The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-05 00:00:00, page 4

PHILADELPHI A, Sept. 5.
A correspondent fays that a few days before the attack off
Charleftown, a famous Swiss Dr. in Georgia obferve'd to a
gentleman that he Lately had a dream, and that his dream
was, the King's flag was flying upon Sullivan's island ; though,
fays the Do&or, it is but a dream, and any body may dream,
I believe it is true fcr all that. What a pity this renowned
Do&or did not recollect, thgt dreams and Swiss almanacks
are interpreted by contraries!/
Extras of a letter from New-York, dated Sept. I. N
" Last Monday morning we went over to Long island,
and about midnight we were alarmed by the return of some
of our scouting parties, who advised us that the English were
in' motion, and coming up the illand with several field pieces.
It was generally thought not to be the main body, but only
foletachment, with a view to possess themselves of some ad
vantageous heights. Upon which near three thou&nd men
were ordered out, confiding chiefly of the Pennsylvania and
Maryland troops, to attack them on their march. About
sunrise we came up with a very large body of them. The
Delaware and Maryland battalions made one party. Col.
Atlee, with his battalion a little before us, had taken post in an
orchard and behind a barn, and on the approach of the enemy
be gave them a very severe fire, which he bravely kept up
for a considerable time, until they were near surrounding
him, when he retreated to the woods. The enemy then ad
vanced towards us, upon which Lord Sterling, who com
manded, immediately drew us up in a line, and offered them
battle in the true English taste. The British army then ad
vanced within about three hundred yards of us, and began a
very heavy fire from their cannon and mortars, for both the
balls and ihells flew very faft, now and then taking off a head.
Our men stood it amazingly well, not even one of them
ffiewed a disposition to ihrink.
" Our orders were not to fire until the enemy came within
fifty yards cf us, but when they perceived we stood their fire
so coolly and resolutely, they declined coming any nearer,
although treble cur number. In this situation we Rood from
sunrise to twelve o'clock, the enemy firing upon us the chief
part of the time, when the main body of their army, by a
rout we never dreamed of, had entirely fnrrounded us, and
drove within the lines, or scattered in the woods, all our men,
except the Delaware and Maryland battalions, who were
funding at bay with double their number. Thus situated,
we were ordered to attempt a retreat, by fighting our way
through the enemy, who had posted themselves, and nearly
filled every field and road between us and our lines. We had
net retreated a quarter of a mile before we were fired upon
by an advanced party of the enemy, and those upon our rear
were playing upon us with their artillery. Our men fought
with more than Roman virtue, and, I am convinced, would
have stood until they were (hot down to a man. We forced
the advanced party, which firft attacked us, to give way, thro'
uhich opening we get a passage down to the fide of a marsh,
seldom before waded over, which we pasted, and then swam
a narrow river ; all the time exposed to the fire of the enemy.
The companies commanded by Captains Ramsey and Scot
were in the front, and sustained the firft fire of the enemy,
when hardly a man fell.
, “ The whole of the right wing cf our battalion, thinking
itimpoffible to pass through the marsh, attempted to force
their way through the woods, where they were almost to a
man killed or taken. The Maryland battalion has loft two
hundred and fifty-nine men, amongst whom are twelve officers.
Capts. Veazey and Bowey, the firft certainly killed ; Lieuts.
Butler, Sterrett, Dent, Courfey, Muse, Prawl; Ensigns,
442
FOUR DOLLARS Reward.
RAN away from the fubferiber, an indented servant
man named WILLIAM MANLY, by trade a house
carpenter, five feet three or four inches high, well set, round
shouldered, brown short curly hair, fond of drink, and
very talkative. He had on and took with him, a brown
coat, satin jacket, buckskin breeches, striped trousers, and
sundry other clothes unknown. Whoever apprehends said
servant, and secures him so that his master gets him again,
shall have the above reward. HUGH ROBERTS.
Coats and Fernandes; who of them are killed, or who prL
loners, is yet uncertain. Man^ of the officers loft their
swords and guns. We have since intirely abandoned Long,
island, bringing off all cur military stores.
" Generals Sullivan and Sterling are both prisoners.
Col. Atlee, Miles and Piper, are also taken. There are
about a thousand men miffing in all. We took a few prifon
hrs. By a Lieut, we took, we underhand they had about
twenty-three thousand men on the island that morning. Most
of our Generals were upon a high hill in our lines, viewing us
with glasses. When we began our retreat, they could fee the
enemy we had to pass through, though we could not. Many of
them thought we would surrender in a body, without firing.
When we began the attack, Gen. Walhington wrung his
hands, and cried our, Good God, vvbat,bratefellows I muff this
day loft! Major Guest commanded the Maryland battalion,
the Col. and Lieut. Col. being both at York. Capts. Adams
and Lucas were sick. The Major, Capt. Ramsey, and
Irieut. Plunkett, were foremoft, and within forty yards off
t£e enemy's muzzles, when they were fired upon by the
enemy, who were chiefly under cover of an orchard, save a
few that shewed themselves and pretended to give up, club
bing their firelocks until we came within ehat distance, when
they immediately presented and blazed in ocr faces ; they in
tirely overshot us, and killed some men away behind in the
rear. I had the fatisfadion of dropping one of them the firft
fire I made. I was so near I could not miss. I discharged
my rifle seven times that day as deliberately as I ever did at
a mark, and with as little perturbation."
DEATHS)—At Cambridge, New-England, Mrs. Margaret
Wigglefworth, consort of the Hollis Profeffor of Divinity—
At Providence, Mr. William Logan, painter—-At New-Lon
don, Mrs. Hannah Harris, widow of Capt. Peter Harris—
Lately at the Camp on Long-Island, Fisher Gay, Esq; Col
of one of the Connecticut battalions—ln this city, Mr.
William Barrell, merchant, and Mrs. Lukins, wife of Mr.
John Lukins, in Strawberry-alley.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by BENJAMIN
TOWNE, in Front-street, near the London
Coffee-Houfe.
WAR OFFICE, Philadelphia, Sept. §, 1776.
CONGRESS having directed the Board of War " to call
" in the several recruiting parties of the German battalion,
" and that they have them formed and armed with all possible
" expedition and forwarded to New-York, taking measures
" and giving proper directions to have the battalion recruited
" to the full complement so soon as the fame can be done."
The officers of the said battalion are hereby enjoined imme
diately to repair with their men to the city of Philadelphia,
that the Board may take the necessary steps to fulfil the di
redions of Congress. RICHARD PETERS, Secretary.