The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-12-27 00:00:00, page 2

v IT R GIN %A, Deeember 16, 1995,
Bythe RepRESENTATIVES of the PEorL &of the colény and
dominion of VIRGINIA, assembled in GENErAL CoON
VENTION. Sy
A. - D:E C AR AT 1950 N
'\/VHEREAS Lovd Dunmore, by-his praclamation, dated
on hoard the hip William, the igth day of Novem
ber, 6775, hath prefuméd, in dire violdtion of the confli
tucion, and the laws of this country, to declare martial law
in force, andto be executed throughout this colony, whereby.
our lives, our liberty, and propesty, are arbitrarily subjected &
~to his power and dirt@ions add whetreas the {faid Lord Dun
more, assuming powers which the Kieg himfelf cannot ex+
_ercife, to intimidate the good people of this colony intoa
compliamee with his aybitrary will, hath weclared those who
do net immediately repairto his standard, and submit in all
things to a government not warranted by the coaltitution; to
be in actual rebeilion, and thereby to have incurred “the
penalties inflidted by the Jaws for such offences; and hath
gdired fecedom to the servants and slaves of those he is
plealcd to term rebels, arming them against their masters, and
defiroying the peace and happiness of his Majelty’s good and
taithful fabjecs, whose property is tendered infccure, add
whose lives ‘ate expafed to the dangers of a generalgnfurrec
#on s We, as guardians of the lives and liberty of the pco
ple our con(titvents, conceive it to.be indispensably our duty
to protect them again(t every species of despotism, and to
endeaveur toremove those fcg&with which they are so jultiy
alarmed. ;. Cr e R ~
It it were'poffible the underffanding of men could be so
_blinded that evary” gleam of reason might be loft, the hope
his Lordibip fays he hath everentertained of ap accommo
‘dation betweén Greawßritain and this colony, might now
paﬁ\unn_otic&- but truth; justice, and common sense, must
odg prevail, séxen Faélts can be appeaied to in theis support.
MEse the peculiar happiness of ths colony that his Lord{hip
ean be: traced as the source of inpumerable evils, and one
of the princpal causes of the misfertunes under whieh we
now labour. A pasticular deraillof his condu& since his ar
rivalin this colemy can be considered only as a repetition, it
having been already fully published to the world by the pro
ccedings of the General Assembly, and a former Convention §
but the uaremitting violence with which his Lordihip en
deavours to iavolve this country, in the most dreadful cala
mities, constantly affirds new matter for the attention of
the public, and will remove every imputation of ingratitude
to his Lordship, or of injustice to his charattor. His Lord
ship is pleased to ascribe the unworthy part he hath taken
‘againft this colony to a peceflity, arising from the conduct
of its inhabitants, whem he hath cenfidered in a rebellions
state, but who know nothing of rebellion except the name.
Pver zealeus in support of tyranny, he hath broken the
bends of society, and trampled juflice under his feet, Had
his Lordship been desirous of effed@ting an accommodation
of these difbutes, he hath had the most ample occasion of ex
erting both his interest and abilitics ; but that he never had
in view any such salutary end molt evidently appeass, trom
the whole temour of his condu&.
The fappofed design of the Canada bill having been to draw
down upon us a merciless and savage enemy, the present ma
neenvres amonglt the Roman Catholics in Ireland, and the
dchemes concerted with Doctor Connelly, aad other vile in-
Ttruments of tyranay, whioh have appeared by the examinati
“tion of the {aid Conselly, juftify the fuppoiition, and most
fully evince, his Lordship’s inimical and evuel disposition to
wards us, and cam best determine whether we have been wrong
in preparing to resist, even by arms, that {yftem of tyranny
adopted by the Ministry and Parliament of Great-Britain, of
which he is become the rigid exceutioner in this colony. The
many depredations committed also upon the imhabitants of
this colony, by the tenders and other armed veflels, employ
ed by his Lord(hip for such purposes, the pilfering and plun
dering the nroperty of the people, and the aduai fedu&tion
and seizure of their laves, were truly alarming in their effects,
and called aloud for justice and refiltance. The persons of
many of our peacsable brethren have been seized and dragged
o confinement conwracy to the principles of liberty, and the
conftitusion of oy counury. Yet have we born this injurions
greatment with unexampled patience, unwiiling o {hed the
blood of our fellow fubjedts; who, prosecuting the measures
of a British Parliament, would facrifice our lives and property
to a relentless fury, and unabating avariee. If a Gevernor
can be authorifed, even by Majesty itfelf, to annul the laws
of the land, and introduee the most execrable systems, the law
raartial 3 if, by his single fiat he can strip us of our property,
can give freedom to our servants and slaves, and arm them
for our deftcuction ¢ let us bid adicu to every thing valuable
jmlife, let us at once bend our neek to the galling yoke, and
hug the chains prepared for us and our fatett posterity! -
Tt is with inexpressible concern we reflet upon the distres
sed fitnation of some of our unhappy countrynien who have
thought themselves too immediately within the power of Lord
Dunmore, and have been indueed thereby to remain inactive.
We lament the advantage he hath taken of their fitnation, and
at present impute their inactivity, in the caufs of freedom and
she constitution, not to any defe@ion or want of zeal, butto
their dcfencelefs (tate; and whilit we endeavour to aford them
fuccour, anc to support their rights, we expe& they will con
tribute every thing in cheir power to effe&t their deliveranee.
Yer, if any of our people, in violation of iheir faith plighted
to this colony, and the duty they owe to society, shall be
found in arms, orcontinye to give affiftanee to our enemies, we
shall thick ourselves juflified, by the neceflity we are under,
in excenting upon them the law of retaliation.
Imvprefied with a just and ardent zeal for the welfare and
happiness of eur countrymen, we trust they will, on their
part, exert themselves in defence of cur ecommon cause, and
that we (hall all acquit ourselves like freemen, being compel-
Jed, by the disagreeable, but abfelute neceflity, of repelling
force by force, to maintain our jult rights and privileges; and ws
appeal to GOD, who is the {overeign disposer of all events, for
the justice of eur eaufe, trusting to his unerring wisdom to di
-13& our couneils, and give {uccefs to our ARMS,
/ EDMUND PENDLETON, President.
GREAT-BRIDGE, near NoRFOLK, Dec. 9.
. ¢ The enemy were reinforced about 3 o’clock this moraing
with (as they tell me) every fodier of the 14th regiment, at
Norfolk, amounting to 200, commanded by Capt. Leflic;
_ and this morning, arier reveille beating, crossed the bridge,
by laying down some plank, and made am attack to ferce eur
breatt-work (the prisoners {ay the whole number amounted
t sos, with voluntcers and blacks) with two pieces of can
ron, but none marched up but his Majesty’s soldiers, whe be
haved like Englithmen. We have found of their dead Capt.
¥ordyce and 1a privates, and have Lieut. Battit, who is
wounded in the leg, and 1y privates prifoncers, all wounded.
“They carried their canmon back under cover of the guas of
the fort, and a mug ber of cheir dead. Ifhould fuppoefe (io
speak within compass) their loss must be wpwards of 50. Some
powder and cartridges were taken. [ sent an officer t 0 inform
them if they vrould sot fire upon our peeple they (houid col-
Je& the dead and wounded. This they agreed to, and there
has been no ring since. We aé #ow under arnit, expedting
another attack. There is but one man of ours hurt, and he
is wounded in the hand. The prisoners inform that-Lor®h
Dunmore has got a seinforcement of highlanders; they, 1
exped®, will be up next.” ! e ,
Extraft of a letter from Cl. Woeodford, to Edmund Pendlettn,
‘ Esq; President of the Convention. i
¢« GrEAT-BRIDGE, near NorRFOLK, Dec. ro.
¢« T must apelogize for the burry in which I wrote you yes
terday, since which nothing of moment hashappened but the
abandoning of the fort by the enemy. We have taken pos
session of it this morning, and found thercin the stores men
sioned in the inclofed lift, to wit, 7 guns, 4 of them bad,
1 bayouet, 29 {pades, 2 ghovels, 6 cannon, a few shot, some
bedding, a part of a hogshead of rum, 4 or moie barrels, the
contents unknown, but fuppoefed to berum, s barrelsof bread,
about 20 quarters of beef, half a box of candles, 4 or 5 doz.
of quart boitics, 4 or 5 iron pots, a few axes and old lumber;
the {pikes I find cannot be gat out of the canuow without
driihing.
, Egmm the vast effufion of blood on the bridge, and in
the fors, from the accousts of the centries, who saw many
bodies carcied out of the fort to be interred, and other circums=
fances, I concieve their loss to be much greater than T thoughe
‘it yelterday, andthe vi&ory{’to be compleat. I have receiv
ed no late information from 'Netfolk or Princess Aane, nor
yet fixed on a plan of improving this advantage, 1 have dif=
patched f{couting parties, and from their intelligence, shall re
gulate my future operations. ik
“ Fnclofed 1s an invomorz of the arms, &c. taken yeﬂcr
day, to wit, 2 Glver ‘mounted fuzees with ‘bayonets, 1 steel,
difto without bayonet, 24 well fixed muskets with bayonets,
6 muskets without bayonets, a 8 caitouch boxes and pouches,
3 silver mouated cartouch boxes, 2 cannon ditto, 26 bayonet
belts, 27 caps, 2 hats, 1 barrel with powder and cartridges,
1 fi'k handkerchief with linen in it, 2 watches, cafth yas. 6d.
1 pair of gloves, 4 stocks a«d buckles, 1 pair of silver fhoe
buckles, 3 pair of silver kaccbuckles, 2 fauff boxes, ro knives,
1 barrel with ball and oakum, 12 coats, 12 waiftcoais, 11
pair of shoes, 12 pair of garters, 1-pair of breeches, 1 fhirty
1 pair of {toekings, a parcel of otd kueebuckles, a parcel of
old buttons, and r black handkerchief.
¢ The arms I shall retain tor the use of the army; the
other artieles I shall dispose of at vendue, and apply the
money arising from the sale ¥ fach manner as the Coaventi
on {hs!l be pleased to direct. 2 “
‘¢ Lieutenant Battit, havingan inclination to inform the
King's troops of the humane ueatment he has mer with here,
1 dispatched Ensign Hoomes with a flag of truce, who re
turned with the enclosed answer from the commander of the
forr, viz.
¢ Captain. Leslie presents his compliments to Mr. Battit,
and returns Colonel Woodford bis sincere thanks for his kind
treatmant of the prisoners. Heis happy Mr. Batit’s wound
isfo flight, butis g;t‘rf-m'c!v {orryfor thelofs of poor Fordyce.”
¢ The unfortunate Cant. Fardyce was a Captain of the
grenadiers, of the 14th regiment ; most of the soldiers were
grenadiers of that regiment, -As the Caprain was a gallant
and brave oficer, I promised to inter him with alf the milis
tary honours due to his great merit, which [ hope will meet
with the approbation of the Hon. Conveation,
¢« Abont aso Carolinda men are airived under the com
mand of Gol. Vail ; they are composed of regulars, minute
fmen, militia, and volunteers, and have brought with them
6 cannon. I have received no certain wccount of Col. Howe,
where he is, what namber of forces be commands; how
armed and provided, or whea or'where he intends to join me.
¢ I (hall pay a'dus regard to the reinforcements you men
tion, and the eftablithm:nt o‘g\c posts. Tam just informed
by Licut. Battit that a {civan: &f Major Marshall, who was
in the party with Colonel Seott, and deserted, informed Loxd
Dunmore, that not more than 300 fhirrmen were here :
That imprudent mim caught at the bait, and difpacched
Capt. Leflic with all the regulars, who arrived at the fort
about four in the morning. :
¢ [ have enclosed the Honourable the Convention 2 gene
ral return of the forces under my command, alfe a hit of
sick and wounded. It is my wish to have orders what
is to be done with the wounded prisoners, when able to
travel. I recolleét nothing more to add at present, than
that I am, with great refpet, your most obedicut servant.”
The defeat of the Britith regulars at the Great Bridyge,
last Saturday, fruck the enmemy into such dreadful conster
nation and terror, that after abandoming their fort, they
thought it most prudeant to retire from Nosfolk, and take
refuge on board the ships. It is imagined our troops will
take poffieffion of that place without opposition, and hoped
that they wi!l soon be able to drive the pirates from the
harbour.—lt is reporied, that Lord Dunmore has requested
an exchange of prisoners, and that the King’s soldiers kil
led and wounded in'the battle amounted to loz, 11 only
of the grenadiers having escaped.
CArTER BraxTon, Esq is appointed, by the Hon:
Convention, a Dzlegate to vhe Congress in the room of the
late Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esquire.
We have just been faveured with an extract of a Jetter from
Col. Woodférd, dated December 11, atthe Great Bridge, by
which we learn, that the encmy loft in their -atrack on our
trenches, 102 kilied and woundcd; that 65 dead and wounded
were conuted, when they weie carried over in boats to Nor
folk ; that but 11 of Fordyce’s grenadicrs efeaped; that we
have since the last account, fourd 2 more of their dead; that
the breast werks at Notfolk were abandoned ; that the Scotch
torics had fled, with all their effeéts, on board the veflels in
the river; that the Norfolk people were preparing a petition
to Col. Woodford, who had dispatched Col. Stephens, with 6
companies, to Kemp’s landing; thathe himfelf was preparing
to follow, with all his forces and baggage, as soon as poilible;
and that Lord Dunmore raved like a mad-man on hearing of
the defeat of his forces, and {were he would haog the boy
who had deserted to him, amd informed that there were but
300 fhirtmen at the bridge, on whof: information be had
ordered the attack. We are well assured that there were but
6o or 30 of our men at the breaft-worck; the rest were ftatian
ed at proper places, and intervals, to cover them, in case they
had been forced from their entrenchmenis. So that this affair
was truly (as Col. Woodford, in a lerter to a fricnd, exprefles
it) Bunker’s-Hill slaughter ; adding, there never was more €xc
cution done by fewer men.
A few days ago, fix of Lird Dunmore’s men deserted from
the Otter. ~They met some of our men, on their way to this
city, by whom they were treated with the utmost hospitality;
_in return, they aflifted us with the highest pleafuse, in (owing
away our baggage, and in expediting our troops to their def
- tined place. When they were asked what induced them to
leave Dunmore, they answered, * Hungry bellies, naked
backs, and no fuel; besides, in other reipects, the most crucl
and inhuman treatment.”
Last Tuesday a veffcl from the Weft-Indies, for Norfolk,
was made a prize of by a party of our tioops, and carried
into Hampton. Her cargo (which was intended for the use
of our enemies) confilted of 2700 dollass, a large quantity of
sugar, and several hoglheads of rum. :
Extraß of o letter from Col. Scott 1 Capt. Seuthall, datea
> . Great-Bridge, Dec. 12, 1775 %
€ We are naw abont to finifl the work that we €ame down
about. We sent 2 detachment of 400 men to Kemp’s Land
ing last night to take poflc{lion of that place, which they did
without interruption. The inhabitants of Norfolk are daily
fending petitions to us for protection. We have not yct an
{wered (ﬁem’a We have taken up some of the worlt of the
tories, “and toupled them to a negro with handeufls. The
most stupid kind we discharge. I expect a flag of wuce here
every moment. We have jult received a letter from Lord
Dunmore, defiting to exchange the prisoners. Ido nos ex
pect we shall agree to do it without consulting the convention.
Four of the prisoners ate dead since taken. We are well in
formed that the governor has disarmed the negroes, and taken
all the troops, together with a numbes of Scotchmen on
board, I am, your most obedicnt, © €. SCOTT.
P.S. The g Dmentioned above has, since come to our
camp, in order to cxchange prisoners. They behaved ex
ceeding well, and were discharged about 11 o’clock at night,
butit isexpe@ed we shall hear again frém them so soon as our
express returns from Willlamfburg.”
¢ A M B R 1 D G E, December 14 :
The fort on Cobble Hill was compleated the latter end of
Taft week, withods the least interruption from the coemy. It
is allowed to be the most parfect piece of fortification that
the American army has conltru@ad during the present cam
paign; and on the day of its completion was named PuT
NAM'S IMPREGNABLE FORTRESS.
. Since our last 5000 of the brave sods of New-England
(300 of this colony, and 1000 frem New-Hampthire) have
joincd the Continental Army under the command of his Ex
ceilency General Wathingtos. ol
A few days ago, Do&tor Morgan, Direftor-General of the
Continental-Hospital, arrived here from Philadelphia.
Last Monday night came to town from Virginia, the Lady
of his Excellency General Wathington, and the Lady of the
Hon. Adjutant Genera} Gates; accompanied by Joha Cuftis,
Esq; and Lady, avd George Lewis, Efg; i
~ Yesterday afternoon an express arrived at his Excellency
the General’s from Marblehead, with advice, that three mew
of war were seen off that harbour, and that it was appre~
bended an attack upon the town was intended. On the re
ception of this intelligence, Col. Glover’s regimeat, with a
company of artillery, were ordered to march immediately for
thag place. '
Since the arsival of the above-mentioned express, we hear,
that the three men of war had approached, by yelterday
poon, very near the mouth of Marblehead hatbour ; aad
that all the militia of the neighbouring towns were under
arms.~—A very good fortification, mountiag about 2 pieces
of cannon, has been lately erefted atr the entranece of the
said harbour; so that, we hops, any attempt for destroying
the town will meat with a vigorous and fuccefsful resistance.
W ATERT O W N, Detember 11.
It is reported that the piratical gentry and military butchers
of the towa of Boston, not relishing salt provisions, which
are too good for them, are equiping men of war schooners
with hay, wood, &ec. on their decks, to decoy our priva
tears, but their little ares Jike themselves, are of no conse
quence; it is to be hoped we shall have opportunity to con
viace them that the provision veflels we have already capizd
will be but the beginning of sorrow te them, in the eomfor«
table profpet of a long cold winter:—From such cvents
should they experience keen appetites, and have nothing to
eat, we should acquiefee in providencet for as they have
proved themielves to have no fouls, theré is no need of conw
cern for their worthless carcases. But we shall not ba regard
less of their armed schooners, and have no objc@ion to the
taking them, whenever they thall fze fit to come in our way.
Extralt of aletter from an officer in the continental service, in
Canada, 1o the publifer hereof. dated Point aux Premble, (as
miles abave Quebec,) Nov.azd, 1775,
/ s« As to the affairs in this province, I suppose, as there is
a free communication between Gen. Montgomery's army and
Head-Quarrers, you are sally acquainted.—We impateatly
wait a juudtion of some part or all of Montgomery’s forces tg
subject the only remaining fortrefs in this province (now in
the podeflion of Chariton) to the United Colony forcess
Charlten has injured the cause of the ministry very much in
causing them to depend on the French inhabitants: Had is
not been for an Eoglifh gentleman who was a greater politi
cian than himfelf, he would have sent the few British troops
that new rémain here to Boston, in that case he would have
beea catirely deserted, the inhabitants are all in our faveur,
they (trive with each other which thall be firt in doiag kind
offices to the Bostonians, as they call all that come from the
Englith colomies.”
N E W-Y 0 R K, December zo.
Extrall of a letter from a geatleman at New-Haven, to bis
friend in this city, dated Pec. 10
¢« T take this opportuaity to inform you, that gué€ regiment
of foot, and three companies of horse, are embarked at Bos
ton, and going somewhere; there is not the least donbt bur
they are destined for your place, pray be on your guard.”
We hear, that a number of the inhabitants of Quesu’s
county on Leng-Ifland, who have received arms, ammuni
tion, bouaty, &c. from the very humane Capt. Vandeput, for
the pious purpose of musdering their own coustrymen, have
received orders from General Howe, to march to Virginia to
the affittance of Lord Dunmore; they beiag looked upon as
actually in the King's service. Scveral of the mast refpedable,
it is said, are to be complimented with commissions ia his
Lordship’s Ethiopian Battallion, now raising there.
Dec. 25. A letter dated November 21° from Col. Arnold’s
Camp at Point aux Tremble, eight leagues from Quebec,
mentions, that their little army, consisting of about 600, are
in good health and {pirits, waiting the arsival of Gen. Monr
gomery, to attack Quebes, which they expe@ will soon be
forced to surrender, though thuir forces eonfifted of abaut
2coo men, viz. from St. John's 150, Col. M‘Lean's irregu~
lars 170, masines and seamen from several armed veflels 450,
French and Eaglith inhabitants 30, ditte compeiled to bear
arms 700, neutrals in the town 4co. Col. Arnold twice sent
~ - nfficer with a flag, but he was fired upon both times. He
wad good intelligence that the inhabirants in general were
averse to taking up arms against us, and were very fhert ol
provision. General Carieton got into Quebec the aoth of
November, on which there was great rejuicing by his party.
His Majcfty’s thips the Pheeaix and Aha now lie in the
East river; the lateer opposite Murray’s wharfl; and the for
mer near Burling’s flip. >
A large {chooner belonging to Philadelphia is arrived ac
St. Kitts, wich a cargo of mules, and Capt Counaght iny
veilel belenging to Rhode-I{land is anived at Dominica witd
the like cargo. ~ ‘
T LA D B WAL
By Captain Hunn, from Edentowan, North-Carolina, #?
lcarn, thatva certain Cullen Poilock, a man of great fortuae
in that place, having by various ways and means proved
himfelf an enemy to America, atlaft by insulting s sumber
of officers and soldiers when uader arms, and being 02