The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1776-08-05 00:00:00, page 1

^— U —,HE Committee to whom the Cartel
between Brigadier General Arnold
I and Captain Fetter, and the several
f papers thereto relating were com
mitted, having had the fame under their confider
aticn, and made diligent enquiry into the fads,
have agreed to the following report :
They find that a party of three hundred 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 fbme works pf defence, the greater part
of them piqueted lin^s, the rest a breadwork of
earth, with two field pieces mounted.
That on Wednefd^y, the fifteenth of May,
Col. Bedel received intelligence that a party of
the enemy confining of about fix hundred regulars,
Canadi us, and Indians, were on their way to
attack his post, and were then within nine miles
of it thnt Col. Bedel thereon At out himfelf lor
Montreal to procure a reinforcement, whereupon
the command at the Cedars dcvoled on Major
Butterfield.
That on Thursday a reinforcement under the
command of Major Sherburne, marches from
Montreal for the. Cedars, while a larger detach
m^t should be getting ready to proceed thither
with Brigadier Gen. Arnold,
That on Friday the nineteenth the enemy, un
der the Command of Captain Foster, invented the
post ar the Cedars, and for two'days kept up a
loose fettering fire—That Major Butterfield pro.
posed from the very firft to surrender the 00ft, and
refuted repeated felicitations from his officers and
men to permit them to sally out on th^ enemy.
That on Sunday afternoon a flag being sent in
by the enemy, Major Butterfield agreed to fur
render the fort and garrison to Capt. Footer, ca
pitulating with him (whether verbally or in wri
ting dees not appear) that the garrison fliould not
be put into the nands of the Savages, and that
their baggage Ihould not be plundered.
Thai at the time of the surrender, the enemy
c^'s^m A about forty regular: one Funded
Canadians, and five hundred Indians, and had no
cannot! ; the garrison had fuftained.no injury from
, the fire, but they having one man wounded—they
had twenty rounds of cartridges a man, thirty
rounds for one fidd piece, five for another, half
a barrel of gunpowder, fifteen pound of musket
bai), and provision fufficient to have lasted them
twenty or thirty days. Major Butterfidd knew
that a reinforcement was on its way, and moreo
ver was so near the main body of the army that he
could not doubt of being fapported by that.
That immediately on ttye surrender, the garrison
was put into the Cuftouy of the Savages, who
plundered them of their baggage, and even
stripped them of their eloathes.
That Major Sherburne having landed, on Mon
day the twentieth, at Quifezechenes, about nine
miles from the Cedars, and marched on with his
party, confuting 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 toretreat, performed the famein good
order,, receiving and returning a coolant fire for
about forty minutes, when the enemy finding
means to post advanced parties in fuh a manner
as tointercept their farther retre t, they also were
mane prisoners of war.
Th>t they were immediately put into the hands
of the Savages, carried to Ztere Major But
terfield and his party were,, and flipped of their
baggage and wearing apparel.
That t^u of them were pot to death that even
ing, four or five others at different times after
w uds, one of whom was of those who surrendered
on capitulation at the Cedars, and was killed on
tie ei, of $ day after that Surrender. That one man
was firtt (hot, and while retaining life and sensation
was roah^d, as was related by his companion now
in poffdlim of the Savages, who himlelf law the
fa&, arl that several others, being worn down
by tatieue and cruelty, were left exposed in an
inland naked and perilling with c-old and hunger.
That while Major Sherburne was in custody of
the enemy, Captain Foster required of him and
the other officers to sign a cartel Itipulatiog the
exchange of themselves and their men for as many
of equal condition of the British troops in our
poffiffi n. And farther, that notwithstanding the
exchange, neither tbemlelves nor men fhourld ever
again bear arms, againit the British government.
And for the performance of this four holtages
were to be delivered, which they, being under the
absolute po^er of ts.- enemy, did, sign.
That on Sunday the twenty fixih, the prisoners
were carried to junior becer, when it was difeo
vered that General Arnold was approaching and
making difpofitic.n to attack them.
That Capt. Foster, having desired Major Sher
burne to attend a flag which he was about to lend
to Gen. Ari old for confirmation of the cartel,
carried him into the Council of the Indians then
fitting, who told him, " that it was a mercy never
before flicwn in their wars, that they had put to
death so few of the prisoners, but chat lie most
expert and so inform Gen. Arnold that they Oiould
certainly kill every man who foould thereafter
•fall into their hands." That Gapt <otojoined
in defining that this bloedy message should be 0 -
vered to Gen. Arnold, and moreover that he
mould be notified, that if he rejected the cartel,
and attacked him, every man of the prisoners
would be put to instant death.
Monday, August 5, 177^. THE t^ oo %jj
AT E^- r 0 R K^^^ty&G A ZET TE:
W E E K L Y E R C UR Y,
0 Printed by HUGH GAINE, Printer, Bgoksbllrß, and Stationer, ^ the Bible and Crown, in Ha^over-Squarr.
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 173. per Cent.f
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
ilb. 111-2 oz. for 4 Coppers.
Published March 18, 1776.
PHILADELPHIA.
In CONGRESS, July 10, 1776.
Refold, That all a&s, contrary to good faith,
the laws of nature, or the custom of civilized
nations, done by the officers and loldiers of his
Britannic Majesty, or by foreigners or Savages
taken into lus service, are to be considered as done
by his orders, unless indemnification be made in
cases which admit indemnification, and in <'
«c:r rates, unleC immediate.and effiaive >y .
furcs be taken by him or his officers for bring
ing to condign punishment the authors, abettors,
and prepetrators of the a6f.
Rejoßved, That the plundering the baggage 0+
the garrison at the Cedars, Gripping them of their
eloathes, and delivering them into the hands of
the Savages, was a breach of the capitulation on
the part of the enemy, tor which indemnification
ought robe demanded...
Refried, That the murder of the prisoners of
war was a gross and inhuman violation of the
laws of nature and nations ; that condign punilh
mentfhouid be infilled on the authors, abettors,
and perpetrators of the fame; and that for this
purpose, it be required that they be delivered into
our hands.
Refolded, That the agreement entered into by
Gen. Arnold was a mere fponfion on his part, he
not being invented with the powers for difpoling
ofprifimers hot iritis poffeflion, nor under his
direction: and that therefore it is fubje^t to be
ratified or annulled at the difefetien of this
Houle.
Refolded, That the Shameful surrender of the
post at the Cedars, is chargable on the Command
ing officer. 'I hat such other of the prisoners, as
were taken there, fuewed a willingnels and desire
to right the en my ; and that M jor Sherburne,
and the prisoners taken with him, though their
dilparity of numbers was great, fought the enemy
bravely for a considerable time, and surrendered
at last, but on absolute necessity; on which confi
derations, and on which alone, it,is resolved that
the laid fponfion be ratified, and that an equal
number of captives from the enemy of the fame
rank and condition be restored to them as Stipu
lated by the laid fponfion.
Resolved, That previous to t;he delivery of the
prisoners to be retuned on one part, the British
Commanderin Canada be required to deliver into
our hands the authors, abettors, and prepetrators
of the horrid murder committed on the prisoners,
to fuffer such punishment as their crime defervesj
and alfd to m^ke indemnification for the plunder
at the Cedars, taken contrary to the faith of ca
pitulation ; and that,(until inch delivery and in
demnification be made, the said prisoners be not
delivered.
Resolved, That if the enemy shall commit any
farther violences by putting to death, torturing,
or otherwise ill treating the prisoners retained by
them, or any of the hostages put into their hands,
recourse be had to retaliation, as the foie means
of flopping the progress of human butchery ; and
that for that purpose punishments of the fame
kind and degree be infixed on an equal number
of the captives from thence in our possession, till
they shall be taught due relpe& to the violated
rights of nations.
Refolded, That a copy of this report be trans
mitted to the Commander in Chief of the Conti
nental forces, to be by him sent to Generals Hove
and Burgoyne. Ry Order oj the Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK, Prejident.
In CONGRESS, July 22, 1776.
RESOLVED,
THAT the several Commanders in Chief,
in each department, be dire&ed to ex
cbange any officer in the British service, (now
a prisoner in any of the States,) of, or under
the rank of Col. for Colonel Ethan Alien.
Th^t 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
threat neu in such terms as left no doubt it was to
be perpetrated.; and that he did in the end con
clude it aft^r several flags received from Captain
Foster, and a relinqnihment by him of the une
qud article retraining our ioldiers from again
bearing arms.
T at the prisoners, so stipulated to betoken up
to the enemy, were not io the possession of Gen.
Arnold, nor under his direction, but were; at that
time, distributed through various parts of the
continent, under the orders of this House.
That four hostages were accordingly delivered
to Captain Foster, who were immediately plun
dered and Gripped by the Savages ; and on his
part were ' delivered one Major, four Captains,
sixteen icbaheins and three hundred and fifty
five privates, as fpecifi^d in a certificate of Capt.
James Ofeood, and others of whom no fpecifica
tion by their names or number has yet been ts oD
netted ; that he retained twelve Canadians, al
hedging, in his jollification, express orders Jo
to do; and that living in a military government,
they were to be considered even in,a worse light
than delerters from his Mej-dy's armies. Tbele
he carried away in irons, but afterwards released j
that he permitted the Indians to carrr into their
countries several other natives of the United States,
Cue purpufes unknown.
That during the time of their captivity not hab
food was allowed the prisoners. They wsre con-1
tinually intuited, buffeted, and ill treated by the.
Savages ; and when the fieri parties of them were*
carried < ff s rom the fh^re, to be delivered to Ge
neral Arnold, bails of mud wsre, fired at them,
and at the lari parties musket balls.
Whereupon the Congress came to the following
resolutions 4
Monday, s Min. after 2
Tuesday, 53 Min. after 2
Wednesday, 4.6 Min. after 3
Thursday, 35 Min. after 4
HIGH-WATER at HEW-YORK, tib' Week.
Friday, 26 Min. after 5
Saturday, 18 Min. after 6
Sunday, 2 Clin, after 7
First Quarter ^-morrow.
PHILADELPHIA, July^.
The following is an exa& slate of what puff
ed at the interview between his Excel-
L lency General Washington and Colonel
F' Pattei fen, Adjutant-General of the army
]under General Ilowe, July 20, 1776.
I A FTER ufial compliments, in which, as
jwell as through the whole conversation,
ICol. Patt+rfob addrefico Gen. Washington by
j the title of Excellency, Col. Patterson entered
upon the bufineS by faying, that Gen. Howe
much regretted the difficulties which had arisen
retpefting the ad'drefe of the letters to Geri.
Wafoiegton; that it was deemed confident with
,propriety, aud founded upon precedents ofrhe
ilike nature by Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries
;Where disputes or difficulties vFrank had arisen;
I that Gen. Waffiington might recoiled he had, last
! Summer, addressed alerter to Gen. Howe, To
the Horn William Howe, Esq; that Lord Howe
and Gen. Howe, did not mean to derogate from
the refpe& or rank of Gen. Warrington ; that
they held his person arid character in the bigheft
esteem; that the dire&ion, with the addition of
&c. &c. &c. implied every thing that ought to
follow. He then produced a letter which he did
not directly offer to G«n. Waffiington, but
; observed that it was the fame letter which had
been sent, and laid it on the table, with the
superscription to George Waffiington, &c. &c.
&c. The Gen, declined the letter, and said, that
a letter directed to a person in a public Character
ffiould have fame description or indication of it,
otherwise it would appear a mere private letter,
that it was true the &c, &c. &c. implied every
thing, and they also implied any thing ; that
the letter to Gen. Howe alluded to, was an ans
wer to one received under a like address from
him, which the officer on duty having taken,
he did not think proper to return, but anfivered
, it in the Erne mode es address ; that he should
absolutely decline ^ny letter directed to him as
a private person, when it related to his public
Ration. Col. Patterfen then said, that Gen. Howe
would net urge his delicacy any farther, and
repeated his aflertions, that no failure of refpe&
was intended. He then said that he would en-
ing the treatment of cur prisoners id Canada.
“ That the affairs of Canada were in another
department, not fubjed to the centroul of Gen.
Howe, but that he and Lord Howe utterly dis
approved of every infringement of the rights
of Humanity." Col. Patterson then took a
paper out of his pocket; and, after looking it
over, said he had expressed nearly the words.
Gen. Washington then said that he bad also
forwarded a copy of the Resolves to Gen. Bur
goyne. To which Col. Patterson replied he
did not doubt a proper attention would be paid
to them, and that he (Gen. Washington) was
fenfibl^ that cruelty was not the chara&eriftic of
the British nation. Col. Patterson then pro
ceeded to fay he had it in charge to mention
the case of Gen. Prefcot, who they were in
formed was treated with such rigour, thdt, un
der his age and infirmities, fatal conferences
might be apprehended.
Gen. Washington replied that Gen. Prefect's
treatment had not fallen under his notice; that
all persons under his particular direction, he
had treated with kindr'efs, and made their situ
ation as easy and comfortable as poffibfo that
he did not know where Gen. Prefcot was, but
believed his treatment was different from their
information. Gen. Washington then mentioned
the case of Col. Alien, and the officers who
In CONGRESS, July 24, 1776.
Resolved,
rf HAT all the regulations of this Congress
, passed on the 23d day of April last, re
lating to ships and other vessels, their tackle,
apparel, and furniture, and all goods, wares,
and merchandize, belonging to any inhabitant
or inhabitants of Great-Britain, taken on the
high seas, or between high and low water mark,
he extended to all Blips and other vessels, their
tackle, apparel, and furniture, and all goods,
wares and merchandize, belonging to any fub
jed or fubje&s of the said King, except the in
habitants of the Bermudas and Providence or
Bahama Inlands.
Resolved, That the perfuns taken prisoners
with Colonel Allen, be put upon the fame foot
ing as those in the Continental service, and ex
changed accordingly, as opportunity presents.
B, Order of the Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
deavour, as well as he could, to recoiled Gen.
Howe's fcntiments on the letter and resolves of
Congress, sent him a few days before, reced-
Wheatper Eufhel, ss. 6d.
Fidur, 16s. od.
Bro-n Bread, 15s. od.
Weft-India Rum, Bs. od.
New-England, do. ss. od.
PRICE-CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufeovado Sugar, 61. 10s.
Single refin'd ditto, 2s. pd.
Molasses, gs. 6d.
Beef per Barrel, 60s. od.
Pork, 80s. od.
had been confined in Roffon jail. As to the
firft, Col. Patterson znfwered that Gen. Howe
had no knowledge of it but,by information
from Gen. Washington, and that the Canada
department was not under his direction or con
troul; that, as to the other prisoners at Boflon,
when ever the date of the army at Boston ad
mitted it, they were treated with humanity and
even indulgence; that he averted this upon his
honor, and should be happy in an opportunity
to prove it.
Gen. Waffiin^ten then observed, that the
conduct of several of the officers would well
have warranted a different treatment from what
they had received ; ftme having refufed to give
any parole, and others having brok# it when
giver, by efcapihg or endeavouring so to do.
Col. Patierfon anfucred, that as to the firft,
they miftrnderftood t : e matter very much, and
seemed to have mistook the line cf propriety
exceedingly; and as to the latter Gen. Howls
utterly disapproved and condemned their condu&.
, That if a remonstrance was made, such vio
lations of good faith would Be severely bu
niihed ; but that he hoped Gen. Walhington
was too just to draw public inferences from the
misbehaviour of Tome private individuals; that
bad men were co be head in every class and
society ; and such behaviour was confid~red as
a dishonor to the British ^my. Col. Patterfm
then proceeded to fay, that the goednefs and
benevolence of the King had induced him to
appoint Lord Howe and Gen. Howe his Com*
missioners, to accommodate this unhappy dis
pute, that they had great powers, and would
derive the greatest pleasure from effecting an
accommodation; and that he (Col. Fatterfon)
wished to have this visit cohfiJered as making
the firft advances to this dTre^ble ( bjeft. Gen.
Wafliingt m replied, he was nit veiled with any
powers on this fa^jed, by foe from whom
he derived his authority a d power. But. from
what had appeared or transpired on this he^d,
Lord How arid Gent Howe were only to grant
pardons; that those who had committed no
fault wanted no pardon, that we were only de
fending what we deemed cur indisputable right.
Col. Patterson said that would open a very wil^
field for argument.' He then expressed his ap
pfehehfians that an adherence to forms was
likely to obfttu& bafinefj of the greatest mo
ment and concerts
He then observed that a proposal had been
formerly made of exchanging Gov. Skene for
Mr. Lovell; that he now had authority to ac
cede to that proposal. Gen. V^affiihgton re
plied, that the proportion had been made by
the dirediori of Congress, and having been then
rejected, he could not now renew the business,
or give any anfWer, till he had previously com?
municated it to them.
Col. Patterson behaved with the greater at
tention and poiitenefs during the wfable business,
expressed strong acknowledgements that the
usual ceremony of blinding his eves hdd been
dispensed with. v At the breaking up of the
conference, Gen. Washington ftror.gly invited
him to partake of a fhali collation provided
for him. which he politely declined, alledging
his late breakfaft, and an impatience to return
to Gen. Howe, tho' he had not executed his
commiflion so amply as he wished. Finding he
did not propose flaying, he was introduced to
the General Officers, after which he took his
leave, and was fafely conduced to his own
boat, tvhich waited for him, about four miles
distant from the city.
Made public by order of Congress,
jOHN HANCOCK, President.
July 29. The honorable Convention of Ma
ryland have resolved that a bounty of one Fil
ling be paid for every bushel of salt imported
into that State before the firft day of March
next, the importer to fell the fame at ary price
not exceeding yj6.
Extract of a letter from the Cam, at Elizabeth-
Toven, dated July 25.
“ Yesterday a rifle-man crossed the river, and
when within fifteen yarn's of the enemy's out
pests, desired jhem to surrender ; at that in
fant he received a ball thro' his head, which
killed him ch the spot. This morning we had
a deserter from the Asa, who fays that 2000
Highlanders have arrived within there few days;
and that the enemy intended attacking New-
York as soon as possible;"
We hear that one of the Continental frigates
lately hunched in this city, is called the Dela
ware, and the other the Randolph, in honor
of the late illustrious senator of that name.
The Militia of this State continue to paG
thro' this city daily in Companies on their way
t& New-Jersey. It is thought that Pennfyyania
will fend 20,060 men ro theaffiftance of our
icighben#.
Fine Salt, ---None.
Coarse Salt, Bs. 6d
Indian Corrxperßu.gs. 6d
Coffee, 2s. od
Chocolate, 265. per Dos.