The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1778-07-14 00:00:00, page 3

WILLIAMSBURGH, Jane 13.
'Laft Wednesday an expels arrived to
his Excellency the Governor, num Col.
-Samuel Lewis with information that a
lar^e body ot Indians made a vigourous
affuit the 2yth ult. early in the morning,
on Donaiiy's tort, garrisoned by about
twenty five men. Colonel Lewis, who
was at some distance with about 70 men,
upon being informed, by scouts, of the si
tuation of the garrison, immediately
parched to their, relief, ^nd about two in
the afternoon tell u„fl the savages with
such fury that a paffa^ was quickly o
pened to the fort for'the whole party.
From every appearance, it if fuppoled that
the loss of the Indians u^fer the fire from
the fort, and Col. Lewis's party, must
have been very considerable, but it is cer
tainly known that 17 were killed, 9 of
whom were removed during the night.
Our loss, in the whole, did not amount to
above 3 or4inem fheeoemy, after this
critical vidory, retreated with the utmost
precipitation, leaving behind them plun
der to the value of 1501. Great praise is
due to the gJ.lantand well conduced ef
forts of Col. Lewis and Col. Donally, as
well as Captains Arbucke, Stewart, Glass,
Miller, Lockart, Wright, and the other
brave officers, and men who shared in this
important service to their friends and co
their country.
T RENTON, July 1.
His Excellency General Washington, having ear
1y intelligence of the intended movement of the ene
my from Philadelphia detached a cohfiderable bo
dy of troops under the command of Ma or General
Lee in order to support Gen. Maxwell's Brigade of
Continental troops already in this state, and the mi
litia under Generals DicHnfon and- Heard. These
troops were intended to harrn's Ae enemy CT their
march through the hate to Amboy, and to retard
them till General Washington with the main body,
could get up. In the mean time several small Skir
milhes happened between the enemy and Gen. Max
well's troops, oined be the militia, but without any
considerable execution on either fide,
The march ofthe enemy ' being by this means
impeded, and the main army having eroded the De
laware at Coryell's ferry on the 20th and 2fft ult.
preceded by the way of Hopewell Rocky-Hill,
Kingston and Cranberry, and on the 27th overtook
the enemy at Monmouth Courthou'. whither they
retired from Allentown on theapproach of our troops,
leaving trie # r intended rout to Amboy.
It having been previously determined to attack the
enemy on their march, a suitable df^ofition was
made the fame evening. General Lee, with a de
tachment of pick'd men confiding of about 1500,
and reinforced by a strong body of Jersey militia, ad
vanced to English Town, (about 6 miles from Mon
toouth' Courthouse) the militia then proceeded to
the Meetinghouse; the main army under General
Washington being about four miles in the rear of En
glifh-Town. In that position the whole halted un
til advice could be received of the enemy's motion.
At three o'clock on Sunday morning their firft divi
sion under General Kniphaufen, began their march,
of which we had intelligence in about two hours,
when General Lee received orders to advance and
begin the attack, the main army at the fame time
advancing to support him. About half a mile be
yond the Courthouse General Lee began his attack,
and drove the enemy for some time ; when they be
ing reinforced he was obliged to retreat in turn, till
met by General Washington with the main army,
Which formed on the firfl advantageous ground --In
the mean time two field pieces, covered by too regi
ments ofthe detachment and commanded by Colo
nels Livingston and Stewart, were advanced to check
the enemy's approach, which they performed with
great spirit and with considerable loss on both sides.
This service being performed, they retired with the
pieces to the front line, then completely formed,
when the fevered cannonade began that it is thought
ever happened in America, In the mean time strong
detachments marched and attacked the enemy with
small arms, with various facce^.--- The enemy were
finally obliged lb give way. and we took foffeflion
of tbd field, covered w'h de^d and wounded. The
intenie heat of the weat^% and-the proceeding fati
gue of the troops, made it necessary to halt them to
rest for some time. The enemy in the mean time
presenting a front about one mile advanced beyond
the feat of action.--As soon as the troops had reco
vered breath, General Washington ordered two bri
gades to advance upon earn, of their flanks, intend
ing to move on in the front at a proper time to sup
port them, but before they could reach their destina
tion night came on, and made any farther move
ments impra&icable.
They left on the field the honourable Col. Monck
ton, with several other offices and a great number of
privates. Abort 12 o'clock on Sunday night they
moved off with great precipitation towards Middle
town, leaving at the Courthouse five wounded offi
cers and above forty privates, They began the at
tack with their veteran grenadiers and light infantry-,
which renders their loss Hill more important. On
our fide Lieut. Col. Bonner of Pennsylvania and
Major Dickhifon of Virginia, are slain-- Col. Barber
of this state is wounded By" a muSket •ball, which
puffed through the right of sis body but it is hop
ed will not prove mortal. Ourtroops behaved with.
the created bravery, and opposed the flower of the
British army - Our artilk y was well served, and
did amazing execution. Before, during, and after
the action deserters came 'in great numbers, and
still Continue so to do. Of the enemy's dead many
have been found without any wound but being hea
vily eloathed they funk nder the heat and fatigue.
We are well assured that the Hessians absolutely re
fufed to engage declaring it was too hot. Tneir
line of march from the Ooi ithoufe was strew d with
dead, with arms knapf.cks and accoutrements,
which they dropton then ^treat.-- They had the
dry before taken about fifteen prisoners. whom in
their hade they left behind. Had we been possessed
of a powerful body of cava y on the field, there is
no doubt the success would have been much more
compleat but they had be :fo much employed in
harraffing the enemy during rhe march, and were so
detached as to give theeic iy a great Superiority in
number, much to their advotage. Our success un
der Heaven, is to be whol/ ascribed to tfie good
disposition made by his R -ellency, supported by
the firmnefs and bravery 0 bi:h officers and men,
whe rr ereemulcus to did > themlelves on this
occasion. The ^reat advai©,of the enemy on their
Way. their possession of their strong grounds at M'd
tow& added to the exhatifted date of our troops made
an immediate purfu.lt ineligible; and our army now
remamsabout one mile advanced from the field of
battle, having been since employed in collecting the
dead and wounded, and burying theformer.
Thus (fays a correspondent) the enemy have had
two campaigns to march from New York to Phila
delphia, and back again with the diminution of at
lead half their army.
BOSTO N, July 9.
As the public are desirous of knowing whether
Steel, alias Williams alias Harrison &C, &c. who
was Shot fer desertion on the common, on Tuesday
last, made any difcpveries relative to his life, or the
family from which he defeended, we have procur
ed the following circumstances from a gentleman
who attended him to the place of execution, viz. --
That he appeared more anxious about his future
hate as he walked from the prifem to the common,
than he had done at any time before --often crying
Out ' Lord Jesus have mercy on me." And la
mented that ever he was born to " follow his coffin
to his grave." He denied repeatedly that he had
ever been guilty of murder ; but confefled that his
lifehad been notoriously wicked. The particulars
of which he chose not to mention, because he did
not think that such relations would be any real be
nefit to the world. At the fame time he voluntarily
confessed he had been guilty ofcrimes for which he
deserved to die. When aiked, whether he was wil
ling to tell what his real name was he answered,
That he wished that his friends might never know
the Shocking end to which he came ; and therefore
chose to secret his name in order to prevent that dis
tress which they would feel upon being informed
that he died a fhameful death. This answer having
much weight in it, the request was not repeated.
But the prisoner declared, that R. I were the initial
letters of his real name: Which two letters were put
upon his coffin at his desire. He said, that he had
but little fear on his mind about death ; but that he
Was fliocked at the profpe& before him. " I am
going, said he. either to eternal happiness, or eter
nal misery. His last words were, '' Lord Jesus
have mercy on me.':
HARTFORD, July 14.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman at White Plains
to the Printers of this Paper, dated July 7.
" I have just had handed me from Brunswick,-
which I think may be relied on, the following ac^
count, viz.
245 Rank and File found dead oh the field, J
4 Officers, (amongst them a Col. Monkton. s.^
1255 Wounded, <
1572 Deserted Since the British left Philadel- ;
phia.
riy Prisoners. °J
3193 British loss.
" Our loss. , Officers, amongst which is a Col.
Bonner of Pennsylvania, a Maj Dickinion of Vir
ginia, 52 rank arid file killed about 170 wounded.
" I think Sir Harry's firft command will not do
him much honor ; the bravery of American's was
really beyond our most Sanguine expectation -too
much credit can not be g'ven the militia of the
Jerfies, indeed they really are fine folders. The
BritiSh army behaved much better than usual about
tabbing and plundering the inhabitants.
/ " On the 4 h inllant being the anniversary of
/American Independence, Gen Gates gave a most
elegant dinner to a large number, when we really
Spent the most jovial afternoon I ever experienced in
my life. The thirteen firft toast's I'll give you out
of the many we had
1. The glorious revolution ofthe 4th July 1776'.
2 The United Free and Independent States of
North America.
3. The Congress ; with grateful thanks for the
honor they have done this country by their Spirited
aufwers to the British Commissioners.
4. His Excellency General Washington.
5- The Navy o the United States; may it eVet
be employed to protect, but never to enclave man
kind.
6. The immortal memory of the Generals, War
ren, Montgomery Mercer, Herkimer;
Nash, Wooster, with all the renowned heroes
Who have fought bled and died in defence of their
country's freedom.
7. Dr. Franklin, and cur Ambassadors at foreign
courts.
8. His MoftChriftian Ma efty the King of France
-the King of Prussia -with all the Kings and Prin
ces in alliance with the United States of N. America,
9. .x farm and speedy eflabbfhroent ^f the Con
federation of the United States of North America.
10. The lovely Females of America ; and may
they give their hearts and handT only to the friends
of their lovely country.
11. May oUr brethren in Canada, Florida, and
Nova Scotia speedily enjoy the blessings of fres
States.
12. A Shameful eftpulfion of the royal tyrants
fleet and armies.
13. The war being glbrioufly ended, may all the
blessings that flow from liberty peace, agriculture
and commerce be the future portion of the United
States of North -America.
The Hen. Continental Congress have adjourned"
to Philadelphia.
Found in Keeney's cove in Wethersfield last
Tuesday a drowned man dressed in regimental blue
and buff) boots and Spurs on, his flock marked 1- 4
and on a small book was written John Leary. It is
supposed he was drowned some time in January last,
as a horse. Saddle and portmanteau was taken up
about that time.
Last Wednesday two horses were killed under *
tree in East Hartford with lightning.
Last Thursday fe'nnight 19 Sheep belonging to
Mr. Joseph WaShburn of New Brantree, were killed
by lightning and found lying in a firing about fix
rods in length, under a stone wall,
Salmon Brook, June 27.
Mr. E^iphaiet Young of this place having been
for some time bewildered in his mind, wandered
from his house on Wednesday of last week ; he was
soon pursued firft by some of his own family, then
by others and a mod diligent Search made after him„
but in vain till last Wednesday, when he was found
dead lying in a brook, about a mile and a half from
his house The jury of inquest brought in Acci
dental Death.
CHOICE Copper and Purple Indigo, by the
calk, hundred, or Single pound---Deers Leather
by the pack ; fifty dozen Wool Cards by the dozen
Or box will be fold as cheap as at any place in the
State, if applied for soon, as the fu bferibers are in
want of a futn of money.
Timothy and Samuel Palmer,
Suffield, July 10, 1778.