The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-04 00:00:00, page 3

Copy of a letter from Lieut. Col. Campbell to Gen. Howe,
dated Boston, June 19, 1776.
“SIR,
46 I am sorry to inform you that it has been my unfortunate
lot to have fallen into the hands of the Americans, in the
middle of Boston harbour. But, when the circumstances,
which have occasioned this difalter, are underload, I flatter
myfelf no reflexion will arise to myfelf or my officers on ac-,
Count of it. On the 16th ot June the George and Annabella
transports, with two companies of the feventy-firft regiment
of Highlanders, made the land off Cape Ann, after a pas
sage of seven weeks from Scotland, during the course of
wnich we had not the opportunity of speaking to a single
vessel that could give us the smallest information of the Bri
tish troops having evacuated Boston. On the 17th, at day
light, we found ourfeives opposite to the. harbour's mouth of
Bolton ; but, from contrary winds, it was necessary to make
fewer*, acks to reach it. Four schooners, which we to # k to r
be pilots; or armed vessels in the service of his Majesty (but
wnich were afterwards found to be our American privateers of
eight carriage guns, twelve swivels, and forty men ach)
were bearing down upon us at four o'clock in the morning, at i
half an hour thereafter two of them engaged us, and about
eleven o'clock the other two were close along iide. The
George transport, on board of which was Major Menzies and
myself, with.one hundred and eight of the second battalion, the
Adjutant, the Quartermaster, two Lieutenants, and five vo
lunteers were paffeugeis, having only fix pieces of cannon tch
Oppole them. And the Annabella, on board of which was
Capt. d'Knzie, together with two Subalterns, two volun
teers, and eighty-two private men of the rirft battalion, had
only two fwiveis for her defence. Under such circumstances
I .thought it expedient for the Annabella to keep a head of
the George, that our artillery might be uled wnh more efka,
and less obttruftion. Two of the privateers having Rationed
themielves upon our larboard quarter, and- two upon ou%
starboard quarter, a tolerable cannonade ensued, which, with 3 ,
very few intermillions,• laded till four , o'clock in the evening,
when the enemy bore away and anchored in Plymouth har
bour. Our lols upon this occasion was only three men mor
tally wounded on board the George ; one killed and one man
Rightly wounded on board the Annabella. As my orders
were for the port of Boston, I thought it my duty, at this
happy crisis, to push forward into the harbour, not doubting
I fhuuld receive protection either from a fort or fome.lhip of?
force Rationed there for the security of our fleet.
“ Toward the close of* the evening we perceived the four
schooners that were engaged,with us in the morning, joined.
by the brig Defence, of iixteen carriage - guns, twenty swi—
vels, ana one hundred and seventeen men, and a schooner of
eight carriage guns, twelve swivels and forty men, got under
way and made towards us. As we flood up for Nantafket
read, an American battery opened upon us, which was the
firft, serious proof we had that there could scarcely be many
friends of ours at Boston ; and we were too far embayed to
retreat, especially as. the wind had died away, and the tide of
flood not half expended. After each of the vessels having
twice run aground, we anchored at George's iiland,.and pre
pared for action, but the Annabella, by some misfortune, got
agroini so far astern of the George, we could expect but a
feeble support from her musketry. About eleven o'clock
four of the schooners anchored right upon our bow, and one
right astern of us ; the armed brig took her Ration on our
ftaio^ard tide, at the distance of two hundred yards, and
hailed us to drke tne Britilh flag. Although the Mate of our
ftip, and every tailor on board (the Captain only excepted)
333
refufed positively to fight any longer, I have the pleasure to
inform you that there was not an officer, non-commissioned
officer, or private man of the feventy-firft, but what flood to
their quarters with a ready and cheerful obedience. On our
refufing to strike the British flag, the action was renewed
with a good deal of warmth on both sides, and it was our
misfortune, after the sharp combat of an hour and an half, to
have expended every (hot that we had for our artillery. Under
such circumstances, hemmed in as we were with fix privateers,
in the middle of an enemy's harbour, beset with a dead calm„.
without the power of escaping, or even the most dillant hope
of relief, 1 thought it became my duty not to facrifice the
lives of gallant men wantonly in the arduous attempt of am
evident impossibility. In this unfortunate affair Major Men
zies and seven private soldiers were killed; the Quarter-
Master and tweive private soldiers wounded.. Tne Major was
buried with the honors of war at Boston.,
" Since our captivity I have the honor to acquaint you
that we have experienced the utmost civility and good treat
ment from the people of, power at Boston, insomuch, Sir,
that I ihould do injustice to the feelings of generosity, did I
not make this particular information with pleasure and fatif
fa&ion. I have now to request of you, that so soon as the
diftrafted Rate of this unfortunate controversy will admit, you
will be pleased to take an early opportunity of fettling a car
tel for myfelf and officers,. 1 ha.ve.the honor to be, with
great refped, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL,
Lieut, Col. of the 2d bat. of they 1# regiment.
General Howe,,
“ P. S. On my arrival at Boston I found that Capt. Max
well, with the light infantry of the firft battalion of the
feventy-firft regiment, had the misfortune to fall into he
hands of some other privateers, and was carried into Marble
head the tenth inst. Capt. Campbell^ with the grenadiers of
the second battalion, who was ignorant as we were of the
evacuation of Boston, Rood into the mouth of this harbor,
and was surrounded and taken by eight privateers this fore
noon.
“ In case a cartel is eftablilhed, the, following return is, as
near as I can effect, the number of officers, non-commissioned
officers and private men of the feventy-firft regiment, who are
prisoners of war at and in the neighbourhood of Boston.
" The George transport. Lieut. Col. Archibald Camp
bell; Lieut, and Adjutant Archibald Campbell ; Lieut.
Archibald Balneaves ; Lieut. Hugh Campbell ; Quarter-
Mailer William Ogilvie ; Surgeon's-Mate David Burns ; Pa
trick M'Dougal, volunteer and anting Serjeant Major;
James Flint, volunteer ; Dugald Campbel 1 , ditto < Donald
M'Bane ; John Wilson, three Serjeants, four Corporals, two
Drummers, ninety private men.
“ The Annabella transport. Captain George M'Kinzie ,
Lieut. Colin M'Kinzie ; Ensign Peter Frater; Mr. M'Kinzie
and Alexander M'l avifh, volunteers; four Serjeants, four
Corporals, two Drumm rs, eighty one private men.
“ Lord Howe transport. Captain Lawrence Campbell;
Lieut. Robert Duncanfon ; Lieut. Archibald M'Lean ; Lieut.
Lewis Colhoun; Duncan Campbell, volunteer ; four Ser
jeants, four Corporals, two Drummers, ninety-fix private men,
“ Ann transport. Captain Hamilton Maxwell ; Lieut.
Charles Campbell ; Lieut. Fraser ; L:eut. ; four
Serjeants, four Corporals, two Drummers, ninety-fix private
men.
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL,
Lieut. Col. 2d Bat, 71st Regt."