The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-11-19 00:00:00, page 1

From the CONNECTICUT GAZETTE, &c. of OCR 18.
BERGEN (New-Jersey) Sept, 25, 1776.
To the Printer,'
As many falfe accounts of transitions in our armies are, by
feme means or other, published in gazettes, &c. at a dis
tance, some of which are prejudicial to the common cause,
it has been thought a particular account of what has passed
at Pdwles Hook (opposite New-York) since the evacuation
of that city by our troops, may be acceptable to your rea
ders. If you are of the fame opinion, the following e„ra&
from the journal of Col. Durkee's Chaplain (who was an
eye witness of all that passed) is at your service.
POWLES-HOOK, Sept. 15, 1776.
AFTER Long-island was evacuated, it was judged
impeffible to hold the city of New-York, and for
fevgral days the artillery and stores of every kind
had been removing, and last night the tick were or
dered to Newark, in the Jerfies ; but most of them could ba
got no farther than this place and Hoebuck, and as there is
but one house at etch of these places, many were obliged to
lie in the open air till this morning, whose distress, when I
walked out at day break, gave me a livelier idea of the hor
ror of war than any thing I ever met with before—the com
manddnt ordered them every thing for their comfort that the
place afforded, and immediately forwarded them to the place
appointed and prepared for them.
About eight this morning, three large ships came to fail,
and made up towards the Hook. The garrison, confiding of
the 20th Continental regiment (Col. Dukeel) and a regiment
of Jerley militia (Col. Duyckinck's) were ordered into our
works. Scon after they had taken their posts, the drips came
up near Jersey store, to avoid eur shot from the grand battery,
the removal of the cannon from which they were ignorant of;
and as they paffeo. up the North river, kept up an incessant
fire upon us ; their shot, a great part of which was grape, raked
thewhole Hock, but providentially one horle was all the loss
we sustained by it. The fire was brifcy returned from our
battery by Capt. Dana, who commanded a company of the
train on this station.
It gave me great pleasure to fee the spirit of the troops
around me, who were evidently animated by the whistling of
the enemy's shot, which often kruck io near as to cover them
with dust.
About eleven o'clock, a furious cannonade was heard a
little above New-York, and before flight numbers came over
from the city, and informed that it was evacuated by our
troops, and about sunset we saw the tyrant's flag flying °n
fort George.
Having received intelligence that a number of our troops
were in the city, and the enemy spread, across the island,
above it, two small parties were ordered 10 assist them in ma
king their efcapc. Two Captains, with about forty men,
two brass howitzers, and about two tons of military stores
were brought off by one. of them; the other party, confin
ing of five men only, were fired upon by the enemy (suppo
sed the Tories) who have committed a numberof robberies on
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Vol. lI.J
Price Threepence. Published every Tuesday, Thuffday, and Saturday Evenings.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1776.
577
the friends of America) when one Jesse Squire of Norwich
was wounded, who, together with another man, fell into their
hands,
16th. About two o'clock this morning an attempt was
made to burn the ships that passed up the North river yester
day, and anchored about three miles above us ; one of them,
the Renown of fifty guns, was grappled, but broke her grap
pling, and came down by us again—another cannonade en
sued, but no damage was received on our fide.
The brave Col. Duyckink, who did all he could to retain
his men, could now keep his regiment no longer, but was
obliged to retreat to Bergen, from which time Col. Durkee
was left on the Hook with only a part of his regiment, con
sisting of about three N hundred effective men.
17th. An express arrived with information that Col. Wil
liams from Connecticut was ordered to reinforce us, and might
be expected the next day, but was not able to join us till our
retreat to Bergen 1 the 23d.'
This day a large quantity of lead, musket ball, and buck
shot was difeevered in a fufpeded house about a mile and
half above us, and brought down to this place and properly
secured for the United States. —Towards night the Renown
returned back to her Ration up the North river, but kept near
the Eastern ihore, to avoid the shot from our battery, which
however kept up a brisk fire upon her as long as she was
within reach.
18th. Nothing material happened here. Just at evening
intelligence was received that the brave Lieut. Col. Knowlton
of our regiment was killed, in the action that happened a
little below Kingfbridge on Monday, as he was fighting with
undaunted courage at the head of a body of rangers, the
command of which was assigned him. The joy the success
of that action would have occasioned, was greatly lessened
in this department, by the loss of ah officer so greatly re-
Tpeaed and beloved.
20th. The Renown returned back again to the fleet, and
though she passed close in with New-York there, yet as there
was very little wind, about forty shot from our battery were
fired at her, many of which took effect. She lay all next
day upon a careen, to repair.
21st. At two this morning we were waked by the guards,
who informed us that New-York was on fire. As the fire
began at the south-east end of the city, a little east of the
grand battery, it was spread by a strong south wind, firft on
the East river, and then northward, across the Broad-way,
opposite to the old English church (if I mistake not the
name) from whence it confirmed all before it, between Broad
way and the North river, near to the college, laying about
one third part of the city in allies (the opinion of those
best acquainted with it) and had not the wind, as it veered
to the weft, died away, the remainder of that nest of vipers
would have been destroyed.
This evening a seaman, who said he belonged to Provi
dence, that he was taken and obliged to fight against hit
countrymen on board the Roebuck, made his escape by
swimming from New-York to this place. He informed ike
[Num. 286.