The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1780-06-27 00:00:00, page 3

11 seventy fix the ardour of the enterprifio, part
way eorfdembiy checked by the real revolt of feme,
and die coolaefs of others. But in the' present case
there is a firmnefe in the substance and property of
the country to the public cause. An affiliation has
been entered into by the merchants, tradesmen and
principal inhabitants of the city, to receive and sup
port the new State money at the value of gold and
silver ; a measure, which, while it doe# them ho
nour. will likew fe contribute to their inferefl, by
tendering the operations of the campaign conveni
ent and cff<aual.
Neither has the r p rit of exertion flopt here. A
voluntary fubfe p^on is likewise began to raise a
fund of hard money, to be given as bounties to fill
up the full quota of the Pennsylvania line. It has
been the remark of the enemy, that every thing in
America has been done by the force of government ;
but when sh? fees the individuals throwing in their
voluntary a dr, and facilitating the public measures
in concert with the efiabltfhzd powers of theconntry,
it will convince her that the cause of America flands
not on the will of a few, but on the broad foundation
of property and popularity.
Thus aided, and thus Supported, difaffe&ion will
decline, and the withered head of tyranny expire in
America. The ravages of the enemy will be short
and limited, and like all their former ones will
produce a victory over themselves.
COMMON SENSE.
Philadelphia, June 9 1780
At the time of writing this number of the Crisis,
the less of Charleftown, though believed by feme,
was more confidently d (believed by others. But
there ought to be no longer a doubt on the matter.
Charleftcwn is gone, and I believe for want of a fuf
ficient supply of provisions. The man that does
not now feel for the honour of the best and nobleß
cause that ever a country engaged in, and exert him
felf accordingly, is no longer worthy a peaceable
residence among a people determined to be free.
)K^^WM^*^OB
P'H ILADELPHI A, jane 14.
Ex raft of a letter from Morritiown, Juae 9,
" The dry before yesterday the enemy came out
from New York, via S am Island, and landed at
Bhztbeth Town, about 5000 Our army all moved
to meet them: The militia turned out with spirit--
ikirm fh n% in abundance; one Captain with 4 men
took 16 British. It isTaid the enemy intended for
this town: -They have been between Connecticut
Farms and Springfield, and burnt every house in the
former except ooe :--They have been drove back to
Elizabeth Town Point, where they lie behind our
old enueicemeats : - Our army is at the Short H 11%
on thh fide Springfield. Tue militia are near the
enemy, and keep a conffant popping at them-- I be
lieve N rrYork ta very bae of troops. The tories
were fa fare of the enemy's facceeding. that they
feat word to their friends at Elizabeth Town, that
they Should piy them 1 visit the day after the enemy
came over : They a e bauked---The affair is not
fettled yf. M.Ludwig, of your city, and Baker
General of the array : was in the a&ion, and tock a
prisoner."
ExtraA of a letter from an intelligent Gentleman in
the neighbourhood of Morristown, dated June
9, 1780.
•' Although extremely fatigued, I catch a mo
ment to inform you that I have just returned from
Elizabeth Town, where I have been reconnoitring
the enemy': fi nation and ftiength.
“ To %ive you any tolerable idea cf their ravages
and cruelty is beyond my descriptive abilities. --
They came out in force on Tuesday night and Wed
nefday morning, and landed in Elizabeth before day.
Most obfevers differ in the account cf their num
bers, from my own observation, I suppose them a
bout 5000, with 17 pieces cf artillery, and every
preparative for a lengthy march
" They advanced to Connecticut Farms, about
five miles diflar.ee, very tally in the morningcf Wed
nefdxy; and abbo' they observed great discipline
and decorum in E"z:beth Town, yet at the farms,
every step was marked with wanton cruelty and
caufeiefs covariation.-- -They set fire to and entirety
defiroyed the Pre fb yterian church, and 14 dwelling
houfeo and buna, so that there are (I think) but two
dwelling henfrs remaining in that fertile settlement.
But alas, S.r, this is only one part cf the horrid feene !
“ I) this neighbourhood lived the Rev. Mr.
Jarnos Caldwell, whefe zeal and activity in the canfe
of his county had rendered him an obje& worthy
of the ci<m,'s teeneft resentment.
" H # t vigilance and attention had always evaded
every *uempt to injure him. and tl erefore it was
now d^terrnHed o wound him in an unguarded
put: Fallowing thi absurd principles cf <OO many
of our ijcau ious coin rynea, he left his wife and
finely at home, trading to the politeness and huma
nity of the enemy towards an amiable woman, and
a number of helpless and innocent children, though
he did not think it prudent to trust them with his
own fafety : He had been warned of their utmost
hatred to him, and therefore diffaaded from leaving
his family in their power; but alas, his confidence
in their benevolence towards the helnlefs has been
his deftruAion. Soon after their pori&fiiag themselves
of the neighbourhood, a soldier came to the house,
and putting his gun to the window cf the room where
this worthy woman was fitting (with her children,
and a maid with an infant in her arm^, along fide of
b,) he fh)t her through the lungs dead on the (pot:
Soon after an officer with two Haffians came in and
ordered a hole dug, and her body thrown in, and the
house to be set on fire.
" At the earnest req est of an effieer of the new
levies, and with some difficulty, the body was Offer
ed to be carried to a small house inghe neighbourhood,
and Mr. Caldwell's dwelling house immediately set
on fi± and every thing belonging to him confirmed
together. The only comfort arising to to this ;ffi &
ed family is, that the wretch who served as the exe
cutioner of this murdered lady (who from her excel
lent character defer ved a better fate) did hii business
io effectually, that the loft her life without distress or
pain. Thus it is, that even the tender mercies of
the wicked arc cruelty. This melancholy affair,
with their cruel burnings, has railed the resentment
of the whole country to the higher pitch, they are
ready almost to fwtar an everlasting enmity to the ve
ry name ofa Briton. So far is this cruelty and de
vastation terrifying to fubm.ffion, that it toefes the
mod timid to feats of desperate heroism.
" A mod worthy man, who has for more than
four years pal devo ed himfelf to the service of his
country, is thus left w.th nine small children, defti
tut'e of even a fh.fi of deaths to comfor them. Ma
ny cf the inhabitants are in a similar filiation; some
widows, feme aged, feme ii firm.
" So many have fuffered and are daily Offering
amoug us, that it is impcffible any thing coifiderable
can be done for them here, more than to provide for
there present necessities. Shall I beg in behalfcf
these worthy, tho' unf&unate fellow citizens, fuf
sering in the common cause, that you will exert yo&r
felf among your acquaintance to afford them feme
relief. The difficulty of obtaining linen, cloaths,
6c. &e. is infurmoumable among us. A small pit
tance (avid from your luxuries will rejoice the hearts
of our defponding brethren, and engage others to
ftp forth with firmuifs. to cppt.fi the foes cf Ameri
ca and mankind.
" It wounds the heart of the brave and venturous
citizen, to behold the piteous, heart rending fbffer
ings of the widows, children and dependants, of
these who have nobly fought the battles cf cur conn
try, and bled in her righteous cause, while those
who fly from the appearances of danger are rioting
in the Spoils of those, who bear the heat and burden
of the day.
“ I know your generous heart will bear a part
with the afflictions of every fufferer in so glorious a
cause, and your benevolent hands will be ready to
exert themselves, to obtain the relief that may be in
your power.
" But to return, the enemy, being opposed ly a
regiment cf Col. Dayton's and such militia as could
be fnddenly colleAed, made a flow advance, till they
c^me to a bridge at the entrance of Springfield,
where the militia had an old iron 4 pound field piece,
which they used to such purpole, that the enemy
were drove back for some considerable diflance. Be
ing thus encouraged Col. Dayton's regiment, aid
the militia together, prilled upon them, and killed
and wounded many cf them, the general animate
is about 100. As our people were reinforced they
gained fimrefs, and at ni^ht ^e enemy had secured
no farther than Connecticut Farms. In the night,
having received an exptefs from Gen. Clinton in
Soeth Carolina they immediately began a retreat,
and by 10 o'clock on Thursday they had gained Eli
zabeth-Town Point, from whence they sent eff all
their waggons, a part of their artillery and feme of
their cavalry. Previous to this Lord Stirling with
General Hand's brigade and the militia was detach
ed close on their rear, and between El zabeth Town
and the Print bad a very severe fkirn Ih feme loss
on both sides. Never did troops behave better than
curs. The militia behaved beyond any thin# hat
could have been expeAed. The Continental officers
gave them the greater credit. It is said the enemy
had been perfaaded, that if er the taking cf Charlef
town the militia would all submit, end the Continen
tal troops would desert. It feerasas if ibe militia
had known these suggestions. Never did they so
univeifilly turn out on such short notice and never
with better spirits. I left this morning, at least,
2000 of them below the mountains, and mote flock
ing down Continually : Col. Dayton deserves the
greatest credit, as does all his officers, who behaved
unexceptionably.
'' The enemy were all day yeflerday maroe ver
ing to bring on a general engagement, and General
Washington trying to draw them from their ibeng
pofirffion on the Point, where it was impcffible to at
tack them to advantage. Both have failed, and Ge
neral Washington hath drawn back the main body
cfthe army above Spring field to reftefh them, as they
w&e exceedingly fatigued with two days and two
nights lying on their arms. Eve p y thing has been
carried on with great propriety, and we are in hopes
these gentry will be obliged to retire, rotwithfiand
ing their sanguine expectations. Gen. Kryphaufen,
it is said brought over his carriage, exp^aing to
have corfidetable use for it. There it a brigade left
to watch their motions at Elizabeth Town, with a
number of the militia. They -are in such force, that
I am clear cf opinion they intend to penetrate the
country, and from feme hins that have dropped,
they have Pennfylvauia in their eye, if they can beat
General Washington.
" I would give you many more particulars, but
I am wearied beyond measure with the fatigue of
three days ride, and no rest at night, and I write in
paiD ° 0
" P. S. I forgot to mention a circumflance rela
tive to Mrs. Caldwell's death, that is very ftrikihg.
Some of the soldiers attacked a young lady about
three miles from Mr. Caldwell's house, and one of
them presenting a fixed bayonet to her breast fwoie
he would kill her, for that fn? was the wife of Mr.
Caldwell. He was with difficulty prevented from
putting his threats into execution by a young officer
who knew the lady and swore to him that she was
not the wife of Mr. Caldwell or any other perfoo.
This was previous to her murder. And on their re
treat from Connecticut Farms, a soldier bragged at
Elizabeth Town that he had shot this unhappy la
dy."
Sunday arrived here the prize brig Sally, Capt,
Fo£er, bound from London for N~w York laden
with flour and brandy, taken by the Fair American,
Cap'. Decatur, of this port.
In coDfequence cf the late advices from Camp,
four claries of the Militia cf this city aid diftrfls cf
the counties of Philadelphia, Cheder and Becks,
four companies of artillery, and the troep cf Light
Horse, have orders to hold themf vet in readiness
to march on the fhort^fl notice, to join the army un
der his Excellency General Washington.
M^XX^X^MMXXMX^X^XX
Statb' of Vermont,) M z 8 g o
County cf B2unington.T J '
APPLICATION hath been made so me
the Subscriber, by more than a 6x'eenih part
of the Proprietors of P AWLETT, in the
county cf Bennington, to call a meeting of said Pro
prietors, to be held at the house cf Jonathan W 1-
lard, in said Pawlett, on the last Wednesday of Au
gust nex;, at ten o'clock in the morning ; to a& on
the following articles, v.z. First, To choose a Mo
Aerator. Second, To choose a Proprietors Clerk.
Third. To fee if said Proprietors will agree and lay
cut a fifth division in said tewnfh p. Fourth, To fee
if the Proprietors will ratify and cerfi m the hun
dred acre pitch, that has formerly been layed out
for the firft fettled M nifter. Also, to grant a tax on
the P cprietors. Audio ttanL& any other business
that (hall be proper to be done at said meeting. TLcfr
are therefore to notify said Proprietors, to meet at
the time and place abovementioi ed.
GIDEON ADA MS. J P.
WHEREAS application has been made to
me the Subferiber. by more than a fixtrenth
part of the Proprietors of WBTHERSFIELD,
in the county of Cumberland, and S ate of Vermont,
to meet at the dwellin, house of Israel Burllingga
mus, in said town, on Tuesday the 29* of August
next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon ; to rd on the
following articles, viz. First, To choose a Moderator
to govern said meeting. Second, To choose a Clerk
to record the proceedings. Third, To fee if they
will p^fs a vote to pay a certain sum on each right
of land, towards miking reads in said town. Fourth.
To fee if they will pass a vote to pay a certain sum
on each right towards building a Meeting House,
and supporting the Gospel in said town. And to do
any other bufiaefs necessary to be done a' said meet
ing ELIAS WELD, J. P.
M*y 9, 1780.
TAKEN up by the fubicrbcf a b.owi MARE.
10 years old. 13 hands high, natural trotter,
a star in her forehead, branded on the left Ihculder
and thigh, the letters unknown. The owner is de
fied to pry charges and take her away.
JEHIEL BENHAM.
New. Hartford, May 29, 1,80.