The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1780-01-04 00:00:00, page 1

TVe have been favored with a London Maga
zine of November 177& containing a part
of The Political History of Europe for
'777, wbieb is s ere re-printed for the
amusement of our readers.
TH E efforts to remove those obstacles
that had retrained the progress of
the British arms on the (ide of Canada, in
the summer of 1776, were equal to the im
portance of the objects in view, and the
greatness of'the difficulties which were to
be surmounted, 'I he weight and executi
on of the naval equipment fell of course
upon the officers and men cf that depart
ment, whose ability, zeal, and perseverance
in the performance, can never be 0,0 much
applauded. The task was indeed arduous.
A fleet of above thirty fighting Reifels, of
different kinds and sizes, all iurnifhed with
cannon, was to be little less than created ;
for though a few of th? largest werejecon
ftru&ioris, the advantage derived from
thence depended upon the use of materials
which the country did def afford, than up
on any saving as to t'me, or Lffenmg of
labour. When to this is added, the trahf
porting over land, and afterwrrds dragging
[4, 'Gr '"t'l!^pfe anA ^r. JAu'f,
thirty long boats, a number of flat boats
of considerable burthen, a gondola, weigh
ing thirty tons, with about four hundred
battoes, the whole pilfered a complexity
of labour and difficulty, which teemed fut
ficient to appal even the spirit of British
seamen. However, it must be allowed,
that the labour did not fall solely on them.
The soldiers had their part : And what is
to be lamented, the plafents and farmers
of Canada were taken from their ploughs,
and compelled by power to bear a share in
toils, from whence they could derive nd
honor or advantage.
Though the equipment was ccmpleated
in about three months, the nature of the
service, as well as the eagerness of the com
manders and army, required, if it had been
possible, a still greater dispatch. The
winter was faft approaching, two inland
seas to be paffe& the unknown force of the
enemy on each fide to be lubdued, and
the strong poftd of Crown-Point afid Ti
conderoga, defended arid supported by an
army, to be encountered sword in hand.
To add to tiefe impediments, the commu
nication betvreen the Lakes Champlain and
George did not admitthepaffagecitholevc r
fels of force,, which, after being fuccefsfujo/
the one might be equally wanted on theother.
And if all rhofe difficulties were surmount
ed, and Lake George paEed, there still re-,
mained a long and dangerous march thru"
intricate forefts, exter five morasses, and an
uncleared country, still in a date of nature,
before thry could reach A any; which
was the firft poll to the fcmthward that
could afford them rest and accommodation.'
TUESDAY, January 4, 1780.
CONNECTICUTCOURANT,
AND THE
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCE R.
HART FOR D : Printed by H UDSON and GOODWIN, near the Great-Bridge.
The spirit of the commanders rose in
proportion to the d faculties which were
to be encountered. The obje&s in view
were great, the glory 0 be acquired temp
ting, and the d<fi e of their attainment
seemed to lessen or remove obstacles, which
to a cold or lukewarm speculation would
have appeared infupr able. If the Lakes
could be recovered,,: d Albany possessed,
before the severity or he winter set in, the
northern army would cold aprincipal share
in the honor of bring? g the war to a Ipee
dy conclusion. It was conceived that they
could than wur defruaion at will into
the heart either of the middle or northern
colonies, each of winch would be exposed
to them in its 410 ft u nder and defencelefs
part. Whilst the p teflion of Hudfon's
river would eftablifo , ,d secure their cem
munication with Ger al Howe, it would
equally fever and dL anned the southern
and northern provi c-s, leaving thereby
the latter to 6nk uri s the joint weight of
both armies, cr to a pt of fech terms as
they could obtain, v /cut the participa
tion of the others. ^or could General
Wafhirgton attempt r o hold any post in
New-Vork or the le ' vs, with such a fu
perienty of force as aneac y < ppioTed hint
in fro: t, and General Carlton's army at
his back. The successes of their fellows
cn the fide cf New- York, increased the im
patience, and excited the jealousy of this
army, every one apprehending that the war
would be brought to an end, before he
could have an opportunity of fearing in
the henor or that happy event.
With all this ardour, and the most un
remitting industry, it was not till the
month of October, that the fleet was in a
condition 10 seek the ertiny on Lake
Champlain. The force was very conside
rable with refpe& to the place .and service,
extraordinary in regard to the little time
spent in its formation, and such as, a few
ages ago, would have, been deemed formi
dable even upon the European seas. The
ship Ir flexible, which may be considered
as Admiral, had been re-ccnftru&ed at St.
John's, from whence she failed in twenty
eight days after laying her keel, & mount
ed 18 twelve pcui:cers. One ichconer
mounted 14, and another 12, fix poun
ders. A flat-botremed radeau carried fix
24, and fix 12 pounders, besides howit
zers ; a^d a gondola, 7 nine pounders.
Twenty froaller vessels, under the denomi
nation of gun beats, carried brals fold
pieces from 9 to 24 pounders, or were
aimed with howitzers. Sr me for g boats
were furnished in the fame manner. About
an equal nt mber cf large teats a&d as
tenders. These we have taken notice of,
were all intended fcr cr appnaipir g 10
battle; we emit the vast limber dtftmed
for the ttanfpormionof & army, with its
THE
stores, artillery, baggage and provisions.
The armament was conducted by Capt
Pringle, and the fleet navigated by above
700 prime seamen, of whom 200 were vo
lunteers from the transports, who after
havingrivalled those belonging to the ships
of war in all the toil of preparation, now
boldly and freely partook with them jn the
danger of the expedition/ .The guns were
served by detachments of men and officers
belonging to the corps of artillery. In a
word, no equipment of the fort was ever
better appointed, or more amply furnished
with every kind of provision necessary for
the intended service..,
The enemy's force was in no degree e
qual, either with refpeft to the goodness
of the vessels, the number of guns, furni
ture of war, or weight of metal. Sensible,
though they were, of the necessity of pre
serving the dominion of the Lakes, and
aided in that design by the original force
in their hands, with a great advantage in
point of time for its increase, their intenti
ons in that refpedt were counteracted by
many essential, and some irremediable de
^ciencies. They wanted timber, artillery,
(hip-builders, and all the materials necel
fary for such an equipment. 4 Carpenters
and all others concerned in the bufinels r
Dipping, were fully engaged at the sea
ports in the conftrudion and fitting out of
privateers, whilst the remoteness, and dif
ficulty of communication, rendered the
supply of bulky materials extremely tedi
ous. When we confider the difficulties on
their part, we think it notjuft to deny the
Americans the praise, of haying combated,
and in a part overcome theni, with an assi
duity, perseverance, and spirit, which did
not in the least fall mort of what had been
employed against them. For their fleet a
mounted to 15 vessels cf different kinds,
confiding of two schooners, one (loop, one
cutter, three gallies, and eight gondolas.
The principal schooner mounted 12 fix and
four pounders. They were commanded
by Benedit Arnold, who was now to fup
pwt upon a new element, that renown
which he had acquired on land in the Ca
nada expedition. $
General Carlton was too full of zeal, &
too anxious for the event, not to head the
i British armament, and having
proceeded up the ,Lake,difcover
'7/ • e d the enemy's fleet drawn up
with g f eat judgment, being very advahta
gecufly [< fled, and foiling a strong line,
to defer d the passage between the inland cf
Yaliccur and the western main. Indeed
they had at the beginning placed themselves
with lo much fell behind the island, that
an accident only difeovered their position.
The King's fqiadron, without this feafo
r^ble diiccveiy, would have left them be
hind ; ar ever t,'which if it had happened.
NUMBER 78®