The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-09-25 00:00:00, page 2

Yesterday a flag of truce arrived here With a
number of families from Charleftown.
We have the fatisfa&ion to inform the public
of there-establishment of civil government in
the State of South-Carolina, after having un
dergone the mod horrid ravages that any coun
try ever experienced from an irruption of the
mod barbarous nations. Slaughter, desolation,
and every species of cruelty having marked the
progress of the British arms, through every part
of that unfortunate country which they have
been able to penetrate. But under the divine
bleifing, and the unremitted exertions of that
able commander Major-General Greene,fecond
ed by the brave and virtuous officers and fuldiers
under his command, composed of Continentals,
°and the militia of that State, this savage enemy
is now confined within such narrow li
mits, as to enable Governor Rutledge to re-efta
biifh civil government.
Monday last arrived a prize sloop, from New-
York, bound to Newfoundland, with a cargo of
fil~, lent in by ^ie Holker privateer of thisport.
By Capt. Afhmead, from Cape Francois, we
jearn, th it the homeward-bound Jamaica fleet,
which failed some time in June, after being out
21 diys had returned to that ifland'; and that on
the 2d of August they had a most violent hurri
cane at Jamaica, in which between 50 and 60 fail
of the above fleet were drove ashore, and many
of them loft. This account was brought to Cape-
Francois, from Jamaica, by a flag of truce.
Several gentlemen have received letters ofalate
date, by Capt. Aihmead, from Capt. Geddes, of
the frigate Congress, belonging to this port,
which proves that the New-York news-writers
were not well informed.
PIII L A DELP HIA, September 12.
Extract of a letter from Salfbury, North-Carolina,
" Future ages will celebrate the name ofthat
illustrious hero, -who, by his activity and supe
rior military talents, has, for more than eight
months pale, so often baffled the enemy, always
superior in ' numbers and every thing else, except
valour and military abilities." The Carolinas
will never forget General Greene, and this State
in particular, will always acknowledge, that itis
to his abihties and perfeyerance we owe our pre
lent promising condition ; and he has inspired
our people with a spirit and confidence that ri
f:s greatly above every opposition and distress.
Our civil government has now acquired a better
tone. ..
" Major Burnett and Colonel Morris, two of
the General's' A'id-de-Camps, have gone to the
northward, I presume on business of great, im
portance ; those two young gentlemen are an
honour to their profeflion, and their names ought
never to be forgotton. Indeed all that little ar
my have done and fuffered more, in defence of
this country, than can be expressed.?
.Extract of a letter from an officer at Elisabeth
town, to bis friend in this city, dated Sept. 4.
“ Let mb congratulate you, that you can once
more with propriety, wear your fide-arms. Your
exchange took place yesterday. I have seen Mr.
Loring's certificate annexed to a lift of general
exchanges, in which you are included.
" Brigadier General Irvine and all the Colo
nels are exchanged, and in short every officer on
Long-Inland, except a few, who will be shortly
released, as a proposal for this purpose is now
on foot. . ,
We hear that all the militia of this State, eaftof
the Sufquehannah, have received orders to hold
themfclvcs in readiness for actual service ; and
in consequence of a requisition of Congress, a
great proportion will immediately take the field,
and rendezvous on or in the neighbourhood of
the Delaware.
On Monday and Tuefdaylaft week, the French
army, under the command of his Excellency the
Count de Rochambeau, palled in review be
fore his Excellency the President, and the Hono
rable the Congress of the United States, at the
State-House in this city, where the honors due to
a fovereigh power were refpeafully paid.
The fpeTators were impressed with the most
Ir/ely gratitude to the brave, noble and virtuous
Prince, who so happily governs the French na
tion :whofe flirting reign and magnanimous ads
are rather to be conceived than recorded.
After the review was over the President, feht
the following letter to the Count. •
SIR,
" I have the honor to erffefs to your Excel
lency the fatisfaa*)n of Congress, in the com
ptiment which has been paiato them by the
From Rivingtori's Royal Gazette.
N E W-Y OR K, September 12.
Last week a rebel privateerof 10 guns wascaft
away at Hampftead South, the crew landed, and
proceeded eastward, but 'tis thought the loyalists
will beable to get the yeffel afloat again. ,
We feel vast regret in mentioning the* noole
and brave Lord Rawlon, on his paffage $ to Eng
land on board a South-Carolina packet, in an in
firm Rate of health, hasbeen taken by the French
fleet, commanded by M. de Graffe ; but thedif
after is somewhat foftened when we recollect
that his Lordihip has become prisoner to a power
ever distinguished by the most elegant manners
and the tendered sensibility.„
Last Monday arrived in 6 weeks, his majesty s
sloop of war Lively, of 14 g un3 ^ commanded by
Capt. Manly, by which we learn that Admiral
Digbyin the Prince George of 90 guns, with
other line of battle ships, failed from I'ortfmouth
9 days before his departure, on board of^ which
flip it is said was embarked his Royal Highness
Prince William Henry, theirMajefty's third son.
Sept. 14. Yesterday arrived one of his majes
ty's copper-bottomed frigates, and we hearbrings
the pleasing intelligence, that she was dispatched
from the British fleet, under the command of
Admiral Graves, Sir Samuel Hood, and Rear
Admiral Drake, laid Monday afternoon, in lat.
56 ; at which time they were in pursuit of the
French fleet, commanded by M. de Graffe, and
so close up with them, that before the frigate
parted, two ships (viz. the Shrewfbury and lntre
pid)in the van of the British, had exchanged
some broadsides with some ships of the linein the
rear of the French fleet.—A general and decisive
action between the two fleets is unavoidable.-—
From the known 'magnaminity of our Admiral,
together with the gallantry and innate bravery of
the officers and seamen under their command, we
have every thing to hope, arid-nothing to fear.
We are further informed, that when the French
got intelligence of the unexpected approach of
so formidable a British fleet, they weighed their
anchors, and failed out of the Chesapeake Bay
Lass Wednesday afternoon his Most Christian
Majofty's regiment of Soifforinois, was exercised
on the commons near this city, in the presence
of their Excellencies the President of Congress,
the Minister of France, and Count de Rocham
beau ; General Chatteleaux, M. de Marbois, and
a vast concourse of the inhabitants ; whoexpref
fed the highest fatisfaTion at the various evolu
tions and firings exhibited by this truly veteran
corps, which was accompanied by four field
pieces. , And we are happy to assure the public
of the great harmony which exists between all
ranks of the allied, army; and it is a fa& too
deeply impressed on the heart of every honest
American, to need our mentioning the great
affection shewn by the people individually, as
well as at large, towards these troops..
It is with much pleasure we also relate, that no
accident happened on the above occasion.
C H AT H A M, September 12.
Mr. Constant Cooper, post-rider from Morris-
Town to Fish-Kill, was take n withthe mail at
Pumpton theist infant, by a skulking party of
the enemy, and carried to New-York.
Last week William Steel, an accomplice of
Jerry King's, was taken on his way from Roxbu
ry, and committed to Moris-Town gaol. Ihis
villain had a particular account, in writing, of the
troops, both French and Americans, that march
ed with General Washington, together with a
lift of all the ordnance.
The fleet from Rhode-Ifland, under the com
mand of Count Barras; are fafely arrived in the
Chefapeak.
The enemy's marine force in Virginia consists
of the following ships, viz. The Charon, Gauda
loupe, Bonetta and Vulcano fireihip, which they
have drawn up under their battery at York-
Town.
troops of his Most Chriftain Majesty under your
command. The brilliant appearance and exa&
discipline of the several corps, do the highest ho
nor to their officers, and afford a happy preface
of the most distinguished services in a cause which
they have so zealously espoused. I have the ho
nor to be,
" IKitbferments of the bighef refoect, your
" Excellency's most obedient, bumblefervant,
THOMAS M'KEAN, Prudent.”
His Excellency Count de Rocnambeau,
Commander of the "French army,
Philadelphia, Sept. 4, 1781.
with the greatest precipitation, and carried off
with them many necefl'aries pertaining to the
troops, which they had brought from the Welt-
Indies, and landed in Virginia.
As various uports have been circulated about the incur
sion lately made into Conreakut, by a dctachn ent of the
royal army, under the command of Brigadier-General Ar
nold, and the public bei r g impatier^ for an authentic ac
countef the pioceedings o ' that brave detachment, we
think it our doty to lay before them such of the particulars
as we have been able to colled from the reports of sundry
gentlemen who have been on the expedition, but detached
from each other, so that neither of car informants car. give
a fuccin& detail of the tranfa&ions at New-London. .
The doughty rebel Captain being informed of the demand
told the officers that Col. Ledyard had determined, as the
fort was well garrisoned, and in every refp~& in a proper
Rate of defence, he was under no apprehensions of bad con
frequences, ard would defend the fore to the last extremity-
The detention of the flag, had tired the patience not only of
Col Ayre, but of every officer and private centinci under his
command—-andon its return, the order was given for; an
immediate storm, which was immediately put into execution.
When the troops entered there was, b, fore the fort, which
was regularly built with stone, rrcuntihg,'on the 1 p| cr bat
tery three, and on the lower eight, pieces of cannon, with
baftious at eacli corner, with guns to each curtain-line, a
cheycux de frize, and a ditch of seven feet deep on each
square, with stockades on the fide nekt the fork When the
troops got into the ditch, the rebels ftiuck the flag, and
eased firing until they had pulled out feme of the flakes,
and mounted on the range, when the rebels began to play
their gnns from their bastions, and attempted to defend their
ram,arts, but the valour of our troops prevailed, and the
rebels fled into the casements of the fortrefs, and some of
them fired through die loop-holes ; but the doors being;
bur# open, they were compelled to beg mercy, which being
the darling attribute of Britons, even to a fault, they (pared
the caitiffs. It is said the number of men in fort C^cffal,
was 250; forty of whom being wounded, were admitted to
their paroles, about 70 were sent prisoners on board the fleet
and the residue reaped the blessed fruits of their obstinacy.
In the town of Groton, the wounded, with the women arid
children, were put in two houses, used as hofpirals, and the
town, together with the magazines, entirely demolished. —
At New-London, the magazines, the town, and all the ship
ping in die harbour, were reduced to ashes ; but the nurnbac
of killed, wounded, and prisoners taken, we have not yec
been able to learn. The neart of every honest loyatift can
not help emotions of joy, on finding that the molt detestable
nett of pirates on the continent, have at lalt (rhe measure of
their iniquity being full) attracted the notice of his £xcdlen&
cy the commander in chief.
The quantity of European and Weft-lida goods in Ney-
London, were imraenfe. All theii store boules being full,
several cargoes were dep< fired m barns,; it was,.in fad, the
magazine of America ; and the blow row given will < ff^a
the sensitive nerves of every staunch re til <n the continent.
Before the troops left the forts at New-Loidon, and fort
Crenel, at Groton, they beat c.ffihe tiunnions of the cannon
and fpifced thdm up.
[But a very fniall part of the above relation it true. Ar
nold was sent to destroy the fores of the privateers, the privateers,
anefthe Forts ; but be did not accomplish either of them the
Forts remain undemolished, even the barrack,; and magazines are
fafe the privateers took, their fores on board and went up the
river in fafety; and twelve fail of other zefels loaded with the
meft valuable goods out of the fores,and went up the river. It is
true that the enemy burnt about $6 fores, nearly empty ; 60 dwel
ling-houses, and 26 barns, as also the court-hoiofe, ;ail and
church ; andto the eternal infamy of British troops, they murdered
,0 of our worthy citizens in Fort Griswold after they had Jnrren*
dered themselves prisoners, and ask,ed for quarters.]
The best accounts, however, that we have received are.
That on Thursday the 6th inll. the fleet arrived off New-
Landon harbour, when a part of that brave though little
army, were sent to Groton, eppefite New-London, under
the command of Col. Ayre, of the 40th regiment, to take
poffeflion offo:t Crcffal, which commanded notonly the en
trance of New-London harbour, but the mouth of the riv er
Thames, leading to Norwich. On the appearance of the
fleet, five or fix privareers lying in New-London harbour,
availed themfclves of .their oars, and went up said river;
but before the rebels had on opportunity of getting their va
luable vessels out General Arnold made it neceffaiy for them
to look out for their personal fafc ty. In the mean time Col.
Ayre, with the detachment under his command, landed with
in three miles of fort Credhl, and.marched tip with a spirit
peculiar.co the British nation, and though the country was
so very rocky as to render it impoflible for their artillery
and howitzers.to be brought to co-operate with them, there
thirst for glory was such, that as soon as they came to the
skirt of a wood, within about a mile of the fort, they sent an
officer with a flag, demanding an immediate surrender, with
a threat, that, if the demand was not complied with, it
would be stormed five minutes after the return of the flag.- —
The officer who carried it, advanced co a little eminence be
fore the fort and was met by an officer from it, who re
queued to know his errand, his rank, &c. but being told
that his buGnefs was with the commanding officer of the
fort, he returned. After remaining a cpnfiderable tirrq, on
that spot, the Greit Commander appeared, accompanied by
another officer ; the former having asked the gentleman
whto demanded the surrender, hisrank; and being fatisfied
that he was a Captain in the British fetvice, defiled him to
talk with, and make his demand known to rhe Captain who
accompanied him, that he was of equal rank, and that for
his own part, he was Col. Ledyard, commanding officer of
& fort. ~
To be S OL D,
At PUBLIC VENDUE
On Tuesday the 2d of Oftober next.
At TWO O'clock Afternoon,
At the Public Stable in ^his Town,
A NUMBER OF
CONTINENTAL HORSES,
By RALPH POMEROY, D. QM.
Hartford, Se|fr zi, ^fz.