The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-12-11 00:00:00, page 2

th^me of Speculation, am>ng a set of idle, listless,
loitering, lounging, ill-informed gentlemen at
Westminster, who remark the disorders of the
state, to combat which, they pofTefs not vigour
of mind or virtue. A country much larger than
our European empire, which we Rill love to call
our own colonies, does, and will, poflefs it de
facto, notwithstanding all the present delusive as
surances of Ministers within these walls, notwith
standing the late exploits of a Cornwallis and
Clinton, notwithstanding all the repeated yi&o
ries of Gage and the Howes. It is in this island
only that persons are found, who doubt that the
present war will end in the acknowledging of
Americari independence. 4 .
The history of this war warrants me, Sir, in
the suspicion that all these boasted successes do
not tend to any real emolument to our country,
to bring nearer the Wilhed for moment or a re
union, and sincere reconciliation with our aliens
tod brethren in the colonies. After the evacua
tion of Bolton, Rhode-Inland, and Philadelphia,
for the acquisition of whiclr no thanks, I believe,
were given by this house, a small degree of saga
city might lead any manto fufpectthat the reduc
tion of Charleftown, by the armyand navy under
the command of Sir Henry Clinton, and Vice-
Admiral Arbuthnot, and the late most glorious
victory obtained by Lord Cornwallis at Camden,
will in due time be followed by the evacuation
of Charleftowii, and the two Carolinas; A fu
ture gazette will probably announce it, to screen
the Generals, in the fame terms as with reaped
to Philadelphia, and with as much cold indiffer
ence as any play or farce at either of our theatres,
by hi) Majeftfs commands,
Sir, I can never separate from my mind the
rotten foundation on which the whole system ,of
the American war is built, from some specious
parts of it, by which the unthinking are at the
firft view allured and dazzled. As I reprobate
the want of principle in its origin, I the more 1^
ment all the spirited exertions of valour, and the
wisdom of conduct, which in a good cause I
should warmly applaud. Thinking as I do, 1 fee
more matter of grief than of triumph, of bewail
ing than of thanksgiving, in this civil contest,
and the deluge ofblood, which has overflowed
America. Would to God, Sir, we could leave
perfecutingeven todeath, those of our own blood,
who only defied to be received as friends and
fellow-fubjeds, to share our fortunes, to fightour
battles, as before, by our fide, and to enjoy at
home peace, liberty, and fafety# Public thanks
from this house on the present occasion to ™ ^
widen the breach, and dem-"
are behind
_.xc argument,
—.< urged by the noble Lord
uiue ribband, and the gentlemen on the
other fide of the house, is well founded, that the
American war originated in justice and policy,
' ' ' alonies have rebelled, still I obje&
>n like the present, because I with
ition's fear, and to forget all deeds
against the common enemy, but
)je&s, whom I defirc to save and
GUIiCUIdLC# The Romans, undoubtedly the firft
people in the universe, granted no triumphs for
the victories of their Generals in civil wars.
They wished not to record and perpetuate, but
to conceal and deliver to oblivion, the memory
of Romans falling by the swords of Romans.
They thought it the dire effect ofthe vengeance
es the incensed gods< That example of enlight
ened policy will, I trust, be adopted by the Hon.
gentleman, who made the motion. I am fare
that no man feels more than he does for the pre
sent calamities of both countries in this cruel ci
vil contest. 1 know the humanity and tenderness
of his nature, and thought it rather surprising
that he should chufe to bring himfelf into the un
pleasing, aukward situation of Burrus mTacietus,
sr moerens Burrus ac Iru/dans. Such a conflict of
different passions is highly diftrefling. I will en
deavour to extricate him by the most earned {ap
plication that he would withdraw a motion, from
every part of which I find it my duty to dissent,
while I deeply lament that the luftre of such
splendid victories is obfeured and darkened by
the want of a good cause, without which no war,
in the eye of truth and reason, before God or
mart, can bejuftified.
Probate Blanks, Deeds, Writs,
&c. to bi Spld by the Printers hereof,
N E W-Y ORK, Novembdr 24,
S 1 R>
I am directed to fetid you the inclofed letter
from Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis, to his
Excellency the commander in chief, which you
are desired to publish in your next gazette.
I am your obedient servant,
01. DELANCEY.
Adjutant-General;
November 23, 178th
Mr. James Rivington,
Printer, &c.
York- Town, in Virginia, Oflober 20, 1781.
SIR,
I HAVE the mortification to inform your Ex
cellency, that I have been forced to give tip
the polls of York and Gloucester, and to surren
der the troops under my command, by capitula
tion on the ipth instant, as prisoners of war to
the combined forces of America and France.
I never saw this post in any favourable light,
but when I found I was to be attacked in it 111 io
unprepareda state, by so powerful an army and
artillery, nothing but the hopes of relief would
have induced me to attempt its defence, for I
would either have endeavoured to escape to New^
York, by rapid marches from the Gloucester fide,
immediately on the arrival of General Washing
ton's troops at Williamsburg, or I would, not
withstanding the disparity of numbers, have at
tacked them in the open field, where it might
have been just pollible that fortune would have
favoured the handful of troops under my com
mand. But being allured by your Excellency's
letters, that every possible means would be tried
by the navy and army to relieve us, I could ngt
think myfelf at liberty to venture on either of
those desperate attempts. Therefore, after re^
maining two days in a strong position in front of
this place, in hopes of being attacked, upw ob
serving that the enemy were taking ^features
which could not fail of turning my left fork in a
short time, and receiving on the second evening,
your letter informing me that the relief would
fail about the sth of October, I withdrew with
in the works on the night of the 29th of Septem
ber, hoping, by the labour and firmnefs of the
soldiers, to protra& the defence until you- could
arrive. Every thing was to be expected from the
spirit of the troops, but every disadvantage at
tended their labour, as the works were to be con
tinued under the enemies fire, a,' ll ~ur entrench
ing tools, which did - 1 four hun
dred' itter end of
30th, and
wo follow
~^uuts, which, with
,^ar had belonged to our outward
funtlon, occupied a gorge between two creeks
or ravines, which come from the river on each
fide of the town < On the night of the 6th of
October they made their firft parallel, extending
from its right on the river to a deep ravine on the
left, nearly oppefite to the center of this place,
and embracing our whole left, at the distance of
fix hundred yarda. Having perfected this pa
rallel, their batteries opened on the evening,of
the 9th against our left, and other batteries fired
at the fame time against a redoubt advanced over
the creek upon our left, and defended by about
one hundred and twenty men of the 23d regi
ment and marines, maintained that post with
uncommon gallantry; The fire continued in
cessant from heavy cannon and from mortarsand
howitzers, throwing fliells from eight to fifteen
inches, until our guns on the left were silenced,
our work much damaged, and our loss of men
considerable. On the night of the 11th theybe
gan their second parallel, about 300 yards nearer
to us: The troops being ranch weakened by
sickness, as well as by the fire of the besiegers,
and observed that the enemy had not only secur
ed their flanks, but proceeded in every refpe&
with the utmost regularity and caution; I could
not venture so large forties as to hope from them
any considerable effect, but otherwise I did every
thing in my power to interrupt their work, by
opening new embrazures for guns, and keeping
a constant fire with all the howitzers and small
mortars that we could man.
On the evening ofthe 14th, they affaultedand
carried two redoubts that had been advanced
about 300 yards for the purpose of delayingtheir
approaches and covering our left flank, and dur
ing the night included them in their second pa
rallel, on which they continued to work withthe
utmost exertion. Being |perfe&ly sensible that
war works could not Rand many hours after the
opening of the batteries of that parallel, we not
only continued a conitant fire with all our mor
tars and every gun that could be brought to bear
upon it, but a httle before day-break in the morn
ing ofthe 26th, I ordered a sortie of about 35#
men, under the direction of Col. Abercrombie,
to attack two batteries which appeared to be in
the greatest forwardnefs, and to i'pike the guns ;
a detachment of guards, with the 80th company
of grenadiers, under the command of Col. Lake
attacked the one, and one of light-infanty under
the command of Major Armstrong, attacked the
other, and both succeeded by forcing the redoubts
that covered them, spiking 11 guns, and killing
or wounding about 100 of the French troops,
who had the guard of that part of the trenches,
and with little loss on our fide. This a&ion, tho'
extremely honorable to the officers and soldiers
who executed it, proved 'of little public advan
tage, for the cannon having been spiked in a hur
ry ,were soon rendered fit for service again, and
before dark, the whole parallel and batteries ap
peared to be nearly compleat. At this time
we knew that there was nopart of the whole front
attacked in which we could ihew a single gun,
and our shells were nearly expended ; therefore
had only to choose between preparing to surren
der next day§ or^ndeavourk^g to get off with the
greater part of the troops, and determined to at
tempt the latter, reflecting that though it should
prove unfuccefsful in its object, it might at lead
delay the enemy in the prolecution of furtheren
terprizes ; fixtoen large boats were prepared,
and upon other pretexts were ordered to be in
readiness to receive troops precisely at 10 o'clock;
with these I hoped to pass the infantry during
the night, abandoning our baggage, and leaving
a detachment to capitulate for the town's peo
ple, and for the lick and wounded, on which fub
je& a letter was ready to be delivered to General
Washington. After making my arartgements
with the utmost fe,crecy,thelight-infantry, great
est part of the guards, and part of the 23d regi
ment, embarked at the hour appointed, and most
of them landed at Gloucester, but at the critical
moment, the weather from being moderate and
calm, changed to a violent storm of wind and
rain, and drove all the boat
troops on board down the r:
It was soon evident that
was impracticable, and the
rendered it equally impoffil
troops that had pafled,whic~ . ^a uiuuLcuauout
two o'clock in the morning. In this situation,
with my little force divided, the enemy's batte
ries opened at day-break, the paflage between
this place and Gloucester was much exposed;
but the boats having now returned, they were
ordered to bring back the troops that had pafled
during the night, and they joined us in the fore
noon without much loss. Our works in themean
time were going to ruin, and not having been
able to strengthen them by abbatis, nor in any
other manner than by a flight frazing, which the
enemy's artillery were demolishing wherever
they fired ; my opinion entirely coincided with
that of the engineer and the principal officers of
the army, that they were in many places very as
sailable in the forenoon, and that by the continu
ance of the fame fire for a few hours longer,they
would be in such a state as to render it desperate
with our numbers to maintain them. We at
that time could not fire a finglegun, only 8 inch,
and a little more than 100 cohorn fliells remain
ed, a diversion by the French ships of war that
lay at the mouth of York river was to expected;
our numbers had been diminished by the enemy's
Pre, but particularly by sickness, and the strength
and spirit of those in the works were much ex
hausted by the fatigue of constant watching and
unremiting duty Under all these circumstan
ces I thought it would have been wanton and in
human to the last degree to facrifice the lives of
this small body of gallant soldiers, who had ever
behaved with so much fidelity and courage, by
exposing themselves to an assault, which from the
number and precautions of the enemy could not
fail to succeed. I therefore proposed to capitu
late, and I have the honor to enclose to your Ex
cellency the copy of of the correspondence be
tween Gen. Washington and me on that fub
ja&, and the terms of capitulation agreed upon,
I sincerely lament that better could not be ob
tained, but I have negleaed nothing to alleviate
the misfortunes and distress of both officers and
soldiers. The men are well clothed, and provid
ed with necessaries, and! trust will be regularly,
supplied by the means of the officers that arc per
mitted to remain with them. The treatment in