The New America Times

The Army at New-York

Philadelphia, October 31

Extract of a letter to Congress, from Fort Lee (formerly Fort Constitution) dated October 28, 1776.

A ship moved up the river, early in the morning, above our lower lines, right opposite to Fort No. 1, near old head quarters at Morris's. She began a brisk cannonade upon the shore. Colonel Magaw, who commands at Fort Washington, got down an eighteen pounder, and fired sixty rounds at her, twenty-six went through her. The gun was mostly loaded with two balls. She was annoyed considerably by two eighteen pounders from the shore. The confusion and distress that appeared on board the ship exceeds all description. Without doubt she lost a great number of men. She was towed off by four boats sent from the other ships to her assistance. She slipt her cable, and left her anchor. Had the tide run flood one half hour longer, we should have sunk her. At the same time the fire from the ships began, the enemy brought up their field-pieces, and made a disposition to attack the lines. But Colonel Magaw had so happily disposed and arranged his men, as to put them out of conceit of that manoeuvre. A cannonade and fire with small-arms continued almost all day, with very little intermission. We lost one man only. Several of the enemy were killed, two or three our people took and brought off the field, and several more were left there. The firing ceased last evening, and has not been renewed this morning. The troops (of our army) are in good spirits, and in every engagement, since the retreat from New-York, have given the enemy a drubbing.

Published by order of Congress, 31st of Oct. CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

White Plains, October 28

Extract of a letter from White Plains, October 28.

This morning information was received that the enemy appeared to be preparing for a general attack, and were advancing fast; proper preparations were made to receive them, and very soon the ball was opened with field-pieces on both sides. The enemy attacked our right wing, who defended themselves nobly. At the same time, a party of light-horse filed off towards our center; a shot from one of our cannon forced them to wheel to the right about and retreat; it is said this shot unhorsed two of them. About one o'clock one of the horse was brought in; his rider was killed; fighting still continues; it is now 3 o'clock P. M. to-morrow I think will be the important day; no accounts can yet be given of the loss on either side. Our men are the most expert in the world at making breast-works; in an hour or two they made an amazingly long stone fence and covered it properly with earth.

The skirmish you mention was on Monday; we then took 36 tories, who had inlisted with Major Rogers.

Yesterday we took 20 Waldeckers and regulars, 7 of the latter. Yesterday too the enemy attacked our lines at Haerlem and Mount Washington at the same time, with two ships; they were repulsed in both places. This morning 45 tories, and some regular prisoners, passed through here, on their way to Fishkiln.

Colonel Smallwood, of Maryland, is this moment come wounded to the house where I am. He is wounded in the arm, and hip; but rode here on horseback, and can walk tolerably well.

Head-Quarters, October 25

A copy of one of the letters lately lost by an express having been forwarded to Congress from Head-Quarters, the following is an extract from said copy. Published by authority of Congress. October 25, 1776.

The situation of the enemy's army remains nearly the same as on the 21st inst. it differs in nothing, unless it is that their main body is more collected about New Rochelle. On Monday night a detachment of our men, under the command of Col. Hazlet, was sent out to surprize and cut off Major Rogers if possible with his regiment, which was posted there. By some accident the expedition did not succeed as well as could have been wished: however, our advanced party, led on by Major Green of the first Virginia regiment, fell in with their out guard and brought off 36 prisoners, 60 muskets, and some blankets. The number killed is not certainly known, but it is reported by an officer who was there, that he counted about 25. Our loss is two killed and 10 or 12 wounded. On Wednesday there was also a small skirmish between a party of Col. Hand's riflemen, about 240, and nearly the same number of Hessian Chasseurs, in which the latter were put to the rout. Our men buried ten of them on the field, and took two prisoners, one badly wounded. We sustained no other loss than having one lad wounded, supposed mortally.

Published by order of Congress, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

In Council of Safety

Philadelphia, October 31

Complaint having been made to this Council, by Christopher Elliot, that John Baldwin of this city, Cordwainer, had refused to receive in payment the Continental Bills of Credit issued by order of Congress. Thereupon the said John Baldwin was ordered to appear before this Board, and being informed of said complaint, did acknowledge that he had refused to receive the said Bills of Credit in payment. The Council urged the pernicious and destructive tendency of such conduct, and requested him to reconsider it, allowing him several days to form his judgment and fix his final resolution. This day, agreeable to notice given him, he again appeared before the Council, and declared that he was determined not to receive the said Bills in payment, whereupon Resolved, that the said John Baldwin is an "Enemy to his Country, and precluded from all Trade and Intercourse with the Inhabitants of these States."

Resolved, That the said John Baldwin be committed to goal, there to remain without bail or mainprize until he shall be released by order of this Council, or some other power lawfully authorised so to do.

Ordered, That the proceedings in John Baldwin's case be made public.

Extract from the Minutes, JACOB S. HOWELL, Secretary.

Philadelphia, November 4

Resolved, That the appointment of Captains and Subalterns of the eleventh Pennsylvania battalion of foot, to be commanded by Col. Richard Humpton, be deferred to Monday next, the 11th instant.

Extract from the Minutes, JACOB S. HOWELL, Secretary.

Philadelphia

At a meeting of a number of the citizens of Philadelphia, at the Philosophical Society's Hall, November the 2d, Samuel Howell, Chairman, Jonathan B. Smith, Secretary.

It was unanimously resolved to publish the following Address to the Inhabitants of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia:

FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS: As a considerable uneasiness has arisen in the minds of some of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, from a fear that it was the desire of those citizens who agreed to the resolutions passed at the town meetings the 21st and 22d of October last, that the Representatives to be chosen on the 5th of this instant, for this city, should possess, not only the power to make the necessary alterations in the frame of government formed by the late Convention, but likewise to execute the same, we take this opportunity of declaring that, after the said Representatives have finished the alterations and amendments in the government, (agreeable to the method proposed in the 29th resolution passed at the town meeting of the 22d of October,) it is our desire that they should issue writs for the election of an Assembly, and immediately afterwards dissolve themselves; and for this purpose we intend to instruct them, previous to their taking their seats in the House of Assembly.

We think it our duty further to declare to you, that we wish for no alterations to be made in the Constitution, which shall affect the great and fundamental principles of a free government; such as liberty of conscience, trial by juries, freedom of the press, annual elections, and the division and rotation of offices. But, while we acknowledge these parts of the Constitution to be perfectly just, and highly agreeable to us, we think ourselves bound to declare that it contains flaws which in a little while will render those inestimable blessings of no efficacy.

You have been told that we are connected with the Tories, and that we are aiming to bring back the late royal and proprietary power of this State. We deny the charge. We appeal to Heaven for the purity of our intentions, and we call upon those men who have propagated this calumny to prove that we have ever aimed at any thing else than at the establishment of a free and consistent government upon the sole authority of the people. We have publickly declared our attachment to the independence of this and the other United States. We have embarked our all in the present glorious contest for their independence, and many of us have exposed our lives in its defence.

You have been told that we aim to establish a power in the State, which has been branded with the justly odious and unpopular name of a House of Lords. We deny this charge with the same solemnity that we do the last. We disclaim all legislative power that is not derived from the yearly choice of the people; and it is because we esteem the sacred power of the people to be above all other power, that we have appealed to them from the tribunal of the Convention. By our preference of a mixed and tempered legislature to that established by the Convention, we declare that we wish for a Government that shall not suffer the poor and the rich alternately to be the prey of each other.

In order to induce you to submit to the new form of Government, you have been told that you can know nothing of its defects till you have experienced them. Did we reason in this manner when the King of Great Britain offered us slavery through a number of arbitrary acts of Parliament? Did we wait till the chains were fixed upon us before we resisted? We did not. Even the people of Canada opposed the arbitrary frame of Government contrived for them in the Quebeck bill before they experienced its destructive effects upon the remains of their liberty. A seven years' familiarity with slavery may render us ever afterwards unfit to assert and maintain the privileges of freemen.

We are now on the brink of a precipice. There are more evils in our new frame of Government than have been pointed out by the pen or tongue of any man. The prejudices and passions of a whole community are let loose by it upon every man's property, liberty, and life, through the medium of the legislature, the courts of law, and the political inquisition, called the Council of Censors. We conjure you, therefore, by the remembrance of past difficulties, through which we have struggled together—by the prospects of the common dangers which are before us—by the honour of Pennsylvania—and by the blessings of free and equal government, to consider seriously what you are doing, before you take another step in support of the new constitution. Let not the rash action of a single day add the inhabitants of Pennsylvania to the number of those unhappy people in several European countries, who have undone themselves by a hasty and ill-judged exercise of their own power.

Signed by order and in behalf of the meeting:

SAMUEL HOWELL, Chairman.

DIED on Monday se'nnight, in the 59th year of his age, the Hon. WILLIAM LOGAN, Esq; many years member of the Governor's Council, and of the City Corporation.—On Wednesday his remains were attended to the Friends Burial-ground, by the late Governor and Council, the members of the Corporation, and a great number of other respectable inhabitants.

In Congress

In Congress, October 29

Resolved, That no private ships or vessels of war, merchant ships, and other vessels belonging to the subjects of these States, be permitted to wear pendants when in company with Continental ships or vessels of war, without leave from the commanding officer thereof.

That if any merchant ship or vessel shall wear pendants in company with Continental ships or vessels of war without leave first obtained from the commander thereof, such commander be authorised to take away the pendants from the offenders.

That if private ships or vessels of war refuse to pay the respect due to the Continental ships or vessels of war, the Captain or commander so refusing shall lose his commission.

OCTOBER 30.

Resolved, That the rank of officers of marines be the same as officers of similar commissions in the land service.

That the commanders, officers, seamen and marines, in the Continental navy, be entitled to one half of merchantmen, transports and store-ships, by them taken, from and after the first day of November, 1776, to be divided amongst them in the shares and proportions fixed by former resolutions of Congress.

That the commanders, officers, seamen and marines, in the Continental navy, be entitled to the whole value of all ships and vessels of war, belonging to the crown of Great-Britain, by them made prize of, and all privateers authorised by his Britannic Majesty to war against these states, to be divided as aforesaid.

By Order of Congress, JOHN HANCOCK, President.

Advertisements

TO BE SOLD,

The following Tracts of LAND lying in Virginia,

181 Acres of good Limestone Land, in Frederick county, on the drains of Opekan, about two miles from Winchester.

250 Acres of Wood Land, in Frederick county aforesaid, about two miles from Woodstock

200 Acres, formerly Odle's, about ten miles from Winchester, adjoining lands of Joseph Smith Speer and Alexander Rutherford.

400 Acres on the waters of Back-Creek, in the county aforesaid, and on the great road leading to the south branch, about ten miles from Winchester, 100 acres of which are extreme rich bottom, well watered by a fine stream that runs through it, there are some improvements on it, and about 40 acres cleared.

800 Acres on the north branch of Patowmack, and on a branch called Cabbin-Run, about 8 miles from Fort Cumberland.

A House and Lot, and ten acres out Lot, in the town of Woodstock.

400 Acres in Hampshire county, on Andis's Mill-Run, and adjoining lands of said Andis.

For terms apply to GEORGE MEADE, who will sell the lands for current money, or on credit, with proper security, as may suit the purchaser.

To be SOLD by public Vendue, the 21st of this instant November, at the late dwelling-house of George Kastner, of the township of Whitpain, in the county of Philadelphia, about 15 miles from the city.

A PLANTATION, containing about 200 acres of land, with a good stone dwelling-house, barn and spring-house, and a never failing spring therein, about 22 acres of meadow, most of which may be well watered, two good bearing orchards, and a sufficient quantity of well timbered land. Another tract, situate in the same township, containing about 80 acres of good woodland, to be sold together or in lots, as may best suit the purchaser or purchasers. One other small lot, situate in the township of Whitemarsh, containing one acre of ground, with a dwelling-house thereon, and a good spring. The three above described tracts of land are adjoining the Skippack road. There will also be sold at the same time, a quantity of good hay, oats in the straw, corn in the ground, a winnowing-mill, a weaver's loom and gears, houshold and kitchen furniture, and many other things. At which time and place the terms of sale will be made known, by GEORGE NICE, and JOHN EVANS, Executors.

Any person inclining to view either of the said tracts of land before the day of sale, may apply to Philip Richardson, or Levi Trump, on and near the premises.

TO BE SOLD,

A PLANTATION, containing 100 and odd acres of LAND, near 50 acres cleared, the remainder well wooded; there are six acres of meadow and more may be made; great part of the plowland has been limed; on which are erected a dwelling-house, a barn, a milk-house, over a constant spring of water, and a well of good water, having a pump in it, near the door, a young orchard, &c. also a grist and merchant-mill, with two pair of stones, one pair of good French burrs, 3 boulting cloths, and hoist jack, all which go by water; situate in Abington township, 13 miles from Philadelphia. Any person inclining to view or treat for the premises may apply to

ROBERT PAUL.

N. B. The indentures of a Dutch Servant Man, who has near five years to serve, to be disposed of. Enquire as above.

FOUR DOLLARS Reward.

RUN away from the subscriber, the 21st of October last, an Irish servant girl, named Margaret Kelly, about 5 feet 2 or 3 inches high, she has a scar on the under side of her right arm, black hair, with a high roller; had on, when she went away, a striped calicoe short gown, and a lincey one under it, a striped lincey petticoat, a homespun shift, a tow apron, a white handkerchief, and a white linen bonnet; she walks very upright. Whoever takes up the said servant, so that her master may have her again, shall have the above reward, and all reasonable charges, paid by

JOHN BOYER.

RUN away from the subscriber, living in Kingsess township, Philadelphia county, the 31st of October last, an Irish servant girl, named Jane Gau, of a low size, but pretty fat and thick, of a brown complexion, marked some with the small-pox, has a scar on her under lip, short black hair; had on, when she went away, a new striped homespun linen gown, a purple silk bonnet, almost new, an old black calimancoe quilt. a dirty striped lincey petticoat, low-heeled leather shoes, blue yarn stockings; took with her two striped linen short gowns, one a dark stripe. pieced at the sleeves with stripe of another sort, the other a light stripe homespun, almost new, one check apron, one tow ditto, and one purple lincey ditto, two white single handkerchiefs, and one cotton ditto, 3 caps, one lawn the other linen.---- Whoever takes up the said servant girl, and secures her in any goal, so that her master may get her again, shall have Forty Shillings reward, and reasonable charges, paid by

THOMAS LAYCOCK.

TO BE SOLD,

A NEGROE WOMAN, 26 years of age; she can do all sorts of out door work, and can spin and knit, and is very handy in kitchen work. For further particulars and conditions, enquire of GEORGE HINKLE, in Hinkle-town, Earl township, Lancaster county.

BROKE out of the goal of Berks county, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, the 27th day of October last, two felons, viz. Frederic Meyer, a German, about 5 feet 10 inches high, dark complexion, with black curled hair, about 40 years of age, had on a homespun blue and white coat, white jacket, leather breeches, a large flaped hat; he lately broke out of Easton goal. Thomas Roach, a native of Ireland, about 5 feet 8 inches high, 30 years of age, sandy complexion, and hair; had on a white hunting shirt and trowsers, a brown jacket; also a certain William Jones, committed on suspicion of stealing. Whoever takes up and secures the said Frederic Meyer, and Thomas Roach, and commits them in any goal, so that they may be had again, shall receive FIVE POUNDS reward for the former, and TWO POUNDS for the latter, from

PAUL KERBER, goaler.