The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-03-13 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHIA, February 2s.
Intelligent from the Southward.
BY authentic advices we learn, That General
Morgan collected near one hundred priso
ners, by parties sent out for the purpose, after the
account he gave in his letter to General Greene,
dated the 19th of January lad. That upon re
ceiving the news of Tarleton's defeat, Lord
Cornwallis marched in pursuit of the light infan
try and the prisoners. As soon as Gen. Greene
was informed of the movements of Lord Corn
wallis, he put the army in motion on Pedee,
and, leaving it under the command of General
Huger, set out to join the light infantry, in or
der to collect the militia and embarrass the ene
my, until he could affect a jun lion of his forces.
General Morgan, after the defeat of Tarleton,
had very judiciously made forced marches up in
to the country, and happily crossed the Catawba
the evening before a great rain, which swelled
the rivers to such a degree as prevented the ene
my from crossing for federal days, during which
time the prisoners were got over the Yadkin,
and on their march for Dan river, which they
likewise passed, and on the 14th of this mouth
had reached Bedford Court-house, in the State
of Virginia.
General Greene, on the latter end of January,
arrived at the light infantry camp at Sherard's
ford, on the Catawba. The enemy were a little
lower down the river at M'Cowan's ford, and
the river was dill so high that they could not
cross. They had destroyed their Waggons, and
equipped themselves completely as light infantry.
Their force confided of between 2500 and 3000
troops, including near 300 dragoons and their
mounted infantry. On the firft ofFebruary they
crossed at M'Cowan's ford, General Davidson,
with a party of militia, was polled there in order
to oppose their crossing, but he falling by the
fird difeharge, the enemy made good their land
ing, and the militia retreated. A place of ren
dezvous was appointed for the militia to collect
at, who were polled up and down the river.
Part of them halted about seven miles short of the
place of rendezvous, and were overtaken by
Tarleton and dispersed. General Greene waited
that might at the place appointed, but finding the
militia did not collect, the light infantry the next
morning continued their march to Salisbury, and
crossed the Yadkin. Before they got over all
the baggage and (lores, the enemy approached,
and there was a pretty smart ikirmifh between a
party of our riflemen and the advance of the
enemy near the ford. The boats being secured,
and the river continuing high from the late rains,
the enemy were for some time flopped in their
pursuit. Heavy rains,deep creeks and bad roads,
as well as delays for want of provisions and other
causes, prevented our forming a junction as soon
as was expected. General Greene therefore,
fearing that the river might fall so as to be ford
able, ordered the army to file off to Guilford
Court-House, where part of them arrived on the
evening of theßth, and the rest were expelled to
be in on the pth. The enemy, finding they
could not pass at the Trading ford, near Salisbu
ry, marched up the south fide of the Yadkin, and
on the night of the 7th crossed at the Shallow
ford, and had on the 9th advanced towards Sa
lem, one of the Moravian towns, within 25 or 30
miles of Guilford Court-House.
These rapid movements having prevented the
junction of the militia, General Greene ordered
the (lores and heavy baggage to be removed to
Prince Edward Court-House, in theState of Vir
ginia; and having formed a light army, compos
ed of the cavalry of theist and 3d regiments, and
Lieut. Col. Lee's legion, a detachment of light
infantry under Col. Howard, and some few Vir
ginia riflemen, making in the whole 700, order
ed them with the militia to harass the enemy in
their advance, and check their progress, while
he witli the rest of the army crossed the Roanoke.
In the mean while, General Sumpter was order
ed to collect the militia in the upper part of South
Carolina, and General Pickens had orders to
take the command of the men in arms in the rear
of the enemy. Such was the situation of the two
armies at the date of the last dispatches, which
was the tenth of this month.
The following extracts contain the latest advices
of what was passing in the other parts of the
Southern States.
Extract of a letter from General Marian to Gen.
Greene, dated Santee, Ja&iary 31.
" On the 29th inft.T sent ovct the Santee ri
ver two parties of horse, consisting of 30 each,
one under the command of Major Poftil, the o
ther under Capt. PoftiL The firfl to burn the
enemy's stores atThompfon's ; the other to burn
those at Watboo-bridge. The Captain has ex
ecuted his orders with great spirit and good con
dud. At Watboo there were 15 hogsheads of
rum, a quantity of pork, flour, rice, fait and tur
pentine He marched from there to Keithfield,
near Monk's Corner, attacked a British guard,
killed two, wounded three, took and brought off
two surgeons, oneQuarter-Mafter, one Waggon-
Mafter,leven Waggons,one Steward;and twenty
five non-commiflioned officers and privates of
the 7th, 23d, 33d, 63d, and 71st regiments. He
had not one man injured. He burned at Keith
field 14 waggons loaded with soldiers cloathing
and baggage, 20 hogflieads of rum, and retired
with his prisoners."
Extract of a letter from General Marian to
General Greene, dated Black-River, Feb. 2.
" Major Poftil, who was ordered to Colonel
Thompson's, found no (lores there. All had
been carried away some days before. But on his
return he heard of a great quantity of rum, su
gar, salt, flour, pork, soldiers eloathing and bag
gage, at Maringault's Ferry. The guard had
gone after Capt. Poftil, and left only four men
in a redoubt of wood, which the Major took,
and entirely destroyed all the stores and redoubt,
without receiving any loss or hurt."
Extract of a letter from Major General Greene,
dated at Sherrad's Ford, on Catawba River,
January 31.
" I have received intelligence that 400 troops
have failed from Charleftown for Wilmington,
in North-Carolina."
It is universally acknowledged, that .General
Morgan hath not only immortalized his name by
his late glorious viaory, but that he hath also
done himfelf great honor, by the clear, unaffect
Extract of a letter from Col. Drayton, to Major
General Greene, dated Feb. 2.
" On Monday evening the 12th ult. the ene
my's fleet appeared off. Ori Tuesday part got in,
and the Thursday following the whole of them
reached the firft flatts. The inhabitants then
held a confutation on the propriety of meeting
their foes with a flag, and concluded on it. In
consequence they infilled on Col. Young, who
commanded the militia, to withdraw the few he
had (not more than fifty) and leave the town to
make their own terms. This he did, and on Sa
turday a flag was sent, with an offer to surrender
as prisoners of war, until exchanged. This the
British answered, by taking pofleffion of the
town with two gallies and about 200 infantry on
Monday the 19th, at 12 o'clock.
Leg^n camp, an Sampit river, Jan. 25.
" I have the honor to advise you of the com
pleat surprise of the post at George-Town, this
morning, by the infantry of the legion; Capt.
Carnes, who conducted this enterprise, hasclaim,
to great merit, for the address exhibited on theoc
cafion ; the officers and soldiers under him distin
guished themselves bytheir gallantry and firmnefs.
My force was inadequate to the aflault of the ene
my's inclofed works, nor was the possession equiva
lent to the certain loss to be expelled from such a
measure ; I therefore determined to pursue my
principal object, by means more certain and less
deftruaive to my troops.
" The blunders of the guides prevented a full
correspondence in the movements of the cavalry
and infantry, bywhich mistakes we were, in some
degree, baffled in the important consequences
which the prowess of the infantry have a right
to expea.
" Many were killed, few were taken ; among
the former is Major Irvin; among the latter
Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, commander of
the garrison.
" Disposed on all occanon§ to alleviate mis
fortunes, I have indulged Col/Campbell and the
captured officers with their paroles.
" The legion has fuffered very little on this
expedition, one killed, two wounded, and two
horses disabled, make up our whole loss,
" I have the honor to be, with the most per
fe& refpea, your most obedient servant.
HENRY LEE, jun. Lieut. Col.
Com. Partizan Legion."
Hon. Major-General Greene.
Published by order of Congress
CHARLES THOMSOM, Sec'ry.
BOSTO N, March 8.
Extra& of a letter from Major-General Greene,
to Congress, dated January 31, 1781.
" I HAVE the honor to enclose a copy of a
letter from Lieut. Col. Lee, announcing the par
tial success of an enterprise against George-
Town, which does honor to his corps."
ed, and truly elegant manner, in which he relates
it in his official letter.
A letter from an officer of diftinHion at the
Southward, mentions, that the brave arid con
quering ti oops under Gen. Morgan, had acquir
ed, by their late yi&ory on the 17th of January,
plenty of eloathing, plumes and hard money,
as the column under Tarleton were destined to
penetrate into North-Carolina, and had with it
an uncommon quantity of baggage, and the Bri
tish officers were so confident in the strength of
it,as to take with them all they had. Win gold and
wear it, faith the old proverb,—Such men as
Morgan fought with, must well become the de
coration and money they have won by their va
lour. The fame letter adds, that this glorious
action may probably prove another Trenton af
fair ; avi&ory that may turn the scale of war to
the Southward, and lead to the extirpation of the
enemy in that quarter of the Continent.
Our enemies have seen, withno little chagrine,
the squadron of France taking possession of, and
maintaining the important post of Rhodc-Iffand:
A post that mud afford the allied nations many
advantages in the ensuing campaign. The
enemy have begun to feel this already, in the
very considerable loss they have sustained from
the late expedition to the Chefapeak. This ex
pedition was so well concerted, so fccretly and
Suddenly executed, and so important in its suc
cess, as to reflect no little honor on the arms of
France. The present year opens with such bright
omens and events, as cannot but give frefh ani
mation to the efforts of these States.
By the lpft accounts fromNew-York, our ene
mies difeovered no small uheafinefs at their late
ill iuccefs, and the present situation of theiraffairs.
They find the'feene is like to be changed, and
that instead of a(Ringoffenfively,when andwhere
they please, their plans may soon be confined to
the defensive.
, HA RTFOR D, March 13.
The General Assembly of this State have in
their present session, empowered Congress to im
pefe a duty, not exceeding five per Cent, for a
limited term, upon all goods and merchandize
of foreign growth and manufacture, imported
into this State, and upon all prizes and prize
goods ; provided the other States of the union,
shall adopt the fame measure. The money col
le&ec lby this impoil to be appropriated to the
use of the continent. The happy consequences
of this measure, willlie sensibly felt by those up
on whom the burdens of the war fall heaviest.
A considerable sum will be eventually raised up
on the vain and fuperfluous consumer, while the
industrious and frugal, who have a small landed
interest, and generally eat, drink and wear of
their own growth and manufacture, and have
little that they can spare for market, will by their
own frugality be exempted from bearing the du
ty. It will likewise be a great encouragement
to home manufacture, by enabling the manufac
turers to undersell the importers of foreign goods,
and thus promote industry which is the strength
and glory of a state.
ALL the Recruits from this State, in confor
mity to the orders of the Commander in
Chief, are to be mustered by an officer of the ar
my previous to their being sent to camp.
T I have therefore appointed Wethersfield, in
the county of Hartford, as a place of rendezvous
for the Recruits (where a Field Officer will at
tend on Thursday of each week in this and the
next month for that purpose) at the house ofMr.
Elijah Wright. An officer will also attend for
that purpose in New-Haven, Danbury, Kent,
Norwich and Windham, during this and the next
month, where proper receipts will be given for
every Recruit received ; they are to be delivered
ready to march : And as the present situation of
the army.renders it neceflary for the Recruits to
be immediately forwarded, the Seleffi-Men and
Authority of the several towns are requeued to
forward them without delay.
SAMUEL H. PARSONS, Maj. Gen.
Connecticut, Bth March, 1781.
Just published, and now felling by the Printers,
J LLUSTRATIONS ILLUSTRATED.
A Containing a brief Reply to some part of the
Illustrations, annexed to a Piece, entitled Letters
of Friendfllip.
By JOHN BACON, △ tt
By a late London paper we find, that severe re
flections have been made in parliament upon
the ministry, and particularly Lord Sandwich,
upon account ofthe captureoftheEaftandWeft-
India fleets. His Lordship closes his defence, by
fifing, " Our situation is indeed critical, but
not desperate."