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about seventy miles further up the Miffiffippi. The in- 1778. habitants in them and the neighbouring country made no difficulty of transferring their allegiance, which they would reasonably conclude could not be refused with fafety, as they might naturally imagine the enemy was in force, being in the heart of the country: the dangerous fituation of this small corps in the inner part of the Indian territory, at the back of fome of the moft cruel and hoftile tribes, in the track of many others, and more or lefs in the way of all, was converted to peculiar advantage, by the extraordinary activity and unwearied fpirit of the commander. He directed and timed his attacks with fuch judgment, and executed them with fuch filence and dispatch, that the Indians found their own mode of war effectually turned upon them. Surprised in their inmost retreats, and most fequeftered receffes, at those times and feasons, when they were fcarcely lefs difpofed for action, than unprepared for defence, they experienced in their own wigwams and families, that unexpected flaughter and destruction, which they had fo fre-: quently carried home to others. Upon this they grew cautious and timid; and the continual danger to which their families were expofed, damped the ardor of their warriors for hoftile expeditions.

Sir Henry Clinton, on the return of the troops from the Bedford expedition, determined upon another to Egg harbour, on the Jersey coaft, where the Americans had a number of privateers and prizes, and fome confiderable falt works. To draw away the attention of the Americans, and to procure at the fame time forage and fresh provifions for the army, lord Cornwallis advanced into Jersey with a strong body of troops, while gen.

1778. Knyphaufen advancing with another divifion of the army, took a pofition on the eaft fide of the North River, by which only the two divifions were separated; fo that by means of their boats they could unite their whole force on either fide of it, within twenty-four hours. Lieut. col. Baylor's regiment of light horse, with fome militia, were detached to watch and interrupt the foragers. The colonel, it is to be feared, in order to avoid being under gen. Wynd's command, went with his men into the mouth of the British, and there lay in a state of unfoldiery fecurity, which induced lord Cornwallis to form a plan for furprifing the whole. Gen. Grey, with the light infantry and fome other troops, advanced by nighton the left to surprise the enemy on that fide, and a detachment was made from Knyphaufen's corps on the right, which having paffed the North River, intended fo to have enclosed the whole American force employed in watching them, as that few or none of them should have escaped. Some deferters from the column on the right prevented the completion of the fcheme. These having at the most critical moment roufed the militia who lay at New Taapan under gen. Wynd, afforded them the opportunity of escaping. But Grey conducted his divifion with fuch filence and order, that they not only cut off a fergeant's patrol of twelve men without 27. noife, but completely furrounded Old Taapan without any discovery, and furprised Baylor's horse afleep and naked in the barns where they lay. A fevere execution took place, and numbers were dispatched with the bayonet. The men being fo completely furprised, and incapable of refiftance, the refusal of quarter when implored, has led congrefs to deem the execution a maffacre, after re

Sept.

ceiving the best information upon oath, that they could obtain concerning it. Of about a dozen wounded foldiers who appeared to give evidence, three had received from nine to eleven stabs each, of bayonets, in the breast, back and trunk of the body, beside several wounds in other parts. Two others had received, the one five, and the other fix ftabs in the body. However the admiration of fome, who reafon from the nature of the weapon and the manner in which it is used, may be excited at these men being able in about three weeks time to give their teftimony, as alfo being feemingly in a fair way of recovery; yet the pofitive evidence given upon oath before gov. Livingfton, whose penetration would have detected, and whose integrity would have discarded a falfe witness, will be credited by impartial perfons. Baylor himself was wounded, but not dangerously; he loft in killed, wounded and taken, 67 privates out of 104, befide 70 horfes. It is faid, that Grey ordered no quarter to be given, and that the charges were drawn, and the flints taken out; but that one of the light infantry captains ventured to disobey the order, and gave quarter to the whole fourth troop, which ferves to account for the number of prisoners taken and carried to New York, viz. 39 privates, befide a captain, two fubalterns, a volunteer, and the furgeon's mate.

1778.

Captain Ferguson of the 70th regiment, with about 300 land forces, were detached on the expedition to Little Egg harbour, under a proper convoy. They arrived off the bar on the evening of the 5th of October. The Oct. Americans had obtained fome intelligence of the defign, and had suddenly sent out to fea, fuch of their privateers as were in any degree of readiness, to escape the

5.

1778. impending danger. The larger of the remaining vef fels, chiefly prizes, were hauled up the river to Chefnut-neck about twenty miles from its mouth. The fmaller privateers and craft of different fizes, were çarried ftill further up into the country. The detachment proceeded to Chefnut-neck, burnt the veffels found there, and destroyed the fettlements, ftorehouses and works of every fort, to prevent all privateers being fitted out from thence for the future. On their return they made excurfions into the neighbouring country, destroyed fome confiderable falt works, as well as the houses and fettlements of feveral perfons, who had taken a confpicuously active part on the fide of America, or had been concerned in the fitting out of privateers.

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When the troops had rejoined the fquadron, a French captain with some privates, who had deferted from count Pulafki's legion, gave fuch an account of the careless manner in which three troops of horfe and as many companies of infantry were cantoned, at only a few miles distance, that the commanding officers by fea and land concluded on an expedition to beat up their quarters. They had the advantage of conveying the troops by water to within a fmall diftance of their deftination; the deferters alfo informed them of an un-guarded bridge, the poffeffion of which would ferve in case of necessity, effectually to cover their retreat back to the veffels. Two 15. hundred and fifty men were embarked, who after rowing ten miles, landed long before day light within a mile of the bridge, which they fecured; and leaving a guard in poffeffion of it, the remainder pufhed on and completely furprised Pulafki's light infantry, and deftroyed about 50 of them, among whom was the baron de Bose and

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lieutenant de la Borderie. The attack being in the night, 1778 little quarter could be given; more would probably have been granted, had not the deserters falfely reported, that, Pulaski had issued public orders forbidding his corps to grant any quarter to the British troops. The flaughter would not have ended fo foon, if Pulaski had not on the firft alarm haftened with his cavalry to fupport the infantry, which then kept a good countenance. The British not long after made a hafty retreat, and returned to their boats.

Sept.

Let me pass from hence to relate a difagreeable difturbance that happened in Charlestown, South Carolina, on the night of September the 6th. By fome means a quarrel commenced on fhore between the American and French failors, when the former made ufe of indecent, illiberal, and national reflections against the latter, which provoked resentment. The parties foon proceeded to open hoftilities, when the French were driven from the town, and betook themselves to their fhipping, whence they fired with cannon and fmall arms, which was returned by the Americans from the adjoining wharfs and fhore. Several lives were loft, and many were wounded. The inhabitants were much alarmed, and the militia were obliged to be under arms a great part of the night. Proper measures were afterward taken to prevent a repetition of the like disorders; and both the prefident and affembly expreffed their deep concern, that the flightest animofities fhould prevail between any citizen of America, and the fubjects of their illustrious and good ally.

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6.

In the evening of the 8th, there was a violent affray 8. at Boston between certain unknown perfons and a num

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