The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1776-07-06 00:00:00, page 1

was taken by one of the continental cruisers, who had put the Captain,
his Lady, and all the hands (which did not voluntarily enter on board
the cruiser) ashore at New Providenece. The. prize-master of the ship
-on-his paflage from the Weft Indies, “met with a Scotch vefiel of force
with go soldiers bound for Boston, on board of which he breakfafted,
and told the Scocth Captain he was deftinedfrom Jamaica for London,
but as he thought sugars would bear a better price at Boston, he had
thoughts of trying that market firft. The Scotchman being a firanger
to this coast, }d)::ﬁred the prize-master to pilot him in, which he agreed to,
and conduéted him almost into Cape Anne, when he observed two of
our privateers appearing in fight, discovered the trap, and being consi
derably to the windward, made the best of his way off.
Friday last Capt. Daniel Waters, in company with a Marblehead
rivateer; took a large ship from Scotland, having on board ¢4 Highe
fandcrs, between 30 and 40 soldiers for the ministerial fleet, and 40
pieces of cannon, four and fix pounders, besides fix mounted on deck,
&c. The Marblehead privateer took 6o of the soldiers on board, and
carried them to Plymouth. Captain Waters, with the prize and the
remainder, arrived fafe at Marblehead on Sunday. It is said this is the
ship mentioned in the preceding paragraph. . "
We hear another ship, with troops, which failed from Glasgow, in
~ company with the above, is loft, and every foul perished. %
,Frid? lafl, the Milford frigate cyme up with the Yankey Hero,
Capt. Tracy, o 1 Newbury Port, when an obstinate engagement com
menced, which continued near two hours and an half, wﬁen the Yankey
Hero was obliged to firike to the frigate, which was vastly superior in
force. Four of the crew were killed in the engagement, and 14 wound
ed, one mortally. Capt. Tracy was shot in the thigh, and his Lieute
nant received a ball in his shoulder; but both are likely to do-well.
Fune 17. Last Thursday the inhabitants of the town of Boston were
made acquainted, by beat of drum, that an expedition was to be under
taken against our enemy’s ships in Nantafket Road, and for ereéting pro
per fortifications in the lower harbour. Accordingly detachments from
the colonial regiments, commanded by Colonels Marshal and Whitney,
and battalion of train, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Crafts, were
embarked on board boats at the long wharf, together with cannon, am
munition,. provision, entrenching tools, and every neceflary implement,
and proceeded for Pettick’s island and Hull, where they were joined by
some continental troops and sea-coast companies, so as to make near 600
men at each place; alike number of the militia from the towns in the
vicinity of Boston harbour, with a detachment from the train, and some
field-pieces, took post at Moon island, Hoff’s Neck, and Point Alderton.
At the fame time a detachment from the continental army, commanded
by Col. Whitcomb, with two 18 pounders, one 13 inch mortar, with
the neceflary apparatus, entrenching tools, &c. were embarked for Long
island, to take post «tiere. The troup.sdid not arrive at their several
places of destination tiil near morning, cccafioned by a flat calm; not
withstanding, such was the attivity and alertness of our men, that they
had the cannon planted, and aline of defence hove up on Long island and
Nantafket hill, in a few hours, when a common shot from Long island
announced to the enemy our design. Upon which a signal was immedi
ately made for the whole ficet (consisting of 8 ships, 2 snows, 2 brigs,
and one schooner) to remove and get under way. The Commodore
‘(Banks) bore our fire, and returned it with spirit, till a shot from Long
island pierced the upper works of his ship, when he-imimediately un
moored, or cut his cables, and got under fail; and ha‘p};%r him that
he did so, for in a {mall space ot time afterwards_a shell from our works -
fell into thevery spot he had just before quitted. Unhappily our cannon
did not arrive at Pettick’s island and Nantafket as soon as might have
been withed; but the fire from the latter place being properly pointed
against the Commodore’s ship, who came to in the light-house channel,
is apprehended to have done considerable execution. ;
[July 6, 1776.] Williamsburg: Printed by Dixon & Hunter. [No. 1300.]
T
WATERTOWN, June 10.
UESDAY last arrived fafe at Newbury Port, a sloop
from Tortola, and a schooner from Barbados, as
~ prizes, taken by Capt. O'Brian, in one of this colony
-cruisers, who was left in chafe of a ship when the
above prizes garted with him.
~ Thursday lase was sent into Cape Anne, a large
Jamaica-man, with 500 hogsheads of sugar, besides
other valuable goods, and a large sum in specie. She
AST Saturday arrived here the thip True BTue, of 300 tons, taken
L about 14 days past, by the brig Cabot, Capt. Hinman; her cargo
consists of 115 puncheons, and 22 hogsheads of rum; 84 hogiheads, 29
tierces, and 18 barrels of sugar; 23 tierces of coffee; 60 bagsand 2 casks
of pimento; 200 bags and 10 calks of ginger; 182 bags of cotton; and
48 hides. She was from Jamaica, bound to Lancaster, in England,
mounted 6 carriage guns, and had 16 men, but made no resistance.
Capt. Hinman was waiting for a ship of 600 tons, when this prize left
him.
A Philadelphia armed pilot boat has lately carried into Cape Antie, ia
‘Jamaica ship, liomeward bound, with 400 hogsheads of sugar; 100 pun
cheons of rumj; a large quantity\of cotton and coffee; and 20,000 dol
lars in cath. : £ .
A Lent! man who left the Vineyard on Monday, infoims, that some
“;nmt.ntal «# ers, or privateers, had sent a ﬂu;) of 300 tons in theye,
loa< 3 with o wr, rum, and Madeira wine, bound from Jamaica to
Engiand, and they had taken three or four more, which were to make
the firlt port they could. The above'&p was to be carried into Dartmouth
the firll wind.
June 17. Friday last arrived here from a cruise the brig Andrew Do
ria, ' Capt. Biddle, who about 14 days before took two transport ships
frdm@'cmock, having on board each 100 Scotch troops; Capt. Biddle
took out the officers, navigators, and sailors, to the number ofp 40, with
all the finall arms and baggage of value, manned the thips with his own
men, and kept company with them 13 days, when, being a little without
Nantatket shoals, they were chafed by five veflels, one 2 pretty large
man of war; upon which he ordered the prizes to steer different courfis,
and though the man of war chafed him, night coming on, he soon loit
fight of them. The prisoners brought in were landed here on Friday
evening, and report-that they were part of 33 fail from Greeenock . . - -
Y a letter from a Gentleman at Albany we are informed that the
B Hon. General Thomas died of the smallpox at Chniblse, about a
fortnight since. ; By 00N
Since our last advice has been received in,town from Albany, . that 3
large ntsaber ‘of the McKawk tribeof Ilmiar.s,' headed /I )
Johnson, had come down the Mohawk river in 2 hoffile rivh) er, and
that General Schuyler had marched with a body of troops to meet them.
We have not yet received any farther particulars.
Governor Trumbull has received an express from the Continental Con
gress, desiring him to lose no time in raising men, as certain intelli
gence is received that New York will be attacked by the enemy in a few
days,
The ministerial fleet, on Friday last, before they quitted the harbous’
of Boston, blew up the light-house; which entively destroyed the {ame.
In our Jaft we mentioned the Yankey Hero privateer being taken by
the Lively frigate, since which we are informed it was by tite Milford
frigate, of 28 guns, just double force of the Yankey Hero; and that on
Tuesday last Mefl. Samuel White and Martin Brimmer obtained leave
of General Ward fora flag to go on boatd of Capt. Banks, and if pef
fible to make exchange of prisoners of the Yankey Hero. They were
very politely received by Capt. Banks, and had his affarance that he
would do all in his power to effeét an exchange; that he would femo
Halifax to his ¢ommanding officer immediately, and as soon as he d
his anfver woﬁ fend wvp a flag to town. Capt. Tracy received a wound
in his thigh, no ways dangerous. -Mr. Mains, the Lientenant, was
badly wounded. = One Rowe, of Cape Anne, loft his ann; four killed
in the engagement, one died of his wounds removing from the Yankey
Hero, and 14 wounded. Captain Tracy infoimed them that Czptain
Banks treated him and his crew with the greatelt civility ; that they were
in want of noone thing; that the surgeon had taken the greatest care
of- the wounded. Capt. Banks had heard of the charater he hed on
shore for his ill treatment to his rifoners, which he {aid was absolutely
falfe, and appealed to all his oﬂscers and to his prisoners, who assured
them that they were well treated. . 3
Yesterday fe’ennight the Highlanders taken in the Scotchman mentioned
in our last were conduéted to the Provost prison in Boston, by a strong
guard from Col. Glover’s at Marblehead. The officers are sent to Con.
cord, and we hear the soldiers are going to Worcester, 54 -
’N EWPO RT, - Fune 10.
HARTFORD, Yune 17.