Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

ples, either as to the crimes or penalty, in the dif- him, into the hands of the inhabitants well affected, ferent states; and particularly that treason against called tories, and will attack all such of the milithe union may be properly described, and the pu- tia as remain in arms; burn and destroy their houses nishment thereof suitably defined. Such a general and other property, and reduce them, their unforfoundation being once laid, the law can be varied tunate wives and children to beggary and distress. and accommodated, if necessary, to the local and -And, to convince them that these are not vain special circumstances of each state, without sub-threats, he has subjoined a list of the names of such as will be the first objects to feel the vengeance of stantially departing from it." the Brtish nation.

"Given under my hand at head-quarters, Salem, 21st day of March, 1778.

CS. MAWHOOD, Col."

Answer of the colonel of militia. "SIR-I have been favored with what you say hu

9. That your attendance on the duties of your ap pointment may be the more easy and convenient, and that you may have leisure and opportunity occasionally to attend to your domestic concerns, from which, otherwise, you must have been totally ab stracted, we have made the representation to con. sist of five, some three to be constantly present in manity has induced you to propose. It would congress, unless when precluded by unavoidable have given me much pleasure to have found accident. And that the state may not be put to that humanity had been the line of conduct to unnecessary expense, not more than three are to our troops since you have come to Salem. Not attend at the same time.

By order of the joint-meeting,

JOHN STEVENS, Chairman. Princeton, December 4, 1777.

FROM THE SALEM (N. J.) MESSENGER, AUG. 15th.

The following correspondence, which passed be. tween the commanding officers of the British troops and American militia, at this place, in the time that "tried mens souls," in the revolutionary struggle, was handed us by a venerable old man; who bore the fatigues and privation of a soldier in those days. It was presented for publication, for the purpose of reviving and keeping alive our gratitude to those who so nobly contended for liberty, and adoration to the supreme ruler of the universe, for causing the seemingly just, though apparently weaker power, to prevail. The proposal of the British commander is cruel and insulting: the answer ingenious and bold. They are as follows:

"Colonel Mawhood, commanding a detachment of the British army at Salem, induced by motives of humanity, proposes to the militia at Quinton's Bridge and the neighborhood, as well officers as private men, to lay down their arms and depart, each man to his own home; on that condition he solemnly promises to re-embark his troops without delay, doing no further damage to the country, and he will cause his commissaries to pay for the cattle, hay and corn, that have been taken, in sterling

only denying quarters, but butchering our men
who surrendered themselves prisoners in the ski m
ish at Quinton's Bridge last Thursday: and bayonet-
ing yesterday morning, at Hancock's Bridge, in the
most cruel manner, in cold blood, men, who were
taken by surprise, in a situation in which they neith-
er could nor did attempt to make any resistance;
are in-
and some of whom were not fighting me
stances too shocking for me to relate, and I hope
for you to hear. The brave are ever generous and
humane! After expressing your sentiments of hu-
manity, you proceed to make a request which I
think you would despise us if we complied with.
Your proposal that we should lay down our arms,
we absolutely reject. We have taken them up to
maintain rights, which are dearer to us than our
lives, and will not lay them down, till either suc-
cess has crowned our cause with victory, or like
many ancient worthies contending for liberty, we
meet with an honorable death.-You mention, that
if we reject your proposal, you will put arms into
the hands of the tories against us. We have no ob-
jections to the measure, for it would be a very good

one to fill our arsenals with arms. Your threat to wantonly burn and destroy our houses and other property, and reduce wives and children to beggary and distress, is a sentiment which my humanity almost forbids me only to recite! and induces me to imagine that I am reading the cruel order of a barbarous Attila, and not of a gentlemen, brave, generous and polished with a genteel European education.-To wantonly destroy will injure your cause more than ours. It will increase your enemies and "If, on the contrary, the militia should be defu our army. To destine to destruction the property ded and blind to their true interest and happiness, of our most distinguished men, as you have done in he will put the arms which he has brought with your proposal, is, in my opinion, unworthy a gener.

money.

ous foe, and more like a rancorous feud between frustrate the designs of God, and render vain the two contending barons, than a war carried on by bounties which his gracious hand pours indiscrimi one of the greatest powers on earth against a peo. nately upon his creatures. By these the miserable ple nobly struggling for liberty. A line of honor slaves in Turkey, Persia, and many other extensive would mark out that these men should share the countries, are rendered truly wretched, though fate of their conntry. If your arms should be crown- their air is salubrious, and their soil luxuriously fered with victory, which God forbid, they and their tile. By these France and Spain, though blessed by property will be entirely at the disposal of your nature with all that administers to the convenience power, will only make them desparate, and, as I oflife, have been reduced to that contemptible state said before, increase your foes and our army; and in which they now appear; and by these BRITAIN retaliation upon tories and their property is not en -!!! but ifI was possessed of the gift of protirely out of our power. Be assured that these are phecy, I dare not, except by Divine command, unthe humble sentiments and determined resolution fold the leaves on which the destiny of that once not only of myself, but of all the officers and pri- powerful kingdom is inscribed." vates under me.

At that time there were no British troops in Bos.

"My prayer is, sir, that this answer may reach ton; four regiments, however, shortly after arrived, you in good health and happiness.

"Given at head-quartes, at Quinton's Bridge, March 22d, 1778.

ELIJAH HAND, Colonel. "To Cs. Mawhood, Colonel."

FROM THE BOSTON CENTINEL.

Mr. Russell.-On reading in your last Wednesday's Centinel, an extract from Mr. Knapp's biography of Warren, it reminded me of some circum. stances, not mentioned by him, which occurred at the "Old South" on the 5th of March, 1775, which was the anniversary of the massacre of several inhabitants of the town of Boston by the British troops, in 1770.

Mr. Hancock had delivered an oratíon the preceding year on the same occasion, in the course of of which he had made the following observations:

the officers of which expressed the most decided detestation of the above inserted quotation, and as Mr. Knapp says, "threatened vengeance on any ora. tor, who should dare to repeat such sentiments." When Warren delivered his Oration the following year, in defiance of those threats, the British army had been reinforced to nearly ten thousand men, and more than an hundred of the officers attended recretly armed, for the purpose of taking revenge, on the utterance of any sentiment, which should be obnoxious to them.

The writer of this article was standing in the broad aisle, near the upper end, and saw Capt. Chapman, of the Royal Welch Fusileers, on the lowest step of the pulpit stairs, playing with three pistol bullets in his right hand, and occasionally casting looks of contempt on the orator, but more particularly on William Cooper, esq. the town clerk, who was seated near him, directly under the pulpit. Mr. Cooper maintained a firm and undaunted countenance, and "Standing armies are sometimes (I would by no returned his looks with disdain. I never look back means say generally, much less universally) com- upon that scene without horror, in the contemplation posed of persons who have rendered themselves un- of the danger we were then in of a much more bor. fit to live in civil society; who have no other motives rid massacre than the one we were then commemo of conduct than those which a desire of the present rating. A trifle, lighter than air, would have de gratification of their passions suggests; who have no luged that church, in the minds of both parties, it property in any country; men who have lost or given has always been a wonder to me that the war dil up their own liberties, and envy those who enjoy not commence on that day." liberty; who are equally indifferent to the glory of The 47th regiment, (it was supposed by design), a George or a Louis; who for the addition of one passed the church at this time, the drums beating penny a day to their wages, would desert from the with redoubled force. This regiment was com Christian cross, and fight under the crescent of the manded by the infamous colonel Nesbit, who, a few Turkish sultan. From such men as these what has days after, caused an innocent man to be tarred and not a state to fear?-With such as these usurping feathered, and carted through the principal streets Cæsar passed the Rubicon; with such as these be in open day, and headed the party HIMSELF!!! folhumbled mighty Rome, and forced the mistress of lowed by some grenadiers and the whole band of the world to own a master in a traitor. These are the regiment, in defiance of that law which he was the men whom sceptered robbers now employ to ostensibly sent to protect.

After the orator had made some remarks on the accurately inspected; to reject such as are not fit massacre of the 5th March, 1770, he said- for use, and report the corps that offer them. 13-Two Hessian deserters came in; every thing favorable.

Head-quarters, Oct. 13, 1781.

For to-morrow.

B. G. Wayne and
Gist's brigade.

"And could it have been conceived that we again should have seen a British army in our land, sent to enforce obedience to acts of parliament destructive of our liberty? But the royal ear, far distant from this western world, has been assaulted by the tongue of SLANDER; and VILLAINS, TRAITOROUS alike to KING and COUNTRY, have prevailed upon a gracious prince to clothe his countenance with wrath, and to erect the hostile banner against a people ever affectionate and loyal to him and his illustrious predecessors of each reg. a pipe of wine. the house of Hanover. Our streets are again filled The marquis, at dark, stormed their river battewith armed men; our harbor is crowded with ry, and baron viscount Viomnel stormed another ships of war, but these cannot intimidate us; our on their extreme, to the left, with little loss. We liberty must be preserved; it is far dearer than life, run our second parallel complete.

we hold it even dear as our allegiance; we must defend it against the attacks of friends as well as enemies; we cannot suffer even Britons to ravish it from us."

While this sentence was repeating, captain Chapman exclaimed-FrE! FIE! It was at first supposed that FIRE was cried, which occasioned a momentary disturbance-when William Cooper rose from his chair, and, with a voice truly Stentorian, vociferated that "there was no fire, but the fire of envy, burning in the hearts of our enemies, which he hoped soon to see extinguished," looking with indignation on Chapman, Hawkes and other officers who where near him.

I could enlarge on this subject, Mr. Russell, but as I have already extended my remarks beyond my original intentions, and 1 fear encroached on you: patience, I will subscribe myself

AN OLD BOSTONIAN.

From the Village Record, Nov. 7, 1821. This week the Journal of capt. Davis is brought to a close. The event to which it particularly relates is the most important in our military annals. It is not recollected that the general orders, issued during the investment of Cornwallis, were ever before published.

14.-This morning a deserter says the infantry refuse doing duty. That Cornwallis promised them they would be relieved from New-York, and give

Head-quarters, Oct. 14, 1781. For to-morrow.

M. G. Lincoln,

B. G. Clinton.

Maj. general Lincoln's división will mount the trenches to-morrow.

The effects of the late col. Scammel will be disposed of at public sale, to-morrow at 3 o'clock, P. M. at maj. Rice's tent, in gen. Hayne's Brigade.

15. This night the enemy made a sally and imposed themselves on the French for Americans; forced their works and made themslves masters of an American battery which they spiked. Imposition being found out, they retired, with eight men killed on the spot.

Head quarters, Oct. 15, 1781. For to-morrow.

M. G. M. La Fayette,

B. G. Muhlenburg and
layne's brigade.

Maj. gen. La Fayette's division will mount the trenches to-morrow.

The commander in chief congratulates the army on the success of the enterprize against the two important works on the left of the enemy's lines. He requests the baron Viomnel, who commanded the French grenadiers and chasseurs, and marquis La Fayette, who commanded the American light infantry, to accept his warmest acknowledgments for the excellency of their dispositions and their own gallant conduct on the occasion; and he begs them to present his thanks to every individual offi. cer, and to the men of their respective commands, for the spirit and rapidity with which they advanc 'The Marquis' division will mount in the trenches ed to the attacks assigned them, and for the admito-morrow. The superintendant of the deposite of rable firmness with which they supported them, the trenches, is required to have the quality of sau- under the fire of the enemy, without returning a cisson, fascines and gabions brought to the deposite,shot.

JOURNAL OF CAPT. DAVIS.
Oct. 12.-A tremendous fire from both sides.
Head-quarters, Oct. 12, 1781.
For to-morrow.
M. G. M. La Fayette,
B. G. Muhlenburgh.

19.-At 1 o'clock this day, our troops marched in and took possession of their horn-works, and the British marched out. The American and French armies form a lane through which the British pass

The general reflects with the highest degree of pleasure on the confidence which the troops of the two nations must hereafter have in each other.Assured of mutual support, he is convinced there is no danger which they will not cheerfully encoun- and ground their arms. ter-no difficulty which they will not bravely over

come.

The troops will be supplied with fresh beef to Thursday next, inclusive; they will receive 3 pints of salt to every 100 rations, for their allowance of Wednesday and Thursday.

16.-Our batteries completing very fast.

Head-quarters, Oct. 16, 1781.

For to-morrow.

M. G. B. Steuben,

B. G. Wayne and Gist's brigade.

Maj. gen. baron Steuben's division will mount in the trenches to morrow.

The commander in chief having observed that the trenches are constantly crowded with spectators, who, by passing and repassing, prevent the men from working, and thereby greatly impede the operations of the siege. He therefore orders that no officer, who is not on duty, shall hereafter enter the trenches, except gen. officers and their aids, and that no inhabitant, or person not belonging to the army, be suffered to enter the trenches, at any time, without permission from the maj. general of

the trenches.

In future the relief for the trenches are not to beat their drums after they pass the mill-dam; they are from that place to march silently, with trailed arms and colours furled, until they arrive at their posts in the trenches.

Head-quarters, Oct. 19. 1781.

For to-morrow.

M. G. Lincoln,
Col. Butler,
M>j. Woodson,

B. M. Blake.

Gen. Muhlenburg's brigade will hold itself in readiness for duty to-morrow.

20.-Lay quiet this day cleaning our arms. Head-quarters, Oct. 20, 1781.

For to-morrow.

M. G. M. La Fayette,

Col. Stewart,
Maj. Bird,

M. M. Cox.

Brig. general Hayne's brigade for duty to mor row, to parade at 10 o'clock on their own parade.

The general congratulates the army upon the gisrious event of yesterday: the generous proofs which his most Christian majesty has given of his attachment to the cause of America, must force conviction in the minds of the most deceived among the enemy, relative to the decisive good consequences of the alliance; and inspire every citizen of these states with sentiments of the most unalterable gratitude. His fleet, the most numerous and powerful that ever appeared in those seas, commanded by an admiral whose fortune and talents insure success; in officers and men, are the pledges of his friendship an army of the most admirable composition, both to the United States, and their co-operation has secured us the present signal success.

Lieut. col. Dehart being relieved from his arrest, the court martial, of which col. Cortland is presi. The general, upon this occasion, entreats his exdent, will proceed to the trial of the prisoners con-cellency, count Rochambeau, to acccept his most fined in the provost.

grateful acknowledgments for his council and as

17.—At 11 o'clock, his lordship closes the scene sistance at all times. He presents his warmest by propsitions for deputies from each army, to meet at Moore's house, to agree on terms for the surrender of York and Gloster. An answer was sent by 3 o'clock, when a cessation of arms took place.

Head-quarters, Oct. 17, 1781.
For the trenches to-morrow.
Maj. gen. Lincoln's Division.
18-Flags alternately passing this day.

Head quarters, Oct. 18, 1781.
For the trenches to-morrow.
Maj. gen. marquis La Fayette's division,

thanks to the generals baron de Viomnel, chevalier Chastelleux, marquis de St Simon, count de Viomnel, and to brig. de Choisey, (who had a separate command), for the illustrions manner in which they have advanced the interest of the common cause. He requests the count de Rochambeau will be pleased to communicate to the army under bis immediate command, the high sense he entertains of the distinguished merits of the officers and soldiers of every corps, and that he will present,in his name, to the regiment of Argenois and Deaponts, the pieces of brass ordnance captured by them, as a testimony

2.-Distribution of the supplies.

of their gallantry in storming the enemy's redoubts,]
on the night of the 14th inst. when officers and men
so universally vied with each other in the exercise to march to-morrow for South Carolina.
of every soldierly virtue.

3.-Orders for Pennsylvania and Maryland troops

4-General beat at 8 o'clock. Tents struck and loaded. Troops march at 9.

DRAYTON'S MEMOIRS.

Among other extracts made from this work, and published in the Charleston Courier, we have select

The general's thanks to each individual of merit, would comprehend the whole army: but he thinks himself bound however by affection, duty and gratitude, to express his obligation to maj. gens. Lincoln, La Fayette and Steuben, for their dispositions in the trenches-to gen. Duportail and col. Carney ed the following: for the vigor and knowledge which were conspicu. ous in their conduct of the attacks; and to genrations of the stamp-act are very interesting. The The proceedings at Charleston to resist the ope Knox and col. de Abberville for their great attention and fatigue in bringing forward the artillery of the stamp-act from Great Britain, endeavored to commons house of assembly, having been assured and stores; and for their judicious and spirited prevent it from being enforced by denying it offimanagement of them in the parallels. He requests cial promulgation. This furnishes additional evithe gentlemen above mentioned, to communicate dence that the colonists resorted to the chances of his thanks to the officers and soldiers of their commands. Ingratitude, which the general hopes never redress. But fate, for wise purposes, had renderwar, after having ineffectually tried every mode of to be guilty of, would be conspicuous in him, was ed remonstrance, argument, and even entreaty, un. he to omit thanking in the warmest terms his excelavailing. lency governor Nelson, for the aid he has derived from him, and from the militia under his command; to whose activity, emulation and courage such ap plause is due; the greatness of the acquisition would be ample compensation for the hardships and hazards which they encountered with so much patriotism and firmness.

vernor, (in the absence in England of Thomas "Having received the stamp-act, the lieut. go. Boone, the governor), manifested a desire of com ecuted, (the governor of the province being, by the plying with its requisitions, in causing it to be ex terms of the act, sworn to its due execution); but his powers at that time were insufficient to effecta ate the same.

In order to diffuse the general joy in every breast, the general orders those men belonging to the army, who may now be in confinement, shall be parlic opinion which was hostile to the act, the mem"Encouraged by this weakness, and by the pubdoned, and join their respective corps.

21.-British marched out for their cantonments under militia guards.

bers of assembly deliberated in what manner they might most embarrass and elude its operations.And, as the best mode they could devise, they ad dressed the lieutenant governor on the occasion,

22-York affords very good Port-wine. 23.-Orders for the troops to hold themselves in requesting to be informed whether the stamp-act, readiness to march at the shortest notice.

said to have been passed in parliament, had been

24.-Marquis de St. Simon's troops embark their transmited to him, and if it had, through what chan

cannon.

25.-Demolish our works by brigades. 26.-Expectations of a supply of necessaries from the merchants of York and Gloster. 27.--Report says sir H. Clinton has embarked from New-York for Virginia.

nel; and whether he had received it from a secretary of state, the lords of trade, or from any other authentic source? These were questions of a singular nature-however, his honor, from a desire to soften as much as possible the fermentations which exist ed, answered, he had received it from Thomas

28.-The American cannon put on board vessels Boone, the governor of the province. The assemfor the head of Elk.

29.-Nothing material.

30.-I was on duty at Gloster.}

31.-Col. Tarlton dismounted from his horse by an inhabitant, who claimed him in the midst of the

street.

Nov. 1-A supply of clothing purchased by agents, appointed for that purpose.

bly replied, that, while Mr. Boone was out of the bounds of his government, they could not consider him in any other light than as a private gentlemen; and the act being received through such a channel, was not sufficiently authentic, to place the lieutenant governor under the obligation of enforcing it.

"The stamps soon reached Charleston, and were deposited at Fort Johnson. The people, finding

« ПредишнаНапред »