The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-11-10 00:00:00, page 1

Monday, November 10, 1777:
NE W-Y ORK
AND
WEEKLY
By His EXCELLENCY
Sir WILLIAM HOWE,
General and Commander in Chief, &c. &c. &c.
Declaration.
SIR WILLIAM HOWE, regretting the calami
ties to which many of his Majesty's fubfefts are
still exposed by the continuance of the rebellion, and
no less desirous of protesting the innocent, than de
termined to pursue with the rigours of war, all those
whom his Majetty's forces, in the course of their
progress, may find in arms against the King, doth
hereby assure thepeaceable inhabitants of the province
of Pennsylvania, the Lower Counties on Delaware,
and the Counties of Maryland, on the ealtein fhoie
of Chefapeak Bay, that in order to remove any
groundless apprehensions which may have been rai
led of their buffering by depredations of the army
under his command, he hath issued the ftrifleft or
ders to the troops for the preferyation of regularity
and good discipline, and has lignified, that the most
exemplary punishment shall be inflided on these who
Ihall dare to plunder the property, or molest the per
sons of any of his Majesty's well difeofed fubje&s.
Security and protection are likewise extended to all
persons, inhabitants of the province, and counties
aforefaid, who, not guilty of having assumed le
gislative or judicial authority, my have acted illegally
in subordinate stations,. and confeious of tiieir mif
condud, been induced to leave their dwellings;
provided such persons do forthwith return, and re
main peaceably at their usual places of abode.
Considering moreover that many officers and pri
vate men, now actually in arms against his Majesty,
may be willing to relinquish the part they have ta
ken in this rebellion, and return to their due allegi
ance: Sir WILLIAM HOWE, doth therefore pro
mise a free and general pardon to all such officers and
private men, as Shall voluntarily come and surrender
themselves to any detachment of his Majesty's
forces, before the day on which it shall be notified
that the said indulgence is to be difeontinued.
Given under my hand, at Head-quarters of the
army, the 27th day of Augufl, 1777.
^. HOWE.
By His Excellency's command,
Robert Mackenzie, Secr'y.
*%K^)H(X^><>C+
PHILADELPHIA,
October 16.
ON Saturday the fourth of October,
before day break (the Weather being
f°^y) the rebels attempted, with
all their force in fix columns, to pe
netrate on the out posts of our army; they
began their attack with three of them on the
Second light infantry and the Fortieth regi
ment at the end of Germantown, where they
were so warmly received that they did not
make the least impression for the space of two
hours; at length, being overpowered with
numbers, and rising to be lurrounded if
longer oppofirion was made, our two battali
ons thought it expedient to retire. These co
lumns imagining victory was about to declare
in their favor, two of them came into the vil
lage, while the third filed off obliquely to our
left. Col. Mufgrave having judiciously thrown
himfelf, with fix companies of the Fortieth,
into a square house of Mr. Chew's, checked
one of the two columns that had followed him;
while the other pulhed into Germantown.
The one at the house immediately invested
and riddled it with mufquetry, grape and can
non shot for a full hour, the colonel defend
ing it most gallantly, killing them by dozens
from the windows of every face ; but, upon
the Forty .fourth regiment advancing into the
village, supported by the Seventeenth, and
driving all before them as far as Mr. Chew's
mansion, both these columns retired precipi
tately, and would have been totally demolish
ed if the fog had not made it hazardous for
so small a body to pursue so rapidly as it
might have done had the weather been clear ;
rthe other column, that had filed off towards
our left, being drove Shortly after by the
Thirty-third, Forty-sixth, and Sixty-fourth
regiments. Two other columns, that had
attacked and obliged the piquets of our right
to fall back on their refpedive corps, were,
in their turn, defeated upen the First light
infantry, Fourth, Fifth, Fifteenth, 1 hirty
feventh, Forty-ninth, and Fifty-fifth regi
ments attacking them; and the Hessian yau
gers repulsed and beat back the column
which attacked their post. It now began
to clear up, and the commander in chief
having perceived a large body (that had ral
ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 30s. per Cent.
A White Loaf of the fineft FLOUR, to weigh
3 lb. 40Z. for 14. Coppers, and in the fame
Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight.
Published January 10, 1777.
Containing tl carUcO Ibices
^ Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, in HANOVER-SQUARE.
lied) forming itfelf on Chefnut hill (appa
rently to retard our pursuit) his Excellency
ordered M. G. Grey to advance upon it with
the Seventeenth, Thirty-third, Forty-fourth,
Forty-sixth, and Sixty-fourth regiments, di
refting the other corps to follow as faft as
possible to sustain; but the rebels did not
think proper to maintain that ground, retir
ing precipitately upon the approacli of this
fraall corps; and although we pursued for
nine miles till three in the afternoon, we were
never able to come up with any considerable
body. Thus Mr. Walhington's army, con
fiding of upwards of twelve thousand men,
was totally dispersed by a few British battali
ons and the Hessian yaughers (the rest of our
army having never had an opportunity of en
gaging) an d would not only have Keen cut up
had the morning been bright, but all their
artillery, &c. must unavoidably have fallen
into our hands. The rebels that kept toge
ther retreated eighteen miles that day, and we
returned to our encampment in the evening.
Their loss on this occasion must be very con
siderable by the numbers of dead and wounded
that remained upon the spot, as well as the pri
soners we took in the pursuit, and the crowds
of deserters that have flocked into us daily
since the defeat. Among the few brave offi
cers we loft, B. G. Agnew and lieut. col.
Bird are much to be regretted.
The following letters were found on board
the Delaware frigate after she struck. It is
supposed they are rough draughts of what
capt. Alexander intended to fend; the firft
to the officers under him on Delaware, and
the two last to the officer of the royal army
commanding in Philadelphia.
" Gentlemen,
" All the Shallops Hats or Boats you Can
find on the Pifylvania Shoar you are to take
off or Destroy them By fire or Otherways Any
thing Els for the Good of the Service ybu Will
Put in Execution."
" Sr.
" as I would Wilh to do Every thing in
my Pour to Prevent the Efufion of Blod this is
to Aquant you that if you Atirapt to make
Any Works so as to Disturb the Passing or Re
paffing of Any Vifsils I will Endever to De
llroy the City and the Blod of the Inisint Most
be at your door
Yr. Most obt. Hbl. Servt. C. A."
" Delaware Frigate of Philad. Nov. 27. 1777
" Sr.
" its my Entintion to Prevent the Efufion
of Blod as much as in My Pour therefore I
do Aquant you if you Atimpt to throw up
Any Works So as to Anoay Any Veffils from
Passing or Repaffing I shall Give Orders for
the City to be Demolished you most Luck on
the Blod of the Woman & Childron to Lay at
your Duor I am
With Mutch Refpt. Yr. Most Obt. Hbl. Servt.
Charles Alexander."
From the Pennsylvania Ledger.
TH E glaring falsehoods, evidently de
signed to deceive those at a distance,
contained in the following' intercepted letter,
wrote two days after the affair at Brandywine,
by a Mr. Livingflon to his father, the usurped
governor of New-Jersey, cannot be equalled
but by their publication, last winter, whilst
the Britifli army was in the Jerfies, charging
them with the most brutal ads, and having
them fandified with an oath, the better to
deceive the unthinking. It is thought by
some that Mr. H. P. Livingston, in conjunc
tion with his honored father, will be able with
the assistance of congress, to procure many af
fidavits setting forth the victories they gained
at Brandywine, on the eleventh of September
by general Washington; at the Great Valley
by gen. Wayne on the twenty-firft; and again
by gen. Washington on the third infant at
Germantown ; and have them published in
Bradford's /Trenton Gazette, fanaified by the
name of Mr. Thompson, fecretar; to the grand
rebel board of congress.
" Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1777.
“ Honored Sir,
" You should certainly have heard from me
before this time, but the continual hurry and
almost constant movements we have been en
gaged in, have prevented it.—
" The inclofed * contains some account of
* Harrison and Washington's letters to
congress, on the day and evening of their de
feat at Brandywine,
Monday, 18 Min. after 5
Tuesday, 5 Min. aftei 6
Wednesday, 59 Min. after 6
Thursday, 49 Min. after 7
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YOR K, this Week.
T HE
Friday, 40 Min. after 8
Saturday, 38 Min. after 9
Sunday, 36 Min. after 10
Full Moon the 14th.
an a&ion on the nth inftant; —which, though
unfortunately it wears the appearance of a
defeat, you may be assured is the most unlucky
affair that general Howe has ever encountered
on this continent.—Our loss in killed, wound
ed and miffing, as near as any judgment can
be formed (for no return has yet been made)
may amount to between five and fix hundred
at most ; —though numbers who were miffing,
and thought to be loft ; are now coming in :---
Three hundred and fifty, I should suppose,
were wounded, and the most cf them fafely
brought off by our people ;---the rest may
have been killed, or fallen into the hands of
the enemy. All this is merely supposition,
and I would, by no means, have it regarded
as an accurate computation ;---it may give
some idea until the matter can be properly
afeertained.---
" The enemy sustained a much greater loss ;
---you may at least rate it at the double of
ours;'—l was myfelf a witness to the havock
which general Maxwell made among them in
the morning, being diredly on the opposite
fide of Brandywine.—-
" Had it not been for the incongruous in
formation which general Washington received,
concerning the movement of the enemy's main
body to our right; had we been apprized of
it in time to bring up our whole army, and
form, I believe, in my foul, that day would
have put an end to the British army in Ame
rica ;---but the division in front was attacked
before they knew where the enemy were, and
of consequence gave way ; being supported,
they afterwards rallied, and after a long and
sharp conflict, checked the progress of the
enemy.—They were in possession of the field,
and we might have remained in the neigh
bourhood ; —it was however thought prefera
ble to retire, and the whole army, at present,
occupy their old ground near Germantown.---
“ It is thought we will not remain here
more than one night, but advance to meet the
enemy, who have employed the whole of yes
terday in burying their dead, and dressing
their wounded ;---thefe must be a great clog
upon any of their future movements, as they
have no shipping or other place of fafety to de
pofite them in. I am inclined to think they
will not advance towards this city, but take
poll at Wilmington, where their wounded
may be taken care of, and they wait for their
fleet to come up the Delaware.
" General Smallwood, with four thousand
militia of Maryland and the Lower Counties,
is on the march, and will be in their rear;
and the fame number of Jersey men are com
ing down to us.— The next will be an im
portant week.—-
" I am persuaded that our men can fight
them upon equal terms, and I hope we shall
not wait for them to attack us again.
" Our troops in high spirits, and will march
towards the enemy with much greater chear
fulnefs than they did from them.---
" And am, with the greatest esteem
" and affedion, your dutiful son,
HENRY R LIVINGSTON."
BOSTON, October 23.
The following is a Copy of a Letter from his
Excellency General Washington, to Con
gress.
Camp, near Penibacker's Mill, Oda. 5, 1777.
Sir,
HAVING received Intelligence through
two intercepted Letters, that General
Howe had detached a Part of his Force for
the Purpose of reducing Belling's Fort, and
the Forts on Delaware; I communicated the
Accounts to my General Officers, who were
unanimously of Opinion, that a favourable
Opportunity offered to make an Attaclc upon
the Troops which were at and near German
town. —It was accordingly agreed, that it
should take Place Yesterday Morning, and the
following Dispositions were made, The Divi
sions of Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Con
way's Brigade, were to enter the Town by
Way of Chefnut-Hill, while General Arm
strong with the Pennsylvania Militia, should
fall down the Manctawany Road by Vande
criaga Mills, and get upon the Enemy's Left
and Rear. The Divisions of Green and Stir
ling, flanked by M'Dougal's Brigade, were to
enter by taking a Circuit by Way of the Lime
Kiln Road,at the Market Houses, and to attack
their Right Wing; and the Militia of Mary-
Wheat per Bushel, 9s. od.
Flour, 30s. od.
Brown Bread, 255. od.
Weft-India Rum, 6s. 6d.
New-Engi nd do. ss. od.
G A ZETTE:
THE
MERCU R Y.
PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufeovado Sugar, §l. 10s.
Single refin'd ditto, 2s. 2d.
Molasses, 2s. 6d.
Beef per Barrel, 90s. od.
Pork, 5 1 - is
foreign and iDomeffich.
land and Jersey, under Generals Smallwood
and Foreman, were t; march by the old York
Road, and fall upon the Rear of the Right.
Lord Stirling, with Nafli and Maxwell's Bri
gade was to form a Corps de Reserve. We
marched about 7 o'Clock the preceding Even
ing, and General Sullivan's advanced Party
drawn from Conway's Brigade attacked their
Picket at Mount Ring, at Mr. Allan's House,
about Sun Rife the next Morning, which pre
sently gave Way, and his Main Body, confid
ing of the Right Wing, following soon, enga
ged the Light Infantry and other Troops en
camped near the Picket, which they forced
from the Ground, leaving their Baggage. They
retreated a considerable Distance, having pre
viously thrown a Party into Mr. Chew's House,
who were in a Situation not to be easily forced,
and had it in their Power from the Windows
to give us no small Annoyance, and in a great
Measure to obftru& our Advance.
The Attack from our left Column under
General Green, began about three Quarters
of an Hour after that from rhe Right, and was
for some Time equally fucCefsful. But I can
not enter upon the Particulars of what hap
pened in that Quarter, as I am not yet infor
med of them with fufficient Certainty and
Precision.
The Morning was extremely foggy, which
prevented our improving the Advantages we
gained, and to follow it up as we otherwise
should have done. This Circumstance, by
concealing from us the true Situation of the
Enemy, obliged us to aft with much Caution,
and less Expedition than we could have wish
ed, and gave the Enemy Time to form from
the Effects of our firft Impression; and what
was still more unfortunate, it served to keep
our different Parties in Ignorance of each 0-
thers Movements, and hindered their anting
in Concert; it also occasioned them to mis
take one another for the Enemy, which I be
lieve more than any Thing else, contributed
to the Misfortune that ensued. In the midst
of the most promising Appearances, when
every Thing gave the most flattering Hopes
of Vidory, the Troops began suddenly to re
treat, and entirely left the Field, in spite of
every Effort that could be made to rally Men.
Upon the whole it may be said, the Day
was rather unfortunate than injurious.
We sustained no material Loss cf Men, and
brought off all our Artillery, except one Piece
which was dismounted* .The Enemy are no
thing the better by the Event, and cur Troops
who are not the lead dispirited by it, have
gained immortal Honor. We have had seve
ral valuable Officers killed and wounded, par
ticularly the latter; General Nash is among
the wounded, whose Life is despaired of. As
soon as it is possible to obtain a Return of our
Loss, I will transmit it.
In Justice to General Sullivan, and the
whole right Wing of the Army, whose Con
dud I had an Opportunity of observing, as
they aded immediately under my Eye, I have
the Pleasure to inform you, that both Officers
and Men behaved with a Degree of Gallantry
that did them the highest Honor.
Ihave the Honor to be, with great Refped,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
P. S. As l observed, I have not received a
Return of our Loss, but from whatl have just
now heard from General Green, I fear 'tis
more considerable than I at firft apprehended.
The Cannon mentioned above, is said to have
been broughtoff in a Waggon.
To the' Hon. John Hancock, Esq; Presi
dent of Congress.
(Copy) JOHN HANCOCK.
Extrafls from two Letters Jent by an English
Gentleman, at St. Petersburgh, to bis
Friends in London.
SPEAKINGof the Ruffians in general,
he fays, "In justice, however, to these
people, I must fay they pay refpec lto the
more humanized part of the creation, and
particularly esteem an Englishman. This at
tachment proceeds from loyalty and zeal,
eflablifhed by dread of the Great-Empress,
who is very partial to the English Nation."
Treating of corporal punifhmcnts, he fays,
" I find that my dear native England is un
der a neccffity of introducing flavcry on her
[Fine Salt, 8$ . od
; Coarse Salt, Bs. od
llndian Corn per Bu. 6s. 6d
ICoffee, 1 is. 9!
IChocolate, 265. per Do.