappointment of a detachment of the British
army which was to land in Virginia, and co-operate
with him ; the defeat and capture of Ferguson's whole
army ; and the unparalellcd obstinacy of the people in
this part of the country, in not complying with the
terms of his Lordship's proclamations. Be the rea
sons what they may, his retreat was essential to the
fafety of his army.
" We gave the enemy an excellent back stroke at
Augusta, the particulars of which I suppose you have
heard. Thanks to General Sumpter who matured
the plan, though Colonel Clarke and Capt. M'Caulle
executed it.
" Just now Bazel Pretor and William Snow are
committed to our guard ; they defected from the ene
my at Land's ford, having in two weeks time been
tired of his Majesty's service, and his gracious and
mild government, and have left Isaac Lovelace in
their camp very sick, whose name ought to be enter
ed on the black roll of American apoHates."
Jan. 10. A letter from L'Orient, of the Bth of No
vember, mentions, that the British fleet at Torbay
had received a great deal of damage in a gale of wind,
which obliged them to put back to Portsmouth to refit,
where it was thought they would remain all winter.
Extras of a letter from a gentleman in Amsterdam to
his friend in this city, dated September 16.
" The capture of fifty-five mips at once ; so much
wealth; so many seamen and soldiers; and such
quantities of stores, is a severe stroke to the English,
and cannot but have the most excellent effeds for us,
both in the Weft-Indies and North-America.—The
right vein is now opened, and it is to be hoped that
the Courts of France and Spain will now be in earned
in convoying their own commerce, and cruizing for
that of their enemies. This is the short, easy and in
fallible method of humbling the English, preventing
the effufion of an ocean of blood, and bringing the
war to a conclusion. In this policy I hope our coun
trymen will join with alacrity. Privateering is as welt
understood by them as any people whatever; and it
is by cutting off supplies, not by attacks, sieges, or
aflaults, that I expert deliverance from our enemies ;