The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-11 00:00:00, page 2

tfe following circusflaritia! Amount of the Proceedings of
the Britsfeet dnd Army, both before and after their
late Defeat at Sullivan's Island, is taken front the South-
Cdrplpsa Gazette, vit..
CHARLESTOWN, South-Carolina, Auguftz.
* f having been deemed expedient, that the printing
! oreffes Ihould be removed odt of town during the
frarro, the publication of this Gazette has been necef
foily difcoritiuucd for the two last months. As the tranf
^^{ons it! this province during that period will probably
make it ri diftinguilhed one in the American annals, we
doubt not but a fuccina account of them will be very ac
cegable to ot?r readers.
On the tft of June his Excellency the President receiv
ed advices of a fleet of 40 or 50 fail being at anchor
about fix leagues to the northward of Sullivan's Iftand.
Accounts of the arrival of Sir Peter Parker's fleet in N.
Caroline, and that it was destined either for Virginia or
thrt province, having been received about three weeks
Before, put it beyond a doubt that this was his fleet.
Next morning the alarm was fired, expresses having been
sent, ordering the country militia to town; the fortifica
tions were all tiiited by his Excellency and General Arm
ftfong, and preparations for the molt vigorous defence
ordered. In the evening a man of war, thought to be a
20 gun ship, beat up to windward and anchored off the
Bar; next day flie was joined by a frigate, and on the day
following; June 4, by upwards of 50 fail of men of war,
transports, tenders, &c. We have since learned, that the
men of war were the Bristol of 50 guns, on board of
which the Commodore had his flag; the Solebay, Capt.
Symonds, 28; Syren, Capt. Furneaux, 28; Active, Capt.
Williams, 28; Acteon, Capt. Atkins, 28; Sphinx, Capt.
Hunt, 20; Ranger Sloop of 8; Thunder Bomb of 6 guns
and $ mortars, one of them 13 inches, and the other 11;
an armed ship, called the Friendship, of 18 guns, with
tome fmiller armed vessels. The fame day Capt. Mowat
arrived tr^mNarth Carolina, with an express from Ge
neral Lee, informing that the fleet had left North Caro
lina; ^d that he would be here as speedily as possible,
with several Continental Regiments, to our assistance.
A few days after the arrival of the fleet several tran
fperts and small armed vessels went to Long-Island,
fitpated to the caftward of Sullivan's Island, from which
it is fepirated by a small creek called the Breach; where
they landed a large body of troops, who encamped there.
The wind and tides being favourable for the four following
days, about 36 vessels came over the bar, and anchored
at about 3 miles distance from Sullivan's Island; tpvo of
their thihfpsrts got aground in coming over; one got off,
but the other went to pieces. On the 10th the Bristol
Came over,'her guns being previously taken out.
On the ,th a boat, with a Fag of Truce, from the
enemy, came towards the island, but was fired on by an
ignorant ceptinel. The boat thereupon immediately put
about, and would not return, notwithstanding the officer
who was sent to receive the flag waved his handkerchief,
and desired them to come afliore. Next day Col. Moul
trie sent an officer to the fleet, to acquaint them of the
centincl's having fired without orders, and that he was
ready to receive any thing they had to fend. Gen. Clin
ton was fatisfNd with the apology, and said the intention
pf the Flag's being sent was only to deliver the following
Proclamation, which the officer brought ashore.
[The",reclamation is the fame <witb that dejigned for
North-Carolina, ivferted in this Gazette, No. 2478.]
Major-General Lee, Brigadier-General Howe, Colonel
Bullett, Colonel Jenifer, Otway Byrd and Lewis Morris,
Enquires, Aids de Camp to General Lee, with feme other
gentlemen, arrived at Haddreil's Point in the morning of
the pin. After bavins viewed the fortifications there,
and. on Sullivan's and James Blands, they came to towp.
Orders being given on the 10th for a number of build
ings on the wharfs to be pulled down, intrenchments to
b: thrown up all around the town, and barricadoes to
be made n the principal Greets, every person, without
dihinHion, were employed on those works.
On the ,2th there blew a violent florin, in which an
Hospital Ship and the Friendship, which were at anchor
on the other fide of the Bar. were obliged to put out to
sea, but returned in a few days' after. A schooner, hav
ing on board some provisions and coals, drifting a little
Way from the fleet; was taken by one of our pilot-boats,
and brought to town. Her crew took to their boat, on
observing the pilot-boat's approach.
His Excellency the President, on the 14th, proposed to
the militia under arms, an oath of fidelity, which was
Voluntarily and readily taken by every one present except
ing three. The next morning it was proposed to the
country militia doing duty in town, and to the artillery
companies, when it met with their unanimous assent.
A (loop from the Weft-Indies for this port, with a cargo
of gunpowder, arms, rum, &c. having, in the afternoon
of the 16th; deferred the fl&et, attempted to make her
escape: but, through the ignorance of her pilot, run
aground and bilged; Next day she was difiovered by the
men of war, and 2 tender; with several boats full of
armed men, came towards her. The crew, being only
22 men, unable to cope with such a force, in the situation
the vessel was in, quoted her. She was soon after boarded,
set on fire, and blew up with gre.lt explosion.
By some sailors who deferred from the Ranger Sloop,
lying near Long-Island, we were informed, that the land
forces were about 2800 (some fay 3300) men, under the
command of Major-General Clinton, who had under him
Major-General Lord Cornwallis, and Brigadier-General
Vaughan.
Ou the 21st, our advanced party at the N. E.'end of
Sullivan's Iftkrid fired several (hot at the armed Schooner
Lady William, an armed (loop, and a pilot-boat, lying
in the creek between Long-Island and the Main; several
of which hulled them. For several mornings and even
ings the enemy threw fliells, and fired from some field
pieces on our advanced putt, but without any effect.
A large flrip hove in fight on the 25th in the morning.
She was thought to be the Roebuck, but we have since
learnt she was the Experiment, Capt. Scott, of 56 guns
next day file came over, having her guns out. On the
day following, the 27th, between nine and ten in the
forenoon, as soon as the Experiment Am her gur, Alin,
the Commodore hoißed his topfaik, firm a gun, m.d
got under way. His example was fiHv^ ! - fevtrJ
others of the men of war; but a fanhi conung on, and
the wind Lifting from S. E. to the opposite quarter, pre
vented their coming much nearer at that time; In the
afternoon, the Commodore again got under way, and
came about a mile nearer Sullivan's Island.
Next morning, June the twenty-eighth, the following
was the disposition of the ffiips of war: The Friendship,
at the distance of about a mile and a half from Sullivan's
Island, covering the Thunder Bomb; the Solebay, Sphinx,
Bristol, Active, Experiment, A^tecn and Syren About
half an hour past 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the Thun
der began throwing Ihells on Fort Sullivan, and the
A&ive, Bristol, Experiment and Solebay came boldly up
to the attack, in the order their names are put down. Ay
little before 11 o'clock the garrison fired four or five shot
at the Active, while under fail, some of which flruck
her; these she did not seem to regard till within about
350 yards of the fort, when she dropped anchor and
poured in a broadfidc. Her example was in a few mi
nutes followed by the other three vessels, when there en
sued one of the molt heavy and incessant cannonades per
haps ever known. The bomb vessel was at the fame
time throwing Ihells, a firing was heard from the advanc
ed post at the N. E. end of the island, and more vessels
were seen coming up. Our brave garrison (consisting of
the 2d regiment of provincials, a detachment of artil
lery, and some volunteers) under all these difficulties,
which to the far greater part were entirely new, encou
raged by the example of their gallant Commanded Col.
William Moultrie, and the rest of the officers, behaved
with the cool intrepidity of veterans: Our cannon were
wejf&rved, and did dreadful execution. About twelve
o'clock the Sphinx, Afteon and Syren got entangled
with a shoal, called the Middle Ground. The two firft
ran. foul of each other : The Sphinx got off with the
loss of her boltfprit, but the Adeon stuck faft. The
Syren also got off. Much about the fame time, the bomb
vessel ceased firing, after having thrown upwards - of 60
shells. Wehave since learnt, that her beds got damaged,
and that it will require much repairing before foe is lit
for service again. In the afternoon the enemy's fire was
increased by that of the Syren and Friendship, which
came within SGO yards of the fort.
Till near seven o'clock was the enemy's fire kept up
without intermission. It slackened considerably after
that, and they only returned the Garrison's fire, but
generally twenty fold. At half after nine, the firing on
both sides ceased, andat 11, the ships flipped their cables.
About the time the Ships came up, an armed schooner
and fl op came nearer our advanced post, in order to
cover the landing of their troops, and every other prepara
tion for that piirpofe was made: The soldiers even got
into their boats, and a number of shells were thrown into
our intrenchment, but did no other damage than wound
ing one soldier. Notwithstanding which they never
once attempted to land. At the advanced post were
Rationed, Col. Thomson with his rangers, some compa
nies of militia, and a detachment of artillery. They had
one 18 pounder and two field pieces, from which they
returned the enemy's fire. They were reinforced in the
afternoon with'Col. Muhlenburg's Virginia battalion.
Next morning, all the men of war, except the Adeon,
were retired zbouttwo miles from the island, which they
had quietly effected under cloud of night. The garrison
fired several shot at the Afteon, which Die returned.
But soon after, her crew set her on fire, and abandoned
her, leaving her colours' flying, guns loaded, with all her
ammunition, proyifions and stores on beard. They had
not been long gone before several boats from the island
went, to her; Lieut. Jacob Milligan, with some others,
went on board, and brought off her jack, bell, feme fails
and stores; while the flames were bursting out on all
sides, he fired three of her guns at the Commodore. In
less than half an hour after they quitted her, ihe blew up.
The Bristol, against which the fire was chiefly direded,
is very much damaged. It is said, that not less than 70.
balls went through her. Her mizenmaft was so much
hurt, that they have since replaced it with another. The
mainmast is cut away about fifteen feet below the hounds,
and instead of her broad pendant soaring on a lofty mast,
it is now hardly to be seen on a jury mainmast confider
ab|y lower than the foremaft. The Experiment had her
mizen gaff shot away; the other vessels sustained little
damage m their rigging. The loss i^ the fleet, according
to the report of the deserters, is about 180 killed and
wounded; among the former is Captain Morrison of the
Bristol. Sir Peter Parker had the hind part of his
breeches shot away, which laid his posteriors bare; his
knee pan was hurt by a splinter. There ha ve been several
funerals in the fleet since the engagement, and from the
parade of some, it is conjectured they were of officers of
rank, some of the deserters fay, that Capt. Scott, of the
Experiment, is among the killed.
The loss of the garrison was as follows:
Artillery. Killed, 1 matrofs. Wounded, 2 matroffes.
2d. Regiment. Killed, 1 sergeant, 9 rank and file.
Wounded, Lieutenants Gray and Hall, the fife-major,
I sergeant, 19 rank and file.
An officer's Mulatto waiting boy was killed.
Total. Killed 12 —Wounded 23.
Both the officers were but slightly wounded, and are
now well— 5 of the wounded privates are since dead.
The works are very little damaged; but hardly a hut
or tree on the island escaped the shot entirely. Many
thousands of the enemy's shot have been picked up on
the island,
General Lee was at HadcTell's Point at the beginning
of the action, and went in a boat, through a thick fire,
to the fort, where he Raid some time. He fays, in the
whole course of his military service, he never knew men
behave better; and cannot efficiently praise both officers
and soldiers for their coolness and intrepidity. The be
haviour of two sergeants deserves to be remembered : In
the beginning of the action, the flag ftaff was shot away;
which being observed by Sergeant Jasper, of the grena
diers, he immediately jumped from one of the embra
zures upon the Beach, tool< up the flag, and fixed it on a"
fpunge ftaff; with it in his hand, he mounted the Merlon,
and, notwithstanding the shot flew as thick as hail around
him, he Lifurely fixed it. Sergeant McDonald, of Capt.
Huger's company, while exerting himfelf in a very dif
tinguiffied manner, was cruelly shattered by a cannon
ball; in a few minutes he expired, after having uttered
these remarkable words; " My friends, I am dying, but,
don't let the Cause of Liberty expire with me." His
comrades felt for him—the gallant Jasper immediately
removed his mangled corfe from their fight, and called
aoud, " Let us revenge that brave man's death." The
day after the action his Excellency the President presented
Sergeant Jasper with a sword, as a mark of esteem fur
his distinguished valour.
We hear th.rt the Fort on Sullivan's Island will be in
future called ^ort Moults ie, in honour of the gallant
nicer L o commanded there on the memorable 28th of
June, 1776.
Fne men of war dropped down several miles further
from the island a few days after. The carpenters in the
fleet had fufficient employment in repairing the vessels.
Several deserters came from both fleet and army, who all
agreed we need not expert another visit at present ; that
it was talked, that the two large ships would go to En
glish harbour in Antigua to get refitted, the transports
with the troops, to proceed to New-York, under convoy
of some men of war, to join the grand army; and that
two frigates would be left to cruise between North-
Carolina and Georgia,
On the 2d of July Gen. Lee sent 1 Flag to the enemy,
with a proposal to exchange a prisoner for Colonel Ethan
Alien, who it was said was in the fleet; a present of some
frefh meat and vegetables was sent at the fame time.
Gen. Clinton being at Long-Island, an anfwef was not
received till two days afterwards, when he informed
Gen. Lee, that Col. Allen was not on board;'and in re
turn for his present, sent fume porter, cheese, &c. Two
engineers came in the boat, but as they were received at
some distance from the fort, they were deprived of an
opportunity of feeing what they were probably sent to
observe.
A n®'>p frdm the Weft-Indies, with gunpowder, &c.
run aground on the sth, in coming into Stone Inlet; she
a few days afterwards went to pieces, the cargo having
been previously taken out.
A number of the enemy's transports went to Long^
Island about ten days after the repulse, and took on
board all the troops on it and Goat-lfland. About the
fame time some of their frigates and armed vessels went
over the bar, and on the 14th the Bristol made an attempt
to go ut, in which she tailed, having struck on the Bar.
She luc; ceded in another attempt four days after, and
came to an anchor off the harbour.
The transports, with the Solebay, Thunder, Friend
ffiip, and some of the small armed vefrels, failed on the
20th, fleering a southward course ; they were afterwards
seen Landing to the caftward. On the fame day, a bri
gantine, having on board 50 soldiers and 6 sailors, got
aground near Dewees's Inlet. She was left unopferved
by the rest, and on the day afterwards was taken by an
armed Hat or floating battery, commanded by Lieutenant
Pickering. The brigantine could not be got off, and
was therefore burnt. She was mounted with fix 4 pound
ers; the soldiers threw their small arms over board, on
feeing the approach of the flat. Four of the crew escap
ed in their boat.
On the 25th, the Experiment went over the Bar, her
lower tier of guns being taken out; foe came to an
chor near the Commodore. Syren, and three transports
lying off the harbour. A frigate which had not been
here before, came to the Commodore in the afternoon
of the 25th. Next morning she failed for the southward,
and two days after the Syren followed her.
This forenoon the Active, Sphinx, and a large trans
port, being all of the enemy's vessels within the Bar,
went out, and with the Bristol, Experiment? j transports
and a tender, Rood out to sea, fleering an E. N; E. course.
Within these few days a cargo of seven tons of gun
powder and a quantity of dry goods, has been fafely
landed in this colony..
In our lad, of May 3.1, our advices refpe&ing the In
dians gave reason to expert that they foul'd 'remain
quiet; since which we have certain accounts of tie Che
rokees having killed several white people, an'EVai some
prisoners. The other nations seem averse to intermeddling
in the present contett, and it is to-be hoped the measures
taken to fix them in their -peaceable difpofrtious will be
fuccefsful. There is the greatest reason to expert the
Cherokees will soon repent of their rashness, as consider
able bodies of men from Virginia, North Carolina and
this Colony, are actually on their march into their
country.
We hear, that about three weeks ago, two armed ves
sels from St. Auguiftine cut a sloop and febooner, 1 aded
with rice, out of Ogeechie River in Georgi.. A party
from the fame place have been employed in building a
fort at St. Mary's; a Goat belonging to them, with Capt.
Peter Bachop and seven- others on board, wa. taken
about a fortnight since, after some shot being exchanged;
three of them were killed, and Capt. Bachop, with t^
other four brought prisoners to Savannah.
WILLIAMSBURG, August 30.
By Mr. William Harrison, in nine days fr@m Fort Pitt,
we have advice, that Capt. John Hingfton, with r num
ber of settlers, arrived from Licking Creek, near the
Kentucky, the very day he left home. Capt.'Hingft.cn
gave the following account, that one James Cooper?and
another person, a Dutchman, being on their foto a
buffalo lick, were fired upon by a couple of Indians who
shot down Cooper, and frightened the Dutchman's h^rfe
io that he flung him. Hs foot hanging in the stirrup,
one of the,lndians made up to him, to tomhawk him;
but, although in that difadyantageous situation, he found
means to aim iris gun so well (which he never quitted)
as to ihoot the Savage dead on the spot, and, feeing the
other Indian making up to him, he disengaged himfelf
from his own horse, mounted Cooper's, and got clear off
to the inhabitants. Upon his arrival, many of the Ken
tucky settlers immediately went about sorting themselves
at Boonfborough and Harwood's town; and numbers
agreed to come into the neighbourhood of Fort Pitt,
with Captain Hingfton.—Mr. Harrison likewise informs,
that Mr. Jacob Hite, who lately removed front Berkeley
county to the neighbourhood of the Cherokee country
with his family, and a large parcel of negroes, was mur
dered at his own house by those Savages, with moh of
his Raves, and his wife and children carried off prisoners;
his son, who was in the Cherokee country, was likewise
murdered.—The Shawanefe, .Delawares, and Mingoes,
had not met our Commissioners, although two expresses
had been sent to them for that purpose, and returned
without any answer. A third'exprefs was sent off, but
had not returned.,
B O S T O N, Augufl
On the 26th inst. Capt. Nott, of the privateer fluop
Broome, of New-Haven, arrived at Dartmouth with 4
valuable prizes, viz. the ship Charming Sally, John Stell,
Captain, bound to Europe from Dominica; had on board
465 hoglheads, 31 teirces, 35 barrels of sugar, and 25
tons of fuftic :—The snow Ann, John Bowes, Captain,
from Tobago to Lancaster ; had on board 169 hoeflreads,
20 teirces, 26 barrels of sugar, 40 bags of gi ger, 118
bales of cotton :—The brig Carolina Packet, Mark Tow
el, Captain, bound from Antigua to London; had on
board 151 hogsheads, 12 teirces, 10 barrels ot sugar, %
hogsheads of rum, and 14 tons of lignum vitae and fuftic:
And the brig John, Daniel M'Kay, Cantain, from Gre
nada to Dublin; had on board 90 hoglheads and 2 teirces
of rum.
Last Saturday afternoon was chafed into Marblehead by
the Milford frigate, the prize flrip Isaac, from Tortola,
bound to London, g^otons burthen, commanded by
Capt. Afhburn, laden with 500 hogsheads of sugar, 44
puncheons of rum, 150 bags of cotton, a considerable
quantity of old copper, and a number of turtle. She
was taken by the privateer sloop Warren, commanded
by Capt. Phillips, and had it mot been for the fort at
Marblehead, which fired at the Milford several times
she would have been inevitably retaken.
/ And on Sunday the above frigate took, off Cape Ann
a prize brigantine coming into port, said to be one of
Capt, Whit's, of Salem, laden with rum from Grenada.
Also a large sloop, which our informant could not tell
where from, or who commanded her.
Yesterday the Hon. Samuel Adams, one of the Dele
gates from this State, arrived here from Philadelphia.