The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1779-08-24 00:00:00, page 2

cohfidtred in the following point of view :
The aclm, was deceived as to the strength
of the enemy ; he had a convoy which he
must protest ; he never could bring the
enemy to a close fight, as they edged away
from him as he bore down ; several ofhis
capital ships never came into adion, which
was the reason the ships engaged received
so much damage, being obliged (in the
general chace) to run by so many of the
enemy's ships, whom they beat out of the
line : the ships are now refitting, and are
determined to seek the foe as soon as re-
paired.
Adm. Byron, who was obliged to keep
a Ariawatch on his convoy of transports,
with troops, which was a great hindrance
to his operations, lay some time exposed to
a heavy fire from three oftheir capital ships,
notwithstanding which his damage is but
trifling, having but three men killed, and
two wounded.
In this desperate attack adm. Barring
ton received a wound in the lower part of
his right arm, by a splinter.
I: is hoped the gentlemen and ladies of
this and the neighbouring islands will shew
their gratitude to the men, who have fo^
nobly bled for us, in fending some frefh
provisions for the nourishment of the poor
wounded men landed here yesterday. Let
every one contribute a little, and they will
the sooner be able to do that duty which
we hope will keep this country out of the
hands of those that will oblige you to pay
them for taking your country.
Bets run twenty to one in St. Euftatius,
that this island will be in the hands of the
French in the space of three or four weeks.
It is also reported there, that the French
had failed for Barbadoes, with five fail of
the line and some frigates.
WILLIAMSBURG, July 28.
Twotwenty gun ships are arrived in York river;
from France, loaded with m litary ftorcs for the use
of this State; among them axe sixteen brass cannon,
from twenty four tofour pounders, several howitzers
and mortars with shells, bombs, and all the necessa
ry apparatus.
PHILADELPHIA; August 5 .
The inhabitants of Williamfbarg (Virginia) have
formed a Committee for the regulation cf price#,
and which is not doubted, will be followed by eve
ry County in the State.
The Etyifh accounts tell us, the Marquis de la
Fayette, is on board the squadron under M. la Mo
the Piquet, but they are miflaken, it is a cousin of
the Marquis who had the command of the troops on
beard that fleet, and is fife arrived at Martinique.
On Monday las iwas sent in here by the frigate
Boston and Deane, the privateer fchoone? Tryall, of
10 guns, of New York, by whom we learn that the
privateer Flying fifh, is also taken by the frigates,
and may be hourly exp6&ed.
By authentic accounts from the Frontiers it appears
that on the 28th of July a small fort, called Freelands
Fort, about 17 miles from Sunbury, was attacked
by about 200 Indians and too whites, who called
themfclvcs Regulars, but are supposed by some to be
Tories dreffid in red regimentals. They were com
manded by one M'Donald. There were in the fort
about 30 men and 50 women and children. Upon
the attack being made, Capt. Hawkins Boone, a ve
ry brave and gallant cfficer, with about 30 men;
Went to the relief of the fort, but before he got there
the fort had farrendered, and with the neighbouring
houses was set on fire and burnt. M Donald con
sented to let the women and children come away,
but it is not yet known what has been the fate of the
men. Capt. Boore advanced to the fort and engag
ed the enemy, but was soon overpowered by num
bers, and fill gallantly fighting for his distressed
country. Captains Dougherry and Hamilton are al
fj m ffing, a.d 18 cf the party. Some prisoners who
came from them (ay, that Capt. Boone's and 1 1 other
scalps were brought in the fort in an handkerchief
before they came away. On the 29th July North,
umberlaad was the frontier, and it was expeAed the
next day. that all the people and effects would be
August io.
Extracts of Letters from a gentleman of character in
St. Pierre, June 30, 1779.
" The Eighth, confiding in their superiority of
naval strength in theb seas, left their islands altogether
in a defenceleft state, with few troops aid without
artillery, and with no other dependence far their se
curity than the favorable impression which they ima
gined the idea of this superiority must occasion in the
minds of their enemies. Their head quarters were
fixed at St. Lucia, where all their land and naval
force was collected, which, being in the neighbor
hood of Martinico, from whence all hoßile expedi
tions ufual.br originate, they believed was a corfi
deration Efficient in itfelf to controul all the move-]
meats of the French troops and awe them into inac
tivity.
This plan of defence was originally well con
certed, mho' it was fubjea to the fame infirmities
that every human fyffem is liable to: Advantages
might even be taken of it when ftri&ly adhered to,
but if the commander in chief once deviated from it,
the iflinds committed to his care would be exposed
to the most imminent danger. This rrflf&ion ga
thers additional strength from looking back on the
recent operations of the two armies.
'' Admiral Byron having' two grand objects in
view, the one to favor and facilitate the departure cf
a very large fleet of merchantmen, the other to inter
cept a convoy of transports defined for the French
islands, very imprudently left St. Lucia with all
the flips under his command, to off?A such impor
tant service; he accompanied the fleet out of the
road of danger, and (here fixed hi, cruizing ground
to the windward of this island, in the track of falling
in with the Franch convoy; which happily arrived
here the 26th infant, by which fortunate circum
fianct Mons. D'Eftaing has obtained an accession of
naval strength, consisting rfyfofhips of the line and
4 frigates, under the command of Mons. de la Mothe
P.quet, besides 45 tranfpqrts with 2000 additional
troops.
" Immediately as it was known that Admiral
Byron had left St. Lucia, advantage was taken of
the opportunity that presented of attacking the island
of Ss. Vincents ; three ships of war, an armed brig,
with some transports, failed f om Fort- Royal Bay the
evening of the 10th inst. The next day a violent
gale of wind Operated the transports ; but the com
mander cf this expedi ion, notwithstanding that he
was deprived cfa great part cf his force, still perse
vered, and made a defeent on the island the i6ih
inst. with about 250 troops.
" This unexpected invasion, with the dread cf
the Caraibs, occasioned such tumult and disorder.
that the Governor immediately signed a capitulati
on, and farrendered the island to the Crown cf
France. The Caraibs greatly favored the operations
of the French forces by their early declaration for
them ; and it is from their future powerful efforts,
seconded by an implacable refitment against the
Eaglifh, that the greatest dependence may be placed
on retaining pcftffion cf this island. The situation
of this people is critical; for if toe English were
again to become poffz&d cf St. Vincents, they
removed ov^r !t Sunbury. Fort Maufty is evacua
0.1 the 3d ult. the Savages killed thiee men and
took two prisoners, near Lacoming. The Bth they
burnt the widow Smith's mills, and killed one man.
The llth they killed two men, and took three priso
ners, near Fort Brady. The fame day they burnt
Satret's mills, and all the principal houses in Mun
sey towulhip. The 2cth they killed three men at
Freeland's Fort, and took two prisoners ; after which
the main body attacked the fort, as has been before
related. The few people who are left in-the county —
have behaved whha great deal of spirit, but the
draught that has been made from the frontier coun
ties fur the boat service, and other duties on General
Sullivan's expedition has left very few men compar
ed to their former strength. General Sullivan was at
Wyoming when the lad accounts came away, but as
his principal magazine was at Sunbury, and that un
der a ferjeant's guard u: til the country people ga
thered there, it is to be feared this movement in his
rear may have serious consequences as to the expe
dition.---Col. Matthew Smith (a member of the
Executive Council) with a number of brave volun
teers, are gone from Paxtanj, and other parts cf the
county of Lancaster, until they can be fapported by
600 milita ordered out from Cumberland and Lan
caster. The county cf York having for some title
neglected their mlitis, and omitted giving their dis
tressed brethren affifance on a former occasion, have
not been called upon now. But as there are doubt
lets many brave and humane men in that large and
populous county, it isexped:d, that many of them
will turn out as volunteers. - We are assured that
the Executive Council have given all pcffible en
couragement to the volunteers who have marched.
would be exposed to the moflcruel perfecction, the
consideration cf which Will greatly animate them to
the most daring exertions of bravery for its defence.
': June 28. Count D'Eftaing seems determined to
seize every opportunity that offers to take advantage
es the critical date of the Enghffi peffeffionft The
whole fleet, confiding of 25 flips of the line and 11
frigates, have this day faded on an expedition against
the island of Grenada the capture cf which, from
its defencelefs situation, there is no reason to doubt cf.
" July 2d. Admiral Byron being informed of the
Colure of St. Vincents, on his arrival on the even
ing of the goth ult at St. Lucia, failed yesterday
morning with 18 ships of the line, 3 frigates, and
2000 troops, in order to retake it -He was then in
tirely ignorant cf the expedition tgainfl Grenada.
As he is not acquainted with the additional force
that Count D'Efaing has received, he will probably
fail in quest of him, as soon as he finds Grenada at
tacked; in which case, I am confident, from the spi
rit and ardour of the French troops, that be will meet
with a warm reception. The 2000 troops that are
gone on the expedition against St. Vincents, had all
their baggage embarkedon board the transports, and
were destined for North America,
" B the plan of military operations of the Britifli
forces for the ensuing campaign, it seems as if they
were intent on collecting all their force to a& against
the Americans ; and as it appears they negle& in a
great measure the defence cftheir islands, I have no
doubt their intentions art; (when they are forced to
withdraw their treeps from the Continent) to attack
the French islands in the Weft Indies."
" July 12. No news of importance has come
to hand since I did myfelf the honor of last writing
you -I therein mentioned that Admiral Byron had
taken his departure fiem S'. Lzcia, with a formida
ble fleet and army, in order to retake St. Vincents ;
being then ignorant es the Count D'Eftaing's expedi
"°n a;aintt Grenada, he appeared before the former
island, made a parade of his forces, and summoned
it to surrender: But on receiving a deputation of the
principal Eighth inhabitants, informing him of the
determined resolution cf the Caraibs; to carry devas
tation ihro' the whole country, if an hostile attack
should be made upon it, and beseeching him to
withdraw his forces, aid leave them to their destiny;
and moreover being made acquainted with the criti
cal fixation cf Grenada, he abandoned his enterprize,
and immediacy bent his course towards that island:
" As the French fleet had the flart ofhim four
days, I imagine, from the defencelefs state of the is
land, it must have capitulated, before the arrival of
any fuccour.
" The British troops are all embarked on board
cf transports, which must be a great incumbrance
and embarrassment to the fleet in an engagement, as
tliey will all be exposed to capture, from the supe
rior number of frigates, which attend the fleet of
Count D'Eftaing."
Extrad ofa letter from a gentleman at St. Euflatia,
dated 21st July, brought by Capt. Earl; who ar
rived here yesterday afternoon, in a passage of
eleven days.
'^ D'Eftaing failed theist inflant, landed on Gre
nada the 2d, the Island furiendered to him on the
sth, had a general engagement with Admiral Byron,
on the 6.h which lifted (even hours. Byron being
much disabled, fell to leeward, and only fetched
this Island on the 13th, and did net reach St. Kitts
until! the i,h.
July 22, 1779.
" I have the pleasure of confirming the Capitula
tion of Grenada; the particulars having just come
to hand. The French troops landed on the even
ing of the 2d to the amount of 1300 men, the enemy
was in poffiffion of a strong post called Hospital Hill,
very steep and difficult of access, it was fortified by
a pallifade on the foot and three intrenchments one
over the ether. As Byrons fleet was expelled eve
ry moment, the French General resolved on storming
it by three different attacks on the east fide, and im
mediately summoned the English Commander, (Lord
M'Cartney) to surrender, who gave for answer, that
knowing his own strength and being ignorant of
the French force, he was determined to defend
the post to the bel The French immediately began
the attack, the right was commanded by Vifeount
Noaille, the center by Count E. Dillon, the left by
Count A. Dillon. The assault was prosecuted with
great spirit, and the fort was taken after a violent en
gagement cf one hour. The artillery was four 24---
four 8 and 6 mortars. At day break the artillery
were turned against the other fort, and upon firing
the firft round an officer appeared with a flag, de
manding a capitulation. The terms propefed to the
French General being rejected, the island surrender
ed at diferetion. 700 prefoners are taken, viz. 6 Co
lonels, 8 Majors, 34 Captains, 35 Lieutenants, 35
Ensigns, 590 privates, 3 par colours, 102 pieces
cannon, 6 mortars. The Bench loft 53 men killed