The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-20 00:00:00, page 2

water, some went quite through, -feme in her quarter, and was
much raked fore and aft, but the carpenters loon covered the
most of the holes with what some called a plaster, which pre
vented her from receiving in the water, otherwise would have
soon filled. During the engagement one man was killed by
a ihot, which took his arm almost off. Six were much hurt
and burned by an eighteen cartridge of powder taking fire,
among whom was an anting Lieutenant, and several were hurt
by splinters ; but night coming on, and it being difficult to
fight her guns.in the night, and the gallies could not be seen,
it was judged best to retreat, during which they ceased firing
for awhile, and every man got a dram given him at his quar
ters, with directions for every man that was called by bis name,
to be ready to go ashore at Newcastle, under cover of the can
non, to plunder the town, and afterwards to burn and destroy
it that night, but they were prevented by the row-gallies fol
lowing so close. During the engagement the Captain or
dered several of the guns to be loaded with round and grape
shot, which were fired at the rebels (as the Captain and offi
cers called them) who flood on the fibre and banks. After
the veflels had passed Newcastle they came to, in the bite be
low the town, that night to repair the rigging, &c. and next
day the vessels went down to Reedy-Island, where Captain
Hhmmond hailed the Liverpool, and ordered her to go in be
twixt the island and themain, and destroy the town of Port
fenn (we heard drums beatihg ashore) accordingly he went,
and soon after returned, and-informed there was not depth of
w^ter to get nigh enough, and was afraid his vessel would get
aground. Next day the vefiels went to the capes, and came to
anchor; the carpenters as yet kill repairing the vessels, having
taken, as he supposes, forty of the row-gallies balls out of the
Roebuck, and feme can not be come at.
On the eighteenth of May aforefaid, both vessels weigh
ed from the Whorekill road. The Liverpool flood to the
northward, and, as far as he could learn, was to go or fend to
Halifax, for more ships and men to attack Philadelphia. The
Roebuck (in which he was) went to Norfolk, and joined
Dunmore's fleet there, alter which they burnt and funk fix
fail of sloops and schooners, being fetirce of hands to man
them, &c. And on the twenty-fourth of May the fleet went
so Gwin's island, being eighty-two fail, most of which were
prizes ; and on the twenty-sixth landed on the iflan^one
hundred men of the fourteenth regiment, one hundred ma
rines, one hundred and fifty inhabitants of Norfolk (by them
called volunteers) and fifty fearaen, and three hundred Ne
groes, which were all that could be soared from the vessels;
and as he could learn they were to land the inhabitants taken
on board at Norf Ik, on the island, to refrefh themselves
and to get frefh stock cf cattle, &c. being very scarce of
inch ib the fleet, as feme said they had net tasted any frefh meat
for seven weeks. On that night there came three Negro
men from the shore in a canoe, who were fhaked hands with,
and kindly received and entertained by the second Lieute
nant and other officers. The Lieutenant went into the cabin'
and informed the Captain, be afterwards asked them if there
would come more of their people on board, that .if they did they
would be well used. The Negroes laid there would, he then
allied them if there were any Ihirtmen or forces lying nigh.
They told him there were none nigher than fix miles. He
then asked them if there were any cattle nigh the there on
the main. They said there was plenty ; he then asked them
if they thought there was any danger in landing to get them,
they said there Was no danger. He then asked them if 'they
could get some fowls that night for the officers, al they were'
badly off for some on board, they said they couldget fowls
aqd Iheep. He then told them they should be well paid;
308
and, befidcs, should be free when this disturbance was over,
which he expected would be very soon, and then each of
them should have a plantation of the Rebels land. After which
one of the Negroes went and brought fome'fbwls and geese,
which this deponent heard making a noise coming up the fide
of the ship ; and also brought his wife and two children,
and another Negro man, of which he had told the Lieutenant
before. And all prisoners taken by them are forced to do
King's duty, and are not reckoned prisoners of war, but
Rebels, and very ill used, as he told the Captain, “ A man
had better curse father and mother, and be killed at once,
than live such a life." This deponent still designed to make
his escape, or die in the attempt ; he accordingly flipt thro'
one of the gun ports into the canoe which the Negroes had
brought, cut the painter, and let her fall a stern; and about
break of day got ashore on the main, after which he met a
man who told him that the people in the country would take
him up before he could get to the camp, 'anddend him on
board again, and that he had better return, but he would ra
ther have taken his chance to die firft. He arrived at the
camp, and was kindly received by Col. Churchill, and in
formed him of their design to land on the main for cattle,
&c. and told him all that he knew, who sent immediately
forty men and horses, and drove all the flock ten miles back in
the country, and saved them from being carried off. After
which he heard they had landed on the main, but being dis
appointed had burned some hbufes along shore, and further
faith not. WILLIAM BARRY.
Sworn before me Samuel Patterson, June 11, 1776.
HAMILTON and SON, Tobacconists, have remove'
from the corner of Spruce and Water streets, to th
houfe belonging to, and lately occupied by Mr. John Wal
lace, in Second-street, fix doors below Market-street, where
they continue to carry on their Scotch fnuff and tobacco Ma
nufactory in all the several branches as usual. They have laid
in a large stock of the very best Virginia leaf tobacco, and
are confident of giving the utmost fatisfa ftion to th'eir former
customers and the public. Orders will be punctualy answered
with all possible defpatch. Their Scotch fnuff, these seven
years past, has given Efficient prooff that the water works
they still continue to possess, are of the best conftru&ion of
the best conftfuflion cf any hitherto ereded. They give cash
for good empty fnuff bottles.
EIGHT hogsheads of choice SUGAR, three hundred
, weight of split WHALEBONE, three boxes of SPER
MACETI, and one cafli of <ld Jamaica SPIRITS, to be
SOLD by Josiah Hewes in Chefhut-Itreet.
AFE W hogsheads of old Jamaica SPIRITS, very good
green TEA in quarter chests, Goa ARRACK, and
two CANNON, four pounders, to be fold by Dominick
Joyce, at Capt. John Sibbald's in Second-street, opposite
the New Market. Philad. June 11.
THE Copartnership of. HAMILTON and LEIPFR,
Tobacco nists, is defolved. Those that have any
demands against that concern, are requested to bring in their
accounts as soon as possible to Hamilton and Son, in Second
ftreet, fix doors below Market-street, in the house lately occu
pied by Mr. John Wallace, or to Thomas Leiper, Tobacco
nist, in the house lately accupied by the Company, at the cor?
ner of Spruce and Water streets. °