The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-03-20 00:00:00, page 2

At a General AEcmbly of the Governor and
Company of the State of Connecticut, holden
at Hartford (by special Order of his Excellency
the Governor)on the 21st Day of February,
A. D. 1781.
An Aft in addition to a Law of this State, enti
tled an Aft for the punishment of High Trea
son, and other atrocious Crimes against the
State.
BE it Enabled so the Governor, Council and Re
presentatives, in General Court assembled, and
so the Authority of the fame, That if any person,
who is a citizen or fubjeCt of this State, or of any
of the United States of America, refilling within
this State, and under the protection of its laws,
rffhall adhere to the enemies of this State, and of
the said United States, and in any manner afford
them aid and comfort, within this State or elfc
where, or shall by writing profefs or declare, that
the king of Great-Britain hath, or of right ought
to have, any authority or dominion, in or over
this State, or the inhabitants thereof, or that he
or they owe allegiance to the said king within the
fame ; or (hall seduce or persuade any inhabitant
or inhabitants of this State, to renounce his or
their allegiance to this State, and the government
thereof, as a free and independent btate, or to
acknowledge allegiance or iubje&ion to the king
or crown of Great-Britain, and be thereof con
vi&ed, shall be adjudged guilty nf High Treason,
tgainft this State, and be put to death.
And be it further Enacted, That if any person
who is a citizen or fubjeft of this State, or any
of the United States of America, residing within
this State, and under the protection of Tts laws,
shall, by words, profefs and declare, that the king
of Great-Britain hath, or of right ought to hav%
any authority or dominion in and over this State,
or the inhabitants thereof, or that he or they owe
allegiance to said king, within the fame, or shall
attempt, or endeavour to seduce or persuade any
inhabitant or inhabitants of this State, to re
nounce his or their allegiance to this State, or
the government thereof, as a free and indepen
dent State or to acknowledge fubjeCtion and al
legiance to the king or crown of Great-Britain,
and be thereof convicted, shall fuffer imprison
ment in Newgate, during the continuance of the
present war.
And be it further Enabled h, the authority afore
foid, That any fubjed of this State, or of any of
the United States, of America, who have joined,
or shall hereafterjoin, the enemies of this State,
,r put, thernfelres.under the power arid protec
tion of the enemies,who shall come intothis State
©4 rob or plunder any person or persons, of their
goods or elfc&s, or shall burn any dwelling house
pr other building, or be aiding or aflifting there
gi, (hall not be considered and treated as prison
ers of war, but being thereof conviCted before the
Superior court, or before a general court martial,
£iall fuffer death, or be otherwise punished, by
being whipped thirty nine stripes, and confined
in Newgate prison, during the continuance of
the present war, as the court before whom the
conviction is had, on consideration of the circum
stances and aggravations of the offence,fhall judge
just and reafenabla ;. and that every eonvi&ioa
Your declaration to the common people, like
your brother Burgoyne's, may flatter the vanity
of tories, and they for a compensation, may lead
you as they did him, to some Saratoga, the place
of your destination. It is time. Sirs, to become
honest men. l All the arts of low intrigue, aided
by the promptitude of malice are infufficient to
accomplish your designs-
Trouble us no more with impertinence, but if
you wish for an object so desirable as peace, let
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE from under
your master's hand, be amply displayed in the
front of your declaration, otherwise we confi'gn
you over to a malicious silence fuitab!e to your
natures, where, like the loathsome toad, you may
chew the fomentations of your own venom, if
not' to an amendment of your conduct, at least to
xconviction of your folly.
JUVENI S.
Wemarvel you are not tired of having recourse
to deception. You have lately fuftered fevercly
foritrf Andre is juftlytaken from you, in re
turn for whom you possess one of the most con
summate traitors on earth.
Ais covert, have robbed the tables of the eoiemanf,
and consumed to ashes protestant churches.
They in you realize an authority (if poffible)more
contemptible than that which thry pretend to
militate against ; for you offer pardon not only
where you have no jurifdiaion, but even where
there is no crime committed against God nor
man.
A true Copy of Record,
Examined, by
GEORGE WYLLYS, Sec'rv.
R I CH MOnN^T-Feb}-
Daft Saturday evening was captured in our
bay, the brig Cornwallis, and the fehooner Hi
bernia; ths former mounting twelve double for
tified fours, and the latter ten fix pounders ; they
had in company when taken fix small vessels load
ed with tobacco, which they had taken up the
Bay. In one of the privateers, it is said, are a
large quantity of plate and othervaluablc articles,
which they had Hole from Mr. Armiftead, of
Gloucester county, the week before. The pri
soners, about eighty, were landed at Hampton,
and are on their way to this place.
Last Sunday General Mulenburgh marched
with 600 men, within fight of Arnold's works at
Portsmouth, and there remained fix hours, dur
ing which time a party of Iris horse, furprized
arid took a picket, consisting of a sergeant and 12
men, together with a waggon and eight horses.
B A.LTIMOR E, Feb. 27.
ExtraCt of a letter from an officer in the southern
army, dated Guilford Court-house, Feb. 10.
" Since the action with Tarlton, Lord Corn
wallis has pushed us to this place [2OO miles]
where we joined Gen. Greene ;. one motive that
hurried him on so rapidly was the recovery of
the prisoners, but they luckily are fafe in Virgi
nia. This plac is about mid way between Hillf
borough and Salisbury. Ills Lordship, by the
Lift accounts, had crossed the Yadkin. We are
not so formidable as I could wish. Col. Otho
Williams this day takes command of the light
infantry (now reinforced by Col. Lee's legion,
and about sixty rifle-men) during the illness of
Gen. Morgan, whose absence is sincerely regret
ted, as he isexaNly calculated for this service. A
great many militia are turning out, and I hope
we shall shortly be strong enough for his Lord
ship; but the militia are yet but raw. Since
Col. Lee's furprize of George-Town, Col. Ma
rian has penetrated as far as Dorchester, within
twenty miles of Charleftown, destroyed a number
offteres and captured a. number of prisoners."
Extract of a letter from another officer from the
" I hope that in a few days we shall have rea
son to form great expectations from the exertions
of our southern countrymen. The affair of
Morgan was brilliant, and it affords me real
plealure to inform you that your friend Howard
appeared conspicuous in the action. And Mor
gan does him the justice to fay many clever things
of him. Lee's furprize ofGeorge-town was a
pretty thing, and does him great honour. Ma
rian too, has furprized Warsaw, a post on Cow
per-river, taken about thirty prisoners, and de
stroyed all their stores."
Extract ofa letter from Frederickfburr, on Rap
pahannock, Virginia, dated Feb. 20.
" I wish it was in my power to give you some
certain accounts from the southward. All that I
can colled are. That Lord Cornwallis was at a
place called Moravian-town, in North-Carolina,
with about 2400 men. It is said he has destroy
ed lire heavy baggage. Generals Greene and
Morgan havejoined; their troops, consisting of
2700 men, are retreating before Cornwallis, not
thinking it prudent to risk an action until rein
forced, which was daily expected, as General
Stuben had ordered 600 men to march as soon as
possible to join them, besides several of the back
county militia.
" It is confidently hfferted that two or thice
French men of war of the line, and some fri
gates are arrived in Hampton road. We hourly
expert further particulars from that quarter."
ExtraCt of a letter from Alexandria,Fairfax coun
ty, Virginia, dated Feb. 21.
of any of the aforefaid crimes, shall work a for
feiture to this State, of the estate, real and per
sonal, of the person or persons so convicted ; and
perlons convicted of any offences, against the se
cond paragraph of the aforefaid AN, may be
sentenced to imprisonment in Newgate, or any
other goal in this State, at the diferetion of the
superior court.
" Our Governor has ordered out the fourth
part of the militia of this county, te rendezvous
at Williamsburg. There are various conjectures
as to the cause ; some think the enemy have re
ceived a powerful reinforcement at Portsmouth,
or that the militia are to co-operate with our
French allies hourly expected, if not already ar
rived, in an attempt to dislodge Benedict and his
corps."
One fourth part of the militia of the State of
Virginia have taken the field, and a body of them
have already marched for Wi&rarafburg;
fame place, and of the fame date.
Notwithstanding the rapid movement of Lord
Cornwallis, he did not reach Dan river until the
whole of the American army had crossed in the
handsomest manner, the baggage and stores of
which had previously passed over Roanoke, at
Taylor's ferry, and were perfectly fafe. Ori the
14th inst. his Lordship was encamped with his
(no doubt fatigued) troops, about three miles
southward of Dan river. His further views could
not be penetrated. This intelligence we receiv
ed from a gentleman of reputation, who crossed
Roanoke with General Greene's heavy baggage.
PHILADELPHIA, March 7.
Yesterday arrived Capt.M'Clanacbari, in three
weeks from Dominico, who informs, that it was
reported there, that after the arrival of Admiral
Hood, at St. Lucia, the English fleet put to sea,
and that 8 of them went to St. Luftatia, and it
was said they had taken the island, and seized all
the vessels of what nations soever in that road.
He further adds, that accounts were received at
Dominico, that the Englilh had seized all the
Dutch vessels in their ports, and where ever else
they could lay their hands on them in Europe.
By a gentleman from New-York, we learn,
that the 17th light dragoons, and a detachment
of infantry, had marched from New-York and
the environs, towards the east east end of Long-
Iffand :—That the 22d and 47th Britiffi regi
ments, one Hessian regiment of Grenadiers, and
the regiment of Anfpach, with some more troops,
were about to embark from New-York for the
southward : That the transports were not quite
ready the 24th ult : That these troops were sup
posed to be bound to the Chesapeake, to rein
force or relieve Arnold-: That an express had
been sent up the Sound on the 20th ult. and ano
ther by land, from New-York, to Arbuthnot, at
Gardiner's Bay, to hasten his departure from
thence, whether to go to New-York or theChefa
peake, is not known. By tho fame gentleman
we are assured, that they are under very great
anxiety at New-York, Geing in expectation of
the arrival of a French fleet and 10,000 troops
from Europe, of which they were advised by ths
arrival of the lad packet from England : That
the cannon have been actually removed from
Nutten-lfland on board the (hips. The gentle
man further adds, that it was confidently said.
that Mr. Galloway has wrote to Mr. Shoemaker,
informing him, that the French fleet had failed
from Brest with troops ; and that he was under
great concern for his friends, the refugees, and
fays, he fears New-Y®rk will be loft to the King
early in the spring.
Extract ofa letter from Fredericksburg, in Vir
ginia, dated February 27, 1781.
" The 21st inst. General Greene crossed Stan
ton river. His head quarters were at Halifax
Court-house, about 115 miles from Petersburg.
The baggage of our army was at Prince Edward
Court-house, Lord Cornwallis's army is on the
north fide of Dan river, and it is said, extends
twelve miles up and down the fame. By later
accounts we are informed, the whole militia of
the counties ofPrince Edward, Charlotte, Meck
lenburg, Halifax, Henry, Pittfylvania, and a part
of Bedford, have joined Gen. Greene, amount
ing to no less than 6000 men; and that he in
tended to a& again on the offenfive : That Lord
Cornwallis had retreated one and half miles from
Dan river; that he has 13 pieces of artillery :
That General Cafwell, with 4000 North-Carolina
militia is in his rear : Baron Steuben, with coo
regulars, and as many riflemen, has marched
from Richmond towards Taylor's Ferry ; and
General Weeden is to march in a day or two
with 800 00m FreQericklburgh,"
Gen. Arnold and his troops, by the last ac
counts, were busily engaged in foitifying them
selves at Portsmouth, Among the Bntifh armed
vessels lying in Portsmouth harbour, onElizabeth
River, is the Charon 0(44 guns.
The southern American army, consisting of
1500 continentals, and a number of militia, by a
retreat that refle&s the highest honour on the
commander, General Greene, and indeed the of
ficers and privates of every corps, have,in a great
degree fruilrated the designs of Earl Cornwallis,
who had rapidly advanced upon him with 3000
regulars, besides militia. On the 14th irritant.
General Greene with his army, were encamped
on the North-fide of the Dan river, in Virginia,
having eroded it at Boyd's Ferry that and the
preceding day. It appeared to be bis intention
to cross Stanton river, distant about thirteen
miles, where it was imagined he would soon have
such accessions of strength, by the junction of
the armed yeomanry of Virginia, as would enable
him to make an effectual Band.