The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-07-17 00:00:00, page 3

BASSETERRE, (St. Kills) June ...
By a vessel from St. Lucia, we are informed,
that on Tuesday morning last, the French fleet
confining of 25 large ships, weathered thatifland,
supposed to be fleering for Tobago.
Letters from St. Lucia, mention, that Admi
ral Rodney with 21 ships of the line, had failed
from Barbados on Saturday last for the relief of
Tobago. Other accounts fay that he did not
know' of that island's being invested on Sunday
morning last ; but we suppose this account to be
erroneous, as we have certain accounts of an ex
press being difpached from Tobago for Barbados,
immediately on the appearance of the enemy,
and which, if not taken, must have arrived there
on Friday, as the wind was in her favour.
Captain M'S wain in a brig bound to St. Lucia,
had his veflel taken from him by his crew who
carried her into Martinique ; on the Captain's
applying to the Marquis de Bouille, he very ge
nerously gave h'irn his vessel and fix English sea
men, with liberty to depart ; he also ordered the
piratical crew to be put in irons and delivered to
their Captain, in order to receive the punishment
their crime merited. Much praise is due to the
French General for the above just and generous
a&, and it is to be wiflied that otir Governors
would follow so laudable an example.
BALTIMORE, June 16.
Extract of a letter from an Officer of diftin£tion
in General Greene's army, dated camp before
Ninety-Six, South-Carolina, May 24, 1781.
" Lord Rawdon has retreated to Charleftown;
Fort Watson, on Santee, forts Mott and Granby,
on Congary, Camden, and Nelson's ferry, are in
our poffemon. General Pickens, and Lieut.,
Colonel Lee are before Augusta: General Mari
an is below manoeuvering, towards Charleftown,
and General Greene has invested Ninety-Six.
It is only possible we may not succeed. I expect
soon to hear of the reduction of Auguffa. What
General Philips is doing, or Lord Cornwallis in
tends to do, I cannot inform you; you will
have it from bettter authority. We fear nothing
before u&" „
Extra& of a letter from Frederickfburg, dated on
Tuesday last.
" It is said the enemy were, on Saturday last,
at Richmond, destroying the tobacco and houses.
The Marquis, by the last accounts, My 12 or 15
miles from them."
A letter from George Town; dated on Sun
day last, mentions, that the Baltimore and Fre
derick-Town troops of light dragoons, were to
cross Patowmack the next day, on their way to
join the Marquis de la Fayette.
PHILADELPHIA, June 10.
Thursday last arrived here the prize brig Por
cupine, late Captain Irwin, from St Kitts, bound
to Blew-York, with a valuable cargo, confining
of ninety hogsheads of rum, &c: sens in by the
Fair American privateer, Captain Eldridge. She
mounts sixteen fix-pounders, and eight swivels,
is copper bottom'd, and was lately a privateer
out of St. Kitts, having been very mifehievous
in taking prizes. She had only sixteen men on
board when taken, most of her crew having been
pressed into British men of war, at St. Kitts,
previous to her failing. & ,
By the Charming Molly, Captain Stilwell, and
Hiberna, Captain Baxter, arrived here yesterday
morning, after a fliort passage from the Havanna,
we learn, that transports having on board the
British prisoners, taken at Pensacola, by General
Galvez, had touched at the Havanna, on their
way to New-York, where they, were by capitu
lation to be sent.
July 4 0
On the 28th ultimo, His Excellency JOHN
RUTLEDGE, Esquire, set out from this
city, in order to resume the reins of his govern
ment, where, we hear, he is impatiently expect
ed, by the long oppressed, and cruel treated citi
zens of South-Carolina. We have the pleasure
to announce to the world, from good authority,
That that State and Georgia, are now entirely
in the possession of the Americans (Charleftown
and Savannah excepted) and as soon as their
refpeaive Governors arrive, will be again restor
ed to the Union, in a full exercise of their Legis
lative and Executive Capacity, as Sovereign and
Independent States.
It cannot but be remarked here, how fubje&
to change are all sublunary things, and uncertain
the fate of war. It is well remembered that suc
cess followed the British arms in those southern
States, at the furrenderof Charleftown, andfome
time after ; and that opportunity was not ne
glett^ by the enemy to extol and applaud their
We have it from the belt authority, that not
withstanding the enemy had penetrated into the
centre of Virginia, not more than twenty of its
inhabitants had joined their forces, and among
that small number was not one native of the
country.,
Authentic advices from South-Caroling aslate
4s May 4, inform, us that General Green had
invested the Britfh port of Ninety-Six, in that
State, which it was expected would furrenderin
a fliort time, and that the garrison had made a
sally on our forces, but were repulsed with con
siderable loss.
Later accounts from thrit quarter (blit so? the
truth of which we cannot vouch) tell us that the
above post had Surrendered to the American arms,
with the additional circumstances of the capture
of 500 privates, with 40 officers and 15 pieces of
cannon..
. N EW-LONDON, faly
Tuesday theWeazel privateer, Capt. Fanning,
and the Rainbow galley, Capt. House; returned
into port; and brought in a galley called the
Hornet, with one 9 pounder and 25 men,, which
they fell in with near Montauk-point, having
been' but two days out from New-York.
The sloop LUely, Capt.. Edward Latham, Was
Ilaft Monday chafed on shore at Montauk-point,
by the ship Goodrich, of 24 guns, commanded
by Stanton Hazard. The /loop is loft, but her
rigging and stores will be saved..
Tuesday the flo&p Jay returned into port with
a sloop laden with ,wood;which the took between
Block-Island and Montauk-point ; the sloop bad
been taken by one of the enemy's row-galleys,
in the Vineyard Sound, and when taken by the
Jay was bound to New-York.
Wednesdayjhe Romulus, of 44 guns, and 3
frigates; from Newport, passed this harbour and
flood up the Sound with a fair wind.
About §0 fail of shipping lay at Sandy-Hook
last Saturday, part of which was said to be Ar
buthnot's fleet.,
Capt. M'Gill, who failed from this portabout
3 weeks ago, in a sloop for the Weft-Indies, was
taken by a British ship, afterwards retaken by
the Jay and Active privateers, and ordered for
this port, but being chafed by the brig Favourite,
Capt. Budington, wh®m they took to be an ene
my, the prize was run ashore near Montauk.—-
Part of the cargo will be saved.
Wednesday a flag of truce frdrh New-York,
bound to Nantucket, put into this, harbour, hav
ing on board a number of tlie inhabitants of
Nantucket, who had been priforiers.—lt seems,
that a few months ago, the inhabitants of Nan
tucket, with leave from Congress, applied to the
British commander at New-York, representing,
that they were under the necessity ofcarrying on
the whale-fifhery for their support; thattbeynad
no other method to obtain a fubfi llence for them
selves and families; and praying for proteaion
of their vessels against the British cruizers. In
confequenceof this application, liberty wasgrant-.
ed them to fit out 16 vessels for the above pur
pose, who were to carry 13 men each ;---the
vessels were accordingly fitted for lea and failed:
But the firft of them that was met by a British
frigate was captured,the vessel immediately burnt,
and the people carried prisoners to New-York.
The above flag had been to New-1 ork to obtain
their difeharge, and was on her return to Nan
tucket. (The foregoing is infected as affrecimen oj
Britftfaiths)
own prowest and exertions, when in f.Q the
cause of these advantages was only to be fought
for in the weakness of their adyerfary. With
what fatisfa&ion did Rivington publiih; and the
votaries of lawless po^erread,—" NOT A RE
BEL IN ARMS IN SOUTH-CAROLINA."
We will onlyafk, WHERE IS THE KING'S
ARMY AND FRIENDS, THE CONQUE
RORS OF THE SOUTH,
North-Carolina is tot ally evacuated by thetroops
of his Britannic majefty,an.d that State ismaking
every exertion, to repair thedamages and ravages
committed by their cruel invaders, who will not
find it so easy in future to march through it.
The gallant Fayette has received such fiong
reinforcements, and has a2ed with such military
caution and prudence, as to oblige the rafli Corn
wallis to retreat to the lower parts of Virginia,
leaving its capital in possession of its proper mas
ters. The rapid marching Lord's army are re
duced to the small number of ^OOO, and soon
will be confined to the narrow limits of Ports
mouth, if not obliged to retreat to fuccour the
distressed Clinton.
Parturient months nafcitur ridicules Mus.
i N^ W-H &VE N, hiy is.
Capt. Ebenezer Peek, in a short pelage from Si. Croix,
brings an account of the reduction of the illand of Tobago,
by the French ; and that there was a repoit of an a&io^, be
tween the fleets, but not decisive, there being no captures on
either fide.
HERTFORD, Jut, z 7.
Teflerda, fc'nnight a Sen of Mr. Thomas Sloan about 6 years
^d; was unfortunately drowned as he was bathing in the Little
River in this town..
It is said that Mr, BriyadierMrnold was much exasperated at
the late General Phillips, after he took, the command in Virginia,
because he plundered the inhabitants, and, adding unfairnefs ti
cruelty, converted tbe whole of the acquifstion to his separate emo
lument# The humanity and justice of the American couldnot
b^rfoch, condu@; and ds expostulating with a foperior officer was
unavailing, can the former fe blamed for talking a certain meant
to help the latter to the end of his mortal course I Things then
went on quietly until the arrival of Lord Cornwallis put ever, thing
again into a wrong form, and the Brigadier feeing no hopes of re
formation, embarked for New-Torp, in difguff leaving the un
difurbed enjoyment of she negro and tobacco trafficßin the hands
of his Lordsnip. ~
NEW- Y 0 k K, .July 7..'
On 'Wednefday a polacre arrived here from the Havannah',
with a partof the garrison of Pensacola," which \vas sur
rendered on the 10th of May to Don Galvez, the Spanish Ge
neral, after being 9 weeks invested ; the besieged consisted of
fort men, including 595 seamen ; also 62, including feann n,
at the Clifts; Total, iiifr The Spaniards of 23,200, in
cluding teamen, with 50 pieces df brass tannon, fix 13 and
fix nine and half inch mortars, an immense field train, and
their naval force of 11 Spanish and 4 French ship§ of the line
4 Spanish and 4 French frigates, besides tranfforts, victual
lers, row-gallics, &c. They marched out with all the ho
nors of war, viz. Shouldered firelocks, drums beating, co
lours flying, with two field pieces and fix rounds to each,
and fix rounds to each of the troops, moving to some hun
dred yards distance from their several posts, where they piled
their arms (the officers only reserving their swords) and de
liveredtheir coloursto a body of Spanish grenadires appoint
ed to receive them. The garrison were to be sent to any
port that the Governor, Lieut. Gen. John Campbell, might
appoint, Jamaica and Augustine only excepted, and the men
allowed to be under the immediate direction of their own
officers.
The Spaniards commented their operations by landing
f;,ooo troops on Rowe's-lfland, and afterwards advanced
within a mile of Fort George, where they began and carried
forward a fubterraneous work ; the fire from their batteries
upon the fort wasjnceffant, but that neither intimidated or
affeded the British garrison with the least idea of furren
,dering, until a man deserted, and j^ftru&ed the Spaniards to
throw shells upon the magazine, one of which fired it 3 by
this accident, about too men were blown up.
The Port-Royal sloop of war, of 18 guns; wastaKenby the
enemy, and the Me r.tor, a letter of marque, itas destroyed in
the harbour. The articles of this very dihinguished and
truly honorable capitulation are in town, but we have not
yet been able to obtain a copy of them.q
We are informed that the inhabitan ts of Pensacola left be-
hind are allowed twelve months to dispose of their property
in Weft-Florida.
On Thursday and yesterday several other vessels arrived
from Penfaebla ; the fleet w hich left, bound for this port
with troops and inhabitants, consisted of 1$ fail, the re
mcinder are hourly expe&ed.<
A report prevails in town that Gen. Charles tee had
joined Earl Cornwallis at Williamfburgh, in Virginia.
By the gentlemen arrived last night from Havannah, we
are informed, that on the 20th of June, a brigantine arrived
there from Windward, by which information was brought;
that an a&ion at sea had been fought between Admiral Rod
ney and the Comte de Grade, the event of which terminated
greatly in favour of rhe British; Sir George Rodney tookfix
70 and two 64 gun ships, the British loft two ships; no othet
particulars were then known at Havannah. This intelligence
brought ,to that Port in about 6 days, was credited by the"
Spaniards, and, hand credible, our quandum old friends there
seemed very heartily rejoiced at the difgrate of the French.
Should the above stand in need of a corroboration we will
add from the faine authority, that all the French ships, con
lifting of four seventy-sours, and threy frigates; immediately
departed for Martinico.
At Pensacola our loss sustained during the 9 weeks siege
are, Killed, Lieut. Carrol, i6tli; Lieut. Pinborn, Loyal
Forrefters ; Ensign tTfal of the Waldeckers ; fixferjeants, fix
corporals, one drummer, forty-five privates, two Midship
men, and twenty-eight seamen.-- -Wounded, Capt. Anthony
Forster, happily recovered; Lieut. Charles Ward, 3d batta
lion of the 6ojh regt, three corporals, one drummer, seven
teen privates j Royal Artillery, one corporal, two bomba
diers, three gunneis, and two - matrofles wounded ; Royal
Navy, fifteen tea men wongded.
"STATE CONNEC C U T,/. Zaft-Haddame
KNOW YE, That a Libel is fled before Joseph Spencer,
Esq. Mffiftdntfor said State, and Jabez Chapman, Efe.
Justice of the Peace for the count, of Hartford, in favor of John
Fofer, of Eaf-Haddam, in said county, and the owners and crew
belonging to the boat Hawk)againft one Hogshead of F ELT
H^TTS (British manufacture) lawfully captured b, said
Foster and crew,from within the enefofs lines on Long-If and 1
Which goods are brought b, the captors to said Eaft-Haddam $
the valise of which goods do not exceed 301. L. M. and the libel
larttr fay, that the said goods are a lawful prize. ^ Maritime
Court will be held, for the trial of the infice of the taxing the goods
feked and captured as aforefaid, at the dwelling-houfc .of the said
Joseph Spencer, Esq. in said Zaft-Haddam, on" the 31st of July
inftarit, at i o'clocfcP. M. Mill pcafons concerned dre to tape no^
tice hercof. JOSEPH SPENCER.
July 9, 1781.
ALL non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers, bclor^ in
to the 2d Regiment of LIGHT DRAGOONS, now in
the country, are dire&ed immediately to repair to Hartford,
and join the detachment, which will soon march tocarap.—•
Any of the above description who neglect to comply with
these diredions,on or before the 21st inst. may depend upon
being treated as deserters.
BENJAMIN TALMADGE,
Major 2d Regt. L. D,
Hartford, July 15, 1781,