The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-03 00:00:00, page 2

in all the cattle &c. which will enable them to (land a long
feige. In this part of the world tis time for men to think of
winter quarters rather than attacking fortified towns; how
ever, we are Americans and American Soldiers —I have not an
objection to visiting the Plains of Abraham once more, and
'sis prbablc fliall have good quarters even in Quebec; at
any rate I go with pleasure, and sincerely believe every man
in our army would rather reurn, and is only forty that our
situation rendered it impcffible for us to day longer before
Quebec. Our Commander is a Gentleman worthy the tiuft
reposed in him; a man, I believe, of invincible courage;
a man of great prudence; ever serene; he defies the greatest
danger to affect him, or difficulties to alter his temper; in
fine you will ever fee him the intrepid hero, and the un
ruffled chriftian.
“ Thus have I endeavoured to give you a (bort (ketch of
cur part and present situation; I could wish my abilities
could have placed it in a more correct light before you; in
my present abode it was entirely out of my power, and it
was not a little time before I could procure even thus much
paper, which is the leaf of a book, a Gentleman had for his jour
nal. Inbetter times expert better fare. Quebec as I men
tioned, (lands upon a point, between St. Lawrence and St.
Charles rivers, the latter not navigable, except for ferry boats,
it confits of the upper a d lower town, the latter is imme
diately n the point or water's edge, and cnfifts of a large
number of houses built h'ca; the upper town is up n he
hid, which is p digi urty hgh; he town is surrounded on
the country part by a wall, from twenty five to thirty feet
high; there ate, I think, h,e # gates ( hough I am not cer
tain) St. John's Fort Lewis, arid St Rook's. On each fide
the river St. Liwu nce, from Quebec to Pont aux Tremble,
(our present camp) the hills, or rather banter, are very high,
not much let's in general than fifty feet; many places close
up n the river, in fra places, the eis a rich piece of level
meadow, perhaps the distance of half a mile from he bank to
tin river. The whcle from here to Quebec, is thickly inha
bited, which lam informed is the cite to Montreal. The
houses ate many of them genteel, rather than otherwise, iho'
in general the inhabita its live very low, and in their dress,
manners, (loves, &c. exactly referable our Germans. Since
I left Newberry Port till our march last Sunday, I do not re
c^llra that I have f en an oak tree; I venture to fay I have
not. In the province of Maine, such part as we came
through, and Canada, has abounded chiefly with evergreens,
such as fir, hemlock, spruce, cedar, pine, birch, maple, &c.
last Sunday I was happy in feeing a few oaks and an apple
orchard. The inhabitants few or none speak English. How
long we may day here is uncertain—till our reinforcement
arrives 'tis probable, unless they (hould venture to attack us
from Quebec : Be it as it will lam content, and can remove
from place to place with as much resignation as almost any
one, having been taught by this campaign to confider no
place as my home for more than an hour or a day."
Extras of a letter from a volunteer -with Col. Arnold to his friend
in t}is city, dated Print aux Tremble, ai miles from Quebec,
November ar, 1775.
" We arrived before Quebec the 15th inst. after a severe
march of about 6oemiics; when we left Cambridge we were
eleven hundred strong; about half way Colonel Enos get
frightened, and with three companies, and the sick, which
together was about one half of our number, and the greatest
part of the provision, turned back! Miy Ihamc and guilt go
with him and wherever he leeks a Shelter may the baud of
judite shut the door against him; perhaps I have said too
much, but a man that has fufFered Dy him, can hard y re
frain speaking. We were about two months 00 our march,
thirty-two days of which we did not fee a house, and at Ihort
allowance, fix days of which we were at half a pound of
pork and half a pound of flour per man a day, after which
for four days we had on y half a pound of flour per day,
our pork being gone; two days of which we loft ourselves,
matched 40 miles, and were but so miles on our way ; our
whole stores was then divided, and it was about four pints
of slur per man; a fmkll allowance for men near 100 miles
from any habitation, or profpea; of a supply—aster having
traveled 5,0 or 6° miles on this scan y allowance we came to a
river, which we were told was only eight miles from
the inhabited parts, here I fat down, baked and eat my last
motfel of bread—but, think what was my distress, when I
found, after crossing the river, that I had 30 miles to travel
before I coud expert the lead mouthful; however my dread
was soon removed by th, return of Col. Arnold, who, with a
small party b^d made a forced march, and returned to us
with some castle he had purchafod of the inhabitants; on
thelc we made a voracious meal, and renewed our march
with new courage to Point Levi—fiom thence w c were trans
ported in bitch canoes to the plains of Abraham, and from
thence retreaded to this place to wait for Gen. Montg mery,
who we arc told, by express this day, will be with us
soon."
BOSTON, November 14.
Last Saturday a tire broke out in a house occupied by Capt.
Jenwick, at the corner of Green's lane, but 't was happily
extinguished without much damage. It was occasioned by a
defeat in the chimney.
ORDERS
To be observed, during the times of fires, by the inhabitants.
" Upon rhe difeovtry of a fire, notice is tv be given as
sfgal by the ringing of bells, and the cry of fire in the streets,
at white time the regiments will immediately get under arms
Mead (fatten at three o'clock m the morning, with his pack
on his back. The boats were d (patched across the river,
and our guard brought trom Pont Levi. At the appointed
hour we alfembled and received orders to retreat. We let off,
and in our march palled three different armed vessels, and as
the road is on be ihore, we expected at lead a broadside, but
they passed us in peace, and upon their arrival at Quebec,
we heard the discharge of a number of cannon, from which
we conclude d Carleton was on board one of them, or that
'twas for joy of our raffing the siege— We matched eight
leagues that day, and the Colonel found it absolutely mecef
fary to halt here, till he could provide the men with (hoes or
moqncfons, many of them being aimed barefoot; it was the
firft time I ever w re moquefous on a march, and I affurc
you, fiom the roughness of the road (it being very hard
frose) I fuffLed moie than 1 ever did before, and could not,
in my opinion, if my lite had depended upon it, have
marched ten miles next day. It has ever been our fortune
from our firft marching from Cambridge, whenever we were
much depressed, fatigued, &c. to hear some agreeable news
that would inmudiaely invigorate us, and enable us to pro
ceed with tolerable chearfulnefs. At this place we beard the
agreeable news of Montreal being in our poffef^on, that
Governor Carleton made his escape in a birch canoe, and
that he was a&ually in the (hip that parted by hare yeft,-
day —ln {host every thing once more seems to conspire in
our tivow. Gen. Montgomery is on his march for Quebec,
and we halt here till he comes up, when we dial! return to
.Quebec again; though whether it will be in our posse ffion
this winter or not is uncertain, We hear they are driving
All pcifons failing to do so will be punch'd in a very ex
emplary manner. The bells are not to ring for the a^arm
more than one quarter of an hour. The firewards, the en
gine mailers, and men anting under them, are not to be in
terrupted by any officer or soldier in the execution of their
duty. The tirewards, kmown by red painted ftaffs with heads
of brass, are to have the whole management and conduc'd wf
the engines and people affembkd to extinguish a fire. Nei
ther arc the inhabitants to be flapped or impeded in time of
fire by Che military, unless they arc armed, in which cate
they are to be taken into custody. All the associated compa
nies, from the essential service they may be of, are to attend
the fires without arms, the Royal Noith-Britifh Volunteers ex
cepted, who have bean already appointed to a part cular duty
with arms. Women belonging to the army will not be allow
ed to be present at any fire that may happen. A premium of
twenty shillings sterling will be given to the men who bring
the firft engine, and work it at the fire. Tie firewards are
to take into their poffeffon all buckets found in vacated
houses, audio diftobute them among the refilling inhabitants.
Given at Head Waiters in Boston, Nov. 1,, 1775.
(Who is o'raid of tie and potroons.) W HO wE
CAMBRIDGE, Decembe 14.
A letter from a gentleman m London to his friend in the American
Ca » dated Augurt 14 1775-
“ I am greatly pleafcd, aid 'a so greatly effected, by your
letter; the times are full of danger and difhefs, and such
times as we could never have exposed. This horrid civil
war aftonilhes all Europe; and will be both the wonder and
the execration of future ages. The Americans, however will
be fuilv acquitted, by all impartial historians; for it muff al
ways be confefftd that their n oderrtion hrs been beyond
all example, for men that were ptevmuflv determined not to
be enslaved. But what will be said of our Kug, o&r ministry,
and our parliament ? can there be f und # n< black enough to
record their crimes? for lu r e yno crime can be of a deeper
dye than premeditated murder; and fu h it molt certa n'y v,
in all the abettors ' of the ministerial mandates; wherefore (as
St. Paul lays) “ May the Lord reward them, according to
their works."
" I congratulate you mod sincerely, en the fucaefs that has
hitherto attended the provincials; a success the more elating
to me, as it was in fame degree Unexpected, for tho' I doubt
ed not the justice of your cauft, nor had the lead suspicion of
your courage, as individuals; yet something more goes to the
gaining of a battle in rhe open field; and I mutt eonfefs T did
fear, that the tirft onset of the regulars would have mad< such
an impression, that your troops would have given way; I am
sincerely glad it has proved otherwise, and I prophesy that the
brave provincials will give additional proofs both of courage
and difcipliße in every future engagement.
“ But after all, I am rather hurt by this delay, and was in
hopes before mow to have heard that they were in poffeffi m
of Borton. What is the occasion of their procrastination ?
Do the Americans think it unfair to attack the few troops that
are there, and wish for a more equal combat? Or do they
wait the event of the petition from the Congress ? Believe me
when I assure you, that if some capital stroke is not (truck
during the present campaign, your cause will fuffer grea p l y;
as you may rest assured that no accom sedation is intended
from hence, however you may be amused with pretentious
of that fort; but on the contrary, when matters are a little
riper for it, all the powers of hell are to be let loose up^n you;
and if you find it difficult to dislodge 6000 men from their
holds, how will you lepulfe 20,000 ? for so many will cer
tainly come, and some of them very Shortly.
" On out part, we can do nothing but rail at the govern
ment, without taking one step towards righting ourselves, or
assisting you. Oppressed as wo are by a tory ministry, who
are fupperted by a venal parliament; and neatly equally di
divided without doors, what remains for us, but to curse our
own luxury and effeminacy, and to look back with astonish
ment on the Pyms and Hampdens of former times, characters
which we have not virtue to imitate."
" It is with pleafuee I hear that you are so forward in
your works of falt-petre and gunpowder. You offer noble
premiums of encouragement; and they must be continued,
as no price (howid be (pared for so essential an article.
" I am informed that a fluttering proclamation is coming
out, declaring the Americans to be in a state of rebellion;
names cannot alter the nature of things, and I apprehend
that wife men will pay very little regard to the preremtory
orders of a despotic ministry, when unsupported by the con
stitution.
" I write to many of toy friends by this conveyance; some
of them may peffibly have sealed your cause wih their blind,
before this reaches you. Peace and glory to their refpe&ed
(hades! As for myfelf, tho' I am no folder, be assured in all
confidence, that I (hall not cease to w(h well to American
liberty, nor fail to give more signal proofs of my attachment
to tke support of it than mere willies, when a suitable occa
sion prefects itfelf."
Dec. at. Capt. Martindale, in one of our privateers, was
lately decoyed near to one of the enemy's (hips of war, in
the Bay, and was unhappily taken and carried into Boston.
Capt. Manley has within a few days part, taken another
valuable prize, a (loop from Virginia, bound to Borton, load
ed with corn and oats ; Sited out and sent by Lord Dunmore.
Lart Friday night seven American masters of vessels, who
had, at different times been taken by the enemy and carried
into Borton, made their escape from that place. From one of
them we have obtained the following intelligence, viz. That
all the drugs and medicines in the town have been seized for
the use of the army.
That on the 14th instant General How issued orders for
taking down the old North meeting-house, and 100 old wood
en dwelling-houses and other buildings, to make use of for
fuel :—That vessels are fitting out for the Weft-Indies, in or
der to get (applies for the garrifon:—That Capt. Martindale,
mentioned above, with his officers and men, were sent to
England :—That one Morrison, who officiates as a Presbyte
rian minister, being appointed searcher of those people who
were permitted to leave tlie town, promised on receiving a
bribe, to let a person bring out 240!. sterling in caffi and
plate; but afterwards basely deprived him of the whole of it.
That recruiting parties out of each regiment are gone to
England :—That two regiments and a number of light horse,
under convoy of a frigate, were embarked for Halifax ;—And
that there were not in the town, provisions Sufficient to supply
the navy and army for a longer time than fix weeks.
It was yesterday reported that the above two regiments,
&c. were failed for Rhode-lfland.
WATERTOWN, December 14.
The fort on Cobble-Hill was compleatfd rhe latter end of
last week, without the leart interruption from the enemy. It
on their regimental parades, and wait there for farther orders,
unless when a fire may break out in the quarters of a regi
ment; and in that case the corps is to quit the place to make
room for the inhabitants, who are to repair to the fire with
all the buckets in their possession, to give their assistance,
every householder putting up a light in a front window a
caution to be observed in all alarms whatever.
1
is allowed to be the eompteAteft piece of fortification that (he
American army has ebuttructed dating the prelent campaig n;
and on the day of its completion was named Putnam's i m
pregnable fortrefs.
A (loop with 19 head of cattle, bound from Nova See tia
for Borton, and a brig laden with tory furniture, from Bort on
for Halifax, were taken to the cartward about twelve dr ,ys
since.
Last Saturday night the continental troops intrenched at
Litchmore's point, opposite West-Boston, and the weather
being very thick and foggy, the enemy did not difeover
them till yesterday afternoon, when they difeharged about
40 or 50 cannon and bombs, which we hear lightly wound
ed one man.
PROVIDENCE, (Rhode-Ifland,) Dec. 16.
Yesterday Mr. Philip Palmer arrived here from Quebec by
way of Lake Champlain. He was taken in a fifhmg vessel
the § h of October last, by the (loop General Gage, on her
passage from Borton to Quebec, which place he left the axft
of September, and was at Col. Arnold's head quarters, seven
leagues from the city, mn the 23d. The Colonel with his
detachment had been within musket (hot <*f the walls, taken
four prisoners, and killed two men in a barge belonging to
the Lizard frigate : He was fired on from the walls, and had
two men wounded, one of whom is since dead. He was waiting
to be reinforced by General Montgomery, and expeaed fota
to be in p<(T ftion of the place. Thirteen fail of vessels from
Montreal had fallen into the hands of General Montgomery,
having on board 1500 suits of cloaths, 150 cherts of arms,
900 barrels of slur, &e. but they had thrown overboard
large quantics of powder before they surrendered. The
Gafpec brig and a snow escaped, on board one of which
General Carleton got to Quebec difgurfed, with about 40
regulars.—Before Mr. Palmer left that city. 147 recruits had
arrived from Newfoundland, 4® marines had been landed
from h Lizard, with her guns, and it was expe&ed Carle
ton would muft.r about §OO men to defend the place; but the
Canadians in general refufed to take up arms.
N E W P O R T, December 18.
Last Satu day the bomb big, and several of the Ministerial
navy in this harbour, went down to Brenton's Neck, when a
number of men landed to fetch off hay, but some provincial
forces appearing, they were obliged to embark again without
the hay.
Capt. John Margin, who was wounded yesterday mormiig
week by Capt. Wallace or some of his men, died last Thurfr
day, ,7 years of age.
Lalf Tuesday arrived here, in a brig from the Weft-Indies,
Capt Abrah m All, which vessel was taken into custody of
the men of war in this harbour; the had on board a small
quantity of rum : the Captain and all the people were detain
ed, andfome of them, we hear, were feet to Borton in a
tender, the latter end of the week.
Yesterday in the afternoon, the Swan, Capt. Ayfcough, the
bomb brig and feviral tenders, went up the Bay, anchored
near Dyer's- Illand, took from thence some hay, burnt forac,
and killed .wo horses.
N E W-Y OR K, December 18.
We are credibly informed, that the people of the Massa
chusetts-Bay, hav completed 13,000 suits of soldiers cloaths
entirely of their own wool, flax, and manufactory, tince the
battle of Lexington.
We aie informed by a gentleman who left the Camp at
Cambridge, on Tuesday wesk, that a party of the continental
army who had entrenched on Litchmore's Point, were ob
served by a frigate of ao guns, that was lying within musket
fliot o' them, who soon began a heavy cannonading on them,
which our people immediately returned with interest, and fir
ed three (hot through her quarter, two into her stern, and
damaged her rigging confidcrably, which occasioned her to
move bar Nation.
Yesterday evening came to town, two of the gentihmex
mentioned under the Cambridge head, who relate the follow
ing further particulars, viz. That the ministerial army war
supposed in the whole, to consist of about 6,000 effective
men; that they were greatly distressed, especially since the
store drip was taken by Capt. Manly, which had much d fpi
lited them; that fuel and provisions of all forts were exceed
ing fca.c v , the army being at an allowance of 41b. of pork,
and two loaves of bread per week each man, that 30 mea
from each company were ordered with saws and axes to cm:
up the wharfs, old meeting-houses, &c. for fuel, that there
were feidom any frefli provisions to be had ; that when these
were, it fold in sterling money, at the fallowing prices, viz,
Beef per pound, is 6d. toas. A (beep §l. —Two geese aos.
and other things i ; proportion. Salt butter as. 6d. rum by
the hogshead two dollars, by retail tas. &c. —That our bat
tery at Litchmore's Point is within about half a mile of Bol
ton, and will, when finished, command a very conGderablc
part of the town.
In PROVINCIAL CONGRESS,
New-fork, Dec. ax, info
WHEREAS sundry persons whole conduct in the neigh
bouring culonis, of which they were refpe& veiy inhabi
tants, has been unfriendly to liberty, and occasioned their
removal into this colony; and should such removals CQ,
tinue, the number of dilaffeaud perf&as in this colony wiil
be increafd, and the fame be disreputably considered as as
asylum for enemies to the liberties, of America.
Reeled, That every perton, not an inhabitant, entering
into th v colony, fliah be furnished with a certificate frora
the committee of the jurifdi&ion wherin he last resided, that
he is friendly to the liberties of America, or be fubjea to be
dealt with a< a perf n inimical thereto.
A true copy frow the minutes,
ROB RT BENSON, Secretary.
NEWTOW N, Sufo-C^t,, New-Jefo.
Last Tuesday about four hundred of the mil-tia of this
county, under the command of Col Ephraim Martin, and
Mark Thompson, aPembled, and proceeded in good order
and regularity, in quest of Tories, a considerable number of
whom, (inhabitants of this county) had entered into a com
bination and agreement not to comply with any Congress
meafurcs; about forty, we hear, are taken, mod of whom
have recanted, signed the association, and profefs themselves
true foils of liberty, being fully convinced of their error :—
And that two or three who remain incorrigible, are to be fenc
to the Congress to be dealt with.
P H I L A D EL PH I A.
Extraß of a letter from Cambridge, Dec. 18 1,7$
" Y fterday being dark and cloudy, Gen. Putnam broke
ground with 400 men on Litchmore's Point at 10 o'clock in
the morning—the mist was so great as to prevent the enemy
from difeovering.what he was about until twelve, when it
cleared up, and opened to their view our whole party at the
point, and another at the causeway, throwing a new bridge
over the creek that forms the island at high water. Th
Scarborough ship of war which lay off the point, immediate!
poured in upon our men a broadside—The enemy from Be
ton threw many (hells, and obliged us to decamp from th,
point with two men badly wounded. The bridge however
was ordered to be railed by the brave old General, and was