The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-07-10 00:00:00, page 1

For the Connecticut Courant.
The SENTINEL. No 11.
To the Virtues AMERICAN YEOMANRY.
THE man who delays doing his own duty,
to fee whether his neighbours do theirs,
is not a good citizen ; if all were influenced by
this principle, where would defence begin ? In
a despotic state the most indolent may be enticed
to their duty: The power of the prince and the
fear of the fubjeCt supply the want of public
virtue—an arbitrary government is best calcu
lated for the vigorous exertions of war, it being
in the power of the sovereign to compel such as
are not actuated by more noble motives ; —in a
free state, Strenuous exertions must proceed from
the spirit and virtue of the inhabitants at large —
and when public spirit has forfaken them, the
state is prepared to become a prey to every band
of plunderers-—You cannot therefore, my
countrymen, expect such an effect as the present
crisis demands, unless one and all of you take
up the cause with spirit—the map who fays, or
even thinks, he hath done enough, and will leave
the future to others, is destroying bis country,
and proves himfelf unworthy to breathe in a
free state—he is possessed of a proper spirit to
become the Have of a tyrant, and may justly en
dure the scourge of cruelty and despotism—You
all wish something great to be atchieved—you
have long expected it, and grown weary that it
is not done—in the name of all that is sacred,
what can be done, when almost every member of
the political body is waiting for its fellow to
move firft! Will tod blame your Assemblies
and Legislatures ? They have done their duty—
they have resolved, and it lies with you to fulfil—
Will you blame your armies ? These& you have
In the field have conduced with wisdom and
valour, and made the name of an American sol
dier refpe&able through the world-—it is your
duty to compleat their numbers. Government
can do nothing unless Supported and obeyed—
neither can armies conquer be fore they are form
ed.—Many are cursing because they do not fee
the good effect of public measures, and in many
instances they are the very men who frustrate
those measures, by their own parfimooy and stu
pidity. My countrymen, comply with the pub
lic requisitions, and if success doth not follow,
it will be then soon enough to murmur and drf
pond ; —at this period of decision, no man ought
to be idle—the perfan who thinks therein nothing
for him to do, should not expect the benefitand
protection of society, for he virtually deludes
himfelf.—Such as have not firmnefs of constitu
tion, or fortitude of mind enough to serve in the
field, may encourage the brave and hardy to
engage We have men enough capable of
making a molt excellent soldiery, and to form an
army double iff number to what we have had at
any one time in the field, without distressing the
country, and wehave provisions to feed them—
only call them forth, and the work is done.—
Money is the sinews of war—let us pay our
taxes, and fill our treasures, we may then com
mand as much of the service and property of
individuals as the public need, without using any
coercive measures—While taxes were laid in a
depreciating currency, interest Induced every
man to delay payment as long as podite ; this
motive,to delay is now removed, by the taxes
being generally laid in coin, or in the very arti
cles which are.wanted for consumption, which
have a permanent value; so that no one wid-
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WEEKLY # INTELLIGENCER.
HARTFORD : Fronted tiYHUDSON and GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
TUESDA Y, July io, 1781.
Camp on Turkey Creek, Eroad Rivet,
My Lord', January 18, 1781.
I think it necessary tb transmit to your Lord
ship a copy of my letter to Sir Henry Clinton,
least the exaggerated accounts from the rebels
should reach Europe before your Lordship could
hear from New-York^ I Shall only fay, in addi
tion to what I have said to Sir Henry Clinton,
that this event was extremely unexpected,for the
greatest part of the troops that were engaged had,
upon all former occasions, behaved with the most
diftihguifhed gallantry.
Extract of a.letter from Earl Cornwall's to Sir
Henry Clinton, dated camp on Turkey Creek,
Broad River, Jan. i8 f 1781.
IN my letter of the 6th of this month, I had
the honor to inform your Excellency, that I was
ready te lbegin my march for North Carolina,
having been delayed for feme days for a divernon
madyby the enemy toward Ninety-Six. , Gene
ral Morgan still remained on the Pacolet; his
corps, by rhe best accounts 1 could get, consisted
'of about geo men, Continental and V irginia State
troops, and 100 cavalry under Col. Washington,
and fix or seven hundred militia; but that body
is so fluctuating,,that it is impofiible to afeertain
its number within some hundreds, for three days
following;
Lieut. Col. Tarleton, with the legion and corps
annexed to it, confining of about 300 cavalry,
and as many infantry and the firft battalion of
the 71 regiment, and one three pounder, had al
ready puffed the Broad River for the relief of
Ninety-Six.
I therefore directed Lieut Col. Tarleton to
march on the weft of Broad River, to endeavour
to strike a blow at General Mo^an, and at all
events, to oblige him to pass the Broad River.
!Ilikewife ordered that he should take with him
the 7th regiment, and one three pounder, which
were marching to reinforce the garrison of Nine
pty-Six, as long as he should think their services
. could be ufeful to him. The remainderof the
, army marched between the Bread River and Ca
tawba. „ ,
'As General Green had quitted Mecklenburgs
,county, and crofted the Pedec, I made no doubt
that General Morgan would retire on our ad
vancing^
have it in his power to cheat the public by delay
'ng payment.—Many are able to pay their taxes
before they are due, which, considering the ex
igencies of the public, would be a very virtuous
deed, and most probably for the benefit of those
who do it ; for it is good ceepAomy to be before
hand with the demands whiCnare made upon us.
—My countrymen, the campaign now opening
will be the most glorious .or the most difgraceful
to you of any in tne whole course of the war—
glorious, by giving you an honorable peace—'-or
difgraceful, by neceflitating you to consent to a
mutilation and perpetual difinefnberment of
your new empire.---—-Remember that good and
evil are set before you, that the world may fee
which you will choose.
From the LONDON GAZETTE.
WHITEHALL, March 31, 1781.„
BY the mail of the Sandwich packet, which
failed from Charleftown the 28th of Feb.
dispatches were this day receivedby Lord George
Germaine, one of his Majefly's principal Secre
taries of State, from the Earl Cornwallis and
Lieut. Col. Balfour, of which the following are
copies and extra&s:
The progress of the army was greatly impeded
by heavy rains, which twilled the rivers arid
creaks ; yet Lieut. Cbl. Tarleton conduced his
march so well,and got so near General Morgan^
who was retreatingoefore him, asto make it dah^
gerotis for him to pass Brpad River, rand came
up with him at eight o'clock, A. M. on the 17th
instant A <&
Every thing now bore the most promitihgaG
pe&; the enemy were drawn up in an open wood,
and, having been lately joined by some militia,
were more numerous; but the different quality
of the Corps under Lieut. Col. Tarleton's com
mand, and his great superiority in cavalry, left
him no room to doubt of the most brilliant fuc
ce's°.K
The attack was begun by the firft lint of the
infantry, cohfiffing of the 7th Regiment, the in,
fantry of the legion, and corp of light infantry
annexed to it; a troop of cavalry, was placed on
each flank; theist battalion of tbe 71st and the
remainder of the cavalry formed the referve.*
The enemy's line soon gave way, and their mi^
litia quitted the field; but our troops hating beeri
thrown into some disorder by the pursuit; Gene
ral Morgan's corps immediately faced about and
gave them, a heavy fire; this unexpected event:
occasioned the utmost confufiort in the firft line.
The two three pounders were taken, and I fear
the colours of the 7th regimeht Shared the fame
fate. In justice to the detachment of royal ar
tillery, I must here observe, that no terrors could
induce them to abandon their guns, and they
were all either killed or wounded in defence of
them.
Lieut. Col. Tarleton assembled 50 of his caval
ry, and being animated by the bravery of the of
ficers who had so often led them to victory;
charged and repulsed Col. Washington's horie,
retook thebaggage of the c6rps, and cut to pieces
the detachment of the enemy that had taken poG
session of it; and after destroying whatthey could
not conveniently bring off, retired with the re
mainder to Hamlinton's Ford, near the mouth of
Bullock's Creek. <
The loss of our cavalry is inconsiderable; but
l fear about 400 of the infantry are either killed,
wounded or taken. I will transmit a particular
account of the losses as soon as it can be afeer
tairied.
I Shall dife& Lieut. Cob Balfour to tranfmr 4
copy of this letter, by the firft opportunity, to the
Secretary of State. ,
Lxtraft of a letter from Lieut. Col. Balfour to
Lord George Germaine, dated Charteftown,
Feb. 12, I'7Bl.
BY the letter in which 1 had the honor to nd*
dress your Lordship on the 16th of January last,
you will have been informed of the situation of
affairs herß to that period, and by Lord Cornwal
lis's dispatch, dated the 18th of the fame month,
of Lieut. Col. Tarleton's unfortunate action on
the pteceeding day. I am now to rive your
Lordship such further informations as have been
received since, either immediately from Earl
Cornwallis, Lord Rawdon, or Major Craig, ox,by
intelligence through the country.
Notwithstanding the unexpected arid untoward
event of the :7th ultimo, Lord Cornwallis still
continued his forward movements, and pfeffed
hard on General Morgan, without being able to
come up with him, who with his prisoners pufhed'
for the'Catawba, and by crossing that river up
high, there is cause to believe accomplished his
junction with General Green's army. It was
not till the ill instant that Lord Cornwallis could
(No. 85^.)