tants of the province, and fome who held the chief offices under the late rebel powers, have reverted to their loyalty, and declared their allegiance to his Majefty's government. I have also the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship, that Major Rofs and Capt. Broderick are arrived with the difpatches; and as the former gentleman has mentioned to me your Lordship's great anxiety to receive frequent informations from hence, and as there has of late been no eligible conveyance, I have, from these motives, taken upon me to change the course of the packet, by fending her directly home; to which I have been the rather induced, as a ship of war fhortly is to fail for New York, and will take with her the commander in chief's difpatches, and the mail for that place. Capt. Mallom, of the 63d regiment, an officer of merit, and who is returning to Europe for the recovery of his health, has Lord Cornwallis's directions to deliver this dispatch to your Lordship. I have the honour to be, &c. H. BALFOUR." "Charlestown, Dec. 27. A gentleman lately come to town has favoured us with an account of the bafe treatment the unfortunate officers and men met with who furrendered prifoners of war laft October to the rebel Colonel Campbell, in the action of King's Mountain. A small party of the militia returning from foraging, unacquainted with the furrender, happening to fire on the rebels, the prifoners were immediately threatened with death if the firing fhould be repeated. The morning after the action the prifoners were marched fixteen miles previous to their march, orders were given by Campbell, fhould they be attacked, to fire on and defroy every prifoner. The party kept march: ing for two days without any kind of provifions on the third day's march all the baggage of the officers was feized, and shared among the rebel officers.A few days after, a mock court martial fat for the trial of the militia prifoners; when, after a fhort hearing, thirty gen tlemen, fome of the moft refpectable characters in that country, had fentence of death paffed upon them; and at fix o'clock the fame day they began to execute. Col. Mills and Capt. Chetwood of North Carolina, Capt. Wilfon of Ninety-fix, and fix privates, were fiift executed. The British officers were comVOL. XLIII. pelled to attend at the execution of these brave but unfortunate men; who, with manly firmnefs, avowed their loyalty in their laft moments, and with their latest breath expressed their unalterable detestation of the rebels, and their base and infamous proceedings. The remaining twenty-one were reprived for a time." A scheme, 'tis faid, was lately discovered, for carrying off Lord Cornwallis, and delivering him into the hands of the enemy by a Colonel Wynn, an American, who had come in and joined the British. The plan was, to invite Lord Cornwallis, by fome plausible pretext of a furprife of the enemy, fo as to get him out of the protection of his own army. But Wynn was betrayed; and his Lordfhip getting, intelligence of the fcheme, went to the spot at the time appointed, attended by a strong guard of dragoons, who made prifoners of Wynn and his party; and he was in confequence immediately executed. [P. S.] Rivington's Royal New-York Gazette of Jan. 6. brought over by the Two Brothers, which arrived at Liverpool Feb. 6. contains the following account, "The impatience of all the rebel troops, and being long deprived of their pay in real money, and wholefome provifions, had determined many of the foldiers to a peremptory demand, that their arrearages thould be produced to them in folid money, and the whole army put on a refpectable and well-appointed eftablishment; many perceiving the bankrupt condition of the Congrefs finances, and that no magazines, &c. &c. &c. were formed for the future fubfiftence of the army, took occafion, on Monday laft, (when the times of inliftment of fe veral hundreds expired), boldly to require their pay in prefent cafh and hard money. Finding no revenue, but the long-expired paper currency, produced to fupply their demands, the malecontents frankly offered to give up their pay with all arrears, and return home, provided each got a formal difcharge; as they were determined, to a man, no longer to remain in the Continental fervice. Thefe overtures being rejected, a feceffion immediately enfued, confifting of the whole Pennfylvania line, comminded by General St Clair, formerly a lieutenant in his Majefty's Royal American regiment, having under him the Brigadier-Generals Wayne, Hand, and a fucceffor to the deceafed Brig.-Gen. Poor. D After After having spiked up all the cannon, purfue, until they removed at a distance and deftroyed the carriages, they left from us, and delivered over two of our their headquarters at Morris-town, meffengers to Congrefs. On the 5th, bringing with them four field-pieces, all notwithstanding the season was so far adthe powder and provisions; and were vanced, I made a movement with the purfued by fome militia; of whom they elite of the army to Staten island; in killed a colonel, two majors, two lieu- which fituation, with the affiftance given tenants, and fome privates. They pro- me by the Vice-Admiral, of a fhip of ceeded to Veals-town, about twenty- war, and a number of boats, to co-opetwo miles from Elifabeth-town; where, rate with the army, I was ready to act on Wednesday laft, they threw up works as circumftances might make neceffary: of defence. At this place they erected but until I had fome certain information a ftandard, chofe a commander in chief, refpecting their intentions or wishes, it commiffaries, quartermasters, and other would have been very imprudent for me officers effential to the accommodation to have done any thing more than favour and movement of the troops on service. the revolt, and offer afylum; for one ftep further might have reunited them to their oppreffors. On the 17th I received, by the return of two of my meffengers, the inclofed printed papers; by which I plainly faw that there was an appearance of accommodation. I therefore returned from Staten island; and the General officer I left in the command there, reporting to me, that the troops fuffered much from the inclemency of the weather, and that their state in fact might be termed a continual picquet, I ordered them to return to their huts on Long ifland. They prefently fecured 400 head of live cattle; all the horses of the neighbouring country, as they paffed, were furrendered to them. Upwards of 100 riflemen had been detached to hang on and annoy their rear; but, on exploring their fituation, rather than moleft them, they left their officers, and preferred to join their quondam fellow foldiers in purfuit of the fame object. Thus reinforced, the total number of the revolters now amounts to 2200 men, and are daily increafing. Gen. Wayne overtook, harangued, and on his knees fupplicated their return; but all in vain : he was informed, if he ever again approached them, they should detain him as a prisoner." An extract of a letter from Sir Henry Clinton, to Lord George Germain, by Lieut. Sir William Twyfden, who came in the Grantham packet, which failed from Sandy-hook Jan. 29. received on the 20th of February, appeared in the London gazette in the evening of that day, viz. "On the 3d inftant it was reported to me, that on the rft the Pennsylvania line had revolted. The particulars, as far as I have been able to afcertain them, and the steps I took in confequence, are contained in the journal which I have the honour to inclofe. My offers reached them on the 6th, together with a declaration of the Admiral's and mine, as Commiffioners. They admitted two of their Generals to a conference on the 7th. Their demands were, pay, arrears of pay, the depretiation of money made up to them according to the different periods, and their discharges from further fervice. I had no reafon to fuppofe they intended joining us; nor was it poffible to fay, what measures they meant to It is impoffible at prefent to fay, in what manner, or how foon, this business will be fettled. It is generally thought, that Congrefs cannot fatisfy the demands of the revolters, and it is probable, therefore, they may attempt to force them: if they do, thofe people can ftill fall back upon us, as there is no force in Jerfey to prevent them, nor any rivers to pass but that at South Amboy, which our fhips can command. Gen. Washington has not moved a man from his army as yet; and as it is proba ble their demands are nearly the fame with the Pennfylvania line, it is not thought likely that he will. I am, however, in a fituation to avail myself of favourable events; but to stir before they offer, might mar all. I have received no certain intelligence from the fouthward fince my laft, but I make no doubt that Gen. Leslie has joined Lord Cornwallis; and I expect every hour to hear that the rebels have quitted the Carolinas; more efpecially as Brig.Gen. Arnold arrived in the Chesapeak on the 2d. Rebel reports say he has reached Richmond, the capital of Virginia. There is every reafon to suppose that Ethan Allen has quitted the rebel caufe. Lieut. Lieut. Sir William Twyfden, of the Royal Fufileers, who has requested my permiffion to return to Europe on his own private affairs, will have the honour of delivering my difpatches. I beg leave to refer your Lordship to him for further particulars, particularly with regard to the operations to the fouthward. No 1. JOURNAL. On the Ift of January 1781 the Pennfylvania troops hutted at Morris-town, having been for fome time much diffatiffied, turned out, in number about 1300, declaring they would ferve no longer unlefs their grievances were redreifed, as they had not received either pay, cloathing, or provifions. A riot enfued, in which an officer was killed, and four wounded: the insurgents had five or fix wounded. They then collected the artillery, ftores, provifions, waggons, &c. marched out of camp, and paffed by Gen. Wayne's quarters; who fent a meffage to them, requefting them to defift, or the confequences would prove fatal. They refufed, and proceeded on their march till evening; when they took poft on an advantageous piece of ground, and elected of ficers from among themselves, appointing a ferjeant-major, who was a British deferter, to command them, with the rank of Major-General. On the 2d they marched to Middlebrook, and on the 3d to Prince-town. On the 2d a meffage was fent them, by the officers from camp, defiring to know their intentions; which they refufed to receive. A flag of truce was then fent to which fome anfwered, that they had ferved three years against their inclinations, and would ferve no longer; others faid, they would not return, unlefs their grievances were redreffed. The first information the Commander in Chief received of this was on the morning of the 3d of January; in confequence of which a large corps was ordered to hold themselves in readiness to move on the shortest notice. On the 4th, three perfons were fent out from hence to them, with propofals to the following purport: "To be taken under the protection of the British government; to have a free pardon for all former offences, and the pay due to them from Congrefs faithfully paid to them, without any expectation of military service, (except it might be volun tary), upon condition of laying down their arms, and returning to their allegiance." It was alfo recommended to them, to move behind the South river ; and they were affured a body of British troops fhould be ready to protect them whenever they defired it. The inability of Congrefs to fatisfy their juft demands, as well as the feverity with which they would be treated fhould they return to their former fervitude, was pointed out to them. They were defired to fend perfons to Amboy, to meet others from us, in order to treat further. The corps ordered to be in readiness paffed over to Staten island the 5th, where they were cantoned in readiness to move. The infurgents having taken post at Prince-town, frequent meffages and propofals to the fame effect were fent out: but the militia of Jersey having been affembled foon after the meeting, they kept fo ftrict watch on the coaft, and on the roads leading to Prince-town, that the utmoft difficulty attended communicating with them, or receiving intelligence. The infurgents remained at Princetown until the 9th; during which time propofals, NO 2. were printed, and diftributed among them, and a committee of Congrefs fent to treat with them; of which Gen. Sullivan, Mr Mathews, Mr Atlee, and DrWitherspoon, were members. On the 9th they moved to Trenton; and on the 10th gave the anfwer, No 3. from their Board, composed of ferjeants. By the laft account they still remain at Trenton; and, although Congrefs have difcharged fome of them, they still refuse to quit the town until the whole are fet tled with for all their demands. The name of the infurgent who commands them is Williams. NO 2. Propofals made to the non-commissioned officers and foldiers of the Pennsylvania line at Prince-town, Jan. 7. 1781. His Excellency Jof. Read, Efq; Prefident, and the Hon. Brig.-Gen. Potter, of the council of Pennsylvania, having heard the complaints of the foldiers, as reprefented by the ferjeants, inform them, That they are fully authorised to redrefs reasonable grievances, and they have the fulleft difpofition to make them as easy as poffible; for which end they propofe, I. That no non-commiffioned officer or foldier fhall be detained beyond the D 2 time time for which he freely and voluntarily engaged; but where they appear to have been in any respect compelled to enter or fign, fuch inliftment to be deemed void, and the foldier discharged. 2. To fettle who are and who are not bound to stay, three perfons to be appointed by the Prefident and the Council, who are to examine into the terms of inliftment; where the original inliftments cannot be found, the foldier's oath to be admitted to prove the time and terms of initment, and the foldier to be difcharged upon his oath of the condition of the The Governor hopes that no foldier of Pensylvania line will break his bar. Fan, or go from the contract made with public; and they may depend upon it, that the utmost care will be taken to forth them with every neceffary fitting for a foldier. The Governor will recommend to the State to take fame favourable notice of those who engaged for the war. The commiffioners will attend at Trentor, where the cloathing and the ftores will Miran.cciately brought, and the regi. mert, to be fettled with in their order. A hd lonicer of each regiment to attend dun the tettlement of his regiment. PSIPP to Gen. Wayne's orders of the 2 foot, no man to be brought to orceefare for what has happened on or face. New-Year's day, but all Matter to be buried in oblivion. Jos. READ. JA. POTTER. No 3. Trenton, January 10. 1781. His Excellency's proposals being communicated to the different regiments at troop beating this morning, Jan. 8. 1781, They do voluntarily agree in conjunction, that all the foldiers that were inlifted for the term of three years, or during the war, excepting those whofe terms of inliftment are not expired, ought to be difcharged immediately, with as little delay as circumftances will allow, except fuch foldiers who have voluntariby re-inlifted. In cafe that any foldier fhould difpute, his inliftment is to be fettled by a committee and the foldier's oath. The remainder of his Excellency's and the Hon. Board of Committee's propofals is founded upon honour and juftice; but in regard to the Hon. the Board fetting forth, that there will be ap pointed three perfons to fit as a committee to redrefs our grievances; it is therefore the general demand of the line and the board of ferjeants, that we shall appoint as many members as of the oppofite, to fit as a committee to determine jointly upon our unhappy affairs. As the path we tread is juftice, and our footsteps founded upon honour, therefore we unanimoufly do agree, that there would be fomething done towards a fpeedy redrefs of our prefent circumftances. Signed by order of the Board, WM BOWZER, Sec. Purfuant to your Excellency's demand concerning the two emiflaries from the British, the Board of Committee refol. ved, that those men should be delivered up to the fupreme authority, in order to fhew that we should remove every doubt of fufpicion and jealoufy. Alfo that the men may difperfe upon being difcharged, the delivering up their arms, &c. Signed by the Board in the Sir William Twŷfden, who did not fail from Sandy-hook till the 29th, was informed before his departure by Sir Henry Clinton, that the revolted troops ftill remained at Trenton, and were intrenching themfelves there; and that the New-Jer fey brigade had alfo revolted for the fame reafons as the others, and were marching towards Elifabeth-town: and Maj. Gen. Robertfon was ordered to Staten island upon that occafion." An An account of Major Patrick Ferguson. Ajor Ferguson was reckoned the best Mayor was rechy, he made great improvements in the rifle-gun, or rather invented a new one. Before he went out to America, he exhibited his dexterity in firing both at Blackheath and Woolwich: his Majefty did him the honour to be present on one of these occafions: he was then a captain in the 70th. He carried out with him 100 riflemen, whom he had taken great pains to instruct. At the battle of Germantown, in the end of 1777, he was in the hotteft of the fight, and for fome space of time very near Gen. Washington: unfortunately he did not know that commander, otherwife the rebels would have had a new general to feek. Here Capt. Ferguson was dangerously wounded in the arm. While ill, Gen. Howe diftri buted the remains of his men among σther corps; but on his recovery he collected them again. In the beginning of fummer 1778, our army having evacuated Philadelphia, Capt. Ferguson of course went with it to New York; and in October the fame year, he was entrust. ed with the command of an expedition to destroy a neft of rebel pirates in Little Egg harbour, on the Jerfey fhore; Capt. Collins of the navy had the direction of the armed veffels. Capt. Ferguson penetrated twenty miles into the country with the fmall craft, deftroyed the village of the pirates, a battery of fix guns, and a number of veffels, among which were ten capital fhips. In returning, fome of his veffels running aground, while the feamen were employed in get ting them off, he made two defcents, penetrated into the country, demolished the falt works, and the houfes of the leaders of the rebels; but with a humanity that did him great honour, not the leaft injury was offered to the peaceable inhabitants. This expedition was fo well conducted, that he did not lofe a man [40.665.]. Juft at this time he received letters of recal from Gen. Clinton, as did Capt. Collins from Adm. Gambier; but the wind being contrary, and having an idle day, this gallant officer fet out on another expedition. The rebel legion under the noted Count Pulaski *, he was A Polander, infamous for an attempt to affaffinate his King [33 596,658;—35.488.]; who if he had not eícaped the purfuit of justice, would have ended his villanies on a informed by Monf. Bromville, a French captain, and fix of his men, who deferted to him, lay only at twelve miles diftance in perfect fecurity, Capt. Fergulon let off in the night in boats with 250 men, rowed ten miles, landed, marched one mile to a bridge, at which he left fifty men, with the rest he marched a mile farther, furprised and cut to pieces the infantry of Pulafki's legion. Our foldiers were highly irritated against this brutal foreigner, who had given out in public orders to his men, never to give any quarter; in confequence of which our people took only five prifoners, all the reft, with their lieutenant-colonel, were left on the spot, the business being done with the bayonet only. Yet even here Capt. Fergufon had an opportunity of exercifing his humanity; the houfes in which were the baggage and equipage of Pulafki's legion, belonging to inoffenfive Quakers, he left them untouched, rather than diftrefs the innocent inhabitants by burning the quarters: the apology he made will fpeak for itself: "The injury that would have been done to the enemy would not have compenfated for the fufferings of thofe innocent people." In the latter end of 1779, he went with Sir Henry Clinton to the attack of Charlestown; during that fiege he diftinguished himself on feveral occafions. About this time he had the rank of Major, and commanded 300 men drafted from the provincial corps, his riflemen being all expended. He was greatly valued by Sir Henry Clinton, and had both the choice of his drafts and of his officers. It was by his own defire that Capt. de Peister was appointed fecond in the command of his corps. After the furrender of Charlestown he had a command on the frontiers; his general ftation was at Ninety-fix, our most interior post. At this place he was indefatigable in training the militia. After the rebel defeat at Camden, Lord Cornwallis permitted him to make an incurfion into North Carolina, after which his orders were to pafs the Catawba river, and join his Lordship at Charlotte-town [23.1, alfo in North Carolina. On his march, with that intent, he was attacked, Oct. 7. at four in the afternoon, on King's Mountain, by fcaffold, as did feveral of his accomplices. He finished his career at laft too honourably for fuch a mifcreant; being killed in at tempting to ftorm our trenches at Savannah, in the end of the year 1779. [41. 679.] 1600 |