The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-28
The Press Of the Revolutionary Era.
Curious and Interesting Extracts,
Illustrative ofthe Manners, Morals and
HistOry or that Age.
From the Massachusetts, Spy Of June 10, i779l
By Fridays Boston Post.


from the Massachusetts, Spy Of June 10, l779l
| By Fridays Boston Post.
BosroN, June 3.
i BY a vessel arrived at South Carolina, we learn
that the British army had tor time Sc
verely felt the influence OF the Southern
climate many were sick, and many had died
| THAT by advancing into the country, and by va
rious movements they had made, they seemed tor
a while to threaten Charestown with closer APP
proach but had never been nearer 10 il than about
forty n fifty miles-that they had taken up all the
bridges near their route, and the several stations
| they had occupied, with a view to prevent the
junction OF General Moultrs, who was in their
front, with Gene raj Lincoln, who hung upon ihen
| rear-that such dispositions had been made by the
two Generals 10 counteract the designs OF the enc
| my, and to effect junction when it would be
thought proper-lhat the British army appeared
rather disconnected, had changed its route aud re-
tired 10 Beaufort, near TO which place General Pro
| vost had his head quarters when the last vices
came away. The British army was computed al
5000; and the forces under Gen. Lincoln said TO be
much superior in number.
| II is said that sixteen thousand of the enemy's
| troops have been detached from New York since
October last
It is reported that preparations are making in
| New York tor some further enterprise.
i Neither General Clinton, nor Admiral Gambler,
were in the last embarkatlon from New York, as
i has been reported Sir George Collier commanded
the fleet, and General Mathews the land forces.
Three OF the enemy's prlvateers of 10 guns, have
lately been captured by some cruizers from Con.
| necttCut, and carried into u safe port.
i A correspondent at the northwafd informs that on
the 26h ult upwards of 20 Of the Indians. taken by
the gallant Col Van Setback, at the Onondaga
Castle, arrived at Albany, among whom were two
| or three Sachems.
Extract Of letter from Major General Gates to
the Hon. President OF the Council Of this State,
dated Providence, May 30, l779;
| 81 send you an extract OF a letter from Mr.. Ma
son OF the 18th, respecting descent OF the enemy
At Portsmouth in Virginia. had some accounts OF
1 N added
folk NH8
extract Of letter from Mr. Thompson Mason,
dated Leesberg, May II, 1878:
/ II am sorry TO Inform that my son, who Is lmme-
dately from Hampton, brings intelligence thai
forty sail OF the enemy appeared In Hampton road
4 IN Sunday, the 9th instant. On Monday they al
| acked the fort at Portsmouth, but were repulsed
| " Major Mathews, who commanded there with
| $50 men; on Tuesday morning they renewed their
attack, but the tort was CALAMITY defended until
N the afternoon, when percelving the enemy had
| 10 attack II on the laad side, Maj Mathews spiked
~ the cannon, destroyed his stores, burnt three
Inc ships Of war we had upon the stocks there, and
e ms sn Party e ay q the
intercepted by the militia, IA killed and l6 taken
prisoners. have the pleasure 10 INFORM you hal
The militia are turning out with great alacrlty."
/ By the Hartford Post
| PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENEMY IN VIRGINIA.
i 4t WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, May Is.
Last Sunday an express arrived here from Hamp-
ton, informing of number of the British fleet ap
pearing Oft Old Point Comfort, consisting OF -four
men OF war, Is transports, tenders, and galley
with upwards OF 1000 men, and abOnt 100 fiat bot
tom boats. The next day they landed their troops,
who took the tort at Portsmouth, burnt several
houses, and also destroyed number OF vessels
there. The officer who commanded in the for
found the enemy SO far superior 10 him in point Of
numbers, was Obliged to retreat from II, atel
splking up the cannon. The enemy have. since
marched and taken the town OF Suffolk, and burn
Il a considerable part thereof, committing many
forced ravages-plundering burning, and destroy
ing every thing on their way thlther.
Extract Of a letter from Col. Lawson to his Excel
lency the Governor, dated Smithfeld, May IL
1879:
81 presume your Exceency, by this time, il
pretty we'll informed Of the strength and move
ments Of the enemy. From accounts which, hav.
received the cruel ana horrid depredations and ra
Pine committed on the unfortunate and defenceles
inhabitants who have fallen within their reach, ex
coed almost every thing yet heard OF within thu
CIRCLE OF their tragic display OF savage barbarlly :
Household frniture stock vt all kinds, horses,
short, almost every species Of perlshable proper
~ are effectualy destroyed with unrelentlng fury
by these devils incarnae, murder, rape, raplne ant
violence fill up the dark catalogue OF their detesta
biz transactions! They surprised and took small
body Of Frenchmen at the Great Bridge, whom
they murdered imme diately on the spot, 10 IN,
amount Ut seven. The feelings of humanity arr
deeply led with reflections on the various ant
pointed crueltles exercised towards eur suffering
countrymen, and call aloud for the most vigorou
and spirited exrrtions. The militia at this place OF
! being informed that arms were coming, they wer
much spirited up, and possess the greatest desire
revenge and retaliation"
Extract OF another letter from the same gentle
II man: a.Hass teft
"On my way down from Smithfeld towards SUI
folk, met numbers of the unfortunate inhabltant
flying from the rapid approach OF the enemy will
paint. feel no pleasure Il believe your Excellenc,
will think) in enumeratlng and dwelling upon thu
dlstresses OF our countrymen and fellow creatures
but on the present occasion, they exceed any thin.
in Imagination. The enemy are now In possession
Of Suffolk, part OF which is actually in flames
and the whole will probably be in a small time"
gse From Rivingtons Royal Gazette
Nsw York (Clty,) May ~.
BY AUTHORITY.
We are happy to be able to inform our reader
that his MaJesty's forces on the expedition, undo
the command oil Major General Mathews and ST
George Collier, entered the Capes Of Virginia OF
the 9th inst, after very favorable passage OF fou
days, but the troops were prev nted by contrar!
winds from landing until the 10Th, which they ef
fected at o'clock in the afternoon, at the Glebe
on the western shore of Elizabeth river, just out 0
cannon shot of the fort, which the enemy evacu
ated (through fear Of having their retreat cut of
before the British troops could reach the soutl
branch of Elizabeth river. iae S.Ml Ht
The General having taken possession OF the tort
and placed guards in The town, encamped his army
lines, with his right the fort, and lett
the south branch. W
. On the l1th, the flank companies OF the Guard
took strong position, ten miles in front OF the IL,
wing and the volunteers of Ireland took another
equally strong in front Of the lett wing. The cen
ire Of the line was covered by an impenetrabl,
swamp. taa
On the 18th, the Guards were detached TO thu
right to Suffolk, where they arrived at daybreak
aud finding the town deserted, they destroyed Sc
yeral vessels, a very large magazine of provisions
al sntity OF naval stores and two pieces 0t cannon
Ony two persons were wounded on our side on the
occasion.
The volunteers of Ireland had some slight Skin
mi,hing, in which they suffered little, The enemy
having lost in killed, wounded and prisoners 81
besides captain, 3 lieutenants, ensign, surgeon
and IL sailors, belonging 10 French ship that was
burnt, who tell into our hands, together with cap
tains, 2 lieutenants and privates OF the Virginia
| militia. N.
| The damage done 10 the enemy by the destruc.