The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-11-20 00:00:00, page 1

• Head-quarters, Camp before York, O^ober I, 17^1.
SI R, . ,
LAST evening I was honored with your Excellency s
favour of the 21st ult. with its inclofure. The intelli
gence it contains refpe&ing the British fleet is very agreea
ble, and will be immediately transmitted to the Count de
Graffe.
In my last, which bore date the 2|d tilt. 1 informed that
our preparations for a near investment of the enemy atYork
were faft ripening to a point. Ihave now to acquaintyour
Excellency that I marched from Williamsburgh, with the
whole army, on the 28th, and approached within about two
miles of the enemy at York. At which distance a shew was
made of some opposition on our left; but upon the Count
Rochambeau, who commands that part of the army, his
moving a few pieces offield artillery, under the dire&ion of
the Baton de Viomenel, and giving a few shots, the enemy
retired. On the 29th the American ttoons moved forward,
and took their ground in front ofthe enemy's works on their
left, no opposition except a fewfeattering shots from afmall
work by Moor's-mill, on Varmley creek, and a battery on
the left of Pigeon-quarter. A small fire all day from our
riflemen and the enemy's jagers. On the 30th, in the morn
ing, we difeorered that the enemy had evacuated all their
exterior line of works, and withdrawn co those near the bo
dy of the town. By this means we are in pofleffion of very
advantageous grounds, which command in a very near ad
vance, almost the whole remaining line of their defence. —
All the expedition that our circumstances will admit is using
to bring up our heavy artillery and stores, and to open our
batteries. This work; I hope, will be executedin a few days,
when our fire will begin with great vigor.
The investment ofthe enemy is now fully compleated,
and drawn very near their lines, except on the river above
the town, where their communication is still open. To pre
vent this, and to compleat the new blockade, a request is
gone to the Count de GrafTe, desiring him to push, if he
thinks it pradicable, one or more ships above the town. —
This, if effected, will answer many very valuable purposes.
The position of the Count de Graffe is judiciouily taken,
fr main fleet keeping their position in Lynn-Haven Bay,
and detachments made to secure the rivers. The determi
nation of the Count is favourably difpofcd to comply with
our wishes in every necessary co-operation.
I.shall continue to keep Congress advised of such Oceur-
KMCCS as are worthy the communication.
With the highest regard and esteem,
I have the honor to be, your Excellency's
Most obedient and most humble servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency the President of Congress.
Head-Quarters, before York, O&ober iz, 1781.
SI R,
MY last di,arch to your Excellency was of the 6tb.
I then Informed you that we should open trenches on
that night; we did so, and established our firft parallel
within 600 yards of the enemy's works, with the loss of only
one officer ofthe French artillery wounded, and sixteen pri
vates killed and wounded, the greatest part es which were of
tfte'French line.
The 7th and Bth we were employed in compleating.the tft
parallel, and in ere&ing batteries somewhat advanced of it.
The 9th, at three 4 o'clock in the afternoon the French bat
tery on the left, of four 12 pounders, fix mortars and how
itzers, opened; and at f o'clock the American battery on
she right, as fix 18 and 24. pounders, two mortars and two
howitzers, opened also. We were informed that our shells
did considerable execution in the town, and we could per
ceive that our shot, which were directed against the enemy's
cmbraxures, injured them much.
- The loth, two French batteries, one of ten 18 and 24
pounders, and fix mortars and howitzers, the other of four
i 8 pounders, opened ; as did two more American batteries,
one of four 18 pounders, th@ other ofjwo mortars. The fire
now become so excessively heavy, that the enemy withdrew
their cannon from their embrasures, placedthem behind the
merlins, and Scarcely fired a shot during the whole day. In
the evening the Charon frigate of 44 guns, was set on fire by
4 hot ball from the French battery on the left, and entirely
consumed. Her guns and stores had been taken out. By
the report of a deserter, our shells, which were thrown with
the utmost degree of precision, did much mifchief in the
course of the day.
Yesterday morning, two of the enemy's transports were
fired by hotshot and burnt. This has occaGoned them to
warp their dipping as far over to the Gloucester shore as
possible.
We last night advanced our second parallel within 300
yards of che enemy's works, with little or no annoyance
from them. Only one man was killed and three or four
woth&dj I dunk 5 ftranf: indeed, if Lord Cornwall
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HARTFORD : Printed by H UDS O N. aild GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
TUESDA Y, November2o, 1781.
makes no vigorous exertioni ih the course of thianight or
very soon after.
I cannot but acknowledge the infinite obligations I am
under to his Excellency the Count de Rochanfoeau, the Mar
quis St. Simon, commanding the troops from the Weft-In
dies,the other General Officers,and indeed the officers of every
denomination in the French army, for the&Hiftancc which
they afford me. The experience of many of those gentlemen
in the business before us, is ofthe utmost advantage in the
present operation. And I amfenfible that it must give your
Excellency and Congress the highest pleasure to know that
the greatest harmony prevails between the two armies.-—
They seem a&uated by one spirit, that of supporting the ho
nor of the allied arms, and pushing their approaches with
the utmost vigour.
I have the honor to be, with
pcrfe& refpea and esteem,
Your Excellency's most obedient,
and very humble servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency the President of Congress.
Head-Quarters before York, O^ober 16, lySx.
SIR,
IH AD the honor to inform your Excellency in my last,
ofthe 12th inst. that we had the evening before opened
our second parallel ; the 13th and 14th we were employed in
complcating it. The Engineers having deemed the two re
doubts on the left of rhe enemy's line fufficiently injured by
our shot and shells, to make them practicable, it was deter
mined to carry them by assault, on the evening of the 14th;
the following disposition was accordingly made : The work
on the enemy's extreme left to be attacked by the American
light infantry, under the command of the Marquis la Fayette,
the other by a detachment of the French grenadiers and
charfeurs, commanded by Major-General the Baron Viome
nel. I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that we
succeeded in both. Nothing could exceed the firmnefs and
bravery ofthe troops. They advanced under the fire of the
enemy without returning a shot, and effected the bufincfs
with the bayonet only. The reports of his Excellency the
Count de Rochambeau, the Marquis de la Fayette, and Lieut.
Col. Hamilton, copies of which I enclose, enter more par
ticularly into a detail ofthe mode in which the attacks, on
the part ofthe French and American columns were conduc
ed. We made prisoners, in both redoubts, one Major, two
Captains, three Subalterns and fixt, seven privates.
The works which we have carried are of vast importance
to ns. From them we shall enfilade the enemy's wholelinef
Andiam in hopes we shall be able to command the com
munication from York to Gloucester. 1 think the batteries
of the second parallel will be in fufficient forwardnefs to
begin to pla, in the course of the day.
The enemy, last night, made a sortie, for the firft time #
They entered one ofthe French and one of the American
batteries on the second parallel which were unfinished.—
They had only time to thurft the points of their bayonets in
to four pieces or the French and two of the American artil
lery, and break them of, but the spikes were easily extended.
They were repwlfed the moment the supporting troops came
up, leaving behind them seven or eight dead, and fix pri
soners. The French had four officers and twelve privates
killed and wounded, and we had one ferjeant mortally
wounded.
I enclole ,our Excellency a return of the killed and
wounded of both ahnies, up po the present time. It is much
smaller than might have been expected.
I have the honor to be,
with perfed: refped,
Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency the Proudest of Congress.
Copy of the Report of his Excellency the Count de Rocham
beau.
ON the night between the 14th and r;th instant, the
French was mounted by the regiments of Gatinoisand
Royal DeuxPonrs, commanded by til Baron de Viomenel,
to which were added four companies of French auxilliary
grenadiers. We had resolved to attack, as soon as dark,
Ebe two redoubts on the left of the enemy, that were de
tached from their other works. Tire Marquis de la Fayette
undertook that on odr right with the American troops. The
Baron de Viomenel that on our left with the French. Four
hundred grenadiers, commanded by the Count William
Deux Ponts and Mons. de L'Eftrade, Lieut. Col. of Gatinois,
opened the attack; they were Supported by the regiment of
Gitincis. The Marquis la Fayette and the Baron de Vio
menel made so vigorous ^«,llirong a difpofirion of their
troops, that they carried the two redoubts sword in hand,
and kilted, wounded, or teek the greater pm of theft who
S I R,
IHAVE the honor re render you an aetotint ofthe corps
under my command, in your attack of last night upon
the redoubt on the left of the enemy's lines.
Agreeable to your orders we advanced in two columns
with unloaded arms, the right composed of Lieut. Col.
Gimat's battalion ard my own, commanded by Major Fkh.
The left of a detachment-commanded by Lieut Col. J.au#
rens, defined to take the enemy in reverse, and intercept
their retreat. The column on the right was proceeded ly 4
van guard of twenty men, led by Ikut. Mansfield, and a
detachment of Tappers and miners, commanded by tape.
Gilliland, for the purpose of removing obfbuai&ns.
The redoubt was commanded by Major Campbell, with 1
detachment of British and German troops, and was corn#
pleatly in a ftatc of defence.
The rapidity and immediate fuccefsof the assault, are the
best comment on the behaviour of the troops.
Lieut. Col. Laurens distinguished himfelf by an cßod
and vigorous execution of his part of the plan, bv entering
rhe enemy's work, with his corps, among the for'emoft, and
making prisoner the commanding officer of t!> eredoubts
Lieut. Col. Gimat's battalion, which formed the van ofthe
right attack, and which fell under m, immediate obferra
tion, encouraged by the cheiiive and animated example of
their leader, advanced with an ardor and refinlution Superior
to every obßaele. They were feco#d by Major Fish i,th
the battalion under bis command, who, when the fionr cf
defended them. The number of prisoners amounts to 73,
one Major and § other officers included.
The troops, both American and French, have shewn the
most distinguished courage. The Count William Deux
Ponts was slightly wounded by a cannon ball ; he is not in
the leaSt danger. The Chevalier de la Meth, Adjutant
Quarter-Master General, has been feVerely founded in both
knees by two different musket balls. Mons. de Sireuit,
Captain of the chafleurs of the regiment of Agenois and two
other officers of the fame regiment have been wounded.--#
'Tis the third time that Mons. de Sireuit, tho' very young,
has been wounded, unluckily this time, the wound is ver,
dangerous. We have had iqo men killed or wounded. The
troops are full ofthe highest praises of the Baron de Vib
menel, who likewise is exceedingly pleased with their cou
rage an<b firmnefs^
I have ordered two days pay to be distributed to the four
companies of grenadiers and chafleurs of the regiment of
Gatinois and Royal Debx Ponts, befifo a more considera
ble reward to the art-bearers and carpenters, who opened
the way for the troops through the abattis and paliifadocs.
Camp before York, 16th O&ober, 1781$
My dear General,
YOUR Excellency having personally seen our difpofitionc,
1 shall only give an account of what passed in the exe
cution.
Colonel Gimat's battalion fed the van, and was followed
by that of Col. Hamilton, yho commanded the whole adr
vanced corps ; at the fame time a party .of 8c meh, under
Colonel LaUrens, turned the redoubt. I beg leave to refer
your Excelienc, to the report ! have received from Colonel
Hamilton, whose well known talents and gallantly, were on,
this occasion, most confpicnous and fciviceable , our obli
gations to him, to Col. Gimat, po Col. Lauans, and to
each and all the officers and men, are Shove expression /
Not one gun was fired, and the ardor of rhe troops did nd
give time to the Uppers to derange the abattis ; and owing
to the conduQ ofthe commanders and bravery of the men,
the redoubt was florrnW with uncommon rapidity.
Col. Barber's battalion, which was the firft in the fup#
porting column, being detached to the aid of the advance,
arrived at the moment they were getting ever the works
and executed their orders with the utmost alacrity. The
Colonel was Slightly wounded. The remainder of the co
lumn, under Generals Mulenbcrg and Hazen, advanced
with admirable firmnefs and discipline. Col. Vofe's bat^
talion difplafed tp the left, a part of the division fucceffive#
ly dressing by him, whilst a kind of second line was forming
columns in the rear. It adds greatly to the character of
the troops, that under the fire ofthe enemy, they displayed
with pcrfe& Silence and order.
Give me leavY, particularly, to mention Major Barber,
division infpe&or, who distinguished himfell and received a
wound by a cannon ball.
In making the arrangements for the fapport of the works
we had reduced,! was happy to find Gen. Wayne and the
Pennsylvanians so fitaated as to have given us, in case of
need, the most effectual support.
I have the honor to be, with the
Most perfed refped, your Excellency's
Aloft humble servant,
LA FAYETTE.
His Excellency General Washington,
(No. 878.)