The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-04-17 00:00:00, page 2

of securing the trophies of victory they had alrea^
dy gained. At half after four a thick fog which
rose, intercepted the fight of the enemy from our
view. The Medea joined us, soon after which
we were directed to proceed and observe the rout
of the enemy, while the British ibuMren pro
ceeded to the Chefapcake, in the hope of inters
cepting them, should they attempt to get in there.
At seven o'clock we brought to, to put the dis
abled fliips in a situation to execute these intenti
ons. The next morning we made fail, and the
fame evening we anchored in Lyn-Haven Bay.
The object of the enemy was directed against
Brigadier General Arnold in Virginia; they had
2000 troops on board for the purpose: They
were then to march in a body to aft in co-ope
ration with the rebels against Lord Cornwallis in
North-Carolina. La Fayette has 2000 continen
tals to cross from Annapolis, which are blocked
up there by his Majesty's ihips Hope and Gene
ral Monk. The Rebel General Nelson is at Wil
liamsburg with 200® militia. Their whole plan
is now totally difeoncerted. We have ever nnce
the action worked day and night in repairing our
damaged Ihips, which will be finifhed this even
ing, and we will fail in the morning in pursuit of
the French fleet. All our frigates are out recon
noitring.
Gen. Arnold and Col. Simcoe came down by
land, and have been on board to fee the Admiral ;
they are in great spirits, and confider themselves
in perfect security against all the rebel force that
can be brought against them.
Killed, I Lieut. 2 midshipmen, 40 seamen.
Wounded, 80.
INTELLIGENCE from the SOUTHWARD.
Head-Quarters,lren Works, North Carolina,
SIR, March io, 1781.
SINCE I had the Honor of addressing your Ex
cellency last, there have been some changes in
our circmitances. On the second Lieut. Colo
nel Lee, with a detachment of riflemen, attacked
the advanced of the British army under Col.
Tarleton, near Allamance, and killed and wound
ed, by report, about thirty of them. On the sixth
the British moved down towards High Rock, ei
ther with a view to intercept our stores, or cut off
the light infantry from the main body of the ar
my, then advanced near seven miles; but they
were handsomely opposed, and fufferedconfidera
bly without effecting any thing.
This manoeuvre occasioned me to retire over
the Haw River, and move down the north fide of
it, with a view to secure our stores coming to
the army, and to form a junction with several re
inforcements of Carolina and Virginia militia,
and one regiment of Virginia eighteen months
men, on the march from Hillfborough to High
Rock. I effected this business, and retired to
ward Guilford Court-house.
Our militia had been upon such a loose and
uncertain footing ever since we crossed the Dan,
that I could attempt nothing with confidence,
though we kept within ten or twelve miles of the
enemy for several days. The enemy kept close,
seemingly determined that we should gain no
advantage of them without rifquing something
of consequence. I have the honor to be, with
great refpea and esteem, your most obedient
humble servant,
NATHANIEL GREENE.
His Excellency General Washington,
Camp at the Iron Works, ten miles from Guil
ford Courthouse, March 16, 1781.
SIR,
ON the tenth, I wrote to his Excellency Ge
neral Washington, from the High Rock
ford on the Haw River, a copy of which I inclof
ed your Excellency, that I had effe&ed a juncti
on with a Continental regiment of eighteen
months men, and two considerable bodies of mi
litia belonging to Virginia and North Carolina.
After this junction, I took the resolution of at
tacking the enemy, without loss of time, and
made the necessary disposition accordingly ; be
ing persuaded that if we were fuccefsful, it would
prove ruinous to the enemy, and if etherwife,
it would prove a partial evil to us.
The army marched from the High Rock ford,
on the 12th, and on the 14th arrived at Guilford.
The enemy lay at the Quaker Meeting-House,
on Deep River, eight miles from our camp. On
the morning of the fifteenth, our reeonnoitering
parties reported the enemy advancing on the
^reat Salisbury road. The army was drawn up
in the lines ; the front line was composed of the
North-Carolina militia, under the command of
PHIL HPPLPHI4 April 2.
Generals Butler and Eaton ; the second line of
Virginia militia, commanded by Generals Ste
vens and Lawson, forming two brigades, the
third line, confiding of two brigades, one of Vir
ginia and one of Maryland Continental troops,
commanded by Gen. Huger and Col. Williams.
Lieut. Col. Washington, with the Dragoons of
the firft and third regiments, a detachment of
light infantry, composed of continental troops,
and a regiment of rifle-men under Col. Lynch,
formed a corps of observation for the security of
our left flank.
she g reater part of this country is a wilder
ness, with a few cleared fields interfperled here
and there. The army was drawn up upon a
large hill of ground, surrounded by other hills,
the greatest part of which was covered with tim
ber and thick underbrush. The front line was
polled with two field pieces, just on the edge of
the woods, and the back of a fence, which ran
parallel with the line, with an open field dire&ly
in their front. The second line was in the Woods,
about three hundred yards in the rear of the firft,
and the continental troops about three hundred
yards in the rear of the second, with a double
front, as the hill drew to a point where they were
polled, and on the right and left were two old
fields. In this position we waited the approach
of the enemy, having previously sent off the bag
gage to this place appointed to rendezvous at, in
case of a defeat. Licut. Col, Lee with his legi
on, his infantry, and part of his riflemen, met
the enemy on their advance, and had a very se
vere skirmish with Lieut. Col. Tarleton, in which
the enemy fuffered greatly. Capt. Armstrong
charged the British legion, and cut down near
thirty of their dragoons ; but, as the enemy re
inforced their advanced party, Lieut. Col. Lee
was obliged to retire, and take his position in the
line.
The action commenced by a cannonade which
lasted about twenty minutes, when the enemy
advanced in three columns ; the Hessians on the
right, the guards in the centre, and Lieut. Col.
ebfter's brigade on the left. The whole mov
ed through the old fields to attack the North-Ca
rolina brigades, who waited the attack until the
enemy got within about one hundred and forty
yards, when part of them began a fire, but a con
siderable part left the ground without firing at all.
The Generals and field officers did all they could
to induce the men to stand their ground ; but
neither the advantages of the position, nor any
other confederation could induce them to flay.
Gen. Stephens and Gen. Lawson, and the field
officers of those brigadeswere more fuccefsful in
their exertions. Tne Virginia militia gave the
enemy a warm reception, and kept up a heavy
fire for a long time ; but being beat back, the
action became general almost every where. The
corps of observation under Washington and Lee
were warmly engaged, and did great execution.
In a word, the conflict was long and severe, and
the enemy only gained their point by superior
discipline.
They having broken the second Maryland re
giment, and turned our left flank, and got into
the rear of the Virginia brigade, and appearing
to be gaining our right, which would have en
circled the whole of the continental troops, I
thought it most advifeable to order a retreat.
About this time Lieut. Col. Washington made
charge with the horse upon a part of the brigade
of guards ; and the firft regiment of Maryland
ers, commanded by Col. Gunby, and seconded
by Lieut. Col. Howard, followed the horse with
their bayonets ; nearthe whole of this party fell
a facrifice. General Huger was the last that was
engaged, and gave the enemy a check. We re
treated in good order to the reedy Ford river, and
eroded at the ford, about three mile from the
field of action, and there halted and drew up the
troops, until we collected most of our stragglers.
We loft our artillery and two ammunition wag
gons, the greatest part of the h.rfes being killed
before the retreat began, and it being impossible
to move the pieces but along the great road. Af
ter collecting our stragglers, we retired to this
camp, ten miles distant from Guilford.
From the bell inforraation I can get, the ene
my's loss is very great, not less in killed and
wounded than fix hundred meii, besides some
few prisoners that we brought off.
Inclofed I fend your Excellency a return of our
killed, wounded and miffing. Most of the latter
have gone home, as is but too customary with
militia after an action. I cannot learn that the
ciaemy have got any considerable number of pri
soners. Our men are in good spirits and in per
Prizes.
TH ' United States in Cengrefs assembled,
taking into consideration, the implacable
war waged against them by the King of Great-
Britain, and judging it inconsistent with their
dignity, as a free and independent nation, any
longer to continue indulgeneias and exemptions
to any of the iubje&s of their enamy, who is
obflinately bent upon their deflru&ion or sub
jugation, have thought it proper to ordain and
order, and it is hereby Ordained and Ordered,
That hence forward general reprisals be grant
ed against the ships, goods and fubje&s of the
King es Great-Britain ; so that, as well the
fleets and Ihips of these United States, as alio
all other ihips and veiels commifhoned by let
ters of marque or general reprisals, or otherwise,
by the authority of the United States in Con
gress assembled, fhalland may lawfully seize all
ihips, vessels and goods, belonging to the King
or Crown of Great-Britain, or to bls fubjeds, or
others inhabiting within any of the territories or
pofielhons of the aforefaid King of Great-Bri
tain, and bring them to judgment in any ofthe
courts of admiralty that now are or hereafter
may be established in any ofthefe United States,
by the authority of the United States in Congress
assembled ; and the said courts of admiralty are
hereby authorized and required to take cogniz
ance of, and judicially to proceed upon all and
all manner of captures, seizures, prizes and re
pailals of all ihips and goods that are or shall be
taken, and to hear and determine the fame, and,
according to the course of admiralty, and the law
of nations, to adjudge and condemn all such
fliips, vellels and goods as shall belong to the
King of Great-Britain, or to hi# fubjeCTS, or to
any others inhabiting within any of the coun
tries, territories or dominions, or pofleffions of
the aforeiaid King of Great-Britain.
And that the board of admiralty or secretary
of marine forthwith prepare, and lay before the
Uiiited States in Congress aiferabled, a draught
of initrudtiens for such fliips or vessels as shall be
commilhonated for the purposes abovemen
tioned.
e And it is hereby farther Ordained, That the
citizens and inhabitants of these United States,
be, and they hereby are ftri&ly enjoined and re
quired, to abstain from all intercourse, corres
pondence or dealings, whatsoever, with the fub
je&s of the said King of Great-Britain, while at
open war with these United States, as they will
aufwei the fame at their peril; and the execu-
sect readiness for another field day. I only la
ment the loss of several valuable officers, u ho are
killed and wounded in the action. Among the
lattei is Gen. Stevens, shot through the thigh,-
and Gen. Huger in the hand ; ar,d among the
former is Major Anderton of the Maryland line.
Ihe firmnefs of the officers and soldiers, dur
ing the whole campaign, has been almost unpa
rallelled. Amidfl innumerable difficulties, they
have difeovered a degree @f magnanimity and
fortitude that will forever add a luftre to their
military reputation. I have the honor to be, with
very great refpe& and efteern, your Excellency's
molt obedient and moll humble servant.
NATHANIEL GREENE.
His Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq;
President of Congress.
Continentals. Killed. 1 Major, 1 Captain,
3 subalterns, 5 sergeants, 47 rank and file.
Wounded. 8 Captains, 4 subalterns, 6 sergeants,
93 rank and file. Miffing. 3 sergeants, 8 drum
mers, 150 rank and file. Total. 1 Major, 9
Captains, 7 subalterns, 14 fergcahts, 8 drummers,
290 rank and file.
Published by order,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sac'ry.
An ORDINANCE,
Relative to the Capture and Condemnation of
And it is hereby farther Ordained, That the
dellruflion of papers, or the peffeffion of double
papers, by any captured reffel shall be deemed
and taken as just cause for the condemnation of
such captured vessel ; and that, when any prize,
having been taken and possessed by the enemy
twenty-four hours, shall be retaken from them,
the whole of such re-captured prize flrall be con
demned, for the use of the re-captors; but in
cases where the prize shall have continued in the
polfeffion of the enemy less than twenty-four
hours, it shall be restored to the original owner
or owners, except one third part of the true va
lue thereof, which shall be allowed as salvage to
the re-captors.