ring from houfes and outhoufes, obliged Col. [Brig.-Gen.] Francis Maclean to Ld me to burn fome of their meeting and fome of their dwelling houses with stores. proposed to the militia terms, that if they would not fire fhots from buildings, I would not burn. They interpreted my mild propofal wrong, imputing it to fear. They perfifted in firing till the torch ftopped their progrefs; after which not a fhot was fired. With pleasure I relate to your Excellency, that the lofs fuftained by his Majefty's troops is trifling, 1 huffar of the Legion killed, I wounded, I horfe of 17th dragoons killed; the whole of the detachment, except the above, being returned to camp. The infantry of the Legion, mounted on horfes, are ex tremely fatigued by a march of fixty-four miles in twenty-three hours.” Gen. Clinton to Ld George Germain, New "On the 19th inftant, the garrison of fire to the barracks. In fhort, their retreat was as difgraceful as their attempt was well conducted. They carried off with them near forty invalids prifoners. A detachment being fent over from New York, Maj. Sutherland purfued the enemy, and coming up with their rear, made a captain and fome privates prifoners. Lt-Col. Buskirk, on his return, had a fmall fkirmish with the rebels, and took four prifoners, without any lofs on his part. A Gazette Extraordinary was publifh ed on the 24th of September; from which we give extracts, viz. ་་་་་ George Germain, dated, Camp at Majebigwaduce, on the river Penobscot, Aug. 26. "Having received Sir Henry Clinton's directions to establish a poft on the river Penobscot, on the 16th of June 1 landed here with a detachment of 450 rank and file of the 74th regiment, and 200 of the 82d.-At our arrival, the dif ficulties in clearing the wood, landing our provifions and ftores, and placing them in fafety, made it be the 2d of July before the intended fort could be mark ed out; and, notwithstanding the diligence with which we worked on it, your Lordship will not be surprised when I in form you, it was very far from being in a state to afford us any fecurity from the vigorous attack with which we found ourfelves threatened.-On the 21ft of Ju« ly, by the certain information I received from Bofton for the purpose of reducing of the failing of a confiderable armament fort were then untouched, and the re us, two of the baftions of the intended maining two with the curtains were in and twelve in thickness; the ditch no part above four or five feet in height, moft parts not above three feet in depth, no platforms laid, nor any artillery mount ed. However, relying on the zeal and ardour which appeared in all ranks, we laid afide all thoughts of finishing it, and employed ourselves in putting our po in the beft pofture of defence the thor nefs of the time would admit of. Hit Majefty's fhips Albany, North, and Nau tilus, were in the river, the commanders of which joined their efforts to ours für our mutual fafety. number of thirty-feven fail, appeared On the 25th the enemy's fleet, to the fight; and at two in the afternoon their armed veffels began cannonading our hips of war, and a battery of four twelve bank of the river for the protection pounders, which I had thrown up on the the shipping. The warmth with which it was returned, foon obliged them to retire, and anchor off the weft end of the about the middle of which our fort was peninfula on which we were pofted, and intended to be made. On the 26th they renewed their attack on the fhips, but with the fame fuccefs. I had previoully intrenched the ifthmus which connects the peninfula with the main; and as the fhipping guarded the entrance of the river, I was in no pain for their landing at any other part but the weft end, where the natural strength of the ground gave me room to hope I fhould be able to protract the time to fome length. On the night of the 25th, and during the 26th and 27th, they accordingly made feveral attempts to land; but were conftantly repulfed by our piquet, confifting of a captain and 80 men; and another party of 70 men, pofted in a fleche, at hand to fapport the piquet. However, on the morning of the 28th, under cover of a very heavy cannonade, they, to my great furprise, effected their purpose, and obliged the piquet to retire to the fort, before I had any intelligence of their being landed, owing to the ferjeant who was fent by the Captain, lofing his way in the wood. We were now obliged to withdraw all our outpofts, and confine our attention to strengthening our works. On the 30th the enemy opened a battery at about 750 yards diftance, and a few days after another about fifty yards nearer; the firft of two eighteen-pounders, one twelve-pounder, and a five-and-half inch mortar; the other, of two eighteenpounders; from both of which they cannonaded us brifkly: notwithstanding which our work went on with great fpirit. The gorge of one of the unfinished baftions was filled up with logs; and as our well was in the other, we carried a work of fafcines and earth, ten feet thick, round it; platforms were laid, and artillery mounted, by which we were enabled to return their fire. A fort of chevaux-de-frize was carried round the fort, and without that a tolerable abbatis; so that we daily increased in strength, and in a few days were out of all apprehenfions of being stormed. The enemy having erected a battery on an inland at the entrance of the harbour near our shipping, the captains of the men of war, as well as Lt-Col. Camp bell and myself, thought it neceffary for them to remove higher up the river; which was accordingly done; and I re moved the four twelve-pounders (which had been placed for their protection) to the fort, putting there in their ftead three nine-pounders, which Capt. Mowatt had landed for our fervice. Their arm ed veffels made frequent attempts to anchor within the mouth of the harbour, but were conftantly repulfed by our fuperior fire. From the 30th of July to the 12th of Auguft the cannonading continued with great spirit on both fides, with frequent fkirmishes without the fort, owing to the neceffity we were under of supporting our battery, and preferving the communication with the shipping, which was never interrupted. On the 12th a deferter came in, and informed us, that they intended attacking the fhips and ftorming the fort, at the fame time, on the enfuing day. From the former we were under no apprehenfions; but as we judged, that their great fuperiority in point of numbers might tempt them to hazard the latter, we threw up a small work, about 150 yards without the fort, for five fix-pounders, fupported by 100 men, for whom there was a good pofition under cover from their fire. With these, and from the experienced refolution of the commanders and feamen of our little fleet, we had no doubt of the fate of their attempt, had they put it into execution; which we however waited for all day in vain. On the morning of the 14th, at four o'clock, being without the fort reconnoitring, and perceiving an unufual degree of quiet in the enemy's camp, I fent a fmall party to examine clofer, and found their works abandoned. A party, which had been formed under Lieut. Carfrae, of the 82d regiment, to act as light infantry, was immediately pushed into the wood, and another fent across the isthmus, in hopes of cutting off their rear; but in vain, as they had embarked the whole, with all their artillery, during the night, except what was on the island at the entrance of the harbour, which they spiked, but which foon will be rendered serviceable again. We were endeavouring to increase the confufion manifeft among their fhipping, by bringing down two twelve-pounders to the point to play on them, when the appearance of a fleet of his Majefty's fhips under the command of Commodore Sir George Collier, of which we had as yet no intelligence, cleared up our doubts with regard to the enemy's flight, and rendered our labour unneceffary. to the cheerfulness and spirit with which all ranks of our little garrison underwent the exceffive fatigue required to render our poft tenible. The work was carried on under the enemy's fire, with a fpirit that would have done credit to the oldeft foldiers: from the time the enemy o pened their trenches the mens fpirit increafed daily, fo that at laft our chief difficulty was in reftraining them. [He makes particular mention of LtCol. Campbell, Lieut. Carfrae of the 82d, and Capts Mowat, Selby, and Farnham, of the navy.] I think myself obliged to acquaint your Lordship, that on the arrival of the rebel-armament in these parts, many of the inhabitants who had taken the oaths of allegiance and fidelity to his Majefty's government, joined them. As, however, it was reprefented to me, that they had been compelled to it by force, which feems to be confirmed by a proclamation iffued by Gen. Lovell, of which I fend your Lordship a copy, I, with the concurrence of Sir George Collier, and relying on his Majefty's merciful difpofition, iffued a fecond proclamation, of which I also inclose your Lordship a copy. The time granted in it not having yet expired, I cannot fay what will be the effect of it on the people." Return of killed, wounded, &c. Royal artillery. I private wounded. 74th reg. 3 corporals, 8 privates, killed. 2 ferjeants, 3 privates, dead of their wounds. 3 ferjeants, I corporal, a drummer, 15 privates, wounded. 8 privates miffing. 82d reg. 1 ferjeant, 1 corporal, 5 privates, killed. I ferjeant, I corporal, 10 privates, wounded. 3 privates mifling. Lieut. M'Neil, Lieut. Graham, of the 82d reg.wounded."-K.23. W.35. M.11. Commodore Sir George Collier to the Admiralty, dated, Raifonable in Penobscot bay, Aug. 20. The conftant thick fogs feparated the fquadron, but they all rejoined me in a few hours after I arrived off the island Monhagen (the place of rendezvous) except the Otter floop, whom I have ne ver heard of fince. We loft no time in immediately proceeding up Penobscot bay; and the next morning, Aug. 14. about eleven o'clock, the rebel fleet prefented themselves to our view, drawn up in a crefcent across the river, and feemed inclined to dispute the paffage. Their refolution however foon failed them, and an unexpected and ignominious flight took place. The Blonde, Virginia, and Galatea, were at this time advanced about three miles ahead; nevertheless, without waiting to form the fquadron, I made the fignals for battle, and for a general chace. The King's fhips followed them with all the eagerness which a defire of destroying their enemies could infpire. Two of the enemy's fleet (viz. the Hunter and Defence) made an unfuccessful attempt to get off by the weft paffage of Long ifland; but failing in that, the Hunter run afhore with every fail standing, and the Defence hid herself in a small inlet, where the anchored, both intending to push out to fea fo foon as it was dark. I fent Lieut. Mackay of the Raisonable and fifty men to board the Hunter; which he fucceeded in without lofs, though many popping shots were fired at him by the rebel crew from the woods. She is a fine ship, mounting eighteen guns, and fupposed the swifteft failer in America, I directed Capt. Collins, of the Camilla, to proceed into the inlet, and take of destroy the Defence. That measure, however, was not carried into effect, by her blowing herself up at midnight. She was a new brig, carrying fixteen fixpounders. The King's fhips continued their purfuit of the rebel-fleet up the river Penobfcot; and confiderable hazard attended this part of the chace, from the extreme narrowness of the river, from the fhoals, and from the flaming fhips on each fide. The Hampden, of twenty guns, finding herself so closely befet as not to be able to run afhore, furrendered. All the reft of the rebel-fleet, (an mongst which a beautiful frigate called the Warren, of thirty-two guns, eighteen and twelve pounders), together with twenty-four fail of tranfports, were all blown up and deftroyed. His His Majefty's floops the Nautilus, Albany, and North, which had been left for the protection of the garrifon, foon got themselves in condition, and joined in the chace. Gen. Lovel, who commanded the rebel-army, and Com. Saltonstall, the fleet, had fixed on this day to have made a general affault on the fort and ships, which our appearance happily prevented. The remainder of their army and failors are now exploring their way through thick woods and defert waftes, where probably many of them will perish with hunger. Since their defeat, they have quarrelled amongst themfelves, and fought, by which between fifty and fixty men are flain. We have taken a great many cannon, though I cannot afcertain the number : there are amongst them some of eighteen and twelve pounders, which will be very ufeful to the garrison: feveral of the fhips guns will also be recovered." He fpeaks with approbation of the captains and officers of the fquadron, and fubjoins a return of the killed, wounded, &c. of the crews, viz. Albany, 1 killed, 4 wounded, I miffing. North, 2 killed, 2 wounded. Nautilus, I killed, 3 wounded, 1 miffing. He fubjoins likewife a lift of the rebel fleet destroyed or taken; amounting to nineteen armed veffels, viz. one of 32 guns, two of 24, two of 22, two of 20, two of 18, five of 16, three of 14, one of 12, and one of zo; befides twenty-four tranfports, all burnt, and fome provifion-veffels taken. The proclamations, &c. mentioned by Gen. Maclean. STATE OF MASSACHUSET'S-BAY. Council-chamber, Boston, July 3. 1779. REfolved, That the committee appointed to inlift men for the manning the fhips and veffels deftined on the expedition to Penobscot, be, and are hereby empowered and directed, to publish and proclaim to all perfons inclining to take a part in the Penobscot expedition, That the State will not, directly or indirectly, fhare any part of any armed reffel or hips, or tranfport, or other veffel, which may be captured by the fleet destined to Penobscot, or by any veffel thereto belonging; and that the fhare that might accrue to this State, shall enure to the captors, and be fhared amongst them. And it is further Refolved, That the embargo, laid by the general court for forty days, fhall peremptorily be conftrued for that term, unless the faid expedition to Penobscot fhall be finished: And if it should so happen, that the faid expedition to Penobfcot fhould not then be terminated, this board will continue the faid embargo as neceffity will require it, till faid expedition fhall be ended, or the general court meet; and the faid committee are directed to publish this refolve, that no feaman or other perfon may neglect to put himself into fuch advantageous bufinefs as the Penobscot expedition, under the delufive idea, that as foon as the Penobscot fleet fails, all fhips and veffels will be permitted to put to fea. JOHN AVERY, Dep. Sec." By Solomon Lovell, Efq; Brigadier-Ge neral, and Commander in Chief of the forces of the State of Maffachufet'sbay, &c. employed on an expedition against the army of the King of Great Britain at Penobscot, A PROCLAMATION. WH Whereas it has been reprefented to government, That an armament of land and fea-forces belonging to the King of Great Britain, under the encouragement of divers of the inhabitants of these parts, inimicably disposed to the United States of America, have made a descent on Penobscot and the parts adjacent, and, after propagating various falfe reports of a general infurrection of the eaftern and northern Indians in their favour, a proclamation has been issued on the 15th of June laft, figned Francis Maclean, and Andrew Barclay, faid to be in behalf and by authority of the faid King, promifing grants of lands which he never owned, and of which he has now forfeited the jurifdiction, by an avowed breach of that compact between him and his fubjects whereon faid jurisdiction was founded, and terrifying, by threatenings, which his power in this land is unable to execute, unless his fervants have recourfe to their wonted methods of midnightflaughter and savage devastation, all defigned to induce the free inhabitants of thefe parts of the State to submit to their power, and take an oath of allegiance to their King, whereby they must grossly profane the name of God, and folemnly entangle entangle themselves in an obligation to give up their cattle, provifions, and labour, to the will of every officer pretend ing the authority of faid King, and finally to take arms against their brethren whenever called upon; and it appears that fome perfons have been induced, out of fear, and by the force of compulfion, to take faid profane oath; who now may be fo far impofed on, as to think themselves bound to conduct in conformity thereto; I have therefore thought proper to iffue this proclamation, hereby declaring, That the allegiance due to the ancient conftitution, obliges to refift to the laft extremity the prefent fyltem of tyranny in the British government, which has now overfet it; that by this mode of government, the people have been reduced to a ftate of nature, and it is utterly unlawful to require any obedience to their forfeited authority, and all acts recognifing fuch authority are finful in their nature; no oaths promifing it can be lawful, fince if any act be fin in itself, no oath can make it a duty; the very taking fuch an oath is a crime, of which every act adhering to it, is a repetition with aggravation. In all cafes where oaths are impofed, and perfons compelled to fubmit to them by threats of immediate deftruction, which they cannot otherwise avoid, it is manifeft, that however obligatory they may be on the confcience of the compeller, whofe intent and meaning is thereby fo folemnly witneffed, it can have no force on the compelled, whofe intent was known, by the compulfion itself, to be the very reverfe of the words in which it is expreffed. At the fame time I do hereby affure the inhabitants of Penobscot, and the country adjacent, that if they are found to be fo loft to all the virtues of good citizens, as to comply with the advice of faid pretended proclamation, by becoming the first to defert the cause of freedom, of virtue, and of God, which the whole force of Britain, and all its aux iliaries, now find themselves unable to overthrow, they must expect to be the first also to experience the juft refentment of this injured and betrayed country, in the condign punishment which their treafon deferves. From this punishment their invaders will be very unable to protect them, now that they are known to be in any other part of America unable to protect themselves: And as this protection which these proclaiming gentlemen say they have power only to promife, can be afforded by nothing but the forces which they_command, and of these forces, by the bleffing of God, I doubt not in a very thort time to be put in poffeffion; fo there is no more reason to expect it from the Indian nations around, as good part of them are now in my camp, and several hundreds more are on their way fpeedily to join me, and I have the best evidences from all the reft, that they have ftedfaftly refused to accept of the prefents, fign the papers, or do the barbarous acts affigned them by our enemies, and on the contrary hold themselves in readiness on the fhorteft notice to turn out for the defence of any place which these men may attack. Therefore, as the authority committed to me neceffitates my exerting my beft endeavours to rid this much-abused country, not only from its foreign, but alfo from its domeftic enemies, I do therefore declare, That when, by the bleffing of Heaven on the American arms, we fhall have brought the force that has invaded us to the ftate which they de ferve, it fhall be my care, that the laws of the State be duly executed upon fuch inhabitants thereof as have traiterously abetted or encouraged them in their lawlefs attempts: And that proper difcrimination may be made between them," and the faithful and . . . . subjects of the United States, I further declare, That all perfons within the eastern county that have taken the oath prefcribed by the enemy, and fhall not in forty-eight hours after receiving notice of this proclamation, repair to my camp at Maje bigwaduce, with fuch arms and accoutrements as they now poffefs, fhall be confidered as traitors, who have volun tarily combined with the common ene my for the common ruin. But all fuch as fhall appear at head-quarters within faid term, and give proper testimony of their determination to continue cordially in allegiance to this and the United States of America, fhall be recognised as good and faithful members of the communing, and treated accordingly, any thing ob noxious in their taking the said oath notwithstanding. Given at head-quarters on the heights SOLOMON LOVELL, Brigadier-General. By |
