The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1779-06-21 00:00:00, page 2

the 717 if the troors 'o^n; trufed on board
the |afon, lately taken.
The freshes in Santee and Savannah rivers
have fe'iddm been known to rife so high as the
present season, by which a great number of
Cattle have been drowned. At tfe fame time,
there has never been known fr severe a drought
as the low country at present experiences,
{efficient to make us dread a famine—the face
of the earth looks worse, than it didin January.
N E W -POR T, MAY 20.
The Party of his Majesty's Loyal Associated
Refugees, which embarked and failed out of
this harbour to the eastward, on the 15th ink.
returned here yesterday; and after landing
forty horses, which were wanted by the com
manding officer of his Majesty's artillery,
they proceeded immediately with the fleet,
confining of fix armed vessels and two trant
ports,, up the river, towards Providence.
May 27. The Party of his Majesty's Refu
gees mentioned in onrlaft, immediately after
returning into this harbour, and landing their
cargo of horses brought from the eastward,
proceeded into the Narraganfet bay, and up
on the 20th instant, at day break, anchored
n p ar Allen's Cove, on the rebel shore. Cap
tain Murray, with the party under his
command, effected a landing, with futh se
crecy and expedition, that notwithflanding
there wern three rebel guards within two miles
tof this place, he formed ard marched one
mile into the country, undifeovered by the
enemy, and after having surrounded a guard
house, furprized and made prisoners a party
of continental soldiers, confiding of two white
ferjeants and twelve black privates; these,
with five other prisoners taken in the neigh
bourhood, were immediately sent on board
the armed vessels. After accomplifiling this
business, the party collected about thirty head
of horned cattle, a number of sheep, swine,
&c. which were shipped on board the trans
ports ordered for that purpose. During this
time the infatuated, deluded rebels were col
lecting from all parts of the adjacent country,
running from hill to hill, and from tree to
tree, untill their numbers, which appeared
to be considerable, gave them such conudence
as to induce them to begin and keep up, for
federal hours, a scattered ineffectual lire upon
the party, who held them in such contempt
as scarcely to return a single shot. Captain
Murray, after remaining on shore for more
than four hours, returned unhurt to the boats,
and deliberately reimbarked his party, with
out (attaining the leak 'injury, leaving their
diftrefled affrightened countrymen, who they
still with may return to their duty and allegi
ance, to bemoan the loss of their neighbours,
their negroes, their cattle, and their sheep,
and w:h aftonilhment to gaze at the columns
of fire and smoke afeending from a rebel house,
whicn from its situation, &c. the party
thought expedient to burn, as a prelude to
what may become necessary in the further
operations of his Majelty's troops.
June 3. Yefterdav arrived his Majesty's
flip Renown, George Dawson, Esq; Corn
'mander, from a cruize, and brought in with
her the ihip Friendship, Capt. Jackson, from
Providence, bound to St. Croix, loaded with
lumber, mounting eight double fortified fix
pounders and twelve swivels, and having 40
men. She was owned by John Brown, of Pro
vidence, and had been out only two days
when ihe was taken.
June 10. A party of Refugees landed near
South Kingston on Saturday morning, and
collected all the cattle within a circle of three
miles. The rebels assembled in force, and
kept up a constant fire of mufquetry from be
hind the wafs, fences, &c. for four 'hours,
upon the party ; three of whom were flighcly
wounded, but not prevented by this accident
from doing their duty. Further accidents
were prevented by the spirited behaviour of the
partyiunder the command of Capt. Murray,
and the judicious arrangement of the armed
leffels under the direction of Mr. Leonard.
On the 6th the transports were ordered to New
port to d liver the cattle, sheep and prisoners.
Amongst the latter we have the pleasure to ac
quaint the public, is the high^fheriff of the
county, and a committee man appointed for
the fequedration of tory property, and five
other rebels, of less confluence. Whilst the
transports were unloading, the armed vessels
General Prefect, and General Leslie, under
the direction of Mr. Leonard, were cruizing
in rhe Nmaganfct passage, by which the coun
t y was generally alarmed. On the 7th thev
were joined by the transports at the north end
of Conanicut, but were by contrary winds and
calms prevented from landing until the morn
ing of the Bth, having been reinforced the
proceeding evening by Colonel Winilow, when
a detachment, consisting only of thirty-eight
„ien, edeCted a landing at Quainfit Point.
A rebel centry difeharged his piece at an ad
vanced party, and haltily retreated to the
house of one Spencer, a noted rebel, where
was a guard of twenty-five men. At the
approach of the detachment they quitted this
and took possession of a house belonging to their
friend Mr. Hall, a persecuting committee,
man. From whence they were also driven by
6 men, on whom they fired without effect.
Li utenant Colonel Winslow (who comman
ded) ordered both the houses to be destroyed,
which was effectually done, together with the
out-houses, &c: &c. &c. After amusing them
selves by marching about the country, and
having in vain madenfe of every poflible effort
to- draw the rebels from a secure post which
chtv o copied, they returned to their boats
nnmoL led. From Qainfit they proceeded
to the island of Prudence, and took from a
rebel farm a large quantity of polls and rails,
- much warted b on Rhode-Ifland, to inclofe
.lies for the horses, oxen, cows, sheep. &c.
taken by the refugees in their several cxcurfi
ons. The wretched inhabitants that have
fuffered from these depredations are now raft
ing the bitter effects of a tame submission to an
infamous Congress, and experiencing the
horrid consequences of persevering in a wanton
rebellion against the happiest government and
the bed of kings.
Extracts from Rebel Papers.
C HA THA M, June <5.
On Sunday morning last, an express from
Congress to his Excellency Gen. Washington,
palled through Morris-Town, on his way to
head-quarters, by him we have the following
glorious and important intelligence, which
Congress received by express from General
Lincoln, left Friday evening, viz. That the
enemy attacked our lines at Charleftown, in
South-Carolina, on the 14th ult. but met
with so warm a reception that they thought
proper to retire; however, they returned
shortly afterwards, 'in full force, and renewed
the attack with g r eat fury; but with as little
success as before; for they were opposed with
a spirit peculiar to men who fight from prin
ciple, and feel the justice and importance of
th'eir caul'e. Theconteft was exceedingly ob
ftihare, but rather in favour of the American
arms, when General Lincoln appealed, with
the troops under his command, and decided
the fateof the day ; for falling u,on the ene
my's rear, he threw them into the utmost con
fuiion, and obliged them to consult their fafe
ty, bya precipitate and irregular flight, up
wards of fourteen hundred, whereof many
were new levies, wore found upon the field
killed and wounded; and their baggage,
artillery, and ammunition, have all fallen into
our hands. Our victorious troops pursued
the fugitives, and made seven hundred more
of them prisoners; and it is expected, that
not a man of them will escape, as fu fficient de
tachments have occupied the several passes thro'
the country, to prevent the Itragglers from get
ting away. —- Prisoners were continually
corning in, when the express left S. Carolina.
Last week, fix daring villains in Smith's
Clo^e, had the audacity to fire on two of our
light horse, as they weic palling in the rear of
the army, one of which they wounded in the
body, and broke the thigh bone of the other :
They were immediately pursued by a party
from the army, taken, and one hung; the
five were conduced to head-quarters, and a
court-martial being held upon them, they
were found guilty, and received sentence of
death; pursuant to which four were hanged,
and it being insinuated to the fifth, that, if
he would difeover his accomplices, he would
be pardoned, which offer of clemency he ea
gerly embraced, and conduced a party of bur
people to a cave in the mountain, the deposi
tory of all their plunder, where lay concealed
five more, whom they secured. Various ar
ticles of plunder were found in their den.
NE W- YO RK, June 17.
Tie Deposition of Captain "James M'Alpine,
Commander of the Schooner Polly and Nely,
who arrived here on Wednesday lafl, from
St. John's River, in Eajl-Florida, but lap
from off Tybee in Savannah-River, Georgia,
whence he took bis departure on the gtb of
this infant.
ON the 21st of May I boarded a boat from
Savannah, in Georgia, the commander
of which informed me, that he left that place
only three days before, that General Prevolt,
with a large body of troops was gone towards
Charleftown, in Sou:h-Carolina, and at Beau
fort, Port Royal, had a skirmish with the re
bels, whom they defeated, after having loft
about fifty men, he then proceeded, having
been joined by grat numbers of Carolinians ;
he likewise informed me that many of the in-'
habitants on the north fide of the Savannah
had come in to the out-posts, and were firm
ing into a body, naming themselves, The
Carolina Volunteers; the troops were
uncommonly healthy, and piovifions in plen
ty and very cheap; the Rose, and another
man of war, with their convoy were arrived,
without losing a vessel, at Savannah, from
New-York ; and seventeen fail of ships had
also arrived from Great-Britain and Ireland,
at Tybee.
On the 29th ofMay Twas informed by Mr.
Youngs, a Commiflioner of Claims, who left
Georgia the day before, that General Prevolt
had taken possession of James's Island and Fort
Johnston, about three or four miles from
Charleftown, to which he had penetrated,
with very little opposition by the inland navi
gation, that the Vigilant man of war, with
I live fail of other shipping had got into Five Fa
-Ithem Hole, a short dißance from Fort John-
I Ron ; the Vigilant had touched in going over
toe bar.—Preparations were making to attack
ISullivan's Island.
That great numbers of Refugees were pre
-Iparing to return from End Florida, to Geor-
I gia and South Carolina, induced thereto by
the fuccefes the British troops had met with
I in those provinces—That in the course of
three we&s from the fir'll of May there nd
I been several skirmishes, in which prifoLss
jhad been taken, and a Rebel General wound
§ed, or killed.—That accounts came every
' three or four days from Georgia to St. Augus
tine.
' On the ill of June I failed from St. John's
; River, and on the sth got off Tybee, but
hearing that the convoy was not ready to fail,
I proceeded to New-York; the rebel ships,
by report, had left that coast, fleering to the
southward ; it is conjectured they are gone
to intercept the June fleet fiom Jamaica for
London.
JAMES M'ALPINE.
Sworn this 17th of June, 1779, Before me,
D. Mathews, Mayor.
NEW-Y ORK, June 19.
The privateer sloop Farrar, Capt. Downe,
belonging to this port, was taken on 1 uefday
last off the Capes of Delaware, by three rebel
armed veffels' from Philadelpnia, bound to
the Weft-Indies ; they took out all the Tartar's
crew except the Captain and three men, two
of whom they hand-cufl^d. On the succeed
ing day Captain Downe found an opportunity
to get into the cabin, shake the priming cut of
some pistols deposited there, and arm himfelf
with a cutlass, with which he began a vigorous
attack upon the rebel sailors, and being bravely
fcconded by one of his men, who had the
privilege to walk on the deck, wounded seve
ral and kept the others at bay until his two
people who were in the hold in irons got up
and affitted so effectually by knocking down
the rebels with their hand-cuffs, that victory
soon declared in their favour; They again got
command of the vessel, and brought her in
here last Tuefdav.
BY AUTHORITY.
On Thursday last arrived here his Majesty's
Ship Solebay, Capt. Symonds in 15 days fiom
Savannah, by whom we have the following
important intelligence.
Extract of a letter from Cap'. HENRY, senior
Officer of his Majed's Ships in Georgia,
to Sir GEORGE COLLIER, dated Savan
nah, May 23, 1779.
" THE King's troops under Major General
Prevoft crossed Savannah River on the 29th of
April, and marched from Puryfburgh towards
Charleftown, the Rebels abandoning every
strong post as our army approached. We are
now without loss, in poffOlion of James Island,
John's Island, and all the South fide of
Charleftown harbour, the Rebels having a^
bandoned and burnt Fort Johnson. General
Moultrie is in Charleftown with 1000 men,
and General Lincoln at Dorchester, (afraid to
come on Charleftown Neck, left we should get
behind them.
" His Majesty's armed ffiip the Germaine
remains at Port Royal for the protection ofthe
inhabitants, who together with all the other
islands have sent in their submissions. When
the Vigilant and armed vessels failed from
hence, they went through Callibcgie Sound
and Skull Creek into Broad River, and on
Itheir1 their approach the Rebels burnt Fort Lyttle-
I ton in Port Royal, and abandoned another
Fort on St. Helena, leaving it intirc. We
' Ifave taken the Guns out of both.
" Charleftown has offered to capitulate,
if they might retrain neuter during the war,
this was refufed. Our army is in possession
of several vessels in Ashley-River, &c."
Extract of a letter from an Officer of the Royal
Navy, dated Savannah, Ma, 25.
" I am going round to five fathom hole, in
company with the Rose and victuallers. I
hope to give a good account soon of the town
and Fort—as the enemy has burnt Fort John
son, and we are in possession of Mount Plea
sant, which commands Fort Moultrie."
On Ihurfday last arrived his Majesty's fhi,
Solebay, Capt. Symond, from Savannah, in
Georgia, which he left the zd inst. by whom
we are informed, that his Majesty's ships the
Perseus, the Hon. Capt. Elphinftone, and
the Ariel, Capt. M'Kenzie, were arrived
there from St. Lucia with an account of Mons.
d'Estaing having again attempted an escape to
sea; but Admiral Byron appearing in force to
intercept him, the French fleet suddenly
tacked, in order to fetch into Port Royal har
bour, which was effe&ed, but not perfectly ;
The Tennant of 80 guns, commanded by
Mons. Bougainville, and Le Fantafquc, of 64,
in imminent danger of falling into the posses
sion ofthe British, were wrecked and destroyed
on the rocks of Martinique. It is said the
Comte had embarked four thou sand troops on
board this fleet.—The Sandwich Pacquet,
which left Falmouth on the z§th of March,
arrived at Savannah on the 18th of May. By
letters received in the mail we are informed,
that Sir James Wallace, with his Majesty's
ship Experiment, (which has lately been ac
commodated with a copper coat, and is now
in the sleekest trim for purfait and action) was
on the point of departure from thence, to re
visit the American coasts.
On Thurfdav Night last about 50 Refugees,
'under the Command of Captains Bonnel and
Hoit, landed at a place called Green's-Farms,
near Compo, in Connecticut, marched two
Miles into the Country, and surprised a Guard
of 15 Men, who fled after firing a few thot.
The Refugees then collected between 40 and
50 Cattle and Sheep, and drove them to the
Water-Side. The Alarm Guns being fired
from Norwalk to Stratford, about 150 Rebels
assembled and followed our People, who flood
them for about an Hour and a Half, notwith
standing the Enemy kept up a smart Fire,
and at length got the Cattle fafe on Board, and
brought them oft without the Loss of a single
Man. It is thought two of the Enemy were kil
led, they being fern to fail an I not to rife again
Last Thurs ay Morning a Partv of Lieu-.
Col. Emmerick's Dragoons, confining of a
Serjeant and 12 Privates, under the Command
of Li:ut. Muirfon, with Cornet Merrit, took
part of two Rebel Pickets, at Byrom and Sher
rard's Bridges, and br ught off 18 Prisoners.
p rom o rlONs.
His Excellency the Commander in Chief has
been pleased to appoint Colonels Martin, Ster
ling, and Garth, to the rank of Brigadier
Generals. And Thomas Pike, Enquire,
Fourier de la Cour, vice Capt. Campbell.
**********>*******
i^UCLICK Analog 0 Wednesday next, at the
Coffee-Home, the beamid sass-sailing Priva
teer Schooner LARK, with all her Gon<, Swivels,
final! A ms, An.munition and Provfi ns, ^ the
returned from Sea Invert v t ( , , fen a' omOffice.
Cuningi. am ard teardrop.
By Sir GEORGE COLLIER,
Commodore and Commander in Chief of ell L;s
Majesty's Ships and Peflels emblazed in for
rica, from the North Cabr on the ifand Cure
Breton to the Bahama Inlands, and Florida
inch Jive,
WHEREAS many Seamen have been la^
Iv inveigled from his Majesty's Service
into Privateers, Letters cf Marque, and Mer
chantmen,, owing often to Drunkenhefs, and
want of Confederation of the h<avy Penalty
attending such a Crime, which is Death by
the Sentence cf a Court Martial.
And whereas I have had it repr^fented to me
that several of such Deserters, repenting of
their Offence, are only restrained from return
ing to their Ships through Fear of Puniihment.
I hereby think proper to give Notice, that
such Seamen or Marines who will return either
to their own Ship, or if she is not pr sent, to
anycther Ship or Vessel of his Majesty's, ac
knowledging their Crime, and claiming the
Benefit of this Proclamation, shall be pardon
ed their Desertion, provided they give them
selves up within a Kalendcr Month from the
Date hereof.
And as the King's Service has fuffered ma
terially by Privateers, Letters of Marque and
Merchant Vessels, ent cing Seamen to desert,
they are to take Notice, that whatever Ship
or Vessel shall be found to harbour a Deserter,
or in which a Deserter shall be found, will
have every Man, (except the Commander)
without Exception, impressed for his Majesty's
Service, and it is fignified to them, that the
Excafe of not knowing him to be a Deserter,
will not avail or be received, unless the Proof
is perfectly clear that neither the Owners,
Mailer or Mate, knew of his being such.
But if, notwithflanding the Mercy held out
to Offenders who have left their Ships, there
should yet be any so incorrigible as to persist in
their Crime, and not return to the Service,
they may depend upon their being proceeded
against if taken, with the utmost Severity,
and punished with Death, if the Court-Mar
tial shall sentence them to it.
Giten on board his Majesty's Ship the
Raifonable, off* Ne^-York, the 28th
of May, 1779.
GEORGE COLLIER.
By Command of the Commodore.
John Marr, Secry.
WHEREAS it has been represented to me,
that innumerable Riots and Disturban
ces have happened in the Streets of the City,
to the great annoyance and apprehension of
the Inhabitants, by Seamen belonging to his
Majesty's Ship's, Transports, Viduallers, &c.
Notice is hereby Given,
To the several Captains, Commanders,
and Officers' in his Majesty's service, and in
the employ of Government, that they are not,
on any account whatever, to grant leave, or
permit Seamen belonging to their refpedive
Ships ana Vessels, to be on shore after dark ;
and should any so far trangrefs, as to be
found in the Street, after Gun Fire in the
Evening, they will be taken up by the Patroles,
and punished with the Severity, which a
breach of Orders merr,
GEORGE COLLIER.
Raisonable, offNew-Yofk,
12th May, 1779.
By Order of the Com
mandant.
TAVERN KEEPERS are notified to re
turn their LICENCES to Mr. John
Smith, Treasurer of the City Funds, by
WEDNESDAY next, in order that they may
be renewed to such Ferfons as may be reccom
mended by the principal Officers of the Army
and Navy, Or by Merchants and other re
fpedable Inhabitants of this City.
Whoever shall presume to fell Liquors with
out renewing their Licence after that Day,
shall fuffer such Puniihment as was formerly
ordered and Published by the Police, in Mr.
Rivington's Gazette,on the ;thDay ofDecem
ber lad. ANDREW ELLlOT,Superintendant-
General.
DAVID MATHEWS, Mayor.
PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police.
Office of Police, June 18, 1779.
The S HIP
CAMPBLETOUN,
Edward Drew, Master,
°° w "''^ ' n P art °' her
cargo, and will fail with the
firft fleet. For feight or paffa?e, apply to the master
on board at Simmons's whaiff, or to Sinclair and
Ferrie, No. 524., H mover-Square.
Agronomical Prelections.
A Course of Preleftions on the firft Prin
hciples of Astronomy, will begin to Day
at one o'Clock, at the Artillery Hofpita?, in
the Broadway, by SAMUEL CLO>SY,M. D.
>IUTICE is hereby given, that a jurt pro-
J\ portion of the net proceeds of the
Schooner Nancy, Brig St. Fulkrande, Schoc
ner Hazard, Ship Remembrance, and Brig
Rose, captured by the Brig Spitfire, Cornelius
White, mailer, and Sloop Delight, Ebenezer
Parker, will be paid to the Officers and Com
pany of both Vessels on the z§th inst. at the
llore of the Subscriber, in Water- Street.
By JOHN TENCH, Agent.
TO BE LE f, and may be enteieu upon immedi
ately
A STORE, in a capital hand for business, with
a final! back-iuom, and an excellent dry cellar.
Apply to the Printer.