The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-04

ing and increasing the value of paper currency"
which the Tories had labored 10 depreciate.--
Then he amuses himself with the news that
"the enemy have cheated the Dutch Tories
about Bergen, Hackensack &c. most con founded
iy," by palming upon them gilt English shiiiings
for guineds! He quotes letter from Albany
giving the particulars of the Fort Schuyler af-
fair, and another from Wilmington in which it
IS announced that "the enemy have landed
about 1000 men, and are within four miles of
the head OF Elk, but that our militia were col
Letting, and in three days would have around
them 10000 men. Then the editor gives the
following notice with business-like GOODNESS
:" This morning at ten o'clock roiH be shot on the
commons OF tins town, agreeable TO the sentence of
Court Martial, one Elijah Woodward a soldier in
Col. Henry Jackson's regiment for desertion, SC
The editor publishes letter from Lieutenant
Colonel Archibald Campbell, who having fallen
into the hands Of the Americans, was confined
IN concord Goal" The Colonel complains
bitterly 10 General Howe that he Is '.lodged in
a dungeon of IL or 10 feet square, whose sides
are black with the grease and litter Of success
| sive criminals, and more than inimates that
this treatment was modelled after the manner
which the British were visiting upon General
Lee, whom II seems General Howe refused to
exchange for SIX British field officers among
whom were included the said Col Campbell
We do not wonder at the warmth Of the re-
monstrance.
Then follows the original letter from General
Starks, Cor Stark he is now called) giving in
his own peculiar style the particulars Of his ui-
umph over Bnrgoyne at Bennington. He was
the man who declared on the morning Of the
battle that the British should be whipped, or
Molly Starks' widow" We give his letter
verbatim et Hteratim as it appears in "the
Continental Journal" II makes up in point and
substance what il lacks in rhetorical style The
General cared no more for grammatical restraints
and stops, at such time, than he did for the
British
PORTSMOUTH, August %, l777.
Sunday Erening an Express arrived al Ereter, ioih
the foiioring agreeable and important Inteiig ence
/ from Brigadier- General SHARKS, at Benning-
| ton.
BENNINGTON, August 18th, l77z
r CONGRATULATE you on the late Success
L Of your Troops under my command, by Express,
|
lngs since wrote to you last.
left Manchester on the 9Th Inst and arrived here
the 9th The 18th, Twas inform'd that party of In
dams were at Cambridge, which is twelve Miles dis
tant from this Place, on their March thither | de-
tached Colonel Gregg with two Hundred Men under
his command to stop their March. In the Evening |
had Information by Express, that there was large
body OF the Enemy on their Way, with their Field
Pieces in order to march through the Country com
handed by Governor Skeene The l4th, marched
with my Brigade, and few Of this Satcss Militia to
oppose them, and to Greggs Retreat who found
himself unable to withstand their superior Number,
about four Miles from this Town, | accordingly met
him on his Return and the Enemy in close pursuit Of
him. within rfaf Mile his Rear. wnen they
discovered me, they presently halted very advan-
tageous Piece of Ground drew up my little Army
on an Eminence in open View of their Encampmentss
but could not bring them to an Engagement; marched
back about Mile, and there cncampd; lsent out
few Men 10 skirmish with them killed thirty of them,
with two Indian Chiefs. The 18th it raned all Day
! sent out Parties TO harrass them The 10th
oind by this States Militia, and those Of Berkshire
/ County. | divided my Army into three Divisions,
and sent Col. Nichols with $50 Men the Rear of
their left Wing Col Heinrich, in the Rear of their
| Right, with 300 Men, ordered when joined to attack
the same. In the mean Time sent three Hundred
more to oppose the Enemys Front, TO draw their At
ention that Way, after detached the Colonies
| Hubbard and Stickney their Right Wing with
two Hundred Men to attack that Part, all which
Plans had their desired Effect Col Nichols sent me
Word that he stood in need Of Reinforcement which
readily granted consisting of one hundred Men at
which Time he commenced the attack precisely at
O'Clock III the afternoon, which followed by all
the rest, pushed forward the Remainder with all
speed, People behaved with the greatest Spirit and
| Bravery imaginable, had they been Alexanders, OF
Charles of Sweden they could not have behaved bet
ter the Action lasted two Hours, at the Expiration
of which Time, we forced their Breastworks at the
Muzzcs of their Guns, took two Pieces of Brass Can
non, with Number of Prisoners, but before could
get them into proper Form again received lntelli-
gence that there large Reinforcement within
Two Miles of their march, which occasioned us
TO renew our Attack, but lucky for us Col Warmers
Regiment came up, which put stop TO their Career,
rallied, and few Minutes the Action began
very warm and desperate which lasted till Night we
used their own Cannon against them, which proved
to retreat second Time we pursued them till dark
when was obliged TO halt for fear of killing my own
men, we recovered Pieces more of their Cannon, to
gether with all their Baggage number of Horses
Carriages, &c. killed upwards of 200 of the Enemy in
the Field of Battle the number of the wounded is
yet known they scattered about in many Places
| have one Lieut. Colonel since dead, one Major,
Captains, IA Leutenants, A Ensigns, Comets,
Judge Advocate Baron, Canadian Officers, 6
Sereans, | Aid de Camp | Ilessan Chaplain, 3
Iessian Surgeons, and seven Hundred Prisoners |
nclose you a Copy Of Gen Burgoyne's Instructions
to Col Baum who commanded the Detachment that
engaged us. Our wounded are A.; 10 Privates and
Officers belonging to my Brigade is dead the dead
and wounded in the other Corps, do not know, as
they have not brought in their Returns as yet
am,
| Gentlemen with the greatest Regard,
and Respect, you most obedent
Humble Servant,
JOHN SHARKS Brigadier- General.