The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1779-07-03 00:00:00, page 1

VIiZsiGINIA GAZETTE
NUMNER:
WILLIAMSBUF'G: PRINTED BY DIXON &" NICOLSQN.
si.—
'CHARLESTOVVN, .MAY 29.
!! the zSth of April, a party of the British army, said to be 300
of the 7tst regiment, under the command of Major Fraser,
ss landed 9 miles below Puryshutsigh; and on the next morning
Lieutenunt Coionel Maitland, with the light infantty of the
line and ad hatalions of the 7tst, landed four miles higher u Savannah
river. Colunel Mackintosh who commanded at Purysburgh, having only
:40 men, the mzsijor part ofWhom were militia, after calling in all his
out poits, w.1_s obliged to retire as the enemy sisiadvanced towards the
town, of which they took posseffion that aftet'nonn.
General Moultrie was at this time posied at Black swam with about
Ioo men. The enemy drawing more of their forces thit tde the river,
and advancing'higher up, evidently indicated an intention of attackin
the General brsore he could be 'z-ined by Colonel Mackintosh. Genera
. Lineoln with the main body otl the army being then So miles farther up
the- countl y, should the enemy have succeeded in the attempt, there would
be no obstncie in their march to Charlestown,- and at their force was tt'eble
General Moultrie'l, the worst was to be apprehended. These considera
tion: induced the General to retire on the 3oth, and that night he met Col.
Mackimosh o'n hie march to join him at Black swamp. The event
Poved the-pro t-iety oiehe movement, as next morning the British Were
tn sscffion the ground our troops evacuated.
he-Genernl halted at Cool'awh1tcitie that night, and havin marched
ever the bridge, before day tight next morning proceeded to nlifinny,
end took post there.si Aheld 'officer's guard was lest at the hridge.
Early in the momitu of the ad of May, advice was received that the
enemy were in motion, and about : in the afternoon an atuck was
eommenced by their advanced party of light infantry at the bridge, where
the guard had been reinforced by l$0 rifiemen. Their superiour numbers
rendered it impolsible to (top their progress. Little other loss wae sustained
in thie skirmish thnn Colonel John Laurens being wounded in the right
um, which has yet deprived the army of thzt gallant officet't services.
The General'e army being chiefly composed of inilitia siwhose familiee
and effects lay in the way of the enemy, was every moment diminishing,
and laid him under the necessity of retin'ng, which he did by the Salt
kctche-ngad, having destroyed the bridgee of Tulisinny and ['ocotaligo
in hie why. The army halted for a few houre at-the meeting house, a'nd
- then_ utqved on .to And , They assed the bridge in the torenoen of
the 4th; and took post or'the rest o the da on the high grounde neu
Mr. Pinckney'e houses. Intelligettee was it night peeived that the
enemy's advanced party had reached Godsry'e Savannnh, and that their
main body had found means to crest Snltketehet river, notwithhnding
our having taken the precaution to destroy the bridge; thie. joined to the
inferiour number: of our ar'm , which wan eonsiderably lest than'when it
left Black swamp, and to t e nature of the country which rendered it
impoflible to make a stand without being exposed to be sunounded, obliged
the General to uit Ashepoo, between 3 and 4in the morningof the sth.
At night the my halted at Mr. Fer son's ))lantation called Spring
Grove, having dettroyed ]tckfonboroug brid tn their way, and reaehed
Bacon brsiidge next night where General oultrie'left the army, and
proceeded to town. -
Major Butler, whojoined the army at ]aeksonborough, with a party of
horse, on the 6th, fell in with ;- soraging party of the enemy 16 miles to
the southward of Parker's serry. Three of them belonging to the tst
light infantry were taken prisoners, and a few horse killed and woun ed.
Part of Count Pulaski't legion arrived on the Sth.
On the 9th. Colonel Mackintosh with the troopt left at Blcon bridge,
and a detachment from Orangeburgh arrived in town; and next day
Colonel Hurrie, who hadbeen detached by General Lineoln with zoo
eontinental troops to reinforce General Moultrie, and Colonel Neel
with zoo men from Omngeburgh, also arrived.
In the evening of the loth, intelligence was received of the royal arm
being encamped on the south side of Ashley ferry, where they appeared o
suddenly as to prevent the ferry bolu being destroyed. The troops
stationed in town, regular; and militia, were under arms the whole ni ht.
The enemy began to croie Ashley fury at to in the forenoon o the
nth. The advanced any composed of light infzntry, eavalry and
snvagu, took post hnlfpa mile from the ferry. General Pulaskl after
reconnoitring them jest : detachment to wltch their motions, and
repaired to town in order to wnfer with the Council. During thin interval
the enemy had completed their passage of the river, and were advancing
in three columna toward: the town. Their advanced guard consisted of
ten lhorse, 400 highiandeu and some lndians; their tear guard of
cum .
Atszhe dishnce of 5 miles fro;:- tonn. some of the Count's party were
ordered to' fire, principally with a view of announcing the enemy'e
lpyroaeh. The enemy made stequent belt: in order to explore the
ground over which they were to pass.
The Count who had ordered the infantry of his ccrpt to form an
amhussade, and directed a detachment of volunteer horse which he fell in
with, so ('t-cond his insnntry, advanced and made his disposition for induc
ing tfficflnenuy to detach their cuvalry from the head of .tlzeir column. A
close heqan, both our cavalry and infantry chergcd; but the latter
were exceedingly cmbarrassed nnd confined in their movement: by the
voluuteer horse, owing to : mihppsrhension osorden. Notwithfinnding
" these difficultire and the superiority of the enemy'e numbers, the ground
was obttinntely djsputed. At length the order for retteat became necessity,
and the enemy by their prudence in not advancing escaped the fire of the
artillery from our works. The enemy": los: wat 45 officers and soldiere,
end oure 30 in all.
The Count two days after attacked a dctzchment of the enemy, took
[lever] prisoners, and obliged the remainder to saye themselves by
ig t.
About to at night, an llarm being given by one of our centinele,
occasioned : general fire of (""to" and mrsketry from the lines and the
armed vessels stationed on the flznke. Majnt Benjamin HuRsi-x, who hld
been sent out with : part to fill up -e gap in the abbzus, and three
privatet, were unfortunate y killed. He was : Gentleman whpi'e mem
will be ever dear to- all' those who'h'ad the 'heppiyflse—bf ltnowin hiihz
end whether considered as : citizen, 4: : soldier, {"At-the Father of a :ss'mily,
or as a friend, ' it universally regretted. The sienem) had, several med
killed, they say chirfly-fmm the shippmg. " ' "
On the morning os-vhe nth Major Gardnee oF the loth regiment, wu
met with at some distance from the lines, .bearing si tLg from Generll
Prevolt. Several otheis passed end repassedz but in,,the :tt-rneop dl
farther intercourse of that kind w" discontinued, ansidsi try preplsintion
made for vigoroufl-y repelhn & gersenl asiault expeflsi a't-night, which
however was never attemptef. - ' ' -
Early in the morning of the lztsshsiCount Pulishi went, out with a small
party of hdrse to reconnoitre'; and 'the surprise cut senr'cel'y be conceived,
which was occasione-d by hie-sending intelligence of the enemy having
deezn-ped and necross (! Ashlev ferrys Eieven desert-" wnd about I
mony prison :rs wert brou ht into town duuinz the course of the day.
The l'udde... deputture of th' ess'siemy gave me to a variety of coffecturet;
the mivfl probable appeared to be their being mlsinfor'med respcaing the
strength of the garrilon ,and worke. and then having some intimnion of
Generzil L-ncoln'e approach. They west sor some day; after their retreat,
enc'xmped in different places in the neighbourhood of Ashley fer _zhd on
]amet iflznd. On Generl! Lineoin'e coming to Ashiey serry, t y dssrctejss
in force towerde Wappoo, and it was imagined meant tsso hppatd esiq eaten;
but the night before last suddenly decamped; end yzjssed over-to ]ohn's
island, Wcthtrt by the last accounuthey areat present. , 6 eateofqpinion
that the) imend roeetding through the iflandt to Part oyal. ss
' A. thty of— the John'a inand and Poctrt Royal ninth, flntsslptd et
Smwenhurgh't landm , were surprised on-h'idny morninztlle :! isy :
party of the British li t infantq, commended by-Majer ahan of the
tsth rcglment, and Even] Wounded with dayem- TheW-rhee
were there taken prisoners are since exchanged. -
As so-ne movement: of the enemy gave reason to imlzine they intended
lttscking fort ]ohnson, ahd the ;tet part of the creed thatin this
neighbourhood being required. for e defence of the with ln town. that
sortification was l-lown up on the "th. Gmt'part of the' hall, &c.
have been since brou ht off. Thirty ot' Capnio Metthews's cthany
of the Charleflown mt itin being sent down to cover : perty employed in
bringing off shme more of the iron work, were lmckebon Saturday fist
by szor Gardner with : supetiour number of men, butfwete fortunate
euou h tpescape with the se of seven wounded and one nkeh risoner
Ofsseven sail of vessels aden with military [tom lnd pro ' one for
the British army from Savannzh, two have been token siand nue deitoyed
by our ctuisers. and it is still matter of doubt if any of the remaining
four hzve escaped.
Mr Stunrt, the British superintendmt of lndian thin in the southern
department, late] died in West Florid!- Genenl Prevod, it it said,
has appointed Co one] Thomu Brown, of the Florid: ranged, to be
hie lhccessour. -- ' '
Yelterdny five vessels richly leden, am'ved here from St. Euflatia.
By them St. Chriflopher end Antigua pepen u lete at the : th inhnt.
ere received, md contain London newe to the t—Gth of amh, m.
That the Coun of Spain had given orders for nising : ooo addition!
land forces; that there wa- little blbility of the mob e: in Germany
soon subsiding; that the British sisiistry wele endelworilgto procure
:- ]oan of niMmiIlio-u for the service of 1779, ate} peecent. It
was reported'in the West lndiet, that Lord Sanduli m sentto tsihe
tower.
Juu 4. The accountt received respecting Maid! General Prevqsi'e
army since our laft, are, thlt part of it is inttenched on the mnin at Stone
ferry; the remninder, includin the invalidt, who are noneruut and
daily inmafing. quartered in di errm parte of ]ohn'l ifllnd. It is szid
that : detaehment went on Wednesday to Simom't island. '
The enemy when they retreated from Wappoo and ]amee island left
upwards of qoo horses, with : number of eattle luhind them, and burnt
several waggont, quantitiee of furniture, &c. Their army wu within
these few any: entirely destitute of sum, salt. end flour; and some
account: mention their being starte of ammunition.
By ! vessel in : short passage from St. Domiogo, we have intelligence
of the British fri ate Niger, : letter of matque of so gunl, end several
smaller armed ve elt being lately taken by the French cruisen and camed
into Port au Prince.
Authentick advicet from St. Eustatiut inform m, tlnt Senegtl had
been taken and sucked by the French, who hid also sent : squadmn lion:
the Gold Coaft, the British settlemente on which were too weak to prevent
their sharin the seme sate. si _ _
M. de eimerfma, in the Heredilary Prince of 56 ne, 1! amved
with :: fleet of merehantmen at Statia, to succeed Admin C. de Bylnnd.
A Iassrger convoy, under : lhi) of the line. it expefied every hour.