The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1780-01-24 00:00:00, page 2

Ml. Gaine,
Please to give the following a place in your paper,
and you will oblige a Conltant Reader.
ALICAN r is a city and port, commanded by a
rtroug castle, (tandiog on a rock, at a
tance from the sea, and about sixty-eight miles I^"
from the capital city of Valencia. There was in it
a pretty good garrifm, under the command o . a
jor-G^eral Richaids, which made an obftmate de
fence against a very numerous army of the enemy,
with a very heavy artillery and excellently "',''?
with ammunition. At last the city being a'.' me)
untenable, the garrison resolved to retire into the
castle, which had hitherto been esteemed impiegnab e.
They funk three citterns in the solid rock, and then
with incredible labour, filled the, with water. The
troops that retired into it were Sir Charles Hot in s
regiment, and that of Colonel Sibourg. AT^ °m-
Prugrefs made in this fecund siege, the French law
that it was impede to do any great matter m the
ufud wav, and therefore, contrary to all expedition,
refold upon a w^ k excessively laborious, and m
all outward appearance, impracticable; which was
that of mining through 'he solid rock, in or -r to
blow up the cattle and its g irrilb i into t ^ ,r toge
ther. At fi ft Mvor-General Richards, and all the
officers in the place, looked upon the enemy ^ 1c em^
as a thing utterly impoflible to be decompil'd, an
were secretly well pleated with new undertaking,
in hopes it would give time to our fleet to come o
their relief; yet this did not hinder taern from dou.g
all diathy in their power, to incommode the woik
tyen, and at last, to countermine them. ...
The believers; however, wrought so incefiintly,
and broaghtfuch numbers of peasants to UHd them
in their labours, that they having, in about twelve
weeks time findhed the works which they thougt
proper for this service, by very experienced engineers,
and charged them with 1500 barrels of powder, seve
ral large beams, iron bars and crows, and otriei u,n
fils of defti udion, summoned the castle to surrender,
March zo, 1709, most solemnly alluring a fife and
honourable convoy to Barcelona, with bag and bag
• gage '° r ever y perform in it, if they submitted within
three days, and prevented the ruin of the castle; but
threatened otherwise, no mercy should be Inown, it
any might accidentally escape the blow; and to de
monffrate the reality of their design, they dhited the
garrison might depute three, or more engineers, with
other gentlemen of complete Ikill, to view theirworks,
and make a faithful report of what they fay. Ac
cordingly, two field officers went to the mine, and
were allowed the liberty of making what fciutiny
they pleased; upon which they told the Governor,
that if their judgment failed the.l not, the explolion
would carry up thewhole cattle to the eaffermolt bat
tery, untefs it took vent in their own countermine, or
vein; but at lead, they conceived it w,uld carry
a vay the sea battery, the lodging rooms in the castle
cl fe, some of the chambers cut for soldiers barracks,
and they very much feared might affect the great
cittern.
A errand council of war was called upon this;
the French m lUge delivered, and the engineers made
their repo t; the besieged acknowledged their want
of water ; but believing the fleer might be sensible of
their Jiftrfs, and consequently under feme concern
far their relief, their unanimous resolution was to
commit themfelvea to the providence of God, and
0! the mine. ,
The French General, and Spanish officers, expres
sed the utmost concern at this answer, and the fecund
lib tof the tbiee allowed, sent to divert them from
v LLney called, arm ; is very likely thought, inex
cusable obstinacy, offering the fame honourable ar
ticles as before, even upon that late compliance ; but
thole dill were rejected by the belied.
Th° fatal third night approaching, and no fleet
seen, the French sent their last summons, and withal
an ^durance, that their mine was primed, and should
b> fnung by fix o'clock .he next morning ; and tho',
as thw few, all hope and profpt aof relief was vain,
yer there was room for fafety dill, and the terms al
ready proposed, was in their power to accept. The
besieged perfiited in their adherence to the result of
their fi:ft council, and the French met their usual an
fiver again; therefore, as a prologue to the ensuing
tragedy, the. or lered all the inhabitants of that quar
tefy to withdraw from their houses before five Tclock
the entiling morning. The Major-General, Col.
Sib^urg, and Lieutenant-Colonel Thornicroft, of
Sir Charles Hotham's regiment, fat together in the
Governors usual lodging room ; other officers can
toned themfeives as their tempers inclined them to
pals the melancholy night;
At length, day appearing, the Governor was in
formed, th it the inhabitants were flying in crowds to
the weftermolt part of the town. The Governor, at
tended by the abovemenlioned gentlemen, and about
five or fix other officers, went to the weft battery,
to inform himfelf better. After he had remained
there about a quarter of an hour, Lieut. Col. Thor
nicroft detired him to remove, as being unable to do
any service there; he and Colonel Sibourg both
answered, that no danger was to be apprehended
there, mare than in any other place ; and that there
they would wait the event. The Lieut. Col. re
mained, because his superiors did, and other officers
imitated the fame example; but the hour of five be
ing confiierably past, the corporals guard cried out,
that th. train was fired, observing some finoak from
the lighted matches and other combustible matter
near it, from whence the fame afeended to the centi
nals above. The Governor and Field Officers were
then urged to retreat, but refiifed.
The mine at lad blew up ; the rock opened and
fli rt ; the whole mountain felt the convulsion ; the
Governor and Field Officers, with their company,
ten guns and two mortars were buried in the abyss;
the walls of the castle (hook, part of the great cistern
fell, another cistern almost elofed, and the rock shut
a man to his neck in its c'iff, who lived many hours
in that afflicting posture. About thirty-fix centinals
and women, were fv/allowed in the different quarters,
whose dying groans were heard, some of them after
the fourth mournful day. Many houses of the town
were overwhelmed in their ruins, and the castle fuf
fefed much; but that it wears any form at all, was
owing to the vent which the explosion forced through
the veins of the reck and the countermine. After
the loss of the chief officers, the government fell of
course to Colonel Dalboon, of Sibourg's regiment,
who drew out a detachment from the whole garrison,
and with it made a desperate sally, to (hew how little
he was mov'd at their thunder. The bombs from
the castle played on the town more violently, and
the (hot galled every corner of their Greets; which
mafoof their resentment they continued till the ar
rival of the fleet under Sir Andrew Whitaker, which
they had expected so long. The Spanifli and French
biforians /peak of this action with all imaginable
regard to the gallant defence made by the besieged,
magnified their heroic conduct, and called the ruined
Cdftie, The Monument of Englijb Courage.
I trust, Friend Gaine, we have in these out uajsJ
many, both officers and men, as brave as *"% 1
so noblv defended the cattie of Aiicani. Wnaels
St. Lucia And Savannah. lam a plain Em bill
Farmer, and mutt own I love to read a good Ecgibh
Ifory, as my neighbours do to bear one ; lor you
must know I take in all the news-papeis, but we
have been so disappointed this lad week with trie
papers giving us such exalted characters of a certain
Chevalier B iyvd and a Count d'Eitamg ; when I read
the account, f<me of them (hook their heads, and
with a heavy sigh, like poor Razor, cried out, Ab,
poor Oil England! Now as I am obliged to exert
mylelf upon fame occasions, Do, my good Friend,
affiil me by publishing the above account otheryrde I
'!" plaguly afraid they will metatnorphofe him into a
Spaniard, with the high founding title of Don Juan
Ricardo, and impose him a, such or. the Public ;
bo vever I hope we thill be before hand with them,
which if we are, you may depend in future, that f>r
every Spanith or French hero, or anecdote, that may
apperr in other papers, you mail be fumilhed witli
an English one to match them# by
FARMER GILES.
Bountiful-Hall, January 13, 1780,
^^^^^^^^^^^o^
I rf rom the London Gazette, of Septem.2,.
I Whitehall, Sept. 25. By Lieut. Col. Pre-
I voit, who arrived in town the 23d inst. from
Georgia, a letter from Major-General Prevolt
to Lord George Germaine, one of his Ma
jesty's principal Secretaries of State, dated at
Savannah the 4th of August, has been re
ceived, of which'the following is an extradt.
Extract ofa letter from Mrj or-General Prevoft,
to Lord George Germaine, dated Savan
nah, August 4, 1779.
SINCE my last difoatches from St. John's
Island, (copies of which are herewith sent) I
have had no opportunity towrite directly to
your Lordship; our operations since that time
have been chiefly confined in removing from
one inland to another, and establishing the
different posts intended to be occupied during
the great heat, and the sickly season : How
ever, on the 20th of June, after every pre
paration had been made to abandon the post
on the main at Stono Ferry, and to quit the
island ofSt. John's, the enemy's whole force
attacked that post, with 8 piece# of cannon,
and jOOO men ; their attack was at firft spirit
ed, but the good countenance of the troops,
and the fire of the armed Hat that covered the
left flank of our poft,juft as the troops we refer
rying over to reinforce it, obliged the enemy
I to retreat ; a favourable opportunity of pur
ifuing them, and giving them a severe check,
was 101 l for the want of the hcifes, which had
been sent away two or three days before ; and
. before the troops arrived on the ground, the
I rebels had got too great a distance to expert
; to come up with them with the foot. I have
;the honour of fending herewith a return of oar
;lofs on that day. Lieut. Col. Maitland who
Icommanded there, had with him the firft bat
:talion ;;ft, then much reduced, a weak bac
; talion of Hessians, and the refugees of North
j and South-Carolina, amounting in the whole
• ,to about 800 men , they all behaved with
I coolness and bravery. The enemy loft a Col.
I of artillery, much elleemed among them, and
|about twenty-eight officers of different ranks,
I and between 3 and 400 killed and wounded;
I they were enabled to carry off the latter, and
• many of the former, by having a number of
) empty waggons, brought along with them for
I that purpose. The troops after remaining
; three days longer on that ground, at Jaft aban-
Idoned it, and began to move towards Port
; Royal Island, where the last arrived about the
;12th ult. A corps has been left there {efficient
Ito1 to aft at allftimcs upon a most refpe&able de-
Ifenfive,1 fenfive, and occasionally to harrafs the quar
:ters of the enemy, and those parts of the Pro
;vince that are accessible to our gallics and
< boats from the Bay of St. Helena ; it cannot
be illigible to extend our posts far to the West
ward, for reasons for which I beg leave to re
fer to Lieut. Col. Prevoft, whose departure I
must lament, as his abilities and zeal for the
service made him a most ufcful assistant upon
levery occasion : His knowledge of the country
*and its resources, will enable him to give
Iyour Lordship every necessary information ;
; Sir James Wright's arrival in the Experiment,
; the 13th inst. having relieved him, from the
' civil administration.
RETURN of the killed, wounded, and mif
fing, at the repulse ofthe Rebels at Stono-
Ferry, South-Carolina, June as, 1779.
7ift regiment, ift battalion, 1 Lieutenant,
I Ensign, 1 Serjeant, 13 rank and file killed.
I Captain, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign, 1 Ser
jeant, 32 rank and file wounded.
Ditto, 2d battalion. 1 rank and file killed,
11 rank and file wounded.
Trumbach's Hessians. 2 Serjeants, 2 rank
and file killed ; 1 Major, 2 Lieutenants, 4
Serjeants, 1 Drummer, 28 rank and file
wounded, 1 miffing.
Ift battalion of South-Carolina Royalists.
1 Major, 1 Serjeant, killed ; 1 Captain, 1
Serjeant, 3 rank and file wounded.
2d battalion of North-Carolina Volunteers.
I Serjeant, 3 rank and file wounded.
Total. 1 Major, 1 Lieutenant, 1 Ensign,
4 Serjeants, 18 rank and file killed ; 1 Major;
2 Captains, 3 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 7 Ser
jeants, I Drummer, 77 rank and file wound
ed, 1 rank and file miffing.
Artillery. 1 Matrofs killed ; 1 Captain,
2 Lieutenants, 3 Matraffes, 5 additional
wounded.
(Signed) A. PREVOST, M. G.
Lieutenant-Col, Prevoft, has also brought
a triplicate of another letter from Major Gene
ral Prevoft to Lord George Germaine, dated
Head-Quarters, St. John's Island, twelve
miles from Charleftown, June no, 1779, of
which the following is an exa& ; neither the
original or duplicate having been received.
rytraA of a 'etler from Marot-General Pre
vott, to Lore (lew. Gcrfuaine, ua^a Hc^u- /
Oforiers, St. John's Island, .12 miles >,,m ;
Charluftown, juae 10, ^7,9.
I WOULD have been happy to be able to
acquaint our Lordship with the furrePtlcr ot
Charicßown.
' 1 shall relate to your Lordship the means by
which cur progress was so little interrupted,
and the reasons for bringing his Majesty's ar
my into this Province.
Towards the latter end of April, I received
information that General Lincoln (who till
then, had occupied a position on the north
fide of Savannah River, by which he equally
covered every pare of a river at ail times ex
tremely difficult, but deemed impafTaMe in
Itimesol1timesol frethes, and iu the lace oi an arm,)
hid marched the bell pattot his army towards
Augusta, to penetrate from thence into Geor
gia, and to protect a meeting of the Rebel
Delegates, appointed to meet at Augusta on
the ioth ultimo ; this confederation, added to
a wrih to preserve the reputation of his
Majedy's a-ms, by acting on the offenfivq,
and to oblige Mr. Lincoln to quit his projed,
I and to procure provisions from this province
for our a, ray, induced me to penetrate into
Carolina. The cotpsof obfervacion of the
rebel army being about 2000 men, but chief
ly miiirid, uncer the command of Brigadier
General Moultrie, furprized to the British
troops emerging from swamps deemed impafl
able, were iiruuk,dth such a panic as to make
but a weak refinance, at the several strong
pafies through uroch we had to pals in pur
suit of them, and fled; with the greater hurry
and confternarion; towards Charleftown.
The enemy was so well persuaded that we
®nly meant to forage the country, that it was
1 not till some days after our progress into
ISouth-Carolina, that General Lincoln could
[be perfuadea to retreat, and come to the assist
; ance of Charieftown ; towards which, he im
;mediately detached a body of infantry,
mounted for the purpose qf dif,atch ; and af
ter collecting all the militia in the upper parts
ofthe country, he proceeded himfelf towards
Dorchelter. The facility with which the
British army had proceeded towards Charles
town, notwithllanding the numbers of rivers,
creeks and swamps, and the natural impedi
ments of the country, added to the repeated
suggestions of the friends of government we
met with, who aifured us positively, that
Charleftown would certainly forrender at our
approach, induced me, with the advice of all
the field officers of the army, to make the at
tempt ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Prevoft, who
c<\prnanded the advance, had ord - ; to sum
mon them on the 12th ult. but I have the
greater reason to believe, that me want of
naval force to co-operate with us, our want
of battering artillery, and momentary ex
pectations of a reinforcement, and the ap
proach of General Lincoln's army, actuated
them in the proposal they made of a neutrali
ty for their province, and the refufAl of the
generous offers made to them if they would
surrender. The numeroua artillery mounted
on ther ramparts, their Dipping and gallics
covering and flanking their lines, our final!
numbers, not having more than 2000 fit for
duty, and the rifle of staking the fafety of this
small but spirited army, and the province of
Georgia, induced me and every member of
the Council of war held on this occasion, to
resolve to return to the south fide of Ashly
river, where a part of the troops had been
left to secure the passage on that river, and
our retreat if necessary. From that time the
troops had been chiefly on the Illands of St.
James and St. John, in hopes and expectati
ons of the supplies which our long unexpected
march, the heavy rains, the many rivers we
had to cross, had rendered indispensable to
us ; the firft that came, for want of futiicient
naval force, was partly taken and destroyed,
and the rest drove back by a few rebel priva
teers. His Majesty's Ships the Perseus and
Rose, are since arrived offthe coast with the
ammunition and provisions we wanted.
I shall Shortly change my quarters to Beau
fort, where the advantage of keeping a foot
ing in Carolina, and quartering the troops
during the great heat of the weather, and the
unhealthy season in the best situation, arc
combined with that of being the most eligible
position for effectually covering and securing
Georgia from any attempts of the enemy.
L O ND O N, Sept. 2;.
The breach between the Gower and North
party must come to some determination before
the meeting of Parliament, as at the present
neither party will do business together.
We hear that his Royal Highness the Duke
of Cumberland solicited for a command in the
present fleet, but was refufed —under the cold
compliment, that it was too much to rifque
two Princes of the Blood at one time.
Sept. 27. Last Saturday's Gazette contains
his Majesty's order in Council for continuing
the bounties to seamen from the 30th init. to
Ithe 3'ft of December next inclusive.
lAlfo his Majesty's order in Council, dated
1 Sept- 14, to prohibit the exporting out of the
kingdom, or carrying coaftwife any plates ot
copper, during the space of two months from
the above date.
The Cinque Ports are railing a regiment of
foot, to consist of 1000 men, each town to
furuifh its proper quota ; the Lord Warden
gives seven guineas bounty to ever volunteer,
and the corporation five.
The county of Cornwall is going to raise a
regiment of 1000 men, the cost of which, at
a meeting held at Bodmin last week, was esti
mated at 12,0001. when X 1771. were fubferi
bed, and fubfeription papers ordered to be
sent Jound the county.
;ALTIMORE,Z : .
B' rHi jtxci...Lu ci
' IHOM 30 31 ^ LTG, Esq;
Goveno cl Manimd,,
A PROCLAM iTICN.
^T7HI,RE 15 t i< re,relent'd b)^ mot
VV trquAtiohTrie authori v, th^ the
arun, of the United States is greatly distressed
for want of flour and forage, and Tat they
will infallibly dilbrird, unkl^ the most speedy
and extraordinary exer ions are made by this
Rate, to procure those articles for their relief.
And, whereas the General Assembly have
enacted a law, entitled " An act for the im
mediate supply of flour and other provisions
for ihe army," which requires the utmost ef
forts of every worthy citizen of this State to
cairy the fame into full and speedy execution.
I do therefore most carneftly entreat,conjure,
require and enjoin all Justices of the Peace,
Sheriffs, and their Deputies, Constables, and
all other the good citizens of this state, by that
hwe of their country, that patriotic zeal and
magnanimity which have hitherto distinguished
their conduct in the present glorious contest
for life, liberty and property, to exert them
fJves to the utmost. at this critical emergency,
in procuring and furnilhiog flour ana other
provifiobs for the immediate relief of the array,
in their present alarming distress, and render
ing every assistance to the commiffioneis; in
carrying the laid law into execution.
Given at Annapolis, Dec. 29, ! 779°
THO SIM LEE.
GOD SAVE THE STATES.
By his Excellency's command,
Tho. Johnson, jun. Sec'ry.
NEW-YORK, Jan. 19.
Extia& of a Letter from an Officer on board the
Brig Hawke, off Staten-Island, Jan. 17.
On the IGib Inst. At Day break, the Alarm ivas
givrH, that tie Rebels ^ere on Staten Ijl:ind, an
Express <w«s sent on board from Gen. Sterling to pre
pare for rtflion; nue immediately got a Spring on oar
Cable and cleared Skip, the Rebels appealed on the
Hill over the Ferr-;, and brought a Field k^ete bear
upon us, 'winch tue perceiving, fired our boiv Gun
twice at them, the fecund Shot roujed them jrom a
Meal they were making of broiled Reef Stakes ; their
Fire from the Field Piece was well direfEd, but tbe^
Shot fell foort of us some Yards. A large Par, of
Rebels lame down to burn the Houses and Forage, we
fired on them, foot one Man's Arm off; he bled to
death, and now lays in the Snow ; our Firing made
them retreat as faj ias feoffible up the Hill to their
main Body, (which by the Information of two Pri
soners and a Deserter that we had on board, confined of
4000 Foot, zoo Hsrfe, 6 Brass Field Pieces 6 Poun
ders, and a Number of Artillery Men) Gen. Skin
ner sent a Letter on board, thanking us for the Ser
vice we did. 'Tis certain that the Hawk prevented
the Forage, the Tavern, and all the Houses in tbab
Neighbourhood from being burnt. A Number of Men,
Women and Children came on board for Refuge with
their Goods and Effects.
On Friday Night the 14th inst. a large Detachment
from the Rebel Army, confijimg, it is fappofed, of be
tween 3 and 4000 Men, with 6 Pieces ot Cannon,
nrzd z Howitzers, moved suddenly /rem the Neigh
bourhood of Morris-Town, and being (as it is re
ported) transported in Sleighs over the Ice, reached
Staten-IJland before Day break in the Morning of the
Igib, bending their March towards Decker's-Ferry.
Col. Bujkirk commanding the 4th Battalion of Briga
dier-General Skinner's Brigade poped there, having
received Intelligence cf their Approach, judged it pro
per to retire towards Ryerfon s Ferry, not being in
Force fufficient to oppose so considerable a Corps. The
Rebels pursued their March, and before Noon took Post
upon the Heights, near the Redoubts, confruNed at the
North End of the Island; from their Position, cutting
off the Communication between the Corps hutted there,
and the Troops at Richmond and the Flag Staff; the,
remained in this Situation till earl, in the Morning of
the 16th, when the, were observed retiring Jrom Sta
ten-IJland, without attempting an, Thing; the, burnt
Decker's Houje, and a ver, few /malt Tefels frozen
in by the Ice at that Place. A small Detachment
which baraffed their Rear, made afew Prisoners ;
and several Deserters came to the different Posts du
ring their Stay in the Island.
Tbe, committed many Excesses, in plundering and
diflreffing the Inhabitants.
Sixteen Prisoners have been already sent to Neve-
Fork ; and it is imagined there are others net yet ar
rived from Staten Island.
The Anuiverfar, of her Majesty's Birth-
Day was celebrated here on Tucjaay the ilth infant,
with uncommon Splendor and Magnificence, at Noon
a Royal Salute was feedfrom F^t George and re
peated by bis Majefy's Ships of War at ore o'Clock.
The Public Rooms were on this Occasion entirely new
painted and decorates tn a Stile wbtkb refloat Honcur
on the Tape of the Managers. A Date Pediment
was erected over the principal Entrance, enNoJing a
tranftarent Painting of ti eir Man five at full 1 ength,
in their Royal Robes; over which was an emblema
tical Piece, encircled with the Motto of,
BRITONS STRIKE HOME.
The Whole illuminated with a beautiful Variety of
different coloured Lamps. In the Evening, a most
fpkendtd Bad was given b, the Geieral, field, and
Staff Officers es the Army, ~to the Garrison and prin
cipal Ladies and Gentlemen of the Lit,. The Ball
was opened at eight o'Clock. by
The BARONFSa DE RIEDESEL, and
MAJOR GENERAL PATTISON,
Commandant of the City and Garrifn. Country
Dances commenced a! half ff Nine, and at Twelve,
the Cemtemy aojcurned to Supper, prepared in the
1-&0 Long Rooms. The Tables exhibited a m, de
lightful Appearance, being ornamented with Parterres
and Arbours, difylayw an elegant Affmblage of
natural and artificial Flowers, China Images, &'c.
The Company retired about three in the Morning,
highly fati.fed with the Evening's Entertainment,
which abounded with so many sanes equally new
and agreeable.
St. JOHN'S, (Antigua) Nov. 3.
His Majesty's ships of war, the Rover and
Tobago, have carried into Engliffi Harbour,
yesterday, a French St. Domingo man, with
470 hogsheads of sugar, besides cotton, cocoa,
&c. &c. As soon as the above veffela had fan
their prize fafely in, they bore away to wind
ward immediately, after some other vefTels in
view.