The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-27 00:00:00, page 2

WILLIAMSBUR G, %^ i 3.
The heavy cannonade from our lines in Glou,
cefter, last Tuesday and Wednesday, .obliged Lord
Dunmore to withdraw his troops and Whipping from
Gwyn's iiland. His Lordlhip, it is laid, received a
wound in his leg or thigh. The men of war were
hulled several times, and received considerable da
mage, particularly the Dunmore and Otter, which
laid was obliged to be towed off in the greatest Lurry.
Their flight from the illand was on Wednesday even
ing with precipitation and confufion, leaving to the
polkflion of our troops a large number of cannon,
swivels, thirty black prisoners, and three tenders,
which they set on fire, but were soon extinguished.
The onlylofs on our fide was Capt. Dohicky Arun
del, who was unfortunately killed by the burning
of a mortar. The enemy are gone up the Bay and
it is cbnjeftured they are bound to Kent-island.
Before their departure they burnt a ship, supposed
to be the Dunmore, unfit for any further service,
and two Smaller vessels.
We learn from Dinwiddie county, that a party
who were in pursuit of a certain Benjamin Wood
ward, fufpe&ed of counterfeiting our paper cur
rency, have found all his types, copperplates, and
other utensils, but that the villain had eleaped un
der cover of the woods.
PORTSMOUTH, June 29.
Last Sunday arrived at Falmouth, Cafco-Bay, a
large French sloop, in 18 days from Martinico,
laden with rum, wines, drugs, linens, cloths, &c.
The master informs us there are a number of vessels
on their passage bound to this and other ports;
also allures us the French in general are firm friends
to the American cause.
SALE M, Julyg.
On Wednesday last was taken and lent into Cape
Anne by the Yankey privateer sloop, in the Conti
nental service, (lately fitted out of Boston) to cruize
against the unnatural enemies of America, com
manded by Capi. Henry Johnson, the ship Creigh
ton, Ross, master, about 350 tons burthen;
She was bound from Antigua to Boston. and has on
board a cargo of 400 puncheons of rum.
Same day whs alio lent in by Capt. Johnson the
flip Zechariah Baily, — mailer, 450 tons burthen,
with a cargo of rum, fug, r spices pepper cotton,
&c She was taken about a fortnight ago, on her
passage from Jamaica to London.' This ship was a
letter 01 marque of 24 guns lull war.
I here arc, however, circumfonces, in which the
Princes that conclude a peace, incur a general blame;
and this happens, 'wkbn the'peaceis dishonourable,
or robs either ptirty of an infallible opportunity of
snaking ufeful and glorious conquers. But, as the
rood flattering appearances are lometimes deceitful,
it might happen, perhaps, that war would not pro
cure greater advantages than could be obtained by
peace. II France alter the taking of 'Utrecht, in
the year 1672, had been-tontented with the condi
tions that the United Provinces, who begged for
peace, would have accepted, hew many State Cri
tics would 'have censured Lewis XIV. for not im
proving his advantages, and neglecting this fair
opportunity of subduing the whole Country ? It
was with this view, fay they, thatthe Miniiler who
had the management of the military affairs, caused
all-the reasons of M. de Pomponne, who advised
the peace, to be rejected. Before the end of the
next campaign, they had reason to repent theirnot
following this advice; and they assure us, that the
'King, being forced to abandon all his conquers,
Paid aloud, '• Pomponne was in the right." We
may here admire the odity of events. France fuf
fered by refilling peace to an enemy aimoil subdued,
and the Turk, at the fame time, buffered for grant
ing it to an enemy reduced to flrange conlufions.
The Port was dazzled at the advantageous terms
the Poles offered her after the taking K,aminiec:
She was content with them, and did not disturb the
Poles; but, after the Sultan's retreat, they took
courage, and kept none of their-promises, laughing
at the Turk: So that at the fame time, the conduct
of these two Princes deserves to be condemned, one
for not granting a peace, and the other for grant
ing it.
hand than the necessity wherein both parties find
thetEclves to end the war. Want of money tires
as much as a furfeit. Before this, the Mediators
weie not heard; but then thefare increased to aiif,
or rather they are laid aside; because both parties
treat directly with, each other, agree upon the main
points, and then conclude without them; or, if they
arc made use of, it is only for form fake. We read
this in Priorato'shillory of the peace of the Pyrenees.
“ This peace, fays he, was concluded, without the
intervention of thole who had a long while mediated
it," and gaye otcafion to remember what Rope In
noca^faid, one day, when he was at a window of
his palace on the Piazza Navona: He law two men,
ol an inferior rank, boxing one another furioufly,
and be forbad that they should be parted, adding,
“ You will fee that, when they are weary, they will
leave off of themielves; which happening a little
while after: “ Thus, (continued ht) the .French
and Spaniards will do, when they are tired of wa
ging war againh one another; for then they will
make peace without any body's mediation."
H A RTFOR D, ^u^ 15 .
Last week about 150 tories in the Nine Partners
and places adjacent, rose in a body, fell upon the
sons of libertyhhere, disarmed them, and took pof
feflion of the Committee Chamber, but were quelled
by a party of near 3000 men from the western parts
of this colony, and about .20 of their number taken
and confined in prifon,—May their ringleaders soon
receive the punishment due to Inch traitors to the
American States.
, N E W-Y O R K, July 22.
General Sullivan, r with the whole northern
army, we hear is retreated to Ticonderoga, (165
miles from Albany, and 265 from this city) a very
advantageous spot, and where it is believed he will
in a short time be fufficiently reinforced and fortifi
ed to withstand any attack that may be made by
our cruel unrelenting enemies.
Extract of a letter from Lofton, July 1.
", Lad Saturday Commodore Banks's firll Lieut,
killed in the engagement with Capt. Muglord, was
found by a fifer on Deer-Bland.—had in his pocket,
five guineas and four dollars, a gold watch, and by
his fide a filter hilted Iword."
Yesterday fe'nnight, in the afternoon, a barge
fragi the fleet appeared in our bay with a white flag,
and there was met by the General's barge with le
veral gentlemen of the army on board. The flag
was lent by Lord Howe: with a letter to his Excel
lency General Washington. But as the letter .was
improperly directed, it. .was not received, though
much fclicited by the officer, who, we hear, said it
contained nothing of a hohile nature.—That Lord
Howe came over polfeffed of unlimited power., and
was much concerned he had not arrived a few days
sooner,, which would hav;effc&ed,a reconciliation,
&c. However, it seems his unlimited power did not
extend even \to the necessary preliminaries of a ne
gociation—an acknowledgment of the rightEl the
persons to whom he came to treat wfh.
On Tuesday another flag from ,the fleet appeared,
and was met as before, when a'letter was again of-.
fercQj but for the fame region as the former rejected.
On Friday a third flag from the fleet appeared,
-which we hear brought only an open letter .directed
to Mils Margaret Monerieffe.
Saturday afternoon ourpeopie discovered a fourth
flag,of truce, whereupon the Mechanics barge was
lent to meet it, and conducted the officer (said to be
Adjutant General of the forces under the command
of Lord Howe) co the dwelling of Colonel Knox,
in this city, where his Excellency Gen. Washington,
attended by his body guards, w rited his arrival,
which was a little pall one o'clock: The interview
was short, and the particulars are as yet not made
known; we cun therefore only fay, that at parting
much courtesy was Seen to pass between the gentle
men who bore the flag, and those of the Continental
forces, who had the honour th be prelent.
Last Sunday fe'nnight, at Morriffmia, departed
this life MARY, the wife of Thomas Lawrence,
Esq ; after a long and most painful illness; and on
Tuesday following her remains was deposited in the
family vault. In health,---her vivacity;—in fick
nef£;---her resignation ;—in dying,---her fortitude;
were remarkably eminent—As a duteous child, and
an affectionate wife, She had performed every office
which heaven requires; becoming a mother, she
parted with her (earthly) exiflence.---lf virtue, if
benificehce, and all that adorns humanity, can en
sure happiness, she is now possessed of it; for in her
alone, her relations have loft a consolation, society
an ornament, and human nature a friend.
PFIILADE L P H I A.
In CONGRES S, July 10, 1776.
WHE Committee to whom the cartel between
Brigadier General Arnold and Captain Fos
ter, and the several papers thereto relating were
committed having had the fame under their consi
deration, and made diligent inquiry into the fads,
have agreed to the following report:
They find that a party of three hundreed and
ninety Continental troops, under the command of
Col. Bedel, was posted at the Cedars, about forty
three miles above Montreal; that they had there
formed some works of defence, the greater part of
them piqueted lines, the rest a breastwork of earth,
with two field pieces mounted.
That on Wednesday, the' fifteenth of May, Col.
Bedel received intelligence that a party of the ene
my, confining of about fix hundred regulars, Ca
nadians, and Indians, were on their way to attack
his poll, and were then within nine miles of it—
that Col. Bedel thereon let out himfelf for Montreal
to procure a reinforcement, whereupon the com-,
mand at the Cedars devolved on Major Butterfield.
That on Thursday a reinforcement under the
command of Major Sherburne, marched from
Montreal for the Cedars, while a larger detach
ment should be getting ready to proceed thither
with Brigadier Gen. Arnold.
That on Friday the nineteenth the enemy, un
der the command of Capt. Foller, invelEd the
poll at the Cedars, and for two days kept up a
loose feathering fire—That Major Butterfield pro
posed from the very firft to surrender the poll, and
refuted repeated solicitations from his officers and
men to permit them to sally out on the enemv.
That on Sunday afternoon, a flag being sent in
by the enemy, Major Butterfield agreed to fur
That Major Sherburne having landed, on Mon
day the twentieth, at Quifezechenes, about nine
miles from tlie Cedars, and marched on with bis
party, consisting then of one hundred men, to
within four miles thereof, was there attacked by
about five hundred of the enemy—that he main
tained his ground about an hour, and then, being
constrained: to retreat, p r^ormed the lame in good
order, receiving and returning a conllant fire for
about forty minutes, when the enemy finding means
to poll advanced parties in such a manner as to
intercept tlieii farther retreat, tlicy allo were made
priloners of,war.
I hat they were immediately put into the custody
of the Savages, carried to where Major Butterfield
and his party were, and dripped of their baggage
and wearing apparel.
That two of them were put to death that even
ing, four or five others at different times. after
wards, one of whom was of those who forrendered
on capitulation at tne Cedars, and was killed on
the eighth day after that surrender. < 1 hat one was
sh d hint, and wliile retaining life and sensation was
roasted, as was related by his companion now in
possession of the Savages, who himfelf law the fad,
and that leveral others, being worn down by fa
tigue and cruelty, were left exposed in an illand
naked and perilling with cold and.hunger.
That while Major Sherburne was in custody of
the enemy, Captain Fofler required of him and the
other officers'to sign a cartel stipulating the exchange
of'themfelves and their men for as many of equal
condition of the British troops in our pofleffion.
And farther, that notwithstanding the exchange,
neither themselves nor men should ever again bear
arms, against the Britilh government. And for
the performance of this four hostages were to be
delivered, which they, being under the absolute
power ,of the enemy, did sign
That on Sunday the twenty-sixth, the prisoners
were carried to Juningrehener, when it was disco-
Vered that General Arnold was approaching and
making dispositions to attack them-
render the fort and garrison to Capt. filter, ca.
peculating with him (whether verbally or in wri
ting does not appear) that the garrison should not
be put into the hands of the Savages, and that
their baggage should not be plundered.
Fliat at tile time of tlie surrender, the enemy
confided of about forty regulars, one hundred Ca
nadians, and five hundred Indians, and had no
cannon, tlie gariifqn had luftained no injury from
the fire, but they having one man wounded—the,
had twenty rounds of cartridges a man, thirty
rounds for one field piece, five for another, half
a barrel of gunpowder, fifteen pound of muiket
ball, apd provision fufficient to have laded them
twenty or thirty days. Major Butterfield knew'
that a reinforcement was 011 its way, and moreo
ver was lo near the main body of the army that he
could not doubt of being supported by that.
Bhat immediately on tlie Surrender, tlie garrison
was put into the custody of the Savages, who plun
dered them of their baggage, and even flripped
them of their clothes.
That Capt. Foller, having desired Major Sher
burne to attend a flag which he was about to fend
to Gen. Arnold for confirmation of the cartel, car
ried him into the Council of the Indians then fit
ting, who told him, “ that it was a mercy never
before shewn in their wars, that they had put to
death so few of the prisoners, but that he must ex
ped and so inform Gen. Arnold that they should
certainly kill every man who should thereafter fall
into their hands." That Capt. Foster joined in de
filing that this bloody message should be delivered
to Gen. Arnold, and moreover that he should be
nitified, that if he rejected the cartel, and attacked
him, every man of the prisoners would be put to
instant death.
That four hostages were accordingly delivered to
Captain Fofter,,who were immediately plundered'
and flipped by,the Savages; and on his part were
delivered one M ajor, tour Captains, sixteen subal
terns and thiee hundred and fifty-five privates, as
'peeked in a certificate of Captain James Osgood,
and others of whom no fpecification by their names
or number has yet been transmitted; that he re
tained twelve Canadians, alledging, in his juftifi
cation, express orders so to do , •and that living in
a military government, they were to be considered
even in a worse light than deserters from his Ma
jesty's armies. These he carried away in. irons, but
afterwards released; that he permitted the Indiaps
to carry into their countries several other natives,
of the United States, for purposes unknown.
That Gen. Arnold was extremely averse from
entering into any agreement, and was at length
induced to do it, by no other motive than that of
saving the prisoners from cruel and inhuman death,
threatened in such terms as left no doubt it was to
be perpetrated; and that he did in the end conclude
it after several flags received from Capt. Foster,
and a relinquishment by him ol the unequal article
retraining our soldiers from again bearing arms.
That the prisoners, so stipulated to be given up
to the enemy, were not in the possession of G<n.
Arnold, npr under his diredl 1, but were, at that:
time, dihributed through various parts of the con
tinent, under the orders of this House.