The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1780-02-15 00:00:00, page 2

Staten Island. Their principal pofti were taken
and strengthened with so much judgment, that it was
not practicable to difodge them. The royal army
retained only the two posts of Brunswick and Am
boy, the one situated a few miles up the Rariton, the
Other on a point of land on it# mouth, and both hold
ing an open communication with New York by sea.
Thus by a few well concerted and fpirit&l a&ions.
Wai Philadelphia saved, Pennsylvania freed from dan
ger, the Jerseys nearly recovered, and a victorious
and far superior army, reduced to a& upon the de
fenfive, and for fcveral months retrained within ve
ry narrow and inconvenient limits. These actions,
and the sudden recovery from the lowest state of
weaknef# and diftreh, to become ^formidable enemy
in the field, raised the character of General Wafh
infou, as a commander, very high both in Europe
and America; and with his preceding and fabfe
quent conduct, serve altogether, to give a function
to that appellation, which it now pretty generally
applied to him, cf the American Fabius.
Nor was this change of affairs to be attributed to
any error in the British Generals, or fault in the troops
which they commanded; but depended entirely up
on the happy application of a number of powerful
and concurring circumftance#, which were far be
yond their reach or control!, Though many of
these were foremen and pointed gut, by those who
from the beginnings either o,pofed in public, or re
gretted in private, this war, and that other# are now
obvious to every body, it may not, however, be 2-
mrf, to fpecify feme cf these caufa which clogged
it with particular difficulties.
Among the principal of these may be considered
the vast extent of that continent; with its unusual
distribution into the great trade of cultivated and
territory; the long extent of sea coast in front, and
the boundkE wafles at the back of the inhabited
countries, affording resource or shelter in all circum
fiances; the numberless inaccc ffible posts, and strong
natural barriers, formed by the various combinations
of woods, mountains, rivers, lakes, and marrites.
All these properties and circumfance#, with others
appertaining to the climates and seasons, may be
said to fight the battles of the inhabitants of such
countries in a defenfive w,r. To these may be cd
ded others less local. The unexpected union, and
unknown strength of the colonies; the judicious ap
plication of that strength, by suiting the deft xe to
the nature, genius and ability of the people, as well
as to the natural advantages of the country, thereby
rendering it a war of pofte, furprizes, and fkirrnifhes,
infiead of a war of battles. To all these may be ad
ded, the peoples not being bridled by firong cities,
nor fettered by luxury to these which were other
wise, 10 that the reduction of a capital had no tffttl
upon the red cf the province, and the array could
retain no more territory than what it occupied,
which was again loft as soon as it departed 'toanother
quarter,
Durinflhe remaining winter, and the whole cf
the spring, the army under Lord Cornwallis con
tinued much Straitened at Brunswick and Amboy,
the troops undergoing, with the greatest perseverance
and resolution, the hardships of unremitting duty,
whilfl their ranks were thinned by a continued se
ries of skirmishes, which were productive of no real
advantage on either fide, other than that of enuring
the Americans to mlitary service. In a word eve
ry load of forage which was procured, and every
article of povifions, which did not come from
New York, was fought or purchased at the price of
blood.
The confluences of the late military outages in
the Jerseys were feVerely felt in tke present change
of tircumflances. As soon as fortune turned, and
the means were in their power, the Sufferers of all
parties, the well disposed to the royol cause, as well
as the neutrals and wavering, now rose as a man to
revenge their personal injures and particular oppref
fions, and being goaded by a keener Spur, than any
which a public c^&fe, or general motive, could have
excited, became its birred and most determined ene
mies. Thu# the whole country, with too few ex'
captions, became hostile ; ihofe who were incapahl^
of arms, acting a# Spies, and keeping a continual
watch for those who bore them ; so that the smallest
motion could not be made, without its being exnnf
ed and difeovered. before it could produce its 'in
tended e£&. Such were the untoward e^hte,
that in the winter daniperf the hepte ofa viaoriori
army, and nipped the lar. ?Js cf a forgoing ,^f.
perous campaign.
[The Magazines containing the remainder of
this impartial history are not yet obtained.!
CHARLES TO W N, December 1,
About three weak# ago. a fqracfroa of vary larre
Ships of war, were seen r^ar Hispaniola, fufr f,d
to be from the Hivaunah, a a div^on of Dun An
thoniede A T zt?s Squadron, expected from Ferrol.
Another Squadron, of large French mtn of war,
have been mice Seen near Maguana.
The Count de Sabran, a fine frigate of Marseilles,
Captain Gafquy, attempting to go over the bar last
Sunday ft'nnight, by bad fleerage; unfortunately got
upon the North Breaker, and is loft.
WILLIAMSBURG, (Virginia) January i§.
Monday last were seen, between Jamefiown and
Swan's point, two boats, one with two, the other
with four mea on b^ard, in the greate ft distress ima
ginable, and not able to reach either Shore for the
vast quantities of ice then floating in the river. The
Captain of one of our State Ships Sent hi# barge with
twelve men to their assistance, who, after rowing ma
ny hours, until the fun was almost dowfywithout
getting to them, were obliged to return; and as the
boats have no been Since heard of, it it feared the
poor men perished.
The Tempest is on Shore between Hog inland and
Cobham, a brig and a snow are aground near Mul
berry :fhnd, and a privateer brig Jrffei son, is funk
off Jameflown. She was a fie new veffd, jufifinim
ed and ready to Sail on a cruize.
Fera week past we have had the most severe wea
ther that has been fclt in this country upwards: of
forty years.
BALTIMORE, January 11.
Extract ofa letter from a Gentleman at Philadelphia
tohis friend in this Town, dated the sth inn.
" Capt. Owens, ofthe Schooner Hetty, who ar
rived at the Capes of Delaware the foth ult. in 22
Days from Cape Francois advise; that a British 74
Gun Ship had been lately taken, and carried to
Martinico, by three Frigates of Count D'Eftaing'a
Fleet : That the Mends of Jersey and Guernsey, on
the Coatt of France, were taken by the French :
That the Rimillies, a British Man cf War, of 74
Guns, had taken Fire at Sea, by which melancholy
Accident both the Ship and Crew were entirely left :
That 86,000 Militia were, by the last Accounts,
under Arms in England, and the British Nation un
der direful Apprehensions of an Invasion : That
there were great Difrentions in the Britiffi Senate,
Some urging an immediate Acknowledgment of A
merican Independency, and others violently oppof
ing the Projea as dilgracaful and ruinous : That the
British Crudes having committed great Depredati
ons on the Dutch Trade, the United Provinces were
determined, in future, to prcrtc&it by Force : That
P^facola was taken by the Spaniards, and that
Count D'E^aing's Fieri ' ^ gone to Europe. The
foegoing Intelligence Capt Owens heard and read
in News-Papers, at theCape."
_ PHILADELPHIA. January 12.
For fcveral days past we have had accounts of ves
sels being drove affiore, along the sea coast in the
late severe gales, but cannot find that any of them
are to be depended an, except that a brig cf 12 guns,
belonging to the enemy, is affiore near South Aim
bey, and a sh p of 20 guns at Squan.
January 24.
Ex/raft ofa letter from Ge teral Warrington to his
Excellency the Prefi lent of Congress, dated Mor
r^own, January 18, 1,8%
"SIR.;.
•' The severity cf A e weather having rendered a
defeent upon Staten-Ifond practicable by the ice ;
and it being also imagined, that the communication
between New York and the Island was interrupted
by the fame cause ; a favourable opportunity of Aris
ing the enemy stationed there, (who amounted by
report to 1000 or 1200 men,) seemed to present it
felf. A detachment of 2500 men, including the
troops under General L vine, was accordingly made
for that purpefe, and the command given to Major
General Lord S.irling. It was originally intended
to have attempted the execution of the matter by
surprise ; but there being good reason to sapped, that
the enemy by their emiffirie,, or by other means had
got notice of our designs, little hope remained of ef
feAirg the b^finefs in that manner. As the detach
ment was assembled near Elizabeth Town, it was
thought advisable to proceed at all events, upon a
corfidsmion that no bad con sequences could possi
bly result, andthat we might find an opportunity of
reaping feme advantages. We were however difap
pointed in our expectations, as Congress will per
ceivi by the enclosed report from Lord Stirling"
Lord Stfrling's Report.
_ S r ' R '
I have the honor to inform your Excellency, that
xirly on yeflerdky morning the corps under my com
mand eroded the Sound at De Hart's Point, and
proceeded towards the wearing place. The enemy
having received previous intelligence cf our move
men's, a surprise fe# cat c f the question, and as
their works were well fixated, and appeared other
wise firong, in afiult was deemed unadvifeable, as
is would probably have cost us more than We could
have gained by fuCeHs. We fdund too, contrary
to our expectation, that the communication between
the Island andNew-York was open. Imediately on
°'l' arrival in front of the enmy's works, they sent
cu a boat to the city, and in the evening fcveral vef
Ah; came down from thence to the Iflind. As from
this circumstance there was no hope of reducing them
fur want of provifibn or fuel, and a reinforcement
m%ht have rendered our continuance dangerous, we
decerminied to march off this morning. The retreat
was elected in goond order, and with very little
loss. A party of the enemy's horse charged our
rear guard under Major Edwards but was immedi
ately repulsed. The Major had three men killed ;
killed one of the light horsemen, and took his horse.
Some few of the men were frpft bitten, and though
we took all the pains in our ^we, to have all those
unable to march transported in fbighs, ye:l magine
a very few may have been left behind..
Immediately after creffing, a party ^3, detached
under Lieut. Col. Willet, to Beckett house. The
corps there had been alarmed and barely made its.
escape. The house, as a g^ifor, place, and eight off
nine (mall vessels were burned. A considerable quan
tity of blankets and other stores were found.
While the troops were upon the 1/h^d, a number
of persons from this fide took advantage of the occa
sion to pass upon the Inland, and plundered the peo
ple there in the most fhimeful and merciless manner.
Many of them were flopped on their return; and
their booty taken from them. In addition to which,
I have sent an order for publication, requiring those
who had eluded the search to reftpre the articles in
their poffiffun, and exhorting the good people at
large, to assist in detecting them. All the foldi&ycm
re creffing the ice, were Searched, and the little plun
der they had, taken from them, and their names no
ted, that they may be brought to punishment. The
article# recovered are, and will be depofi^d with
the R^y. Mr. Caldwell, who is exerting himfelf fa
the affair, to be returned to the owners. lam hap
py to inform your Excellency, thata vey incoufc
derable part indeed of the troops dif&mored them
selves, by participating in these enormities.;
The officers and men, in general, flawed a good
disposition, and I only regret there was no opportu
nity of turning it to the advantage.
I have the honor to be, &c
(Signed) r STIRLING.
Published by order of Congref,,
CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec'ry.
Elizabethtown, January ,5 1780,
Copy of a letter from Commodore John Paul Janet,
late commander of the ship of m r Good Mara
Richard, to Messieurs Gourlade and Moylan; off
L Orient, dated on board the ship of war Seraphis.
off the Texel, October 3; 1779.
,f I have only time, my dear frien&, to inform
you-, that I have this day anchored here, having ta
ken this ship in the night of the 23d ult. on thecoaS
of England, after a battle of three hours and a hat
two hours and an half of that time the G'>od Mare
Richard and this ifrp being fafl along fifeof one a
nother, both ships being in flames, and the C uo d
Man Richard making water fafter than all thr numpt
could deliver it. This ship mounts 44'gran; end h^
two entire batteries, one of them eighteen pounders,
so that my fixation was severe enough,,.to have to
deal with such an enemy, in such 4 dtadful ftp# i
o^ Judge then, what it muff have been when the
Alliance came up, towards the cleft ofthe A&ion -
and, instead of assisting roe, directed her whole fire
against the Good IVlan Richard, not once or twice
but repeatedly, after being fpeke to, and shewing
private signal of recognizance. The Alliance kifed
eleven men, and mortally wounded an officer on the
Good Man Richard's forecaftfe, at one volley. I
have loft,jn killed and winded, the best part of
men. The Good Man Richard went to the bottom
on the morning of the 25th ult. in spite of every e s.
fort to bring her into port. No a&ion before
ever, imall ief,e&, so bloody, so severe, and so lift
ing. I beg of you to communicate this, with mw
b±fi refpeds, to the gentlemen of your port."
“ The fire was not quite extinguished on board
of the Good Man Richard, til! eight hours after th^
enemy had flruck ; and at last it had reached with
in a few feet of the m^zine. We loft all the floret
and all our private eff:& ; but no lives were lo&
from the conflagration. The Pallas took, at the fame
time, an armed ft p of twenty 6 pounders.
JOHN PAUL JONES.
Theorizes taken and rrfomed by the
Good Man Richard, during her cruize of about three
month#, amount to at leaf! a million cf livres
January 27
Letters from Willianriburg fay, that by a gentle
man from Charkffown, and also by a Charleftown
paper, the Spaniards have invested St. Augufline -
that Ger.ml Prevoft with his whole army had ,ft