The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-03 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3.
The following is the substance of an intercepted letter written
by Lieutenant Colonel Zedwitz to William Tryon, Esq;
late Governor of New-York.
After presenting his compliments in a formal manner to
Lord Howe, and begging the contents of his letter to be ex
plained to him ; he proceeds to profefs a consciousness, that
the world will censure him for his treachery in corresponding
with the enemy of those in whose service he had engaged.
But he apologizes for himfelf by appealing to the Governor,
as a person who knew he had been forced to accept his com
mission for fear of ruin to himfelf and family ; and as he had
engaged through compulsion (a meft willanous lie, for he soli
cited for it) from a rebellious mob, he infers, that he can be
under no obligation to conform to his engagements. Besides
this, he observes that previous to his entrance in the Conti
nental army he took the Governor's advice on the occasion,
and promised to do all he could in his new capacity for his
Majesty's service.
He then declares that ever since his return from Canada,
he had been laying plans for the performance of his promise,
and was in a fair way of doing something, when Forbes and
the Mayor were deteded in their conspiracy, which obliged
him to lay aside his schemes ; as Forbes had indifcretely men
tioned to the court on his trial, a message from Governor
Tryon to him, to wit, " that he would make his fortune, if
he would execute a certain commission." This he fays ren
dered him fufpeded, and for the present fruftrated his designs.
However, as an instance that he was returning into favour, he
informs the Governor that G. W. had lately employed him
to translate a paper into High German, which was to be
printed and diftiibuted among the Hessian troops.—He ad
vises to keep a good look Out.
In his next paragraph he invents this abominable falfhood,
that he had lately seen four villains at General W.'s house,
with fourteen bottles of a mixture as black as ink, with which
they were to poison the Watering Place on State a-Island, and
were to receive a recompence of a thousand pounds each from
the General.
He then informs, that a person always near the General,
who was a friend to the King, though an interested one, had
offered to furnifh him with weekly returns of the strength and
detail of the army till December, for the sum of four thou
sand pounds sterling, to be paid before hand in hard gold
that he had proposed a reward of two thousand pounds sterling,
which was agreed to, and he therefore desires (if the plan be
agreeable) that the money might be conveyed to him.
He concludes with informing them, that he ihortly expect
ed a full Colonel's commission, with the command of the
three forts up the North river.
The wickedness of this despicable man was difeovered by
the person whom he engaged to convey his letter.-—He en
deavoured to debauch one Steen, who being a German, in
but indifferent circumstances and unemployed in our service,
he imagined would be a proper instrument for his purpose.
But Steen perceiving his intention, and being an honest man
and a friend to the country, only amused him with a feemin?
compliance till he got his letter into his hands ; and then,
without delay, had it laid before the General.
Zedwitz on his trial acknowledged the letter to be his own,
but pleaded that it was intended merely as a trick upon the
enemy, to extraft from them two thousand pounds sterling, in
lieu of certain expences he had put himfelf to in railing a re
giment in Germany, at the request of the Marquis of Granby,
for which he had never been reimbursed.
The court martial have sentenced him to be broke, and
436
rendered incapable of holding any military office, but we de
not learn that the sentence has been confirmed by the Ge
neral.
Extract of a letter from Savannah (Georgia) dated July
11, 1776.
" We have received, by several exprefles, very alarming
news from the Indians. Col. writes that the Savages
have murdered four families on cur frontiers; that two wo
men were taken prisoners, one of whom afterwards made her
escape, and the other had her hands tied behind her, and was
naked, all her clothes being taken from her. Some men
have likewise been taken, and since found means to get
away, who fay there is a report that these Indians are to be
joined by fix hundred Creeks, and a number of the King's
men, who are to march down and cut the settlements all off.
We are also informed that a great number of people are fled
from the ceded lands, and that the Cherokees and Creeks
were to join and come down on the frontiers of South-
Carolina and Georgia. As these things confirm the truth of
the ministerial plan difeovered by the intercepted letteis of
Stuart and others (fee page 433) I am in hopes the adion on
Sullivan's island will defeat the prosecution of their horrid
proje&s, and give a different afped to our affairs."
Extrad of a letter from New-York, dated August 30, 1776,
" I am just come from Long-island with our two Pennfyl-.
vania battalions, all of our troops having retreated since last
evening, except some advanced guards, amongst whom, are
the firlt Lieutenant and Ensign, with fix or eight privates cf
Capt. Hubley's company in Col. Shee's battalion, who will
in all probability be made prisoners. The enemy had die.
covered our retreat when we came over. All our army on
the island, about eighteen thousand in number, came in
boats from fix in the evening till this morning. Col. Hand's,
the Maryland, and our two battalions, covered the retreat.
We were nearly surrounded by the enemy. Their encamp
ment made a beautiful appearance, and extended, I suppose,
near four miles in length., Qur situation was very dangerous.
We think ourselves very fortunate in making a retreat."
Extract of a letter from New-York, dated August 31,
" You are no doubt surprised to hear of our sudden re
treat from Long-island, but it was thought absolutely essen
tial from our situation. We were under a necessity of march
ing out and attacking them upon their own ground, or fuffer
ing ourselves to have been starved into a surrender—First, be
cause they were entrenching within five hundred yards of our
lines, which were very weak and incapable of withstanding
their heavy cannon, and our men, from their situation, began
to grow very uneasy ; and secondly, because their /hipping;
might have run up the East river, and eut out our resources
of provision and every other necessary. The retreat, was con
duced with the greatest secrecy, and by fix o'clock in the*
morning we had every thing embarked. There never was a.
man that behaved better upon the occasion than General
Walhington ; he was on horse back the whole night, and ne
ver left the ferry flairs till he had seen the whole of his troops
embarked/'
A COURT of ADMIRALTY being to be held to
morrow morning at ten o'clock, where the Martial, and Crier
must attend, the SALE of the cargocf the prize ship Friend
ship is postponed until to-morrow afternoon, at three o'clock,
when a quantity of SUGARS, COFBEE, RUM, and
COCOA, will be fold.
(^ The NEW-YORK POST was not arrived when this
paper went to press.