The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-09-22 00:00:00, page 2

Extracts from Rebel Papers.
PHILADELPHI A # Sept. 3.
In our last we informed the public the pro
gress of our enemies, frbm New York to Elk
river, since which they have made but little
or no dir, except that on the 27th ult. their
advance moved out to Elk Town, and since
that a few robes up the cre^k to Mabu
ry's iron works: Nothing material in the
Mooting way has yet taken place—but our
light parties havetaken at different times
about 80 prisoners, and there are about 15 or
20 deserters from the army and navy, a num
ber of which has been brought to this city.
Congress took into consideration the report
of the Committee on the mode of conducing
the inquiry into the causes of the evacuation
of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence; and
into the conduct of the general officers in the
northern department at the time of the eva
cuation, whereupon,
Refolded, That a Committee of three mem
bers of the Congress be appointed and autho
rifed to correspond with public bodies, or pri
vate persons, by letter or otherwise, in this
and the neighbouring states, in order to cel
led the cleared and fulled evidence of the date
of the army in the northern department, and
also of the date of the troops, military stores
and provision at the laid pods, before and at
the time when the evacuation was determined
upon.
To call for and examine the minutes of the
Council of war; and to enquire what orders
were given, from fime to time, by the Com
mander in Chief of that department.
To inquire particularly of the barracks
and stores were destroyed, or left standing.
To inquire of the Quarter-Maker General,
and Commissary General, what quantity of
provision had been laid up at Ticonderoga, or
near it, for the use of the garrison, and what
measures were taken or taking for throwing
in farther supplies.
To inform themselves, as fully as possible,
cf the number, appointment, and movements
of the enemy from the time of their landing
to the time of evacuating the fort; and also of
the number, quality and condition of the
garrison, and if any, and what measures wtfe
taken to gain intelligence of the Ilrength of
the enemy, by the Commander in Chief, or
the commanding officer at Ticonderoga.
To inquire of the Clothier General what
eloathing, from time to time, had been issued
for the use of the Northern department; and
from other public officers, into the expendi
ture of such general issues.
To inquire into the number, equipment,
and behaviour of the militia, and the term of
service for which they were engaged, at and
before the time of the evacuation; into the
fifuation and condition of the lines at Ticon
deroga, and the fortification's upon mount In
dependence. What works had been thrown
up by the enemy, what polls they had taken,
and the distance of their works; what orders
had been given by the commanding officer for
directing and regulating a retreat, and the
manner in which the retreat was conducted;
what orders were given relative to the lick,
and what care taken of them. Whether any
Continental troops, and what number were at
Albany, or in the neighbourhood, how long
they had been there, and why they were not
ordered to Ticonderoga.
To inquire into the number and size of
cannon, and whether any were removed before
the evacuation; the quantity and ipecies of
military stores ; the state of the arms, both of
the Continental soldiers and militia, whether
the troops were furnifhed with bayonets, and
whether there were any, and what number of
pikes or spears proper for defending lines.
That upon such inquiry and colledron of
fa&s, a copy of the whole be transmitted, by
the said committee, to General Washington,
and that thereupon he appoint a court martial
for the trial of General officers who were in
the Northern department when Ticonderoga
and mount Independence were evacuated,
agreeable to the rules and articles of war.
Augufl 28. Conorefs proceeded to the
election of the committee to collect evidence
and lads relative to the evacuation of Ticon
deroga, &c and the ballots being taken,
Mr. Laurens, Mr. Richard Henry Lee, and
Mr. John Adams, were elected.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ry.
In CONGRESS, Sept. 1, 1777.
Rrfolved, That General Washington be
directed to appoint a Court of Enquiry rela
tive to the late expedition by General Sullivan
against the British forces on Staten-Island.
Copy from the Journals,
WILLIAM cH. HOUSTON, Dep. Secr'y.
The following pompous Proclamation, by William
Livingfon, Esq; titular Governor of New
ferjex, is taken from the Pennjylvania Packet,
printed at Philadelphia, dated the 2.6 th Ult.
WHereas by a certain A6I of the Council and
General Assembly of this State, entitled, "An
"A& for rendering more ffFe&ual two certain A&s
" therein mentioned," palled the 4th Day of June last,
it is, among other Things, ena&d, That if any Per-
Ln being a Member of, or owing Allegiance to this
Government, as described in the firft Se&ion of the
Aft therein firft mentioned, entitled,'" An Aft to
" puniffi Traitors and difaffe&ed Persons," pafled
the fourth Day of O&ober last, (hall be apprehend
* The Persons therein described, as owing Allegiance
to this Government are all Persons abiding within this
State, and deriving Protection from the Laws thereof,
and all Persons pacing through, lifting, or making a
temporary Stay in this State, being entitled to the Pro
tection of the Law during fab Pffge, fetation, or
temporary Stay.
Time pad been supported between the Malignants cf
this State and the Britifli Troops on SratenTlland
and New-York ^ and many have been fmiuflud with
Opportunities to carry or transmit Intelligence to the
enemy, and to circulate Difyatches from them among
their secret Abettors in the interior Parts of the
Country, and thereby facilitate their infamous At
tempts to difpeife their counterfeit Bills and repro
bated Wares and Merchandizes, as well as to seduce
the loyal, and enlist into their Service the ditiffefled
Inhabitants of our Territories: For preventing of
which unwarrantable, illegal, and pernicious Prac
tice, I have thought proper, by and with the Advice
of the Council of this State, to issue this Proclama
tion, hereby frilly | rohibiting all the Officers cf
the Militia of this State, and other Persons whatso
ever (those so as aforefaid authorized only excepted)
to grant for the future any such Licenses, Permil
fions, or Passports, under any Colour or Pretence
whatsoever, as they shall answer the contrary at their
Peril ; and requiring all Officers, both civil and mi
litary, within this State, to exert their utmost endea
vours in apprehending every Person belonging to the
fame, cn his or her Way to the Enemy with Intent
to go into their Lines or Entrenchments, or any
Places in their P^ffion, without such Licence, Per
mission, or Passport, as for tnat Purpose is by the
said A& required; or returning from thence without
such Leave, Licence, or Passport, as for that Purpose
is thereby dirtied, have \ luntmily gone into the
fame since the fourth Day of Odober last; and such
Offender to commit to fafe Custody, transmitting the
Cause of his or her Caption, Detention, and Place
of Confinement, te the , Governor or Commander in
Chief for the Time being, of this Stste, wih all
convenient Speed, in order that such Offender may be
brought to condign Punishment : And all other Sub
jefts of this State are hereby required to braiding
and affixing in the Apprehmfron of such Offenders,
as they tender the Welfare of their Country, and are
ambitious in signalizing themielves in the glorious
Cause of Liberty and Virtue.
Given under my Hand and Seal, at Morris Town,
the 14th Day of August, in the Year of dur
Lord 1777.
WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.
By his Excellency's Command,
William Livingston, Jun. D. Sec.
(„&a.&^^^^a}#^N^^^(^^i^^
NEW- YORK, Sept. 22.
By HisEXCELLENCY
Sir WILLIAM HOWE,
General and Commander in Chief, Ac. Ac. &c.
DECLARATION.
SIR WILLIAM HOWE, regretting
the Calamities towhich many of his Ma
jeky's Subjects are hill exposed by the Continu
ance of the Rebellion; and no less desirous of
protesting the Innocent, than determined to
pursue with the Rigours of War, all those
whom His Majesty's Forces, in the Course of
their Progress, may find in Arms against the
King, doth hereby assure the peaceable Inha
bitants of the Province of Pennsylvania, the
Lower Counties on Delaware, and the Coun
ties of Maryland, on the Eastern Shore of
Chefapeak-Bay, that in order to remove any
groundless Apprebenfions which may have
been raised of their fuffering by Depredations
of the Army under his Command, he hath
issued the ftrideft Orders to the Troops for
the Preservation of Regularity and good Dis
cipline, and has fignified, that the most ex
emplary Punishment Shall be infli&ed on those
who Shall dare to plunder the Property, or
molest the Persons of any of his Majeily's
well disposed Subjects.
Security and Protection are likewise exten
ded to all Persons, Inhabitants of the Province,
and Counties aforefaid, who, not guilty of
having assumed legislative or judicial Autho
rity, may have a&ed illegally in subordinate
Stations, and conscious of their Mifconduft,
been induced to leave their dwellings; pro-
ed on his Way to the Enemy with Tdent to go ibta
their Lires or Encampments, or into any Place in
their Poffeflion, without the Licence, Permission, or
Passport of the Commander in Chief of the united
States of America, or of the Governor or Com
inander in Chief of this State for the Time be
ing, or of feme general Officer of the Army of
the said united States, or of one of the Brigadiers
General of the Militia of this State, such Perlon
is thereby declared to be guilty of a capital Fe
lony, and being thereof legally convi&ed, shall
Differ Death accordingly. Provided, nevertheless,
that if any Person so offending as aforefaid, shall, at
rhe Time of his Examination before the Governor
and Council of Safety, or within fix Davs thereafter,
declare his Willingness to enlist, and shall actually
enlist with the Leave of the Governor and Council
aforefaid, to serve on board any of the Vessels of
War belonging to the united States, it shall be law
ful for them to fuller him so to enlist, and such his
Enlistment shall be deemed a full Pardon of his Of
fence aforefaid, any Thing therein before contained
to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.
And whereas it was by the said Aft further enac
ted, That if any Person, being a Member of, or
owing Allegiance to, this Government, as in the firft
mentioned Aft is described, who hath since the fourth
Day of O&ober last, voluntarily gone into any of
the Enemy's Lines or Encampments, or into any
Places in their Puffeffion, shall return into any Part
of this State in a secret or clandestine Manner, or
without any Leave, Licence, or Passport previously
obtained fiom the Governor or Commander in Chief
of this State for the Time being, or from a general
Officer of the Army of the united States, or of one
of the Brigadiers General of the Militia of this
State, fu:h Period is thereby declared tube guilty of
a capital Felony, and being thereof convicted, shall
faffcr death accordingly. Provided nevertheless, that
he may enlist as aforefaid, and that such Enlistment
shall be considered and operate in like Manner as the
Enlistment of a Perlon committing the Offence fpe
cified in the last preceding Se&ion of the said A6l.
And whereas it has been represented to me, that
notwithftarding this Act (and I would presume from
a Knowledge of the Existence thereof) several Offi
cers of the Militia of this State, and others while
Rationed in the fame, of inferior Rank to those men
tioned in the said A&, unauthorized thereby, and in
Violation thereof, have granted such Licences, Per
missions, and Passports, and frequently upon very
frivolous Occasions, and to Perlons of suspicious
Characters of both Sexes ; by Means whereof a con-
Rant Communication and Intercourse has for some
GIVEN under my Hand, at Head Quarters of
the Army, tie 2fb Day of August, 1777.
W. HOWE.
By His Excellency's Command,
Robert Mackenzie, Secr'y.
By MAJOR-GENERAL
VALENTINE JONES,
Commandant in Nevu-York ;
PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS it is represented to me,
that many persons take upon them
selves to beat and abuse the people employed
in the ferry boats between this hity and Brook
lyn, under pretence of delays committed by
them with the said boats :
In order to prevent such abuses in future, I
have thought fit to issue this proclamation,
hereby ftridly forbidding all persons to strike,
or in any wife abuse, any of the People employ
ed in said service ; but if any delays or abuses
are committed therein, that complaint there
of be made to me, that the delinquents may
be brought to proper punishment.
Given under my band in tie City of New-
York, the igtb day of September, intbe 17th
year of bis Moffo's reign.
VAL. JONES, M. G.
And Commandant of New-York.
Pensacola, 18th November, 1775.
SIR,
THE Earl of Dartmouth having been pleased to
fignify to me in a Letter of the sth of July last,
his Majeffy's royal Whiles that I fliould afford every
possible Proteftion to such of his Subje&s ih the Co
lonies in Rebellion as shall be too weak to refill the
Violences of the Times and too loyal to concur in
the Measures of those who have avowed archfup
ported that Rebellion, and are desirous of seeking an
Asylum in this Province; and that I should coun
tenance and protea all such as may be in: need under
the Circumdances above stated to retreat h her, and
give them Grants of Land, by Way of Bounty and
Encouragement, exempt from Quit-Rent for ten
Years; and that I should also give every pcffihle En
couragement in my Power to the Exportation of
Lumber from hence to the Weft-India Idar.ds. I
therefore thought proper to dire& a Proclamation to
issue, notifying and declaring this Royal Bounty and
Encouragement, but I am afraid, from the C'iicwm
ftances of the Times, that.it will not be in my Power
to have it so generally dispersed and published as I
could wish; we having no Printing-Press in the
Colony, and therefore I have taken the Liberty to
inclofe a Copy of this Proclamation to your Excel
lency,and to request that you will be pleased to diie&
that a Number of Copies of the fame may be printed
and published in your Government.
I have further to request that your Excellency
will be pleased to afford every Assistance in your
Power to have these his Majesty's molt gracious In
tentions carried into Execution.
I am, with great Regard and Efleem,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
Humble Servant,
PETER.CHESTER.
His Excellency
WILLIAM TRYON, Esq;
WEST-FLORIDA.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY
PETER CHESTER, Esq ;
Captain General Governor and Commander in Chief,
in and over his M ijefty's laid Province of Weft-
Fiorida, and the Territories depending thereon in
America, Chancellor, Vice Admiral, and Ordinary
of the fame, &c.
A Proclamation.
WHEREAS his Majesty by his royal Instruc
tions dated at St. James's the third Day of
February in the Year cf our Lord One Thousand
Seven Hundred and Seventy-four, and in the Four
teenth Year of his Reign, did think fit, with the
Advice of his Privy Council, to revoke and annul
all the Powers and Au horities which before that
Time had been given by his Majesty to the Gover
nors of this Province, for the laying out and passing
Grants of Land within the fame, and to dire& and
appoint certain Rules and Regulations to be thence
foi th ftri&ly and pimHually observed for the future
Disposal by public Sale of such L^nds, Tenements
and Hereditaments as then were or thereafter should
be in bis Majesty's Power to difpofg of within this
Province in the Manner by the said Inftruaions par
ticularly mentioned and dire&ed. Ard whereas his
Majesty has lately been most gracloufly pleased to
fignify his royal wishes that the Governor of this
Province should afford every possible Protection to
such of his Subjects in the Colonies in Rebellion, as
shall be too weak to refill the Violences of the limes
and too loyal to concur in the Measures of those
who have avowed and supported that Rebellion, ^d
are desirous of seeking an Asylum in Weft-Florida;
and to thn End his Maiefty has been pleased to direct
that the Execution cf the Inftruaions of the Third
Day of February, in the Year of our Lord One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-four, herein
beforementioned, should be suspended for the present
within this Colony. And whereas bis Majesty has
also been pleased to fignify his further Pleasure to the
Governor of this Province, to give every possible
Encouragement to the Exportation of Lumber from
this Colony to bis Islands in the Weft-Indies, it is
therefore hereby notified t® all his Majesty's good
and faithful Subjects who may be induced under the
Circumstances above stated, to seek a Retreat in this
Province, that the Governor of the said Province
will afford them every possible Protection and Coun-
Vided such Persons do forthwith return, and
remain peaceably at their ufualPlaces of Abode.
Considering moreover that many Officers
and private Men, now actually in Arms against
His Maiefty, may be willing to relinqtrilh the
Part they have taken in this Rebellion; and
return to their due Allegiance : bir WILLIAM
HOWE doth therefore promise a free and
general Pardon to all such Officers and pri
vate Men, as shall voluntarily come and sur
render 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.
" Mendom, Sept, fl, 1777.
" Sir you are to keep one Man allways with an
" order already writ to Impress any Hoifs on the
" way he Shall want that upon the firft appearance
" of the Enemys Coming to attack you or yours
" you are to dispatch the Man and Tell him to come
“ the Nighest Road direct to me or my hpufe and he
" is to Call to Every man Woman and Child he
" fees and Desire them to Call upon all men to pufli
" Down Whare the Enemy is and give them Battle
" But he is not to Stop to Tell his Story But Call
" cut as he rides a Long and tell his Story he is to
" ride Six or Seven Miles an ower if they have no
" guns or Ammonifon they are to carry pitchforks
" fl ibs Stones or such Weapons as they chufe or
" thick Belt But if any Man is a fraid to goo to
<c Battle that hath no gun he is imediately to Set out
" as a Common Cryer towards the Back Cuntry and
" Desire every one he fees to Come Down to the
" helpe of the Lord against the mighty and I will
" keep a Becon our so that if you with what will
" Turn out Nigh by Can keep the Enemy in play a
" few howers I will be Down with 1000 or 1500
“ Men Shew this Letter to all men you fee and fend
" Coppys of it to all the Militia officers you can
" that Live within 45 or 10 Miles of the Lines and
“ Shores This gentiann I have Writ to the
" Commanding Officer Down at the Shore therefore
“ I Desire all men old & young as they Regard their
" Liv s and Properties & all that is Dear to them
" when they hear the a L^rm that they a quip them
" selves as well as they Can and march imediately
" towards the Eneray whare I will meet them Let
" Every man as soon as he is ready Stop for no Com
" pany But Call all they fee to Come a Long & they
" are to fend word by some of their family that cant
" fight to their next Neighbour of the a Larm
" and Cursed is he that is Well & will not Turn out
" When this a Larm comes.
William Winds B; G:"
You may alfd; Mr. Printer, publifli the following
Letter, which was found at Elizabeth-Town. It
will shew the Public in what a miserable defponding
State Wafliingion's Vagabonds are, ^notwithstanding
all the Arts of the Copgrefs to disguise it.
" Camp at Brandywine, Sept. 4, 1777.
" Dear Mother,
" I take this Opportunity to let you know that I
"am in good Health and high Spirits at present,
" hoping these Lines may find you as they left me.
" The Regulars are daily advancing towards Phila
" delphia, and our Misfortune is we cannot help it.
" Our Men get killed, wounded and taken Prisoners
" without Number. We (hall soon be in Elizabeth
" Town again, for the general Cry throughout the
" Army is, " The Country is loft at lalt; and we
“ shall aft be ruined." The Soldiers seem dull and
" cast down, and the Officers no better. Richard
" Savage has loft his Arm, and Capt. Dallas of our
" Regt, is killed. I dare not enumerate all the kil
" led and wounded. No more, dear Mother, but
“ hearty Prayers for your Welfare in this and the
" World to come, I rest and remain,
" Your dutiful and affectionate Son,
“ JOHN JOHNSON.
"For Mrs. Abigail Johnson,
" Living in Weftfilld,
Tehance in hi^PuWCT ; a:.d that they upo^ tlxi A^
rival in this Province, and applying to the Governor
thereof in Council, for Grants of Lard, shall obtain
the fame exempt from Quit-Rents for Ten Years;
tinder the following Regulations to wit,---That One
Hundred Acres of Land will be granted to every
such Person being Maftet or Miftrel's of a Family,
for himfelf and herfelf; and Fifty Acres for every
white or black Man, Woman or Child of which such
Perlon^ Family shall consist at the a&ual Time of
making the Grant. And in Case any such Person,
well affected to the Constitution, applying to the said
Governor in Council for Grants of Land, fhJl be
desirous of taking up a larger Q^antitv’than the ac
tual Numberof Persons in his or her Family would
intitle such Person to take up, that the said Governor
in Council will grant to every such Person or Persons
such further Quantity of Land as they may define,
not exceeding One Thousand Acres ovef and above
what they are intitled to by the Number of Persons
in their refpeHive Families. Provided, it shall ap
pear to the said Governor that they are in a Condi
tion and Intention to cultivate the fame./ And pro
vided all% that they at the Time of such Application
do give good Evidence to the Governor of the said
Province of their real Attachment to the Constitu
tion, and of their Non-concurrence in the rebellious
Proceedings in the other Colonies. And it is here
by further notified that the Governor of thiA?rovince
will afford every possible Encouragement to all his
'Majefty's good Subjects who may think proper to be
concerned in the Exportation of Lumber, and all
other Produce from this Province to the Welt-Indies,
and that he will grant his Licence to any such Person
or Persons to cut Wood and convert it into Lumber,
upon any Part of his Majesty's Lands within this
Province. Provided always, that proper security be
given upon the Exportation of any Lumber, that
the fame shall be landed in some of the Weft-India
Islands belonging to the King.
Given under my Hand, and the great Seal of
his Majesty's said Province, in the Council
Chamber at Pensacola, the Eleventh Day of
November, in the Year of our Lord One
Thoufai d Seven Hundred and Seventy-five,
arid in the S xteeuth Year of his Majefty's^
Reign.
Peter Chester.
By bis Excellency'^ Command,
Alexander Macullouc'h, D. Sec'ry.
GOD save the KING.
NEW-YORK, Sept. 17, 1777.
Mr. Printer,
AS the Rebels have in their News-papers favour
ed the Public with General Burgoyne's Orders
to Lieut. Col. Baum, it might be interpreted mali
ciously should we refufe to commit to Print any Pie
ces of Elegance of their Commanders which may
fall into our Hands. For this Reason I fend you a'
Copy of some Orders for the Jersey Militia, which
we picked up in our late Excu.fion. I hope no in
vidious Comparisons will be drawn between this and
General Burgoyne's ; for tho' the latter, to give him
his due, writes in a pretty Style, and plausibly enough
as to military Matters, his Performance falls infi
nitely short of that Energy, that Precision, that Su
blimity which grace the Competition of the Jersey
Brigadier. The candid Public must confider, that
probably poor Burgoyne has not had those Advan
tages of Education which have refined the Sentiments
and Expressions of the elegant Writer of the follow
ing Orders. I give theny in the original .Spelling :
Probably the Brigadier drove to adapt his Ortho
graphy to the Genius of his Troops.