The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-11-16 00:00:00, page 2

WILLIAMSBUR G, Nov, i.
Lift Saturday evening died fuddeniy, at Mr.
r^^div in this city, Col. RICHARD BLAND,
one . the Delegates for Prince George, in his fixty
ghh year, near one half of which)term he devo
te! to the public service. He was a gentleman well
"acquainted with the constitution of his country, as
well as with many valuable branches of learning.
By a letter from Colonel William Chrifhm, to
his kxcellenc) the Governor, of the 14th of Octo
ber, we have the following intelligence, viz. That
on the 12th a white man came in with a flat: from
the Raven warrior of Chore, desiring peace, the
night before he crossed Broad river; whole reply
was, that they mult firh deliver up Cameron the
incendiary and our prisoners in their nation, and
lay down the hatchet; otherwise he ihould cross the
river and lay watte their towns, only extending
mercy to inch as had behaved well to the date of
America. The Col. had good reason to believe
that this flig was only tint to amuse him, although
the real sentiments of three towns under the influ
ence of the Raven. The man who came with the
flag informed, that the advanced parties of the
enemy were then about his camp, and that the
whole strength of the nation would be ready to
depute his eroding the river that evening; which
determined the Col. immediately to let about find
ing a proper ford, which his lookouts were fortu
nate enough to difeover by feeing tour Indians pass
over. However, an unfrequented place below was
pitched upon lor the purpole, and at ten at night
he fee out with between ten and eleven hundred
men, two hundred of them on horseback, and by
one o'clock in the morning got fafely over, not
without much danger and difficulty, the river be
ing about half a mile broad, deep and rapid, and
the night very dark, so that none of the men could
wade, and he was frequently obliged to make
lights; About an hour before day he marched to
within a mile of the spot where he expected the
enemy were encamped, and at sunrise surrounded
the place, but found the Indians were gone; where
upon he ordered the remaining part of the army,
with the provisions and baggage, to be brought
over, which was happily effeded. That day the
Col. was informed, by some spies, that the whole
force of the nation was near him, with a determi
ned resolution to attack him, and to skirmish with
him on his march to the towns.
One of their principal views was terfeftroy the
cattle and horses, and in obedience to Stuart's or
ders (now at Mobille) they were resolved to mike
no peace, but to fight and retreat. The Colonel
expelled it would take him four or five days to reach
their towns, as he fhonld march very flow, and in
order of battle. It was reported, that Stuart was
fending eight hundred Creeks, who were expelled
at the Cherokee towns in a few days. He writes,
however, that he shall proceed, and endeavour to
have matters fettled before his return.
General Rutherford of North-Carolina, he was
informed, had returned to about Koewee, after lay
ing watte the Valley towns.
Captain James M'Call, of South-Carolina, who
was taken prisoner the ift.of July last by the Che
rokees, was then with Col. Christian in his camp, in
good health, and desires this piece of intelligence to
be made public, for the fatisfaftion of his family.
Of the 15th Colonel Christian writes, dated
Broad river, that he was just then preparing to
march, a little after sunrise. That Captain Gift
came in the night before with a flag from the Ra
ven warrior, to intercede for Chote, as, from the
answer he received to his firft flag, he had turned all
of his nation that he had influence over, and mo
ved off with his men from the Indian camp, upon
which the others followed. Captain Gift informed
that numbers yesterday morning were moving off
their families and corn ; that one thousand ol the
Valley and Lower Settlement Indians are now on
this fide, having quitted their country, and that
Cameron will try to assemble them all some where
about Hywaffee, to defend that place, or bring
them to fight. He also fays, that there are several
small parties about our camp, who will do what
harm they can, but that no general battle will be
fought until our army crosses the Tenefee, or to
wards Hywaffee, if the Colonel follows the enemy
there. Colonel Christian supposes that Capt. Gift's
coming with a flag was only an excuse for his lea
ving the Indians, and that he seems sorry for what
he has done, although many of the army are much
exasperated against him.
ANNAPOLI S, November 7.
A letter from White Plains dated OH. 29, fays,
“ I now snatch an opportunity, by the post, of
informing you that Gen. M'Dougal's brigade, of
which the Maryland regulars is a part, having laid
in the woods for three nights, two miles from this
place, and to the right of the main body, as a co
vering party, was ordered to advance along the
road, about a mile, near a place called the Mile
Stone, and there take place, which was accordingly
done. The brigade was there joined by Hazlet's
Delaware battalion, and a small regimeni of militia
from Connecticut; they were no sooner formed than
the enemy began a heavy cannonade from a great
number of field pieces, advaatageoufly difpoted on
several rising grounds, which was answered by the
(only) two cannon which attended our brigade,
little or no execution being done on either fide, till
Colonel Smallwood, with the Marylanders, was
ordered to march down the hill and attack the ene
my, which they did, and a smart contest ensued, in
which the enemy gave way, but rallying again, and
attacking the right of the brigade, composed of
the militia aforefaid, they got the advantage, and
their situation being such, and being drawn up in a
heavy column, only our regiment and another
(Ritzma's) could come in for any part of the adion.
Those two brave regiments hood a very heavy fire
of their artillery and mufquetry for about half an
hour, when the whole brigade, being vastly out
numbered and crampeCin reipeft of ground, was
obliged to retreat, a reinforcement under General
Putnam not being able to get up in time to give the
neceflary afliftance; this reinforcement was General
Beall's brigade. The enemy now occupy the ground
wheie we took post yesterday, and are a mile from
our lines at the White Plains. Colonel Smallwood
staid upon the place of action some time after the
retreat had begun, and received two wounds, one
a flelh wound on his hip, the other through his
arm; he is however in good spirits, and I hope will
soon be in a condition to take the field again. All
our officers and men behaved with their usual bra
very. We have loft of our regiment Capt. Bracco,
killed in the retreat; Serjeants Belt and Weftbay,
killed. Capt. Scott is mortally wounded, indeed I
fear he is dead at this moment; Lieut. Goldsmith
badly wounded in the leg, and Lieut. Waters's leg
broke to pieces. As near as I can guess, our regi
ment has near forty killed, wounded and miffing.
The enemy form a considerable body near to our
main body, and I expect every moment to fee them
attack."
Last Monday arrived here from Martinico, Capt.
John Martin, in the brig Friendship, mounting ten
carriage guns, and forty men, belonging to this
State, with a very valuable cargo, 3200 weight of
gunpowder, two tierces of gun flints, 410 bushels
of salt, a large quantity of oznabrugs, blankets, and
a considerable quantity of faltpetre, brimstone, Tai
lor's jackets, &c. likewise drugs and medicines.—
With Capt. Martin came paffengtrs the following
French gentlemen, viz. Henri Dieu Donne Je
Chevalier Drouant De Givricour, Captain Jean
Andre, Jean Antonie Coutura, Jean Francois
Tallaifon, Francois Clinet Chirujien, Nicholas
Tronc, Francois Pelletier.—Cyrus Cooper merch
ant at Alexandria, and Daniel Tebbs of Virginia.
B O S r O N, October 31.
Captains Simmons, who arrived at Dartmouth
on Friday last, in twenty days from St. Euftatia
informs that the Governor of that place assured
him, that a war would soon be declared by the
King of France, against Great-Britain, that one
of the Britilh pirate's Ihips, being in that port in
purfuit'of American property had adually been
fired upon from their forts, and that great encou
ragement was given to all American vessels,
throughout the French dominions
Yesterday arrived here bom Newbury-Port,
where ihe was lately built, the Maflachufett's fri
gate BOSH ON, mounting twenty eight guns com
manded by Hector M'Neil, Esq;
Lad week arrived in town from Philadelphia,
the Hon. John Adams, Esq; Member of the Con
tinental Congress.
NEW PO R T, November 4.
Last Monday Captain Shearman Clarke arrived
at an eastern port, in fifteen days from the Weft-
Indies, and informs that he saw a letter from France
a day or two before he failed, advising that it might
be depended on that France would declare war against
Great-Britain very soon; that the Pomona and two
other Britilh Ihips oi war were supposed to have
been 101 l in the late hurricane in the Weft-Indies,
they not being heard of since.
A lew days pad arrived fafe at an eastern port,
a Continental ship from France, having on board
three thousand hands of arms, three hundred bar
rels of powder, one hundred chests of tin, dry
goods, &c. The Capt. of which fays there were
great preparations in France for war, and a decla
ration may be expected very soon. She had seven
weeks paflage. Some very agreeable intelligence
by this vessel it is thought not advifeable to make
public at present.
Last Thurlday arrived in east passage, a large
Jamaica ship, loaded with about fix hundred hogs
heads of lugar, ninety puncheons of rum, some
cotton &c. taken by the Continental brig Cabot,
Capt. Hinman. She mounts sixteen guns, but we
do not learn that ihe made any refinance. About
the lame time, Capt. Job Pearce, in a private sloop
of war, went up the weft passage, with a fine large
brig,Joaded with fifh, being his third prize lately
arrived.
N E W-H AVE N, November 6.
A few nights since, between three and four hun
dred troops, from the hate of Rhode-inland, erod
ed the found, and landed on Long Island, near
Setalket, where they engaged a party of the troops
newly inlifted into Gen. Howe's army commanded
by one Smith; five or fix of his men were killed in
BAL TIMOR E, November 6.
the action, and himfelf and twenty-three of his
company made prisoners, who were brought off,
with feventy-five excellent muskets. The prisoners
are a motly herd, about oue half of them being
Negroes and Indians. Of the Rhode-Ifland troops,
one was killed, and one wounded.
We hear that near two hundred fail of the ene
my's fleet are on this fide of Hedgate, the chief of
them lying near Hart-Island.
PHILADELPHIA.
War-Office, November 14, 1776.
To the ASSOCIATORS of PENNSYLVANIA.
GENTLEMEN,
CONGRESS have received intelligence that a
fleet of the enemy, confiding of several hun
dred fail, were yesterday discovered near Sandy-
Hook, fteeringto the southward. It is highly pro
bable that their deffination is for Delaware and the
city of Philadelphia, ft is needless to observe that
the utmost vigor and dispatch are neceflary to coun
teract the designs of the enemy, and defend this
city, the prelervation of which is of very great im
portance to the general cattle. Congress have di
re&ed us to co-operate with the Council of Safety
of this State in concerting measures proper on the
present emergency; and have invested us with their
full power to carry such measures into execution.
In discharge of the trust committed to us, we think
it our duty to recommend it to you, in the warmest
and moll earned manner, immediately to put your
selves in array, and march, by companies and parts
of companies as you can be ready, with the utmost
expedition to this city. Its fafety and the interest
of the United States point out the necellity of your
strongest exertions.
General Washington, at the head of a consi
derable part of his army, is advancing south ward;
but, notwithstanding all the dispatch he can possibly
make, the enemy may arrive before him. If they
Ihall be opposed, with proper spirit and fufficient
numbers, at their firft approach, there is the greatest
reason to exped that their views will finally be de
feated; and they will experience, to their cost and
disgrace, that on no part of the continent they can
make an impression. They have been already obliged
to abandon Crown-Point and retire into Canada.
It is vain to hope for lenity from your inveterate
foes. Their tender mercies are cruelty. The pro
perty of those who have aded as their friends, is
not fafer than that of those whom they confider as
their enemies. Devaluation of every kind marks
their footileps.
Congress will do every thing in their power to
strengthen you. Expresses for this purpose are al
ready sent off to the neighbouring States-
Every thing dear to Freemen is now at stake.
The Freemen of .Pennsylvania will undoubtedly
difeover the spirit and zeal, which theii Country
expels and their critical situation demands.
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
JAMES WILSON.
EDWARD RUTLEDGE.
FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE.-
Httef. RICHARD PE FERS; Secretary.
Intelligence from Head farters, White Plains
November 6, 1776.
We Rear tliat the morning before, the enemy
made a sudden and unexpected movement from ths
several polls they had taken in our front.
A lley broke up their whole encampments the°
P'ocee'^g ni ght, and have advanced towards
Kingfbridge and the North river.
Some accounts make the lots of the enemy on
Monday fennight about four hundred in killed and
wounded—All accounts agree that Colonel Carr,
of the 35^11 regiment, is among tlie number, of the
slain.
Intelligence from Head Quarters, Ticonderoga
ORober 31, 1776.
On Monday morning, between eight and nine
o'clock, our advanced guard boat down the lake
made the fighal for the approach of the enemy's
fleet. In about an hour, five of tlieir largest boats
or gondolas appeared in fight, and a number of
troop.,, Indians and Canadians, were seen landing
upon I hree Mile point. Soon- after, two of the
armed boats flood over to tlie east fide of the lake,
inclined upwards, as it lent to reconnoitre. When
they came considerably witliin shot, they were fired
upon from two redoubts very near the shore, and
by a rowgally tliat was Rationed to cover the boom
They thereupon retired. In the mean time the
enemy s troops were diftin&ly leen to land upon the
back of the point, and presently after thirteen small
batteaus and birch canoes crossed from the weft to
the east fide of the lake, into a bay about four miles
below our redoubt.
Upon thele thieaienings of an attack, our lines,
redoubts, and polls Were all manned, and as the
motions of the enemy seemed to indicate they were
gatliering their mamforce upon the well fide of the
lake, as if intending to make tlieir pulh there, three
regiments (Poor s, Read's, and Greaton's') were
ordered from Mount Independance to reinforce this
fid.-. File orders were inllantly obeyed, and no—.
tiling could exceed the spirit and alternefs which
were fhewndiy all 'officers and soldiers in executing
every order that was given.