The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1778-07-17 00:00:00, page 2

About live in the morning General Dickinson sent an express, informing th-t
the front of the enemy had began their march. ] instantly put the army in
motion. and sent orders by one of my Aidsi to General Lee to move on and ".
tack them, unless there shcu'd be very powerful lCdsCflS to the eartlrary, ac—
quainting him, at the same time, that ] un marchlng to support him. and,
for doing it With the greater expedhion and convenience, shOUId make the men
dsencumber themselves of their packt and blanhets.
After marching about five miles, to my great surprize and mostisication, ]
met the whole advanced corpl retreating, and, as] was told, by General Lee'e
orders, without having made any oppofltion, except one fire given by the party
under the commznd of Co]. Buttler, on their being charged by the enemy'g
cavaliy, who were repnlsed. ! pgoeeeded immediately to the tear of the corps,
which ] sound closely pressed U-y the enemy, and gave directiona for forming
part of the retreating troops, who, by the brave and spirited conduct of the
officers, aided by some pieces of well served artillery, checked the enemy's ad
unce, and gave time to make a dispofltion of the left winz and semd line of
the army upon an eminence, and in mood a little in the rear, covxnd by 'a
mons- in front. On this were placed some battericl of cannon by hard Stis
ling, who commanded the left wing, which played upon the enemy with St"!
effect, and seconded by partie] of infamty, deuched to oppos: them, effectu
ally put a (top to their advance. '
Geneul Lee being detachcd with the advanced corps, the command of the
right wing, foe the occasion, wan given to General Green. For the cxpedition
of the march, and to command any attempt to turn our right, ! had ordered
him to ile ofi by the new church, two miles from English Town, and fall into
the Mcnmouth road. a small distance in the fear of the courthouse, while the.
na of the column moved directly on towards the courthoufe. On intelligence
of the sitten, he marched up, and took a very advantageous position on the
ri ht. .
s'l'he enemy, by thil time, finding themselves warmly opposed in front, made
an attempt to turn our lest aanlt, but they were bravely repaired and driven
back by detached parties of insanty. T hey also made : movekY'tent to our right,
with a little success, General Green having advanced : body of troops, with
artillery, to a commanding piece of ground, which not only disappointed their
dedgn of turning our tight, but severely enhhded_those in front of the left wing.
In addition to thin, General Wayne advanced with a body of troops, and kept
up so fevete and well directed a fire, that the enemy were soon compelled to
_ retire behind the defile, where the firfl stand in the beginning of the action had
been made.
in thia duration, the enemy had both their flankt secured by thick wooda and
mralsea. while their front could only be approached through a narrow past.
! ralolved, nevertheless, to attack them, and for that purpose ordered General
Poor with his own and the Carolina brigade, to move round upon their right,
and General Woodford upon their left. and the artillery to sail them it: from ,
but the impediment in their way prevented their getting within reach W-e it
4
was dark. They remained upon the ground they had been directed to aFyct
during the night, with intention to begin the attack early the next me. ning,
and the army continued lying upon their arms in the field of action. to be in
readineft to support them. in the mean time the enemy were employed in se.
ntoving their wounded, and about twelve o'clock at night marched avay in
(uch silence, that, though General Poor lay extremely near them, they effected
their retreat without hit knowledge. They carried of all their wounded, ex
cept four officers and about forty privates, whose wounds were too dangerous
to permit their removal.
The extreme heat of the weather, the (atizue of the men from their march
through : deep sandy country, almost entirely deitirute of water, and the
dflance the enemy had gai ed by marching in the night, made a pursuit im
practicahle and fruitlest. t wcmd have answered no valuahle puvpose, and
would have been fatal to number; of our men, several of whom died the pre
eeding day with heat.
Were ] to conclude my account of thin day'a transactions without expressing
my obligntiom to the office" of the army in general, ] should do injushce to
their merit, and violence to my own seelings. They seemed to vie with each
other in manisefling their zeal and bravery. The catalogue of those who distin
guished themselvet il too long to admit of particularifing individuals. ] cannot,
however, forbear mentioning Brigadier General Wayne, whose good conduct
and hravery, through the whole action, deserves particular commendation.
The behaviour of the troopt in general after they recovered from the first
surprize, occasioned by the retreat of the advanced corpt, was such as could
not be surpassed. -
All the artillery, both officers and men, that were engaged, distinguished
themselves in a remarkable manner. ,
Enclosed Congrefa will he pleased to receive a return of our killed, wounded,
and mishgt Among the first were Lieutenant Colonel Bonner of Pennsylva
nia, and Mljor Diekenson of Virginia, both officers os distinguished merit. and
much to be regretted. The enemy": slain lest on the field and harried by us,
according w_the return of the periom assigned to that duty, were four oMeu
' and two hundred and forty five private; in the former number was the Ho
nourable Colonel Moncltton. Bxclufive of these they buried somesithemseiver,
at there were several new greves near the field of battle. Many men they .ss
may have had wounded cannot be determined, bet front Wal ]: *
the number men have been eonfiderable. ' There were : ct "
The peculia- fituation of General Let at thia time,- requiru ss', !
:ssmawma. Heiutowinamfl. Thehargn ' '
such sentence :- the court mmial mly decree in hi- clsc, (pull de transmuted
for (he zpprctobnioa or disapprobnion of Congrefa :: soon :! ]: nnll have plfl'oi. sif
Being sul'y convinced by the gentlemen of thin country that the meum
not be hurt or mjured in zheir embarkarion at Sandy Hook, the plan u_ si ct jsi
they are somg, and unwilling to get (00 far removed from the Nonh me. fsisi
put the uoops in motion early (hii morning, and shall proceed lhn vusiysikuiss
the ]ersey brigade, Morssan's corps, and other light pzniu (the mill::
all dlsmilscd) co hover about them, countenance desertion, nnd to prem'
dcprednions as far no possible. After they embark the former wiuuh
the neighbourhood of Bliubnhtown, the latter rejoin the corp- fictols _
they were deucned. ' si
! ba-ul the honour to be, with th: greatest " (8, ."
Sir, you- no], 06: uutstrvnr,
G. WASIHNGTGN.
'Tlu Honourable Hnu v LA un un, Essi
Prg'idnt qf Congnsq. , _
R 5 l' U R N olss tho killed, wounded. and mifflng, of tho Am. um] in
the battle of Monmoulh, on the zSch day of,]uo, "78. *
Kuuo. ! Licncemnc Colonel, : Mans, 3 CIMI, swain. ]
serjeam, 5: nnk nnd file. - ct : _
Wounozo. : Colonels, 8 Czpc-ins, 4 first Lieuunlnu, : second [jay; ss_ '
nnnu, 1 Ensign, : Adjuum. 8 serjczms, : drum, no rank IM lb.
stsmc. 5 sesjeanu, 126 rank and tile. Many ofthe mifia'd si
through (nigue, nnd have since comein- si — - _
ARTILLERY. Knuo. [first Lieucenan, 7mmol'n, ] -— - "
Wouuou. : Capuin, : serjunc. : corponl, ] (m, lo si
Munnc. xmuosu
Six horse: killed, and two wounded.
PHlLADELPHlA, juy'q. si i
GlN'I'LIMlN- Punl, ]! 18. 7}!- 'ss
ERTMN intelligence having been received, that eleven ritish 'pe of
war, viz. one of ye gon:, nine of 74, and oneofhgttn, mindle . si -'
mad osctSt. Hellem, near Portsmouth, bound sor th Anus" andthe 'ct
United States being in alliance with France, you are "quence, :ctlpeedfly le
possible, to convey this information to the commandm of any French fleet. es si
ships of war in Ametica, by sending them this letter, and eke to publish the
contents of it in all the cobtinental newspaperl.
We have (be below to be, (fellow,
Ten m} obedient btdhfnvnn.
]. F ]- A " X !
] 0 H !: A n .. _ '
'To (be Common. or an} Constllor. or Sanies. . , - -,
w omnia of") House of Rtpnsmrnriwy, in
an} if the Tbirmn U-iud Sum ofAmm'u.
Read in Congtess, july 8, 1778, and ordered to be pubfifhed.
CHARLES THOMSON.
ln CONGRESS, July 7, "78.
Rzsuh/ed nnanimonst), that the thank! of Congrese be given ! *
ington for the activtty with which he marched smm che an'
in pursutt of the enemy, for his distinguished exertiona in (or_
battle, and for his great gcod conduct in leading on the attack ' _
important victory of Mcnmouth, over the British grlnd arm Me 3
diate command of Lieurenant General Sir Henry Clin - si ' _ , ,
Philadelphia to New Yolk. -- ss '
Rrj'almd, that General Washingtoa be directed to 5
gress to the galiant officer. and men under hie colmt "
themselves by their conduct and valour :: the battle of
Each {p- un
C H AR LE , T -
On Thmsday lest the Honourable the C
the state house in this city. .
The number of desertert, chie—fly Hefflam,
since they lest this city, amounn to upwards - '
We hear shut the British troop- now in N
that City, and that the_ of the tr-- '
!: the eontineot Will soon be
drawn off to Briuin o: - ' ' '
, " ; (Fmbold) in 19. 1778.
latel tho army on : vi '
ic Majesty yesterday, and thanke mo nen],
- who distinguished themselm upcn the occasion.
rs as, by their good order and eooiness, gu- the hippiefl presage
have been expected had they come to action.
Itmson, and the miliua of this Sute, are also thanked for their
ppofing the enemy in their march srom Philadelphin, end for the
ve given in hamsing and impeding their action, so as to anw th'
ntal troops to come up with them.
with peculiar pleasure the Commander in Chies, 'lt addition to the above,
can inform General Knot, and the oleen of lrtinery, that the enemy have
ass: them_the justice to [acknowledpthat no nailes) could be better served
( oure. si