Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-04
Maj. PIsksEY, Esq.
Depy. 3djt. General y. s. .8rmy.

100. wv u = ViuSfS ttSttiOuleO. TO llOSc Ia
miles, and an additional 'euentitY Of TWEEN
ty barrels was delivered to Humane So
ciety of the town, to be distributed among
the poor. 80.
Inc Judicious and unrefnitting exertions
OF Com. Chauncey, and the brave officers
and seamen ofhis squadron, In the prepa-
ration and execution Of this entecprize on
York, and especially covering the landing
OF our troops. III destroying the enemy's
batteries, and in removing and securing
the public property captured, deserve the
highest applause. g
GEN. RIPLEY'S STATEMENT.
Head Quarters, Boston,
August Is, 1915.
SIRlI take the liberty to state the oc-
currences at York, after the capture of that
place by the American. forces on, the 9th
ot April, 1913. You will then be able to
determine how much truth there is in the
work entitled {. The Continuation Of Gold
smiths History # Engicnd,'' SO far as re-
lates TO the following article.
Previous to the place being carried, an
order had been issued by the ever to be la
mented and gallant General Pike, prohibit
ing every species of pIundering or depre-
dation under the penalty of death. After
the capltulatlon, guard was posted IN the
town By direction of Maj. Gen. Dearborn,
to carry his order into the strictest effect.
AS field officer on duty during the first
night, had occasion repeatedly to visit the
guard, and always discovered it extreme
~ vigllant and attentive. Tie next morn
ing, at about seven or eight O'Clock, had
tn visit fh.. r., n II
gser of the volunteers with his knapsack
full OF valuable plate. ascertained it to
belong to lady; daughter of the Hon.
Judge Powell ; it was Immediately return
ed to her. l reported this circumstance to
General Dearborn, who ordered this man
confined, aud directed me to order up all
the 2lst regiment under command of Ma
Tor Grafton to the town for the purpose of
protecting the inhabitants The officers
were quartered In houses in town, aud the
system established was for seutines to be
stationed to prevent depredatio6s wherever
it was requested.
If this regiment did its duty, it viii be
at once perceived that there could be no
piuedering; and that il did perform its du-
Y via appear from several circumstances.
That the kDapsack Of every man was
searched previous to embarkiug, and not
an article Of plundered pronerty was
found. That the inhabitants ofYork were
particularly pleased with their department
IN the city, and on every occasion testified
their gratitude fer their protection and
that when capt. Pelham was wounded and
taken prisoner at Chfystler Field, no
sooner was ii known that he was on duty
In the regiment which protected the pro
perry OF the inhabitants of York, than at
the lntercession of MANY highly respecta-
BILE officers of the British army, he was
paroled by sir George Provost on that We
ry account expressed in his letter, not
withstanding other officers at the same
time were imprisoned dnder the question of
retaliation agitated between the govern
ments ofthe two nations an instance of
llberality which shews that acts of courte-
sy and Kindness were properly appreciate
ed by that officer.
Previous to the 21st regiment being or
deted to the city of York, two buildircs
that bad been evacuated and stood detacb-
ed had been stripped of many valuable ar
ticlcs by the stragglers. A schooner (nri-
vate property was also destroyed. When
csc facts were made known to Major
General Dearborn, he instantly ordered
the claims for damage tn be liquidated and
payment to be made. 1t was done. In
the case of the property taken from the
buildings, it was made to tile proprietors
personally. In that Of the schooner. az
the cwHer was absent from town, Major
General Dearborn sent the money TO
Judge Scott, who receipted for il.
When the place was captured, LARGE
stores Of -four, beef and peas we're found In
depot. Agreeably to the articles of cant
luton, these were delivered to us--Maior
General Dearborn, directed large pro-
portion OF them to be delivered to the nee
dy in the citgs and particularly to the wi
dows aud families Of the British and Cana
dian soldiers who had been killed in the
acton. In addition to this, considerable
quantities were deposited With the clergy