The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-10-20 00:00:00, page 1

The following Account of the taking the Forts
Montgomery and Clinton, is given to the Publick
from good Authority.
ALL arrangement being made,
and every proper jealousy hav
ing been given for ever/ object
but the real one, the little
army consisting of about three
thousand men arrived off Terplank's Point, pre
ceded by the G^lies under the command of
Sir fames Wallace, on the appearance of
whom the enemy retired without firing a shot,
leaving a twelve pounder behind them; and
Sir James moved up to Peek's Kill Neck, to
mask the only communication they had across
the river on this fide of the highlands.
At day break, the 6th, the troops disem
barked at Stoney-Point ; the avant garde of 500
regulars and 400 Provincials, commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, with Colonel
Robinson, of the Provincials, under him, be
gan its march to occupy the pass of Thunder-
Hill: This avant garde (which consisted of the
gzd and 57th regiments, the loyal American
regiment, New-York volunteers, and Emme
rick's chaffeurs) after it had passed that moun
tain, was to proceed by a detour of seven
miles round the hills, and debauchee in the
rear of Fort Montgomery ; whilst General
Vaughan, with the Grenadiers and light in
fantry, the 26th and 63d regiments, one
company of the 71st regiment, a troop of
dismounted dragoons, and some Hessian chaf
feurs, amounting in the whole to about 1200
men, was to continue his march towards Fort
Clinton, covering the corps under Lieutenant
Colonel Campbell and apportee to co-operate,
by attacking Fort Clinton; or in case of mif
fortune, to favour Lieutenant Colonel Camp
bell's retreat: And Major General Tryon,
with the remainder, being the rear guard
(consisting of the 7th, and Trombach's regi
ment) to leave a battalion at the pass of Thun
der Hill, to open a communication with the
fleet. The very many and extraordinary diffi
culties of this march over the mountains, every
natural obftrudion, and all that art could
invent to add to them, rendered it impossible,
that the corps intended to attack Fort Mont
gomery in the rear, could get to its ground
before 5 o'clock ; about which time, General
Vaughan's corps was ordered (apportee to begin
the attack on Fort Glinton,) to puffi if possi
ble, and diilodge the enemy from their ad
vanced Ration behind a stone breastwork,
having in front for half a mile, a most impe
netrable abbatis; this the General, by his
good disposition, obliged the enemy to quit,
though supported by cannon, got possession
of the wall, and there waiting the motion of
the co-operating corps, was joined by Sir
Henry Clinton, who soon afterwards heard
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell begin his attack.
The General chose to wait a favourable mo
ment in it, before he ordered the attack on the
fide of Fort Clinton, which is a circular line,
with a barbette battery, in the center of three
guns, and flanked by two redoubts, the
approaches to it, through a continued abbatis
of 400 yards, defenfive every inch, and expo
sed to the fire of ten pieces of cannon. As
the night was approaching, the General de
termined to seize the firfl favourable instant:
A brift attack on the Montgomery fide; the
gallies with their oars approaching the men of
war that moment appearing, crouding all the
fail to support the extreme ardour of the
troops, in ihort, all determined him to order
the attack.—General Vaughan's spirited be
haviour and good conduct did the rest. Ha
ving no time to lose, General Sir Henry Clin
ton, particularly ordered that not a shot fliould
be fired: In this he was ftridly obeyed, and
both redoubts, &c. were stormed. General
Tryon advanced with one battalion to support
General Vaughan, in case it might be neces
sary, and he arrived in time to join in the cry
of victory. Trombach's regiment was posted
at the stone wall to cover the retreat in case
of misfortune. The night being dark it
was near 8 o'clock before the General could
be certain of the success of the attack against
Fort Montgomery, which he found afterwards
had succeeded at the fame instant that of Fort
Clinton did, and that by the excellent disposi
tion of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, who
was unfortunately killed on the firft attack,
but fecohded by Colonel Robinson of the Joyal
Monday, October 20, 1777.
NEW-YORK
AND
WEEKLY
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 30s. per Cent.
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
3 lb. 40Z. for 14. Coppers, and in the fame
Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight.
Published January 10, 1777.
NEW- YOR K, October 20.
Containing tbe earlier 3DUices
0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, in HANOVER-SQUARE.
American regiment, by whose knowledge of
the country, the General was much aided in
forming his plan; and to whose spirited con
dud. in the execution of it, he imputes, in a
great measure, the success of the enterprize.
Ghur loss was not very considerable, except
ing in some refpeftable officers who were killed
in the attack.
About 10 o'clock at night, the rebels set
fire to their two ihips, Montgomery and Congress,
some gallies and other armed vessels, with
their cannon, stores, &c. in them.
Sixty seven pieces of cannon were taken in
the several forts, and a considerable quantity
of stores, &c. for this was supposed to be
their principal magazine.
A joint summons was sent by the General
and Commodore to Fort Con/litution, but the
flag meeting with an insolent reception, un
known in any war, it was determined to
chastise them, and therefore an embarkation
under Major General Tryon and Sir fames
Wallace, with the gallies, was ordered. They
found the fort evacuated in the greatest confu
fion, the store houses burnt, but their cannon
left unfpiked.
In justice to Captain Pownall, who com
manded the flat boats, and the officers under
him, it must be mentioned, that that service
could not have been more zealously or punc
tually attended to.
Major General Tryon, who was detached on
the 9th in the morning, with Emmerick's cha
ffeurs, 50 Jagers, the Royal Fufileers, and
regiment of Trumbach, with two three pound
ers, to destroy the rebel settlement, called
The Continental Village, returned in the eve
ning, and reported to the General, that he
had burned barracks for 1500 men, several
store houses, and loaded waggons. The ex
treme badness of the weather, making it
necessary to be as expeditious as possible, no
account could be taken of the stores; but it is
believed they were considerable.
Fanning's and Bayard's corps marched from
Verplank's Point, to co-operate with General
Tryon, but finding he met with no opposition,
they were ordered back to their post."
The within Notes Capt. Emmerick's Chaffcurs
intercepted on the Route to Peek's-Kill to destroy
the Stores und Barracks.
TEAMS cannot be sent to-day. You must
remain and guard the stores to-day, and
until you are driven off, unless relieved. If
the enemy oblige you to quit the post, set fire
to the buildings in which the stores of bread
and flour are, and retire to this post by the road
eastward of the post road. No other buildings
but those containing the bread and flour arc
to be destroyed. By order of Gen. Putnam,
Samuel H. Parsons, B. G.
Fijhkill, tyh O&o. 1777.
Kingflon, 29th September, 1777.
Sir,
FROM accounts received last evening from
the Hon. Major General Putnam, I have
the greatest reason to believe that the enemy
(who are much more numerous at New-York
and Kingfbridge than we supposed them to be)
intend very speedily to make an attempt against
the passes and fortreffes in the Highlands, and
thereby at least make a diversion in favour of
their northern army, and, should they succeed,
form a junction with them. To prevent their
success in a design, which, if prosperous,
would effeft a conquest of the state, every nerve
should be drained. You are therefore on re
ceipt hereof, immediately to order into Fort
Montgomery the one half of your regiment,
completely armed, equipped, and accoutred,
to continue in service for one month from the
time of their having actually marched (if not
sooner dismissed) and to be relieved by the re
maining half at the end of that time, who are
also to be put under marching orders, to be
ready on a moment's warning. The weak
state of the army under General Putnam, oc
casioned by the late reinforcements ordered
from hence for General Walhington's army,
renders this measure absolutely necessary.
I am your most obedient servant,
GEORGE CLINTON.
To Col. M'Glaghry.
Last Wednesday evening arrived the Haer
lem tender, Lieut. Knight, commander, with
dispatches from the Right Hon. Lord Howe,
and the Hon. Sir William Howe, K. B. with
a confirmation of the news of a glorious vic-
Monday, 47 Min. after 12
Tuesday, 46 Min. aftei 1
Wednesday, 41 Min. after 2
Thursday, 24 Min. after 3
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week,
T H £
«^^^^
Friday, 18 Min. after 4
Saturday, 59 Min. after 4
Sunday, 43 Min. after 5
Last ^uar. Thursday.
A letter from an officer of rank in the royal army,
dated from Logan's house in Germantown,
Odober 9, 1777.
" Lord Cornwallis took possession of Phila
delphia on the 26th of September. The rebels
fufpeding General Howe had detached a con
siderable part of his army to his Lordship for
the defence of the city, were on that account
induced to attack us, which they did on the
4th instant ; but they were tepulfed, and their
army defeated. General Agnew, and Lieut.
Col. Bird of the 15th, are the principal offi
cers that we have loft. All the killed, wound
ed, and miffing, of the royal army, since we
left New-York, does not exceed 800. The
prisoners, and others just come in to us, fay
they have loft 6000 in this adion and since
their defeat at Brandywine; for we have had
several smaller actions with them before that of
the 4th, in all of which we prevailed with
every advantage. Indeed this attack of their's
has proved a much feyerer chastisement than
any they have yet met with from us. Wepur
fued them many miles and have taken 52 of
their officers. A great many of their officers
were killed in the field, and after they were
routed. There is gone to General Clinton,
by the sloop Haerlem, Lieut. Knight, a detail
of particulars from the Commander in Chief,
to which, as it probably will be made public,
I must refer you ; and, as we are now prepa
ring for another field day with Mr. Waking
ton, I must abruptly take leave, assuring you I
will forward some account of our further ope
rations, Should I survive the next battle."
The following, written by a person present in the
above mentioned engagement, was received last
Wednesday evening.
Eafl New-ferfey, Oflober 14, 1777.
" Glorious news from the southward : Wash
ington knock'd up, —the bloodiest battle in
America, —6000 of his men gone,—loo wag
gons to carry the wounded. General Howe is
at present at Germantown, —Washington 30
miles back, in a shattered condition,—their
stoutest frigate taken, and one deserted. They
are tired, and talk of finifhing this campaign.
The battle was on the 4th instant.
" QINCE my last, we have got a confirma-
O tion of the total Route and disper
sion of the Rebel Army on the 4th instant,
and that their scattered remains had been col
leded, as far as was practicable, at Perkiomy
creek, which they had passed, and taken re
fuge on the mountains in its vicinity; esta
blishing a post also at the Trap, on the Schuyl
kill.—A waggoner from their camp, which he
left on Monday evening, fays, they were then
in the utmost confufion, their camp being
alarmed with an account of the approach of
the King's troops ; and the next day he was
informed a body of British had attacked their
post at the Trap, killed thirty, and made
about seventy prisoners. He fays, that on his
way hither from Sherrod's ferry (where he
crossed the Delaware) on Thursday morning,
he heard a very heavy firing from fun rife till
past 8 o'clock, in direction towards the camp,
which gives room for conjectures."
"D' a P er '° n '"° arrived here last even-
D ing, from the rebel army, which he
left on Tuesday the 7th instant, we have the
following account: That on Friday the 3d the
rebel army received orders to draw one day's
provision, and to march; which they did,
within a small distance of the Royal Army, in
the night, and lay upon their arms until day
break : That they attacked the Royal army,
and a general Engagement commenced; that
both armies fought (as he fays) very obsti
nately; that the Hessians gave way, but ralli
ed: at the fame time the left wing of the
rebel army gave way, and in an instant the
whole was in the greatest confufion, put to
flight, and ran (in his own words) as if the
devil was after them, when they were pursued
by the light horse, who made a great havock
among them ; that there were a great number
missing, and that the report in the camr, after
their return, was three thousand; but he'verily
believed there were double that number. He
does not know whether they loft any cannon.
He also fays they begin to be much tired of
the war, and are determined to make an end
of it this campaign. He further fays, that
the rebels had loft numbers of their best officers,
tory obtained over the rebels under Mr. Walh
ington. The following are all the particulars
that can be at present colluded.
Wheat per Bushel, 9s. od.l
Flour, 30s. od.
Brown Bread, 255. od.l
Weft-India Rum, 6s. 6d.|
New-England do. gs. od.j
* [Ko. 1356.]
GA 7 F TTV
fl 1/Q 1 A is.
THE
MERCUR Y.
foreign anD Domeffiefo
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
IMufcovado Sugar, 51. io£.
ISingle refin'd ditto, 2s. 2d.
I Molasses, 2s. 6d.
I Beef per Barrel, 90s. od.
I Fork, 5!. ros.
knives and forks,
Black ebony and camwood,]
ferril'd and plain do. do.|
Best capt flag buck,
Center split bone and com-|
mon do. do.
Butcher, oyster, kitchen,§
chopping, mincing and|
shoe knives,
Amputating and sundry fur-j
geons instruments,
Silver and steel mounted
dress swords,
Cutteau de chaffes and belts,
Shaving cases compleat,
Boxes and brushes,
Raifors, feiffars, pocket and
pen knives,
Fleams and hoof picks,
Silver and metal watches,
Chains, seals, trinkets and
springs,
Princes metal, brass, japan'd
and common candleftickr,
Double ahd tingle sconces, 1
Snuffers and pobfh'd stand%
Plated and filver'd spurs with
and without chains,
Plated Pelham bits and stir
rup irons,
Common Ihoe, knee and
flock buckles,
Chamber brass pipe bellowes!
Wood cutters saw blades anc{
hooks and eyes,
Black lead pencils and deft
pans,
Shoe makers tools of various
forts,
Box end gold scales and
weights in pillar maho
gany boxes,
Shirt buckles,
Spectacles and fleel cases,
Shoe clasps,
Soup, table and tea spoons,
Bench and hand vices,
Fire /hovels and tongs,
Camp pierced cruet frames
Silver tops,
Box and iron coffee mills,
Tooth brushes,
Cloth, shoe and buckle do.
Elegant paste shoe, knee,
stock and fnirt buckles,
Silver shoe, knee and stock
ditto,
Plain pinchbeck and gilt do
Waistband and boot do.
Ivory and horn combs,
Plain tortoise ihell and paste
pole do.
Curry combs, brushes and
fpunges,
Grid irons, flefli forks, ladles
and best brass Rummers,
Weaved garnet hoop rings,
Paste and plain gold do.
Gold wire and set ear rings,
Garnet arid plain gold ioc
kets,
Powder flafks and table bells,
Silver, pinchbeck and com
mon thimbles,
Pocket and memorandum
books,
Snuff and tobacco boxes of
various forts,
At SAUSE's
Jewellery, Hardware and Cutlery
STOR E,
Lower End of the Fly-Market,
May BE HAD
A frefh Assortment of Goods,
Which he has just imported in the Snow Carolina,
Capt. Mefnard, from London,
Some of which are as follows, viz.
GREEN and white ivo-jCopper tea kettles,
~ plain und ferril?,'Planilhed coffee pots,'
carving, table and defers Black jacks and tinder boxes
N. B. Cafn for old G OLD, SILVER,
TORTOISE SHELL and IVORY,
several floating batteries to be made; that the
fort on the Jersey ihore, near the chevaux de
frize, was taken, but he heard nothing of
the flipping. He also fays, that there were
upwards of a hundred waggons employed to
carry the wounded to East Town; and when
he left the rebel army they were thirty miles
distant from Philadelphia. This person has
been an eye witness of the last engagement,
and when he came away he heard conderable
firing, which he supposed to be from the
[hipping."
who had the day before received orders not to
run until the word retreat was given, which
the most courageous of them observed, and
were left {landing without men till they were
either taken or shot. He further adds, that
the Delaware frigate was taken, and was
fitting out; that Lord Howe had ordered -
Fine Salt; Ss. cd
Coarse Salt, • Bs. od
Indian Corn per Bu. 6s. 6d
Coffee, is. yd
Chocolate, 265. per Do.
iGilt, Roman, crimson and
1 blue tea canisters of differ
!rent sizes,
Enamel'd, gilt and bone nut-
I meg graters,
;3word hooks, ditto chains,
Swirels, belt locks, buckles
I and loops,
[Payers, nutcracks, nail nip
ipers, gun hammers and
worms,
Knitting pins,
Brass and iron jews harps,
flair brooms and brushes of
various forts,
Jacks with lines and chains
of different sizes,
Silver, tortoise shell inlaid,
japan'd and plated tea
ton g s ,
Plated ffioe, knee and stock
buckles,
Brass cocks,
'Shoe chapes and fiffi hooks,
ICork screws,
Sword knots,
Watch braces and silk purses
Ink Bands,
Powder bags,
Machcens,
Down and worfled puffs,
IRazor1 Razor hones, strops and oil
bottles,
^Blacking balls,
ISpyingghfa and telescopes,
:Canes and rattans of various
forts,
Ladies pocket books, neat,
with instruments, --bolts,
locks, hinges, screws and
nails,
Smelling bottles,
Tooth pick cases,
Cups and balls,
Gilt and common coat and
rest buttons,
Frying and warming pans,
Joint rules,
rtron finares and compares,
;Pewter diflies, plates and
bafons,
Pins, needles, fail palms,
Gun flints and trowels,
Neck laces, hair sprigs and
locket buttons,
; "Marking instruments and
coopers marking irons,
Delk furniture,
Efeutcheons and handles,
Chaise and herfe whips,
e hunters and thongs,
Bottle flyders and pocket
gb.ffes,
Gimblets, land dilhes and
• pepper callers,
Brass scales and weights,
Rotten stone and emery pa
p^r,
A lew calks of nailsafTortrd,
Cross-cut, tenon, banniffer
and hand saws, files and
sfcs,
F Superfine hyfon tea of the
very firft quality and most
approved flavour,
With a variety of articles too
tedious to infest.