The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1782-02-27 00:00:00, page 1

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.
VERSAILLES, (France) November 19.
T^HE Duke de Lauzun, Colonel of the legion of his
name, and the Sieur Duplaffis ^Pefcau, Captain of a
fliip, arrived here this day, charged with dispatches to
the King with an account of a nav^engagement on the sth of
September, and to inform his Majesty, that the army of Lord
Cornwallis, confiding cf 6coo men, which had retired and
entrenched themselves in York-Town, on the river of that
name in Virginia, capitulated on the 19th of October last, and
furrenrered prif&ners cf war.
Subfance of a Jo rral cf the operations of the French corps under
the command of Count de Rochambeau, Lieutenant-Ge
%ral ofthe King 's armies, face the 25th of August last.
CN toe 14th of September General Washington, myfelf,
2nd the Chevaher de Chattelleux arrived at Williamfburgh,
where we found die Marquis de la Fayette in conjunction with
the 1 cunt de Saint Simon, who had taken an excellent posi
tion, 1 aiting for us./
Lord Cornwallis was employed in intrenching himfelf at
York mid Giouctfler; barring the river of York with some of
Lis Ships, and others funk in the channel. It is computed that
lh corps of troops, regulars, and sailors from the disarmed
foil ~ amounted to about 5 or 6coo men.
Ariel dll the most inquietiug news we had received in the
route, cf tin a pearance of the enemy's Beet, the departure
of that of Count de Graffe, of an engagement on the sth of
September, t^e appearance cf two English frigates in the Bay,
we at length received, in the night of the 14th, by a letter
from the Count de Graffe,\ a circumstantial account of the fol
lowing fads:—
Admiral Hood had joined, on the 28th of August, Admiral
Graves's 1c uadron before N< w-York. They both failed the
31st to Chelapeak Bay, at the instant our movement by land
towards Philadelphia had been discovered.
.The English squadron, consisting of 20 ships, arrived the
5,1 at Cape Charles, intending to get the start of Count de
Galle. Ire later then having 1500 men in his chaloups,
which had debar! ed the troops of Count de St. Simon, and
were not yet returned, without hesitation, cut his cables, and
went to engage the enemy with 24 ships, leaving the rest to
blockade Lord Cornwallis in the rivers of York and James.
Admiral Graves bore to the windward, and the vanguard oft
Count de Grade, under the orders of the Sieur de Bougain
ville, came up with the rear of the English, which was roughly
handled.
The Count de Craffe having purfved some time, returned
the iith into the Fay, where he found the squadron of Count
de Barras; which faded the 26th of August from Newport,
with ten transports, having on board our liege artillery, and
entered the day on the 10th of September, in ,ood condition.
The two English frigates being between the two Squadrons,
were taken.
Immediately the ter tranfiorts of the Count de Barras, the
frigates and the p rz<: of Count de Graffe, were dispatched to
carry our troops to Annapolis, under the orders of the,Sieur
de Villebrune, commander of the Romulus, who with the
Baron de Viomenil, ufd such expedition, that they arrived
on the 25th in Williamfburgh Creek, where they disembarked
the army on the 26th and 27th.
On the 20th, the allied army marched from Williarrfburg
at break of day for York-Town, and the French corps of 7000
men began the investment from the head of York-River to the
morals near :.01. Neilfon's house, taking advantage of the
woods, creeks, &c. in such a manner as to block up the enemy
within pistol shot of their works. The three French brigades
marked out the ground, and encamped securely from the ene
my's cannon. The Baron de Viomenil, commanded the gre
nadiers and chaffeurs cf the army as the van-guard.
Or. the 30th the American army paffcd the morass, and the
inkfiment of Yoik-Town became complete, and was quite
blocked up.
The infantry of Lauzun being debarked on the 23d, march
ed under the Duke de Lauzun, to rejoin their cavalry, which
had marched by land into Gloucester county, under Brigadier-
General Winders, who commanded there a body of 1200 A
xnerican militia. The whole legion was joined there on the
a^h, the day of the investment of York< Town.
On the night between the 29th and 30th, the enemy fearing
to be irfulted in the confined position which they had fortified,
abandoned all their out-works.
We enjoyed the 30th in lodging orirfelves in the abandoned
works, v.iich enabled us to block up the enemy in a circle of
very little extent, and gave us great advantages.
The fame day the transports, with the artillery for the siege,
came down to Trubello Landing, seven miles from hence,
when we let about difernbarking it.
On the 3d of October, the Sieur de Choify marched to
block up Gloueefter, and take a position at three miles diftar.ee
from that place.
The corps of the Sieur de Choify was composed of the le
gion of Lauzun, of his infantry drafted from the Ships, and of
3200 American militia under Brigadier-General Winden.
Tarleton was with 600 men in this poss, four hundred of
which were horse, and two hundred were infantry. The Duke
de Lauzun attacked him so vigorously, that, notwithstanding
the fire of his artillery, he threw them into disorder, wound
ed Tarleton, and forced the detachment to return to Gloucef
ter, with the loss of fifty men. The Sieur T'ly, Dillon and
Dutre, second Captain, were wounded; three Hussars were
killed, and eleven wonnded.
The entrenchments were opened in two attacks, above and
below York-River, in the night between the 6th and 7th of
October, and different engagements took place till the 17th,
When the enemy began to come to a parley.
The capitulation was tinned on the 19th in the morning, by
which Lord Cornwallis and his whole army were made prifon
crs of war. The American and French troops took possession
cf the redoubts at noon.
The garrison of York-Town filed off at two o'clock, by
beat of drum, with their arms, which were then piled up, with
,0 pair of colours. The fame took place at Gloucester.
_ The companies of grenadiers of Bourbonnois and the Ameri
cans are in the redoubts, and the enemy's troops will evacuate
it to-morrow, and be conduced to the interior parts of the
country.
From WEDNESDAY, February 27,
SOUTH-CAROLINA: Printed by R. WELLS & SON, Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
ROYAL
Vol. 11.
Copy of a letter from the Earl Cornwallis, to his Excellency
Sir Henry Clinton, dated York-Town, Virginia, GE. 12
SI R,' 3
LAST evening the enemy carried my two advanced re
doubts on the left by florm, and during the night have included
them in their second parallel, which they are at present busy
in perfecting.
My situation now becomes very critical. We dare not show
a gun to their old batteries, and I expert their new ones will be
open to-morrow morning. Experience has Shewn that our
fresh earthen works do not refill: their powerful artillery, so
that we Shall loon be exposed to an assault in ruined works, in
a bad position, and with weakened numbers.
The fafety of the place is therefore so precarious, that I
cannot recommend that the fleet and army should run great
rifque in endeavouring to foe us. I have the honour to be
with great refpe&e Sir, &c. CORNWALLIS.
His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, K. B.
Admiralty-Office, November 27.
CAPTAIN MELCOMBE of his Majesty's sloop the Rat
tlesnake, arrived at this office,, late on Sunday night from
North-America, with dispatches from Rear Admiral Graves
to Mr. Stephens, of which the following is an extract:
London, at Sea, October 2.9, 1781.
In my last letter, by the Lively, Captain Manly, I desired
you to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
of my having passed the bar of New-York with the British
fleet, with 7000 of the army embarked, to go to the relief of
Earl Cornwallis at Yorl< in the Chefapeak.
The fleet accordingly failed the moment the troops were
put on board, and proceeded the fame day (the 19th) for the
Chefapeak.
The 24th we received intelligence from a black man, who
was pilot of his Majehy's ship Charon, a white man who be
longed to the Quarter-Matter-General's department, and an
other black man, who had made their escape together from
York, that Lord Cornu allis had capitulated on the 18th inst.
the day before the fleet failed from Sandy- Hook.
The 26th one of our boats brought off some people from the
fliore near Cape Charles, who gave the fame report of the
capitulation.
The 25th his Majefly's ship La Nymphe joined us from New-
York, and brought dispatches from Lord Cornwallis, dated the
15th, a copy of which is enclosed, and leaves little room to
question the truth of the other intelligence. The three peo
ple being Bill on board and questioned again, and known for
what they reported themselves to be by several persons, helped
still to corroborate: I therefore determined to detach the
Rattlesnake for Europe to give the earliest information to their
Lordibips, that Government may be prepared to receive the
particulars.
I should have been happy to have tried every possible means
to effect a relief, could we have arrived in time; that profped
being at end, I determined to leave this Ration, and return to
New-York.
N. B. The copy of Lord Cornwallis's letter, above' re
ferred to, is the fame as tbat printed in the foregoing dis
patches from Sir Henry Clinton.
His MAJESTY'S mofl gracious SPEECH to both Houses of
Parliament, on Luefday, November 27th, 1781.
Mr Lords and Gentlemen,
W;H EN I last met you in Parliament, I acquainted you
with the arduous situation of publick affairs at that
time, and I represented to you the objects which I had in
view, and the refohttion with which I was determined to per
severe in the defence of my dominions against the combined
power of my enemies, until such a pacification could be made
as might consist with the honour of my Crown, and the per
manent interest and security of my People. The war is still
unhappily prolonged by that restless ambition which firft ex
cited our enemies to commence it, and which still continues
to disappoint my earnest delire and diligent exertions to restore
the publick tranquility;. but I should not aufwer the trust
AGREEABLE to the information which I had the honour
to give your Lordship in my last dispatch, the fleet under the
command of Rear-Admiral Graves, failed from Sandy Hook
on the 16th instant, and arrived off Cape Charles the 24th,
when we had the mortification to hear that Lord Cornwallis
had proposed terms of capitulation to the enemy on the 17th.
This intelligence was brought us by the pilot of the Charon,
and some other persons who came off from the Shore, and said
they had made their escape from York on the 18th, and had
not heard any firing there since the day before. The Nymph
frigate alfp arriving next day from New-York, brought me a
letter from his Lordship dated the 15th, the defpondmg tenor
of which gives me the mod alarming apprehensions of its truth.
Since then we have been plying off the Capes with variable and
hard gales of wind, to the present hour, without being able to
procure any further information, except from two men taken
in a canoe, whole report exactly corresponds with the farmer.
Comparing, therefore, the intelligence given by those peo
ple, and several others Since come in,with the purport of Lord
Cornwallis letter, a copy of which I have the honour to inclofe
for your Lordship's information, we cannot entertain the least
doubt of his Lordfllip's having capitulated, and that we are
unfortunately too late to relieve him; which being the only
object of the expedition, the Admiral has determined upon
returning with his fleet to Sandy Hook.
I beg leave to mention to your Lordship, that the army is
uudcr the greatest obligations to the Admirals, the Captains,
and the officers, of the King's ships, for the chearfulnefs with
which they submitted to many and great inconveniences for our
accommodation on this Service.
The Vifeount de Noailles and Colonel Laurens have drawn
up the articles of capitulation, in conjunction with two supe
rior officers of Lord Cornwallis's army.
It is supposed there are about 6000 or 7000 prisoners, and
170 pieces of cannon taken.
Whitehall, November 27.
Extract of a fetter from Sir Henry Clinton, to the Right
Honourable Lord George Germain, one of his Majeftfs
principal Secretaries of State, dated on board the London, off
Ghefapeak, Oblober 19, 1781 ; by Captain Melcombe, of bis
Majfly's sloop the Ratttefnahe, ivko arrived in tozun late on
Sunday night lafl.
^^&^^^^
THE
C™ A ""7 TTTTT?
to S ATUR DAY, March 2, 1782.
The Humble ADDRESS of the Right Honourable the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled.
Most Gracious Sovereign,
WE, your M^efty's most dutiful and loyal fubjeds, the
Lords Spirited and Temporal, in Parliament assem
bled, beg leave to return your Majeffy our humble thanks for
your most gracious Speech from the throne.
It is with equal concern and indignation that we fee the
war prolonged by that restless ambition which firft excited your
Majesty's enemies to commence it, and which still continues
to disappoint your Majesty's earnest delire and diligent exertion
to restore the publick tranquility.
We acknowledge, with the sincerest and warmest gratitude,
your Majesty's wisdom and Constant attention to the real wel
lare of your people, equally conspicuous in your earned desire
of peace, and in your fixed and unalterable resolution never to
to facrifice, either to that desire, or to the temporary case and
relief of your fubjefts, those gffential rights and permanent
mterefts, upon the maintenance and preservation of which the
fucure ftuength and security of this country must ever princi*
pally depends
We feel great fatisfa&ion in the favourable appearance of
our affairs in the Eaft-Ihdies, and in the fafe fid profpercus
arrival of the numerous commercial fleets of thde kingdoms;
but we regret that in the course of this year your Majesty's
assiduous endeavours to guard the extensive dominions of your
crown have not been attended with success equal to the justice
and uprightness of your Majesty's views ; and we lament that:
the events of war have been so unfortunate to your Majesty's
arms in Virginia.'
We are gratefully sensible of the parental solicitude vour
Majesty has ihewn for the general happiness of your people,
in the endeavours your Majesty has used to extinguish that
spirit of rebellion which our enemies have found means to fo
ment and maintain in the Colonies, and to restore to your de
luded fubjeds in America that happy and prosperous condition
which they formerly derived from a due obedience to the laws;
and we beg leave to assure your Majesty of our firm concur
rence and assistance to fruftrate the designs of our enemies,
equally prejudical to the real interests of America, and to those
of Great-Britain.
We will, without loss of time, resume the deliberation up
on the state and condition of the Britifli poffeflions and revenues
in the East-Indies, will carry it on with the fame spirit and
temper in which it was begun, and proceed with the fame at
tention and anxiety to cqufider how those remote provinces
may be held and governed with the greatest security and ad
vantage to this country, and by what means the happiness of
the native inhabitants may be best promoted.
Firmly resolved to decline no difficulty or hazard in the de
fence of our country, and for the preservation of its essential
rights and interests, we Shall continue to give our most hearty
concurrence and support in the prosecution of the great and
important contest in which we are engaged.
We rely upon the protection of Divine Providence in so just
a cause, and fully trust that by the concurrence and support
which we Shall most chearfully give, by the valour of your Ma
jesty's fleets and armies, and by the vigorous, animated and
united exertions of the faculties and resources of your people,
your Majesty will be enabled to disappoint the ambitions de
signs of your enemies, and to restore the blessing ofa Safe and
honourable peace to all your dominions.
committed to the Sovereign of a freepeople, nor make a suit
able return to my fubjedts for their constant, zealous, and af
fectionate attachment to my person, family and government,
if I consented to facrifice, either to my own desire of peace,
or to their temporary eale and relief, those essential rights and
permanent interests, upon the maintenance, and preservation
of which, the future strength ahd fecurity' of this country
must ever principally depend.'
The favourable appearance of our affairs in the East-Indies,
and the fafe and prosperous arrival of the numerous commer
cial fleets of my kingdoms, must have given you Satisfaction ;
but in the course of this year, my assiduous endeavours to
guard the extensive dominions of my Crown, have not been
attended with success equal to the justice and uprightness of
my views; and it is with great concern that I inform you,
that the events of war have been very unfortunate to my arms
in Virginia, having ended in the loss of iny forces in that
province.,
No endeavours have been wanting on my part to extin
guish that spirit of rebellion which our enemies have found
means to foment and maintain in the Colonies, and to restore
to my deluded Subjects in America that happy and prosperous
condition which they formerly derived from a due obedience
to the laws; but the late misfortune in that quarter callsloud
ly tor your firm concurrence and assistance, to fruftrate the de
signs of our enemies, equally prejudicial to the real interests
of America, and to those of Great-Britain.
In the last session you made a considerable progress in your
enquiries into the state and condition of our dominions and
revenues in the East-Indies: You will, I am persuaded re
sume the prosecution of that important deliberation, with the
fame spirit and temper in which it was begun, and proceed
with the fame attention ,and anxiety to consider how those re
mote provinces may be held and governed with the greatest
security and advantage to this country, and by what means the
happiness of the native inhabitants may be best promoted.
Gentlemen of the House of Common's,
I will order the estimates for the ensuing year to be laid be
fore you. I rely on your wisdom and publick spirit for such
Supplies as the circumstances of our affairs Shall be found to
require. Among the many ill consequences which attend the
continuation of the present war, I most Sincerely regret the ad
ditional burthens which it must unavoidably bring upon
faithful Subjects.''
My Lords and Gentlemen,
IN the prosecution of this great and important contest, in
which we are engaged, I retain a firm confidence in the pro
teflon of Divine Providence, and a perfect conviction of the
justice of m^ cause ; and I have no doubt, but, that by the
concurrence and Support of my Parliament, by the valour of
my fleets and armies, and by a vigorous, animated, and united
exertion of the faculties and resources of my people, 1 Shall
be enabled, to restore the blessing of a fafe and honourable
peace to all my dominions.
Numb, idfr