The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-09-24 00:00:00, page 2

NEW & LO NDON, Sept. io.;
We had prepared our paper thus far for pub- ;
Vacation, when at about day-break on Thurs- ;
day morning last, twenty four fail of the ene
my's Flipping appeared to the wefaVard of this
harbour, which by many were supposed to be
a plundering party, after flock; alarm guns
were immediately fired, but the difeharge of
cannon in the harbour has become so frequent
oflate that they answered little or no purpole.
The defenceless state of the fortifications and
of the town are obvious to our readers; a few
of the inhabitants who were equipped advanc
ed towards the place where the enemy were
tho't likely to make their landing, and ma
noeuvred on the heights adjacent, until the
enemy at about 9 o'clock landed in two divili
ons of about 800 men each, one of them at
Brown's farm near the light house, the other
at Groton point, the division that landed near
the light house marched up the road, keeping
cur large flanking parties, who were attacked
in different places on their march by the in
habitants who had spirit and resolution to op
pose their progress ; the main body of the ene
my proceeded to the town and set fire to the
fores on the beach, and immediately after to
the dwelling-houses lying on the Mill-cove ; the
feathered fire of our little parties, unfupoorted
by our neighbours more diftdnt, galled tnem so
that they (bon began to retire, fettng fire to stores
& dwelling-houses promifeuoufly in their way ;
the fire from the stores communicated to the
flapping that lay at the whaves, and a number
were burnt, others swung to single fall and re
mained unhurt. At 3 o'clock they began to
quit the town with great precipitation, and
were pursued by our brave citizens with the
spirit and ardour of veterans, and drove on
board their boats. Five of the enemy were kil
led and about 20 wounded, among the latter is
a Hessian Cap:, who is a prisoner, as are leven
others. We loft 4 killed and 10 or iz wound
ed, none mortal.
The molt valuable part of the town ^redu
ced to ashes, and all the stores. Fort Trum
bull, not being tenable on the land fide was
evacuated as tbeenemy advanced, and the few
men in it crossed the river to Fort Griswold,
on Groton Hill, which was soon after inverted
by the division that landed at the point; the
fort having in it only about 157 men, chiefly
militia hastily collided, defended it with the
greatert reofolution and bravery, and once re
pulsed the enemy; but the fort being out of
repair could not be defended by such a hanriful
of men, tho' brave and determined, agairdt
so superior a number; they did all that men
of spirit and bravery in such a situation could
do; but after having a number of their party
killed and wounded, they found that further
refinance would be in vain, and resigned the
fort: The valiant Col. Ledyard,whole fate in a
particular manner is much lamented, and 70
other officers and men were killed, most of
whom were heads of families. The enemy
loft a Major Montgomery and fifty two officers
and men in the attack, who were found buri
ed near the fort; their wounded were caried
off. Soon after the enemy got possession of the
fort they set fire to and burnt a number of
dwelling-houses and stores on Groton bank,
and embarked about fun set, taking with them
sundry of the inhabitants, ofNew-London and
Groton.
About 15 fail of vessels with effe&sof the in
habitants, retreaded up the river on the ap
proach of the enemy and were saved, and four
others remained in the harbour unhurt. The
troops were commanded by General Arnold,
who headed the division which marched to this
town. By this calamity it is judged that more
than 100 faniilies are deprived of their habita
tions, and most of them of their all.
This neighbourhood feels sensibly the loss
of many deserving citizens, and tho' deceas
ed, cannot but be highly indebted to them for
their spirit and bravery in their exertions and
manly opposition to the merciless enemies of
our country in their last moments.
NEWPO R T, Sept. 15.
Last Tuesday arrived at Providence the pri
vateer ship Marquisde la Fayette, Capt. Meri
dith, by whom we learn, that their was an en
gagement offChefapeake, between the French
and British fleets, on the gth instant, the par
ticulars of which are hourly expected.
15 days from Cape Fran
cois, who informs that there has been an hur
ricane at Jamaica, which destroyed upwards
of eighty fail of (hipping.
BOSTON, September 1%
Last Wednesday arrived here a prize brig,
taken by the Hope belonging to Philadelphia.
She was bound from London for some port in
the Hungarian dominions, and two sets of pa
pers. 4
Same day arrived here a privateer schooner
from Bagaduce, prize to the Resolution and
Free Mason, of this port. Also
A large (loop, laden with fith and lumber,
prize to the above privateers.
Thursday last arrived here in 37 day from
France, His Most Christian Majesty's frigate
L'Engageante, with a quantity of cash.
Same day arrived here a private flag in 9
days from Hallifax, with eleven prisoners.
Thursday last arrived at a fafe port a brig
from Fayal, laden with wine, taken by the
DiHain, belonging to Salem.
Friday last the Rhodes returned into port
with a prize fhipoflß guns, in ballast,. She
Was an empty transport, bound home, in con
cert with another lhip of the fame force, which
A Colonel Ayres, who commanded the di
divifion at Groton, was wounded, and it is
said died on board the fleet, the night they
embarked.
the Rhodes also engaged at the fame time, but
in manning the prize the other got off.
Friday arrived a packet from Nantz, in
France, with dispatches.
Wednesday last the Honourable John Sul
livan, member of Congress for the State of
New-Hampshire, arrived in this town on his
way to that State.
Same day arrived in town on his way td the
eastward, the celebrated Chevalier John Paul
Jones, Capt. in the American navy.
A letter from New-Haven, dated a few days
since, fays, '' Our situation, in this town, has
been such that but little business has been done
this day which was occasioned by two of the
enemy's' armed vessels hovering round our har
bour. —The night before last they landed at
Weft-Haven, and took off a number of the in
habitants, and aboutqo head of cattie, which,
with the weight of the guns on her deck, oc
casioned her to fink as soon as a squall of wind
struck her—'tis said ico men were drowned on
board—her top mart is only now to be seen."
FISH-KIL L, Sept. 14.
The four months regiment, under the com
mand of Colonel Weifeifelt, marched from
this town to Weft-Point, last Friday.
Extraa of a letter from a gentleman in Albany,
dated Sept. 8, 1781,
" We have just received the disagreeable
news, that out of forty men Col. Willet sent
out on a feout from Fort Plain, (his present
Ration) only twelve returned; the rest being
either killed or taken by a superior force of the
enemy."
NEW-YORK, September 24.
The following is said to be a pretty accurate Ac
count of the Engagement of the Chefapeak the
„h info between the British and French Fleets:
riOHE firft certain notice our Admiral re-
I ceived of the enemy's fleet being actual
ly upon the coast, was from the advanced
flrips of the fleet on the morning of that daf,
when the French were seen at an anchor, ex
tending from Cape Henry to the centre of the
middle ground (a shoal so called which con
fines the entrance into the Chefapeak) appa
rently in three divisions.
As the British fleet advanced with a fair
wind, the French got their ships under fail,
and extending themselves in a line of battle
a-head, rtretched out to seaward.
The British ran down upon an East and
Well line, with the wind at N. N. E. formed,
and put themfeives into order and preparation
for battle.
As the British advanced towards the shoal
of the middle, they 'we^ prepared to veer by
I signal, the whole fleet together, to bring
I them upon the fame tack with the enemy, who
I were all this time forming the line as they
iadvanced to sea.
IThe moment it was no longer fafe for the
I Britifh van to advance further, on account of
the shoal, the fleet wore together, and came
to the fame tack with the French, and form
ed a line a-head nearly paralled with them,
with their main-topsails square, to let the
enemy's van guard advance, until the British
could operate to advantage.
The French came forward slowly, and
' shewed twenty-four large ships of their line of
;battle. The British formed nineteen in theirs.
It will be needless to give you a detail of
• signals. A great number were made, and I
believe all that were necessary to prepare the
British line for an united effort.
The French van had extended themselves
considerably too much from their own centre,
and seemed to present the favourable moment
for attack.
The British line bad been continually prefled'
down to approach the enemy, as near as possi
ble, and the moment the F:®nch van betrayed
their apprehension of our design, by bearing
away, the signals for a close action was made,
and the signal for the line taken down, that
nothing might cross the opportunity.
The action began at a quarter after four,
about the fourth or fifth ship, and in a few{
minutes extended from the van to the second
ship a-rtern of the center.
Rear Admiral Drake's division 'compofed
the van of the British line, Rear Admiral Sir
Samuel Hood, Bart, that of the rear.
The action in the van was very close and
sharp for some time, and continued so until
the French ships put before the wind to pre
vent being cut up.
The French center and rear pushed forward,
and kept much from the wind as they ap-:
proached the British center, and appeared to
have little more in view than to advance far
enough to receive their own van, who were
nearly before the wind, and the better to ef
fed this purpose, they constantly declined
close action with the center of our fleet.
Every necessary signal was made to urge a
close as well as general action, which the ene
my appeared as much to decline, and did not
permit our rear to close with them, which
prevented that part of our fleet from having
any share of the adion.
All firing ceased on both sides soon after
sun-set. —About ten o'clock it was made
known to the Admiral by two frigates, which
had been sent throughout the line, that several
of the ships of the van were not capable of
keeping extended with the enemy, having
fuffered so much in their malls and rigging,
they must attend to its security or be difmaft
ed.—That two of the ships which came very
leaky from the Weft-Indies, had aggravated
their complaints, and one of them could only
be kept free with all her pumps.
The two fleets remained near each other for
five successive days, at times very close. The
enemy, it was visible, had received much
damage to their van ships, and from thence
Captain Cobb arrived at Quebec the Begin
ning of June from Cork, and failed again the
6th of July, at which Time not one Vessel from
the Continent had arrived in Canada, but that
6 Runners from England had got up, two
from Lisbon, one from Madeira, and one from
Newfoundland.;
quite on the next a-head of the Admiral's
fliip ; —but our marts and yards had fuffered
much more apparently —this enabled the
French to gain the wind of us, and two
changes of wind much in their favour, pre
vented our recovering it. No time or effort
was neglected which could put the British
in proper order; for the enemy with their su
periority of numbers ought certainly to have
attacked us. On the loth the Terrible could
no longer refill her leaks, and the fleet was
obliged to bring to, as well as to give time to
fhift some topmasts. This was done at night,
and the next morning we saw no more of the
enemy, who certainly pushed to regain the
Chefapeak, having been driven a great way
to the southward.
By the above Prisoners we have certain Ad
vice of the Capture of a Number of the Ene
my's Privateers that had been dogging the
Quebec Fleet, that no less than 9 of them had
been carried into Halifax, among them the
Thorn (but it was said she was afterwards re
taken by a French Frigate) and 15 into New
fcundland; a Lift of them we have not yet
been able to obtain, we only know the Names
of a few of those carried into St. John's, New
foundland, viz.
Ship Alexander./
Ship Neptune.
Ship Marquis,
The Day on which the last Packet arrived at
Boston express from France, the French Frigate
Hermione failed either for Philadelphia or
Virginia.
When the Cartel left Borton Harbour there
were then there a French 50 Gun Ship and
four Frigates.
The whole of the Quebec Fleet, (three ex
cepted, which were taken) are supposed to be
fafe arrived, as they were seen in the River St.
Lawrence pretty far up.
The following Prizes are taken and sent in
to Penobfcot, by his Majesty's Ships the Am
phitrite, Capt. Biggs, and the Monk, Capt.
Rogers, viz.
The Ship Salem Packet, from Bilboa, with
Silk and Cordage.
Brig Dolphin, laded with Lumber.
Brig Sharp,Capt. Allen,belonging to Borton.
Ship Congress, Captain Rodes, Salem.
Ship Lewey, Captain Nicholas, Portsmouth.
Brig Active, Captain Pattin, Beverly.
Sloop Fish Hawk, do.
Brig New Adventure, Capt. Neil. do.
Ship Oliver Cromwell, Capt. Bray, do.
Ship Mercury, Letter of Marque, Captain
storer, belonging to Portsmouth.
The Ship Enterprize, formerly belonging
to us, of 22 Guns. And the Brig Endeavour.
The day being calm the Terrible was dis
mantled and set on fire, and several of the
Weft India squadron, that had very little bread
on board and but a few days water were sup
plied from other ships of the fleet, and the
whole moved towards Cape Henry, which we
made on the fourteenth, and finding the
French fleet had placed themselves so advan
tageously between the lands, as to give no
probability ofour being able to force them, or
get any fuccour up to York river, it became
absolutely necessary to shelter the fleet before
the approaching equinox, as a gale of wind
by dismantling our ships, might do us more
injury than a general adion. The fleet there
fore returned to New-York.
than 40 wounded, his Majesty's Ship having
only 2 Men killed, and 6 wounded. The Ac
tion was about half an Hour, and brings to my
Mind an Engagement that happened the 15th
of August, in the Year 1761, between his Ma
jesty's Ship Bellona, Captain Faulkner, of 74
Guns, and a French 74 Gun Ship called Le
Courageux, with 700 Men, from St. Domingo,
in which the latter having, in 45 Minutes, 240
Men killed, and no wounded, was obliged to
strike. The Bellona had only 6 Men killed,
and 28 wounded.
The Malicieux and the Hermione, two
French Frigates, were in Company with the
Courageux when engaged with his Majesty's
Ship the Bellona; but they were soon made
to fly, by the Bellona Frigate, after a smart
Engagement, in which she had 5 Men killed
and 16 wounded.
that took the French Frigate the Magicienne,
in Borton Bay, as mentioned in our last; but
the Chatham, Captain Douglas, of 50 Guns.
The Magicienne was one of the fineft and bell
Frigates belonging to the King of France, just
off the Stocks, mounted 36 Guns, 26 of which
were 18 Pounders: She had 60 Men killed,
when she struck to the Chatham, and more
Last Monday a small Schooner from Cadiz
for Philadelphia, with Dry Goods, was brought
in here by a Galley from the Southward.
Last Saturday Week departed this Life, in
the 68th Year of his Age, Doctor William
Clarke, of the County of Monmouth, and
Province of New-Jersey.
Thursday last a Cartel arrived here in ten
Days from Bofton,with a Number of Prisoners,
among them about 12 Mailers of Vessels, one
of which is Captain Cobb, of the Lockhart
Ross, from Quebec for Cork, that had the
Misfortune to be taken by the Hermione and
Allrea, two French Frigates, and carried into
Boston.
We loft in the adion, one Lieut, and 90
men killed; and 246 wounded.—Ohe Capt.
having 101 l his leg.
It was not his Majesty's Ship the Assurance,
rir'AKtN up a few days ago, by James
[ Banks, a grey HOR^, about 13 &1 2
hands high, ten or eleven years old. He is
now in the possession of the lubferiber, living
near Deane's Dock, on the North River.==
The owner on proving his property and pay
ing charges may have him again.
SAMUEL WARD.
CAST IRON PYE PANS, SKILLETS,
GRIDDLES, TEA KETTLES, POTS,
and nails of all sizes, with an assortment of
Ironmongery and Cutlery,
Bar iron, plough sheer moulds, spades, shovels,
&c. &c. imported in the last vessels from Brifr
tol and London, are to be fold by
Edward and Wm. Laigbt,
At their store, No. 200, Queen street, near
Burling's Slip.
For LONDON,
The Ship Henrietta,
James Bunyan, Master ;
A double deck'd vessel, mounts 12
guns, and will fail with or without
«o&lr°fom convoy, at the option of the freight
ers ; For terms of freight or passage, apply to Alex
ander and Miller, or to the captain on board at
Cruger's wharf.
M A 11' K. MULLE N,
TOBACCONIST,
RETURNS his sincere thanks to his customers,
and the public in general, for their pait favours,,
and begs leave to acquaint them that he has remov
ed his Tobacco Manufactory from Beek
man-Street, to No, 19, Water-street, a few doors
well of the Coffee-Houfe, and hopes for the con ?
tinuance of their custom, as he is determined to ma
nufa&ure tobacco of the very belt qualities, viz.
Superfine pigtail in carrots,
Common ditto, in small rolls and square carrots.
Fine and common roll tobacco,
Segars & kitefoot for fmoaking,of the reftdeft kind.
Fine, common, and coarse cut tobacco,
Scotch fnuff in bladders,
Rappee in leaden canniders,
High toast fnuff in bottles,
Leaf tobacco by the hogshead, barrel or smaller
quantity, SUTTLERS and others may be (applied!
at the shortest notice, and on the most reasonable
terms, by applying as above.
SAMUEL KEMPTON,
TIN-PLATE-WORKER,
Water Street, No. 197, near the Coffee-Houfe,
INFORMS his good old customers in town and
country, pursers and masters of vessels, &c. that
he can fopply them as usual with all forts of iron,
copper, tin, and brass ware, upon the very lowest
terms, and those who favor him with their Orders
shall be duly attended to, and executed immediately.
N. B. To be had at the fame place the newly
conftiufted Salisbury kitchens.
At No. 20, Wall-rtreet, next door to Mr. Riving
ton's, has imported in the ship Alexander from
Glasgow,
A Large assortment of DRY GOODS, which,
with his former stock, he will dispose of on
the most reasonable terms. ALSO, to be fold, a
neat assortment of CHINA WARE, in cases, or
smaller quantities. ctf
LODGING and breakfall, for one or two
single, Gentlemen, may be had in a gen
teel family, in a quiet part of the city by ap
plying to Hugh Gaine.
For COR K?
''° '" w hh the fi rt convoy)
The Brig CATHERINE,
J ° HN BLAKE, Matter,
T)Urthen 200 tons, British
built, has part of her
freight already engaged. For freight or pas
sage apply to Banan and Burke, No. 2, Water
Street, or to said Matter on board. ctf
TO BE LET, until the firlt of May,
THREE ROOMS, in a pleasant situation,
in the country, with the use of a kitchen.
If agreeable, they may have fire wood, and
the use of a stable. Enquire of the printer.
NEW ROSE
May Butter,
Just imported from Cork, and felling by
JOHN PE LL,
At No. 191, Queen-Street, who has also for file,
MESS beef and pork, English and American
fiefh flour,mould and dipt candles, barrels &
half barrels Scotch red herring, white wine vinegar,
pigs tongues in kegs, loaf and mufeovado sugar,
turpentine soap, Madeira, port and claret wines,
Chelhireicheefe, bohea tea, chocolate, olives, capers,
anchovies, gerking and walnuts, playing cards,
pipes of different lengths, Durham mustard loose
and in bottles, Holland geneva, old rum, barley,
Poland starch in boxes and calks, fine and military
(hoes, velvet corks, Vc. &c.
ROBERT BAILIE, late a Seaman, belonging
to the fllip Three Brothers, William Sippens,
matter, died on board said ship, the 6th intt. at
2 o'clock, A. M. Sandy-Hook, bearing weft 10
leagues : He came from the weft of Scotland, and
has left 171 guineas to be remitted to his friends, by
Mr. Christie, merchant, in New-York.
INFORMS his friends, owners and matters of
vessels, that he continues to bake SHIP BREAD,
at his house, No. 24, John-Street. He presents his
thanks to his old sh p mates and Friends, for their
favours. He is determined to bake the belt of bread,
knowing the distress of eating bad bread at sea, by
the experience of upwards of thirty years. All
Captains of vessels who want the best of bread to
keep, will please to call before hand, and they fhal|
be provided with the best on reasonable terms.
N. B. WATER and BUTTER BISCUIT,
made from the best of Philadelphia fuperfine frefh
flour, for cabbin, or family use, in small or great
quantities.
Richard Jenkins,
James Hastie,