The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1779-12-13 00:00:00, page 2

B ti^Brig Elphinftone, %/.Kennedy
'who arrived here last Friday in 14
D^s from Georgia, we have received
the foliowing zldvice^ viz.
SAVANNAH, (Georgia) Oct. 28.
LAST Monday died here, greatly lamented
by the whole army and inhabitants, the
Hon Lieut. Col. MAITLAND,of the 71st regi
ment, brother to the Right Hon the Earl of
Lauderdale; and next evening his remains
were deposited with all the honours of war in
the family vault of the Hon. John Graham,
Esq; —We mull leave to some able pen the
drawing the character of this truly brave and
valuable officer.
Nroe^^r 11. Lail Thursday the ^ip Myr
tle, a victualler from New-1 ark, wnich was
lately taken by the French fleet, arid had been
driven out to sea in bad.weathers came into
Tybee and run aground,on the White Oyfer-
Bank. A boat with a number of her peooie
got away to Carolina ; and two French officers
with 29 men, were taken in her b^Captain
M'Kindley, of the Comet galley.
Same day also put in, in dllreis, not being
able to make the port of Charles- 1 own, which
sh e had before, whilst the French fleet lay at
Tybee, in vain attempted, and had her main
mast cut away, the Rutledge rebel galley,
Capt. Pines, who, with 49 others, (soldiers,
Bailors, and negroes) were made prisoners by
Capt. M Kindley. She is now up at town,
mounting two 18 and four 6 pounders, and
had on board, in irons, Col. Kirlcland and
his son, who were taken at Ogechee during
the siege of this town.
Latt week a boat was ftopt and taken at
Skidaway, by Mr. Richard Davis, More the
ferry man, and two others ; she had on board
the mall of a schooner and two other rebels,
two Minorcan prisoners, and 14 Negroes;
they left their vessel ashore on thelfland of St.
Catharine, which has since been burnt, by
part of Capt. Young's company of militia,
who have also burnt a French schooner which
they found ashore at Offabaw, after taking out
of her three 6 and two 3 pounders, brass ar
tillery, with carriages, ammunition, and every
thing belonging to them.
A schooner which was sent from this pro
vince by the French and Rebels, with 47 peo
ple on board, mod of them sick and wounded,
for Charlellown, by contrary winds was driven
to the southward, and we are informed went
ashore between St Auguitine Light-House and
the Mufquitoes, where the people were made
prisoners.
No^n. 18. ON Friday, the 3d of Sept,
several large ships were seen oft our bar, and a
boat being sent out by Capt. Brown of his
Majesty's Ship Rose, with a Lieut, on board,
they were plainly difeovered to be French.
Monday evening the -6th, a sloop called the
Polly (prize to the privateer schooner General
Matthews, which we mentioned in our paper
of the 26th Aug. she had taken off Winyaw)
came up to town. On the thurfday before she
was retaken, to the northward of the bar, by
a French 74 gun ship. They tcok all the peo
ple out of her except one man, and put five
Frenchmen in their room. In the gale of wind
that night she parted from the man of war, and
on Saturday morning, arriving off Tybee, the
English seaman told theFrenchman that it was
the entrance to Charleftown,and by that means
soon brought the sloop to anchor in the mouth
of the riter. After the arrival of this vessel, it
was said, that the fleet confided of the Magni
fique of 74, and Sphinx, of 64 guns (part of a
reinforcement of 4 line of battle ships lately
sent from France to join Count d'Ellaing in the
Wed-Indies) two frigates, a schooner, and a
cutter, all from Cape-Francois, bound to Bos
ton for masts and spars.
On Tuesday the 7th, a number of vessels
appeared off Tybee bay, but went off again,
and next day about 51 were reckoned off Waf
faw, 2§ of which were said to be of the line.
Thursday morning the 9th, they were all off
Tybee again, and some of them fired at Capt.
M'Donnocn's packet boat from St. Augulline,
attempting to get in, which fell into their
hands. That evening four frigates got over
the bar, and came to an anchor at Tybee,and
in the night, or early next morning, landed
a number of tnen on the island. His Majeßy's
ships Fowey, Rose, Keppel, Germain, armed
ship Savannah, Comet galley, and some other
vetfais were ordered up the river to Strengthen
the garrison, on the French vessels getting o
ver the bar.
The French who had landed reimbarked on
Friday the loth, and all the fleet, except the
frigates at anchor at Tybee, fleered for the
southward. Next day they appeared again off
the bar.
It seemed now evident that they intended a
serious attack on this place. We had for some
time been repairing the four old redoubts, and
making some additional works, having been
threatened with an attack from the rebels : But
now the greatest and moll extraordinary exer
tions were made by Captain Moncrieff, Chief
Engineer, and which he continued during the
wnole liege with unremitting ardour. Betwixt
zoo and 300 negroes were ordered in by the
Governor and Council, immediately set to
work, and 13 good redoubts were soon erected
round the town,and 15 gun batteries, contain
ing about 76 pieces of cannon, 18, 9, and 6
pounders were railed between the redoubts.
These batteries were manned by the sailors of
the tbips of war, transports, and merchant
men, in the river ; besides which there were
Several 4 pounders properly placed without
batteries, and 5 field pieces.
On Sunday night, the 12th, the French be
gan to land their troops at Bewlie, about (4
miles from town.
vil Governor. To this the Count replied,
that it was the part of the befiegea, and not
the besiegers, to propole terms : Upon which
it was lignified to him that it was a matter of
Great consequence, and there were many dif
ferent interells to be adjusted and fettled, and
therefore it was desired that 24 hours might
be allowed to confider of it. The Count ac
cordingly agreed to wait till the firing of the
evening gun on Friday the t,th. In the af
ternoon of the 16th a council of war was held
in the General's tent, confining of Field Of
ficers, (the Governor and Lieut. Governor
being present) to confider of a final anfiver to
be sent to the Count, when it was the unani
mous opinion of the whole members, That
the town should be defended to the last ex
tremity, and that this resolution should be
made known to the French General. This
day, to the inexpre ssible joy of the whole ar
my, the Hon. Col. Maitland, with part of
the troops under his command, arrived here
from Beaufort, and on Friday the 67th, some
more of them came up to town. The artillery
men of the Heflian corps, Hessian convale
feents, and about 170 of the 71st regiment,
were left with the Vigilant armed Ihip, three
gallies, and three transports, which were
obliged to remain at Dafufce, with all the
artillery, Stores, baggage, &c. some of the
French frigates, having got a considerable way
up the river. The whole ofth Groups which
arrived from Beaufort amounted to about 800
men ; they were piloted up through marshes,
and through Dafufkee Cut-off, where they
were often up to the middle in mud and wa
ter, and were brought up the river in small
boats.
On the evening of Sunday the 19th two
French frigates appeared in fight of the town,
below Salter's Iflar.d. Just before dark two
rebel gallies came further up, and exchanged
a good many (hot with the Savannah, Venus
transport, and the Comet and Thunderer gal
lies.
The French were busily employed in bring
ing cannon, &c. from Bewlie till the 23d,
when, in the night, they broke ground.
Next morning about 90 of the light infantry,
under Major Graham, were sent out to endea
vour to bring the French out of their lines,
thereby to form some judgement of their num
bers, and bring them open to the fire of our
cannon. The scheme fucceeded —Major Gra
ham was followed by a heavy column of the
French, who were exposed to the fire of the
cannon, which galled them severely ; their
loss by good authority, 14 officers and 145 pri
vates killed and wounded ; our loss one su
baltern and 3 privates killed, and 15 wound
ed. In the evening there was a good deal of
firing betwixt the enemy's gallies and ours.
In the morning of Saturday the 25th there
was 2 sharp cannonade for a short time from a
French battery of one 18 pounder and one 6
pounder ; a Hessian Was killed in his tent by
an 18 lb. shot ; several balls went through
houses in town, but no person hurt. The
rebel gallies in the evening began again to fire
at ours, which was returned, and likewise a
good many (hot were fired at them from the
battery at the Trustees Gardens where Capt.
John Mills commanded. Betwixt eight and
nine at night, one of the enemy's gallies,
which came up as far as the Rose man of war,
(funk on the Garden Bank) was soon obliged
by the fire from this battery to be towed off
to her former Ration below Flyming's Island.
From the 2.lth the French were extending
their lines and works, and bringing cannon,
mortars, &c. from Bewlie, Thunderbolt, and
Cafton's-Bluff.
Thursday the 16th, in the forenoon, a letterl
was sent into camp by Count d'lslhing; the
French General, demanding a surrender of the
town to the French King ; he was then within
three miles of this place; he boalled in this ;
letter of his formidable armament by sea and
land, the great feats he had performed with itl
in the Weft-Indies, and mentioned how muchi
Lord M'Cartney had fuffered by not capitulat
ing at Grenada, and that it was in vain to
think of refilling his force, warned General
Prevolt against the con sequences attending the
place being taken by dorm, and hinted that ne
would be answerable for the lives of the people
that might be loft, &c. The answer returned to
this letter by General Prevoll was to the fol
lowing purport*: That he hoped the Count
had a better opinion of him, and the Britilh
army he had the honour to command, than to
!expert they would surrender the town, &c.on a
general summons, without knowing on what
fpecific terms or conditions : That, if he had
any terms to offer, he desired they might be
made known ; and mentioned his having com
municated the contents of this letter to the Ci-
On Tuesday the 28th a French armed (hip,
of 26 guns, called the Truite, anchored in
the Back River, nearly opposite the town.
Saturday O& zd, about noon, the above
Blip and the two rebel gallies began a heavy
fire upon the town and camp, which continu
ed for about an hour, but did no damage.—
During the afternoon they fired a good deal
more as before.
On Sunday the 3d, at 12 at night, the
French opened a bomb battery of 9 mortars,
and threw (hells into the town and camp all
night, one of which killed Ensign Pollard of
the 2d battalion of Gen. De Lancey's brigade
in a house on the bay.
In the morning of Monday the 4th, just as
our raorning gun was fired, the enemy open
ed two batteries on which they had mounted
37 pieces of cannon, 18, 12, and 6 pounders,
from which they began a moll furious cannon
ade upon the town, at the fame time not re
laxing in their bombardment; a young wo
man, daughter of Mrs. Thompson on the Bay,
was killed by one of the (hot, but no periu
was hurt in the camp. During this cannon
ade and bombardment, the Ihip in the l>..ck
River, and the rebel gallies, alf> fir'd ma.y
shot into town. The lire from our batteries
was likewL* very hot, and many Hulls from
seven small cohorns were thrown into the
French works. This day the Governor and
Lieut. Governor moved to the camp, having
pitched a tent next to Cu.. Maitland s on the
right of the line.
Tuesday the sth, at 7 in the morning, there
was again a cannonade and bombardment from
the enemy ; a mulatto man and three negroes
were killed in the Lieut. Governor's cellar;
in the evening the house of the late Mrs.
Lloyd, near the church, was burnt by a shell,
and 7* negroes loft their lives in it; whild this
house was on tire one of the botteft cannon
adings they had yet made was kept up to pre
vent people from extinguishing the flames. In
the night another shell fell through Mr. Lau
rie's house in Broughton-Street, which killed
two women and two children who were tinder
it. The bombardment and cannonade con
tinued all night.
Wedr.cfday the 6th, there was another can
nonade and bombardment as before, which
Mattered the houses in town con fiderably.—
The French opened another battery of two
small guns near their bomb battery.
Thursday the 7th, the fame as the proceed
ing day. Several carcases were thrown during
the night, one of which burnt an old house in
Broughton-ftreet.
Captain John Simpson, of the Georgia Loy
alists, was killed, on the morning of Friday the
Bth. by a grape shot from the French batteries,
whilst he was walking in Major Wright's re
doubt. Much damage was done this day to the
houses by cannon Ihot. The firing continued
very hot all night, and a number of shells
were thrown, one of which fell into the Provost,
killed two men on the spot, and wounded nine
others, some of whom died since ; another burst
in the cellar under the office of the Commis
sioners of Claims, killed one negro and wound
ed another.
On Sunday the 9th, about day-break, an
attack was made by the French and Rebels up
on the redoubt, to the right of our lines, on the
road leading to Ebenezer, the battery near the
Spring, and on the redoubt by Colonel Mait
land's tent, into which the Colonel,Governor,
and Lieutenant-Governor,repaired. The attack
was made with great spirit and impetuosity by
the French, (uppofed to be about 3500 of the
flower of their army, to which were joined
about 2500 rebels, confining of the Virginia
and South-Carolina Continentals, and South-
Carolina militia. Count d'Eltaing aded as firft
and General Lincoln as second in command.
The morning being very foggy favoured them
in their assault, which continued about an
hour, when they were beat back, and most
ihamefully retreated with great precipitation.
The troops who alone defeated this formidable
force consisted of
, 1 In the redoubt on
2 6 dismounted dragoons, the Ebenezer road,
a$ battalion men of the where Capt . Tawe ,
60th regiment, > command ed, and
64 South-carohra loyal- j who fe | | in brava ] y
""' J defending it.
90 of Col. Hamilton's N.'
Carolina loyalists. In the redoubt in
75 militia under Capts. , which Colonel
Wallace, Telemach, Maitland was..
and Polhill,
^ Who were ordered
74 grenadiers of the 60th ! and
regiment, r b rave ly charged
37 marines, j the ene my with
J their bayonets.
Besides the above, the spring battery of 6 guns
manned with 31 sailors, under the command of
Capts. Manby and Stiel, did very great execu
tion, which contributed much to the glorious
success of the day.
On the left the rebels madetwo feints ; one
on Major Wright's redoubt byGen.Williamfon
with 500 men, the other on Col. Cruger's by
Gen. Huger with 700 ; but both parties soon
retreated, having about 50 men killed and
wounded.
After the retreat of the enemy from our right
270, chiefly French, were found dead, up
wards of 80 of whom lay in the ditch and on
the parapet of the redoubt firfl attacked, and
93 more within our abbaiii. Two rebel Itan
dards were once fixed on the redoubt on the
Ebenezer road ; one of them was carried off
again, and the other, which belonged to the
second Carolina regiment, was taken.,
Since the attack we have learnt from French
officers, deserters and others, that they 101 l in
killed and wounded 700 men, some fay 1000,
and others 1500, reckoning 63 officers in the
lilt of (lain. Amongst the wounded were the
Count d'Estaing and the famous Polifli Count
Pola&i ; the former received a mafket (hot in
his arm, and anotherin his thigh ; the latter
a grape-flint in his groin, and is since dead.
The rebels, by the belt information we can
get, 101 l in killed and wounded about 500.
Our loss on this ever memorable occasion,
was only Capt. Tawes and 15 privates killed,
and 35 wounded, among them Lieut. Sinoilet
Campbell of the light Dragoons, and Lieut.J.
Wallace of the firlt company of the militia.
Our whole force, regulars,militia,volunteers
and sailors, on duty, did not exceed 2350 men.
A flag was soon sent in by the enemy, de
siring a truce for the burial of their dead, and
receiving the wounded, which was agreed to
till three o'clock in the afternoon, and then
prolonged till dark. During the night there
was a flight cannonading on both fide% and
many deserters came in.
Sunday 10th several flags puffed and t ces
were agreed to for the above puyoles. him 7
deserters came in during the night.
Monday nth, deserters continued c uffing
in, who informed that the French were fend
ing off their sick and wornded, and heavy
cannon on board their ships; and that the
panick struck rebel militia were running off
in great numbers. \
Tuesday the 12th, at day-light, the French
fired only three shot from small pieces of can
non.
Friday the 15th we were informed that all
the Carolina militia were gone off. This day
a fliip came up and joined the enemy's fleet.
Deserters continued to come in. Much firing
from our batteries in the night, answered by
three or four guns from the French.
Saturday the 16th, in the afternoon, there
wa' a good deal of fkirm'ifhing on Mr. M'
Gillivray's plantation betwixt some negroes
and a party of Rebels, and the latter were se
veral times driven from the buildings on the
plantation into the woods. Want of amuniti
on however obliged the Blacks to retreat in the
evening with the loss of one man killed, and
three or four wounded, the enemy's loss is not
known. There was very litt'e firing this night
from the French, who had sent off all their
cannon except two.
Sunday the 17th we were informed that the
French Mulatto and Black Brigade had march
ed to Col. Mullryne's to embark. The enemy
fired a few shot in the night.
Monday the 18th, our firing this night was
not answered by the enemy.
On Tuesday the 19th we received advice
that the French had taken poll two miles from,
town, at the cross road leading to Brewton's,
with a swamp on their right and left, and
that the Rebels were crossing the river with all
expedition at the Two Sifters and the Rev.
Mr. Zubly's ferry. The French batteries
were this day destroyed by parties sent out for
that purpose.
Wednesday 26th the militia were difeharg
ed; the light dragoons scoured the country
for several miles round, and brought in some
prisoners ; a party of Colonel M'Girth's
men came in from the southward, and also
brought some prisoners. All the French
embarked at Callon's Bluffin 100 boats, in
which they proceeded to Tybee and went on
board their ships.
Wednesday, the 13th, the enemy early in the
morning fired one shot from a field piece in
return for several from our batteries. This
forenoon the Truite moved out of the Back
River, and came to an anchor at Five-Fathom-
Hole, the wind being unfavourable for her
getting down the river. In the night a few ihot
from our batteries produced Line from the
French.
In the night of Thursday the 14th, our fir
ing was answered by the enemy. Deserters
Hill came in. Two more rebel gallies joined
the others at Five Fathom-Hole.
From the 21st to the 30th the wind hanging
to the eastward prevented the enemy's shipping
that had come up the river from getting down.
Cartels during this time were coming up with
prisoners.
The 31st the French and Rebel vessels got
down to Cockfpur.
And, on Tuesday the 2d ofNov. the whole
of the enemy's (hipping that were at Tybee
failed over the bar, and left our port open.,
It is not known which way the Count D'
Ellaing has fleered his course. It is said that
eleven of his line of battle (hips were to go
with him to France, and the remainder to
Chefapeak to refit and take in provisions.
Wherever he may have gone, it is to be hoped
when he is sent by the King his master on an
expedition, (hould he have occafion|to summon
a garrison to surrender, and find it necessary
to vaunt of the valorous deeds he performed
at Grenada, where, with an army of 4000
men, he took a fort by storm, garrisoned with
about 80 regulars and some militia, he will
keep in remembrance the names of General
MEADOWS and PREVOST—this will Ef
ficiently serve to humble his haughty spirit,
and convince him that he is not altogether
invincible.
It is imagined the French in their late bom
bardment did not throw less than 1000 (hells
into the town and camp. The carcases throw
were in number about 20.
Last Sunday morning the brig Three Frit
failed for London, in which went p~'s
Capt. Shaw of the 64th regime!
Camp to his Excellency Gen. Prevo
Capt. Chrillian, commander of hisl
armed (hip Vigilant. Also failed +
York, the (loop Crawford, in w» c - p
Patrick Campbell of theyift regi
passenger.
OMMTOO^O0 MMTOO^O • •00 ^°°°° OO8 "*°°°" ^^ ' '
ANY persons willing to contras ^.
Rum for the Use of his Majefl
are desired to fend their Propolals to .C
miffary General's in Maiden Lane,olb
t he 20th Inllant.
Genuine port wine, Warman
be of the bell Quality, and
Age, for immediate Use, to be fol
Queen-street, by the Pipe,Hogfhe <3, Q
ter Calk; it may be had by the Qv..
ready fined & drawn off. for the Coa<-:<
of carrying to Sea: Also, POR
Bottles;
For SAV.L 11
(To ' a " ""h ""
I^^> ne Brig v^
Burthen about 1 r;
remarkable f S?<:
For Freight or Passage applyt ^^
.and Company, No, 1, MiE-fl : ^.