USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 38
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lished in Bradford's Trenton Gazette,1 sanctified by the name of Mr. Thompson, secretary to the grand rebel board of congress.
" Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1777.
' Honored Sir,
"You should certainly have heard from me before this time, but the continual hurry and almost constant movements we have been engaged in, have prevented it .-
"The inclosed * contains some account of an action on the 11th instant ; -which, though unfortunately it wears the appearance of a defeat, you may be assured is the most unlucky affair that general Howe has ever encount- ered on this continent .- Our loss in killed, wounded and missing, as near as any judgment can be formed (for no return has yet been made) may amount to between five and six hundred at most ;- though numbers who were missing, and thought to be lost, are now coming in :- Three hundred and fifty, I should suppose, were wounded, and the most of them safely brought off by our people ;- the rest may have been killed, or fallen into the hands of the enemy. All this is merely supposition, and I would, by no means, have it regarded as an accurate computation ;- it may give some idea until the matter can be properly ascertained.
"The enemy sustained a much greater loss; you may at least rate it at the double of ours .- I was myself a witness to the havock which general Maxwell made among them in the morning, being directly on the opposite side of Brandywine.
" Had it not been for the incongruous information which general Wash- ington received, concerning the movement of the enemy's main body to our right; had we been apprized of it in time to bring up our whole army, and form, I believe, in my soul, that day would have put an end to the British army in America; but the division in front was attacked before they knew where the enemy were, and of consequence gave way; being supported, they afterwards rallied, and after a long and sharp conflict, checked the progress of the enemy .- They were in possession of the field, and we might have remained in the neighborhood; - it was however thought preferable to retire, and the whole army, at present, occupy their old ground near Germantown.
" It is thought we will not remain here more than one night, but ad- vance to meet the enemy, who have employed the whole of yesterday in burying their dead, and dressing their wounded; these must be a great
1 No newspaper was issued in Trenton, nor in the State of New Jersey, at this time. Isaac Collins' Gazette did not appear until December 8th, 1777, when it was first issued in Burlington, and in the spring of 1778 removed to Trenton. Reference may be had to the Pennsylvania Gazette, published by Thomas Bradford.
* Harrison and Washington's letters to congress, on the day and evening of their defeat at Brandywine.
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clog upon any of their future movements, as they have no shipping or other place of safety to deposit them in. I am inclined to think they will not advance towards this city, but take post at Wilmington, where their wounded may be taken care of, and they wait for their fleet to come up the Delaware.
"General Smallwood, with four thousand militia of Maryland and the lower Counties, is on the march, and will be in their rear ; and the same number of Jersey men are coming down to us .- The next will be an im- portant week
"I am persuaded that our men can fight them upon equal terms, and I hope we shall not wait for them to attack us again
"Our troops in high spirits, and will march towards the enemy with much greater cheerfulness than they did from them
"And am, with the greatest esteem and affection, your dutiful son,
HENRY P. LIVINGSTON.1
New-York, November 10. Extract of a Detail of the Proceedings of the Royal Army in Pennsylvania. The Rebels have erected Works in Red Bank, on the Jersey Shore, which will occasion us to attack that Post pre- vious to our Motion against Mud Island .- The Hessians have most gallantly distinguished themselves in an Attack on Red Bank. The Command on this Occasion was desired by the brave Donop, but it did not succeed, and we lost from the Fire of the Rebel Gallies, &c. a Number of excellent Troops, killed and wounded, of that Country, and with them the Hero who led them.
We hear that Seth Warner is gone to attack Ticon- deroga with 5000 Men ; that Mr. Parsons is at Horseneck with a considerable Body ; that Mr. Putnam is at Tarry- town; and Mr. Dickenson at Elizabeth Town and New- ark, in New-Jersey.
A most tremendous firing from the Southward, was heard all last Wednesday, in many Parts of East-Jersey ; and we had a Report in Town last Saturday that Mud-
1 Henry Brockholst Livingston, subsequently a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was named after his maternal uncle, Henry Brockholst of Pompton. He early dropped the first name and was known as Brockholst Liv- ingston .- W. N.
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Island on the Delaware was taken, and that a great Number of Vessels were seen going up to Philadelphia.
A Salt Works at Shrewsbury was destroyed last Wednesday by a small Party of our Troops from Sandy- Hook .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, November 10, 1777.
New-York, November 17. Since our last we have had various Accounts from different Parts of the Country, of the Reduction of Mud-Island and Red Bank, on the Delaware, by his Majesty's Troops under the Command of his Excellency General Sir WILLIAM HOWE, on Wednesday the 5th Instant .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, November 17, 1777.
New-York, November 24. By Accounts from Morris- Town, in Jersey, we are informed, that thirty-five Per- sons are under Sentence of Death in the Gaol of that Place, whose Crime is a faithful Attachment to Govern- ment.
We hear that Orders have been sent to a Place called Westfield, a few Miles from Elizabeth-Town, in New- Jersey, for the Inhabitants of that Place to prepare Quarters for a large Body of Men, and to cut down 500 Cords of Fire Wood.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last, Parties of the Rebels landed on Staten-Island, from Elizabeth-Town, but were as often beat off.
We have Accounts from different Parts, that Mud- Island and Red-Bank surrendered to the Troops under the Command of General Sir William Howe, on Sunday the 16th Instant.
Two small Vessels loaded with Salt, are got into Tom's River, about 50 Miles to the Southard of Sandy-Hook, in the Province of New-Jersey.
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A Boat loaded with Oysters, from Fire-Island, was a few Days ago taken by a small Rebel Privateer, and car- ried into Egg-Harbour. The People that were on board are now in Monmouth County Goal, in New-Jersey.
The Rebels were as low down in Bergen, last Friday Night, as Mr. Van Ripen's, the Blacksmith, and carried from thence some Horses, &c.
Friday last arrived at Sandy-Hook, from England, the Grampus Store Ship, (formerly the Buckingham, of 70 Guns) Ambrose Reddall, Esq., Commander, having left the Land the 12th of September, in Company with 25 Sail, bound for this Port. They have on board a Num- ber of Troops, under Convoy of his Majesty's Frigates the Venus and Foy, of 32 Guns each; from whom the Grampus parted about ten Days ago.
R YOUND adrift near the Jersey shore, a small petty- auger, with sails, and one oar. The owner, by prov- ing his property and paying expenses may have her again. Apply to Jacob Pryer, miller, the back of Powles Hook New York.
Picked up at Sandy-Hook.
Two anchors and cables. Any one proving their property, and paying expenses, may have them again, by applying to David Morris, at the sign of the pilot boat near the Ferry Stairs .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, November 24, 1777.
PHILADELPHIA.
Last Thursday afternoon, the rebels, after blowing up their fortifications, evacuated Red-Bank, upon the appear- ance of a detachment of the British troops, under the command of lord Cornwallis. And the next morning they set fire to all their fleet, consisting of about twenty
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sail, except some of the gondolas, which, keeping close to the Jersey shore, ran up the river, under cover of a thick fog .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, November 25, 1777.
New-York, December 1. On Tuesday arrived here from the Delaware, a Tender belonging to his Majesty's Ship Roebuck, which brings the agreeable News of the taking of the Forts on Red-Bank and Mud-Island, and the destroying many of the Rebel Vessels. The taking of the Posts was greatly facilitated by his Majesty's Ships Isis, Roebuck, Liverpool, Pearl, and Vigilant. The Loss sustained on this occasion was about five Privates of the Royal Army and six of the Royal Navy. Lord Corn- wallis, with a Part of the Royal Army, crossed over from Philadelphia to Billingsport, and there joined the Rein- forcement of Four Thousand Men from New-York, under the Command of Major Gen. Sir Thomas Spencer Wilson, and, on his Lordship's approach to Red-Bank, the Enemy set Fire to their Magazines, and destroyed many of their Shipping : A few of their Gallies have sheltered them- selves in Timber-Creek, upon the River, between Glou- cester Point and Red-Bank.
Early on Thursday Morning a Body of Rebels, com- manded by Mr. Philemon Dickenson, landed on Staten- Island, and, advancing to the Encampment of General Campbell : they suddenly, upon perceiving a consider- able Reinforcement of Troops and Ships of War ap- proaching the Island, retired with Precipitation to their Boats, and got back to the Jersey shore; a few were taken Prisoners.
The brave Count Donop died of the Wounds he re- ceived on the late Attack at Red Bank : His Request before his Death was, to be buried at Red Bank, with all the Honours of War; which Requisition was complied with.
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By Accounts from Philadelphia as late as last. Wednes- day, we learn, That since the Reduction of Mud-Island and Red-Bank, the Face of Affairs are entirely changed, the New Levies go on fast, Provisions plenty, the British Army under the Command of his Excellency Sir William Howe, K. B. in Motion to attack Washington, who was encamped at a Place called White Marsh, near Nasha- meny Ferry, about 16 Miles N. W. of Philadelphia, with about 20,000 Men ; that Lord Cornwallis was at a Place called Hadden-Field, in New-Jersey, (formerly the Resi- dence of the titular Governor Livingston) about 7 Miles E. of the Delaware, with about 6000 Men, and extended his Lines to Moore's Town, which is near 4 Miles ; that he is watched by Mr. Green, and a Body of the Militia, but we hope his Lordship will soon give a good Account of him .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Decem- ber 1, 1777.
To enter into a minute Detail of the Advantages of a well conducted NEWS-PAPER, would, at any Time, be impertinent, but more especially at a Crisis which makes a quick Circulation of Intelligence particularly interest- ing to all the AMERICAN STATES. The Publisher, therefore, thinks it will be more to the Purpose, to com- municate to the Publick, a brief Account of the Nature of his Plan, than to enter into a formal Proof of it's Utility, which he esteems little less than self-evident.
He proposes to print this GAZETTE once a Week, to contain a faithful Account of remarkable Occurrences, whether foreign or domestic : Materials for which he shall be amply furnished with, in Consequence of a gen- eral Correspondence he is establishing for that purpose.
Such Proceedings of the Legislature, and Courts of Justice, as may conduce to the Benefit or Entertainment of his Readers, shall find Place in his Publications.
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Essays, useful or entertaining, Schemes for the Advance- ment of TRADE, ARTS and MANUFACTURES, Pro- posals for Improvements in AGRICULTURE and par- ticularly in the Culture of HEMP and FLAX, will be inserted with Pleasure and Alacrity.
The Interests of RELIGION and LIBERTY, he will ever think it is his particular Duty to support ; and at the same Time, to treat with disregard the intemperate Effusions of factious Zealots, whether religious or politi- cal, as injurious to Virtue, and destructive of Civil Order. With great Care shall he reject every Proposition to make his Paper a Vehicle for the dark Purposes of private malice, by propagating Calumnies against Individuals, wounding the Peace of Families, and inflaming the minds of men with Bitterness and Rancour against one another.
In a Word, he will spare neither Cost or Pains to make his Paper as useful and entertaining as possible; and while these Objects are steadily pursued, the Publisher will confidently rely upon the Generosity and Publick Spirit of the Gentlemen of this State, for their Counte- nance and Support, to such a useful Undertaking.
SUBSCRIPTIONS are taken in by all the Members of the Legislature of New-Jersey ; also, in Middlesex County, by Col. John Neilson, David Williamson, John Lloyd, Esq. David Olden, Thomson Stelle. Monmouth, John Bur- rows at Middletown Point, Col. Daniel Hendrickson, Shrewsbury, Col. Thomas Henderson, Freehold, Col. Elisha Lawrence, Upper Freehold. Essex, Dr. Alexander Mc Whorter, James Caldwell, Jedediah Chapman, John Ross, Esq. Dr. Jonathan Dayton, Isaac Woodruff, Esq. Jecamiah Smith, Esq. John Range, Esq. Amos Potter, Esq. Somerset, John Wortman, John Durham, Cornelius Tunison, sen. Col. Hyer, William Verbruyck, Esq. Joseph Casterline. Bergen, Col. Theunis Dey, Roeloff Westervelt,
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Esq. James Board, Gabriel Ogden, Esq. Thomas Blanch. Burlington, Joseph Borden, Esq. Major Hoagland, William Newbold, Jonathan Hough, Esq. John Cox, Esq., Batsto, Zachariah Rossel, Isaac Wood, Josiah Foster, Moses Kempton. Gloucester, Isaac Kay, Esq. John Sparks, Esq. Col. Richard Somers. Salem, John Holme, Esq. Col. Samuel Dick, John Mayhew, Esq. Jeconias Wood. Cum- berland, Ananias Sayre, Esq. Timothy Elmer, Esq. Samuel Ogden, Esq. Col. Enos Seely. Cape May, Henry Hand, Esq. James Godfrey, Esq. Hunterdon, Abraham Hunt, Esq. Jasper Smith, Esq. Moore Furman, Esq. John Mehelm, Esq. Joseph Inslee, Esq. Morris, Stephen Day, Esq. Alexander Carmichael, Esq. Stephen Conkling, William Young, Esq. Abel Cary, Major John Stark, Lieut. Col. Robert Gaston, John Manderville, Esq. Henry Remsen, Esq. Sussex, Lieut. Col. John Seward, Abia Brown, Esq. Timothy Symmes, Esq. Thomas Anderson, Esq. Col. John Rosencrantz, Aaron Hankinson, Dr. Kenedy, Ezekiel Ayres-Charles Bessonet, at Bristol ; and by the Printer hereof.
To the PRINTER of the NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
Sir, Being informed that numbers of people, under various pretences, are passing from the State of New- Jersey into the city of Philadelphia, and returning back into New-Jersey, without the permission required by law for going into the enemy's lines. To prevent such de- linquents from pleading ignorance whenever they may be apprehended, I would acquaint them, thro' the channel of your paper, that by an act of this State, it is felony without benefit of clergy, in a man ; and, in a woman, three hundred pounds fine, or one year's imprisonment : And that government is determined to be vigilant in causing such offenders to be apprehended, and brought to condign punishment. I am,
Your humble Servant, W. L.
Princeton, Nov. 25, 1777.
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November 20, 1777.
FIVE POUNDS REWARD. WAS lost on Thursday the 13th instant, between Bristol and Newtown, in the County of Bucks, a double cased silver WATCH, maker's name Benjamin Lamb, London, the number forgotten, marked II in a double cypher on the back of the outside case, the cypher somewhat worn, has a ribbon string, a brass key much worn, and a small red Cornelian seal set in silver, with the compass and square in the silver work. Whoever finds the same, and will leave it with Mr Rob- ert Ramsey in Newtown, Mr. Bessonet in Bristol, Mr. Isaac Wood in Mountholly, or with the printer, shall have the above reward.
N. B. If the person into whose possession it may come, should be so ungenerous as not to return it to either of the above gentlemen, every watchmaker and others, are requested to endeavour to expose the villainy.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman, on board the Sloop Speedwell, dated Nov. 11, 1777.
" Yesterday morning, about a quarter after seven o'clock, the enemy began a heavy cannonade on Fort Mifflin, from five batteries they had erected on Province island, which continued until night, when it ceased, ex- cept two or three shot they threw in the night, in the whole not less, I believe, than eight or nine hundred shot and shells ; and, from accounts there last night, after the firing ended, they had not killed one of our men. Many shot had gone through one of our block-houses, which dismounted a piece of cannon, and also damaged the stockade a good deal, which I hope are since repaired, other pieces being sent over last night. This morning, at a quarter after seven, they began the attack again, and continue it while I am writing, and I suppose they will be at it all day.
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" I shall now give you an account of the enemy's re- pulse at Red Bank, and the destruction of the Augusta and Merlin.
" The 22d ult. about fifteen hundred Hessians, under the command of Count Donop, came down to Red Bank in order to take the fort there, under the command of Colonel Green, belonging to Rhode-Island. About four o'clock in the afternoon the attack was began by a most furious cannonade, which held a quarter of an hour ; they then rushed on to storm the fort, and got into the old part of the works, when they thought it was all their own, and gave three cheers, but were soon obliged to re- treat out of it in the utmost hurry. The galleys at the same time kept up a constant fire on them, which did great execution ; and, in about three quarters of an hour's attack, they ran off with the greatest precipitation, leaving behind them, dead, about ninety persons, among them was a lieutenant colonel and four captains, and from good authority we are assured the enemy buried one colonel and twenty-one privates, between this fort and Cooper's ferry, and carried over not less than two hundred wounded. The enemy left on the field, wounded, Count Donop, (who is since dead) his brigade major, a lieuten- ant, and about eighty privates ; the brigade-major and lieutenant are since permitted to go into Philadelphia, and most of the privates have died of their wounds.
" While the enemy were attacking the fort, the Au- gusta of sixty-four guns, the Roebuck of forty-four, two frigates of thirty-two, the Merlin of eighteen, and their large galley, came thro' the lower chevaux de frize, and kept up a great firing, in order to draw off the galleys from giving any assistance to the fort; but they were mistaken. The Augusta, in going down that evening, got aground ; and the next morning early all the galleys and floating-batteries began the attack, when an incessant
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fire was kept up on both sides, so that the very elements. seemed to be on fire. At eleven o'clock the Augusta was set on fire, and at twelve she blew up with an astonish- ing blast. One of our people was killed in a galley, by the fall of a piece of timber, and we were so near that some of our powder-horns took fire and blew up. The engagement still continued but the Roebuck fell lower down, and the Merlin of eighteen guns, ran aground, and at three o'clock the enemy set fire to her, when the engagement ceased, the enemy falling still lower down .- Thus ended two glorious days. The Commodore, with his boats, went on board the wreck, and took out much plunder, and brought off two of their cannon, one of eighteen and the other a twenty-four pounder. It was proposed to go down again, but the next day a violent storm came on which lasted three days, and the men of war, having returned so near the wrecks, That we have not attempted it since."
Extract of another letter from the Same Gentleman, dated November 22, 1777.
" In my last I gave you an account of the defeat the enemy met with at Red-Bank, and the destruction of the Augusta and Merlin ; I shall now proceed to give you some account of the enemy's proceedings against Fort Mifflin, &c.
"About the 12th of October the enemy erected a bat- tery near the mouth of Schuylkill, in order to prevent- our boats going into that river, and then landed a large body of troops on Province island opposite to Fort Mifflin, with the intention to erect batteries against that fort. In the night they threw up one battery within point-blank shot directly opposite to the fort, which was attacked the next day by the galleys, who kept so warm a fire on them for two hours, that one Captain, one Lieutenant and
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Ensign, with about eighty men came on the bank with a flag, clubb'd their muskets, and surrendered themselves prisoners ; but a large body of fresh men coming down thro' the meadows to rescue them, they were fired at from the block-house at Fort Mifflin, and many of those who had submitted, thinking it was at them, ran off; so that only fifty-six privates with lieutenant Finch and ensign Hankey were brought off. The next day the galleys attacked the battery again, but without any effect. The enemy now threw up another battery on Hospital wharf, from which they fired red-hot shot, and kept up a firing every day of shells and red-hot balls, but to very little purpose, having from their first firing to the 9th of No- vember, killed but two men and wounded a few, tho' they had thrown some thousand shot and shells. On Monday the 10th of November, the enemy had completed five batteries, one on the Hospital wharf above-mentioned, one on the wharf below that, and three others, one just above the fort, another right opposite, and the third a little below the fort. From all these, about seven o'clock in the morning, they began a most furious cannonade with shot, shells and carcasses, not throwing less than 1500 of them a day. Tuesday morning they began in the same manner, when captain Treat of the artil- lery, a brave officer, with the two others were killed, and several wounded ; and in the evening Colonel Smith, who commanded the fort, was brought off wounded. Three of the enemy's ships came up the same morning a little above Mantua-creek, where we had thrown up a small battery, but had that day no guns in it, and kept a continual firing on it for some hours with- out the least damage to the battery. Wednesday and Thursday the cannonade of shells, &c. was kept up most violently, which tore the stockades, barracks, &c. all to pieces, and dismounted and broke many of our guns.
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Friday the fire was also very hot, and the Vigilant gal- ley, which had been cut down and carried sixteen twen- ty-four pounders, got behind Hog-Island, designing to get up to Fort Mifflin, but could not do it that day. Saturday the 15th, we got three guns in the battery men- tioned above, and that morning the Somerset of sixty-four guns, the Isis and another fifty gun ship, two large frig- ates, and a galley they brought from New-York, came up within reach of Fort Mifflin, when the battery began firing on them : This drew the fire from all the men of war, which was incessant ; so that from the cannonade on the fort and the fire from the enemy, there was one continual roar of cannon. The wind was high, and directly against the galleys, which prevented them get- ting to action for some time. In the afternoon the Vigi- lant got through close up to Fort Mifflin, and fired most furiously on it. The Commodore sent over six galleys to attack her ; but she lay so covered by the enemy's bat- teries, that it could not be done to any purpose. The other galleys, with the floating batteries, were engaged with the ships ; and such a cannonade, I believe, was never seen in America, which continued till evening, when all the ships fell down and the firing ceased, except from the Vigilant and the batteries on Province island against Fort Mifflin, which was by this time tore all to pieces, having scarce a stockade standing, the block- houses almost beat down, and every gun dismounted or broken. It now being found impossible to defend it any longer, major Thayer, who for some days had so bravely defended it, about eleven o'clock at night, set fire to the remains of the barracks, and brought off his garrison. Thus fell Fort Mifflin, after a close siege of near one month, in which time we had on board the galleys, only thirty-eight men killed and wounded.
Sunday and Monday the enemy were quite still, and
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on Tuesday the 18th, in the morning, a large number of transports with troops from New-York, came up to Bil- lings port and landed their men; and General Corn- wallis came over from Pennsylvania with a number more, in order to attack the fort at Red-Bank, where we had not men sufficient to hold a siege ; and in council it was thought best that it should be evacuated, and on Thursday evening the fort was blown up, and the garri- son, with the ammunition, went off.
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