The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1779-10-05 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. i 6.
By accounts from New-York, we learn,
that an embarkation is taken place from
thence; that the number is from 5 to 8000
and is given out for Georgia, tho' some
suppose for the Weft-Indies. We are also
told that 700 men died on board of Ar
buthnot's fleet on the passage, and that
1200 sick were landed on their arrival at
New York.
Three seamen who left the guard ship
at Sandy Hook, last Saturday night, fay
that Sir George Collier and his fleet were
then just without the port. It was given
out, that they had destroyed forty fail of
American vessels at Penobfcot. Several
of the transports which came with Admi
ral Arbuthnot, had failed for Halifax,
convoyed by the Renown of 50 guns, and
two frigates ; but on the arrival of a Pc
lacre, with an account that a French or
Spanish fleet had appeared on the coast of
Georgia some days before, an express was
detached to call the transports back ; only
a few of them, however, had returned.
Twenty- two fail of victuallers had arrived
at New-York, from Cork, on Tuesday
week. By these ships, news came of an
infurredion in Scotland, and that a French
fleet, with land forces, was off the north
of Ireland, preparing to make a descent.
On Friday last, two prize ships of 20 guns
each, were brought in from Penobfcot, ;
the rest being destroyed as they underllood,
by the Americans, before their retreat. A
ship of 74 guns, with two frigates, had
been preparing to go to New London with
troops,but the news of a Spanish war, by the
packet, had flopped their armament.
Extrafl of a letter from George town,(Virginia)
dated September 8, 1779.
" Capt. King, in the sloop Dragon, ar
rived at Alexandria the 6th inst. in 38 days
from Cadiz, and brings us the following
intelligence, viz. That about the 20th of
June last, the English commenced hostili
ties against Spain, by taking 12 of their
vessels, Bound from Malaga to Cadiz with
wines ; that about the 10th of July, a
Spanish fleet and army besieged Gibraltar
and had cut offail supplies both by sea and
land ; that a fleet of 36 ships of the line,
from 74 to ico guns, failed from Cadiz
in July, and were joined by 9 fail of the
line from another port in Spain, and that
they were also joined by a French fleet of
57 fail, including frigates ; their destina
tion not known."
September 25.
Extras of a letter from an officer in the wes
tern arm, c mmanded by Major General
Sullivan, dated Konadafagea, September 9.
'' Since the adion of the 29th of last
month, the Indies have fled at the ap
proach of our a my and left their settle
ments to our mercy--New-Town, Kono
warohala,FrenchCatharines,Candai, Skays
Gaghfeonghwa,and Konadafagea, are.great
heaps of ruin : besides these, we have burnt
a number of scattering houses; and de
stroyed a large country of corn, pumpkins,
cymblines, cucumbers, water melons, pea
ches and apples.
" This day we shall set out for Geneffee,
and lay that- country in ashes. The ene
my have retired to Niagara, we exped no
opposition as we. advance, but expert an
attack as weyeturn."
CH A;T H A M, Sept. 21.
On Friday fe'nnight three regiments
failed from New-York under convoy of
HAR rFO RD, October 5.
Extrafl of a letter from a member of congress
to a gentleman in this town, dated Philadel
phia, Sept. 26, 1779.
" I congratulate you on the arrival of
the Count D Eflaing with hjs fleet and a
considerable land force off Charleftown
the sth instant : He has sent to Gen. Lin-'
coin and the Council of South-Carolina
to conlult on the mode of attacking the
enemy, which was concluded and sent
the Ardent of 64 guns. They were com
pleated by draughts from other regiments.
The French and Spaniards have actual
ly invested Gibraltar with 40 fail of the
line and 30,000 land forces.
A French fleet may be momently ex
pected upon this coast, having been spoke
with at sea. All the Pilots in this State,
we hear, are engaged to hold themselves in
readiness to go on board, fhouldthey make
this coast.
Reports fays, that our Western army
has completely surrounded the enemy ; the
authenticity of which we cannot vouch.
By every account from New-York we
learn, that the enemy are making every
preparation for a large embarkation. Va
rious are the. conjectures of their destinati
on.
A Cartel, we hear, is like to be fettled
for a general exchange of prisoners.
FIS H-K IL L, Sept. 30.
Lieut. Col. Tarlton, of the British le
gion, has lately made another fruitlefs at
tempt with 300 horse and 40 or 50 foot,
to lurprife Lt. Col. White's detachment,
who having moved the troops, under his
command, that night, prevented Col. Tarl
ton's men from exerting the bayonet, agree
able to h;s orders, which, we are inform
ed, by the prisoners taken, and the several
deserters that came in, were to give no
quarters : However, we have the happi
ness to inform the public, that the Colonel
had not the pleasure to fee his savage orders
executed, for on Col. White's patroles
and piquets firing, the enemy made a
very quick retrogade move, doing no 0-
ther damage than knocking in all the
windows, doors, &c. of the quarters Col.
White had left that night. Col. White
having some business in the neighbourhood
of Round-Hill, was in the barn with Lt.
Smith, and his guard, not a dozen yards
from the road the enemy came up, heard
them enquire for him at the house, and
saw almost the whole of them pass ; by the
friendihip of the woman of the house, the
Colonel and his guard remained undifeo
vered. On the return of the enemy, both
the horse and infantry pursued them as far
as the White Plains ; our horse charged
their rear, took two prifyners, four horses,
and, the inhabitants lay, wounded several :
On the whole of the enemy's horse com
ing up to the charge, our small number,
confiding of about thirty, were obliged
to retreat, and unfortunately took a dif
ferent road when pursued, from the place
where Col. White had formed two hundred
and fifty infantry, to give the British ca
valty a salute ; and had not the above ac
cident happened, a good account undoubt
edly would have been given of them.—
Col. Tarlton being so closely pursued by
this spirited and active detachment of Col.
White s, had not time on this last expedi
tion, to daughter a single duck, goefe or
chicken.
" By an exprefsjuft arrived from Geor
gia in 16 days, I have the pleasure to in
form you of Count D'Eftaing having ar
rived there on the sth instant, with 25
ships of the line and 8 or 10,000 land for
ces. and on the 9th was to begin the at
tack, when his success was not doubted.
Sir James Wallace in the Experiment of
50 guns, and 25 other ships it is said was
taken. New-York is conjeftured will be
his next obje&--God grant him success.
" A large transport with 300 Hessians
on board, from New-York bound to Hali
fax is taken, and in the river coming up ;
also an 18 gun sloop of war."
The number of Indian towns which have
been destroyed by our army under the
command of General Sullivan, on the
western expedition, including those burnt
by Gen. Clinton previous to thejundion,
amounts to 14 ; which, with the destruc
tion of all their corn, beans, &c. in the vi
cinity of those towns, will, we flatter our
selves, somewhat fruftrate the savages dur.
ing the remainder of the campaign in their
predatory schemes against our frontier in
habitants.
back to the Count. The attack was pro
posed to be made on the 9th instant. This
intelligence comes by express from Charlef
town, who left there the 9th instant ; there
is the highest reason to believe that Geert
gia and the British forces in those parts are
before this in our poffeffion.''
Extrafl of another letter from a member of
congress to a gentleman in the State of New-
York dated September 26.
" I have only time to communicate the
joyful news, that by express arrived last
night in 15 days from Charleftown South
Carolina, with letters from Count D'
Eftaing, who arrived with his fleet of 21
ships of the line, with frigates, &c. the
sth instant off Georgia. The State must
exert themselves to fill their magazines
with flour, as it will be wanted for the fleet
and our army : The farmers should thresh
out their grain immediately."
Extrafl of a letter from a gentleman in Phila
delphia to his friend in this town, dated Sep.
tember 26.
A late London Paper observes, " There
" seems a strange contradiction in the fen
" timents and condud of the Generals
" who have commanded, and Governor
6 Johnston, who has been a Commissioner
" in America ; the former, by their evi
" dence, almost diredly effort, that it is
" impossible for this country to subdue
" America with the force that has been
" sent thither (and which has been grea
" ter than this country in prudence ought
" to have spared) ; —the latter, that the
" force sent thither has been fully fuffici
" ent for the purpose, and that by firm
" nefs and perseverance, the end will be
" finally obtained ; as at least half the in
" habitants in America are faithful and
66 loyal fubjeds. W.hilft we halt and
" faulter between two opinions, let us
" take care that the thread of our own
" constitution is not snapped asunder.".
Yesterday fe'nnight died Mr. Timothy
Skinner, of this town, in the 80th year of
his age, after a severe and distressing sick
ness, which he endured with exemplary
patience and chriftian fortitude. A steady
ufeful and valuable member of society---
An affectionate parent, kind neighbor, and
the friend of the poor. He hath left three
children to mourn their loss.