The Newport gazette (Newport [R.I.]), 1779-07-31 00:00:00

The NEWPORT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1779.
NEW YORK, July 22. Yesterday arrived his Majesty's frigate Greyhound, which sailed from England the 24th ult. ten days after the departure of the fleet destined for America, consisting of eleven ships of the line and three hundred transports, with 7,000 troops on board; 5,000 of them are said to be bound for this port, and the remainder for Carolina.
The Right Honourable General Earl Cornwallis, the Honourable Colonel Stewart and Colonel Patterson came out in the Greyhound. The arrival of those respectable officers, so highly esteemed by the army, and loyalists, diffuses universal joy.
The Greyhound has captured a privateer of 14 guns, belonging to New-London, and the Lady Dunmore privateer of this port, has sent in a brig and sloop from Philadelphia, and one of the Egg Harbour pirates.
The advices from England by the Greyhound, are, that Mr. Adams have been transmitted to Lord Shelburne, the British Ambassador at the Court of Madrid, to demand an immediate categorical declaration, whether Spain intends directly or indirectly, to take part with the American rebels, or interfere in the dispute between Great Britain and France, and to intimate that any delay or evasion would be considered as a declaration of war: At the same time to notify that twenty two sail of Russian ships of the line would soon appear in the Mediterranean, to act in conjunction with the British navy, and that the island of Minorca was immediately to be garrisoned by a formidable body of Russian troops.
The Court of France, in order to secure Charles Towne, dispatched Admiral De la Motte Picquet, with seven sail of the line and some frigates, having on board 2000 land forces; but this, like many other of their wise schemes, proved abortive, for having met with a severe gale, which dispersed and shattered his fleet, he was obliged to return to port. It is said that the squadron under the command of Sir John L. Kels, was sent out to watch their motions.
The rebels finding themselves unequal to the task of keeping the fort at Stony Point, sent on the approach of the royal army, the Washington galley to take on board the artillery and stores, in order to transport them up the river. Colonel Webster being apprised of their intentions, suffered the vessel to load and get under way, but the echo of their cheers, given by the ideal republican troops, had not forsaken the contiguous mountains when the Colonel by a well directed fire from the cannon at Verplank's Point, forced a plank below her beams, and it was with difficulty the crew could row her near enough the shore to make their escape. The British troops soon made up, weighed her and recovered the whole cargo, except one howitzer.
We hear that his Majesty has been pleased to honour Sir James Wallace with a red ribbon, for his spirited behaviour in the many important services he has rendered his grateful country. The first Lieutenant of the Experiment and Lieutenant Wallace, Sir James's Nephew, are appointed to the command of two twenty gun ships.
From the LONDON GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
L O N D O N, May 17, 1779.
Admiralty Office May 17, 1779. Lieutenant Wallace, of his Majesty's ship the Experiment, arrived last
night from Portsmouth, with a letter from Captain Gidoin, of his Majesty's ship the Richmond, to Mr. Stephens, of which the following is a copy.
Richmond, off Cape Breton, May 14, 1779.
SIR, I DID myself the honour of writing to you the 10th instant by Sir James Wallace, commander of his Majesty's ship Experiment, but a westerly wind obliging him to return the same day to the anchorage in Boule Bay, Jersey, not being able to get out. The next day I received a letter from the Lieutenant-Baily of that Island, informing me, that a fleet of French ships were seen near the islands of Ciose: Some small vessels were in consequence sent to reconnoitre, and shortly after we plainly from the heights discovered them to be three ships, a brig, and two sloops, and saw them anchor that night off Couance.
It appeared most eligible to divide our force for the better intercepting them; therefore Sir James Wallace, with the ships named in the margin, and a long sail vessel (whose owners had voluntarily offered her to proceed with the King's ship) was to proceed round the west end of Jersey to that purpose, and I sailed with the rest of the ships and vessels, and the three more armed lug sail vessels (whose owners had made the same offer as the former) and steered for Couance bay, where the French were still at anchor. When we had approached within three or four leagues of them, a signal was made from the commanding ship to weigh (the captain yards hoisted and with the sails furled) they immediately weighed and pushed with all their sails set, towards St. Maloes, not expecting, I suppose, another division of our ships; we continued following them; but at ten o'clock that night, it being a most calm, and the tide against us, we were obliged to anchor, being then in the narrow passage, between Granville and the islands of Ciose. The next morning at three we weighed; there was very little wind, and that southerly, which obliged the Richmond, with the other ships, in the tension to anchor, the tide being still against us. At ten saw some ships over the island of Ciose, and soon after discovered they were the other division of our ships in pursuit of those of the French, then at anchor in Concale Bay. Just before noon there was a smart cannonade, in which the batteries from the shore took a part.
I must beg leave to refer you for other particulars to the inclosed papers, transmitted to me by Sir James Wallace.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, JOHN LEWIS GIDOUN. Experiment, Pallas, Unicorn, Fortune, Cabot brig.
THE 11th of May 1779 at anchor in Boule Bay, a number of vessels appearing on the French coast, Capt. Gidoin thought proper to divide his Majesty's ships there; the Experiment, Pallas, Unicorn, Fortune and Cabot Brig, to go round the S. W. end of Jersey, while he with the rest went to the S. E. The twelfth, at half past three, P. M. weighed and came to sail; at seven we got round, and steered all night over for the French shore. The 13th, at day-light, saw a frigate coming out of St. Maloes, and five or six others to leeward standing into Concale Bay. Gave chase to the frigate; she got in under the batteries of St. Maloes; gave up
chased those to Leeward; they went into Concale Bay, and on our approaching saw that they were three frigates, and an armed cutter. The Experiment ran in upon the shore directly among them, and began an action which lasted about one hour and a half, during which the boats from all our ships boarded and brought them off; at this time the enemy had brought down cannon, howitzers, &c. kept up so smart a fire, that our people thought it proper to burn two of their frigates, and leave the cutter scuttled on the shore; the third we bring with us, together with a brig sloop, &c. From some of the prisoners we are informed, that these were the ships that were to co-operate with 2000 troops of the Prince of Nassau's, who are now encamped upon a small island called Scambre, about two leagues from St. Maloes.
J. A. WALLACE. N. B. The Experiment was hulled in several places, and her sails and rigging much damaged by the shot. She had two men killed and thirteen wounded, two of which dangerously.
The Purser of the Cabot had his leg shot off, and two of her men were wounded.
MAY 13, 1779. A list of the enemy's ships and vessels taken and destroyed this day in Concale Bay, near St. Maloes, by a Division of his Majesty's ships that sailed from Jersey, the 11th instant to go round the South West end of the island, viz. Experiment, Pallas, Unicorn, Fortune sloop, and Cabot Brig.
La Danae: 34 guns, 250 men deserted by her crew, boarded by the boats of the fleet and brought off, and ordered to Portsmouth or Plymouth, under the command of Lieut. Roths, 1st of the Experiment.
La Valeur: 26 guns, 160 men, be at by Capt. Dodd, of the Cabot.
Le Refuge: 24 guns, 130 men, burnt by Lieut. Roths, 1st of the Experiment.
Le Depre: a cutter, 16 guns, 80 men, burnt and left on shore by our people.
La Fleur, a sloop of 40 tons; 4 men, taken about ten in the morning, loaded with timber for building, for St. Maloes, from the river Vivian.
A brig, about 50 tons, and a sloop, found burthen, deserted by their crews, taken, one said to be loaded with linen, the other with lead.
N. B. Several fishing boats, and other small craft destroyed.
LIEUTENANT Wallace relates, that the Experiment being greatly annoyed by a battery of 6 twelve pounders, Sir James Wallace judged it expedient, after firing the Danae to silence the battery also, in order to effect the Destruction of the other frigates and cutters; and the pilot refusing to take charge of his ship, turned her up the bay himself, and laying her alongside of the battery, silenced it in about three quarters of an hour: Soon after which the crews of the above mentioned frigates and cutter abandoned them, and the boats of his Majesty's ships immediately boarded them.
Printed by JOHN HOW