Island to land two hundred men at Block-Island, from Stonington, after much hazard from the men of war and transports round Block-Island, landed their men there, and pushed back for Stonington, being pursued by two tenders into harbour; then the tenders took two vessels lying at anchor, and went to the wharf to take more vessels, and after prohibition from so doing, and threats no doubt on both sides, they persisted in their robbery; and then, it appears probable to me, the Americans fired, and killed some men-of-war’s crew. The tenders then fired a few shot, and put out; met Captain Wallace, in the Rose, off Watch-Hill; they returned with him into Stonington harbour, and fired upon the houses. A flag was sent on board Wallace, about noon, to know why they fired on them; he showed the flag four dead men of his ship’s crew, and one with his hand shot off, and said he was on the defensive, and would blow the Town down; and as soon as the flag returned he renewed the cannonading with the utmost vigour. We had one man mortally wounded in the neck, and one other slightly wounded. The country are gone from the northward to their assistance. Major Latimer’s detachment of two hundred men arrived there early in the evening. At eleven o’clock last night, Thomas Mumford, Esq., left the ships in Stonington harbour; am told, whilst he was there writing a letter, a cannon ball passed through the room he sat in. I have not seen him. The transports, it is apprehended, will not be able to take Block-Island stock; expect they will try Montreal and its neighbourhood. General Wooster is there, and the Committee of Suffolk—who were notified by express from hence last Friday of the advice Governour Trumlull communicated to us from General Washington—therefore they will no doubt be ready to receive them. The stock is said to be off Gardiner’s and Plumb Island; suppose it is so. Our stock of powder and ball is all delivered out; how it is at Groton, don’t know; but as the messenger from Stonington to us yesterday was after powder, presume Groton could not supply it.

Your most obedient humble servant,

G. SALTONSTALL.

To Colonel Jabez Huntington, Esq.

COLONEL G. SALTONSTALL TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, August 31, 1775, 6 o’clock, P. M.

HONOURABLE SIR: Major Latimer’s detachment reached Stonington harbour last evening about sunset, and by that time there were eight hundred men under arms; the cannonading ceased about five o’clock yesterday. The enemy had four men killed, and one lost a hand—of the Colony’s Troops, two wounded; one of which said mortally. This morning, about nine o’clock, the Rose, Captain Wallace, three tenders, and four small prizes, stood out of the harbour, and came to under northwest part of Fisher’s Island, and are probably now there. At two o’clock last night received from Colonel Huntington two barrels of powder; it is now in my store, and shall be husbanded in the best manner for the publick. It is uncertain who gave the first fire at Stonington; it is most probable to me, that on the cutter’s taking prizes in the road, and going to take more at the wharf, high words arose, and they persisting, imagine our Troops fired and killed the above men, as the cutter immediately after probably fired on the Town, and then pushed out to the Rose, without Watch-Hill; and on giving her an account of the matter, they all stood in to the harbour, and cannonaded violently. About twelve o’clock a flag went on board, to know why he fired on them; and his reply was, that he was on the defensive, for they had fired on his boats, and showed the dead men then on his deck, and the wounded man. As soon as the flag returned, cannonading was renewed. This is the best account I can collect, but it is hard to come at the truth; therefore, must conjecture as circumstances appear. Major Latimer asks me when to call back his Troops, and advised him to do it to-morrow, if the ships don’t appear off Stonington in the morning; and it is not probable they will, and don’t expect they will come into this port; however, shall keep a good lookout. Your most obedient humble servant,

G. SALTONSTALL.

Governour Trumbull.

COLONEL G. SALTONSTALL TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

New-London, August 31, 1775, 8 o’clock, P. M.

HONOURABLE SIR: I am this moment favoured with your letter of this day, by Mr. George Griswold, and acknowledge your Honour’s favour relative to the powder. At six o’clock this evening wrote your Honour every thing I could learn touching the Stonington attack, which you will have by Mr. Bushnell, by whom I intend to send this, if he is not gone. Enclosed you have a copy of what I wrote (by Mr. Griswold) the Committee of Lyme, and hope it will meet your approbation; and am, with the utmost regard, your obedient humble servant,

G. SALTONSTALL.

Governour Trumbull.

P. S. Colonel Huntington’s express for intelligence came in at noon. I gave him the substance of what you will find in mine of six o’clock. I heartily congratulate you on the account of the ground gained by the American Army at Ploughed-Hill, and am fully persuaded General Gage will not hazard a general battle to dispossess the Continental Troops.

COLONEL G. SALTONSTALL TO THE COMMITTEE OF LYME, CONNECTICUT.

New-London, August 31, 1775, 8 o’clock, P. M.

GENTLEMEN: This morning I am honoured with Governour Trumbull’s letter of this date, relative to an application you made to him, desiring that one or two Companies of the Troops stationed here be removed, for the purpose of guarding the coast at Lyme; and observes, “that the present aspect of the affair doth not admit a compliance; those Companies will be employed in the best manner for the defence of the whole coast;” and adds, “possibly, if the Captains Daniel Marvin, Jas. Huntly, and George Chadwick, were ordered to set and keep a watch of a suitable number of men each, it is all that can be beneficially done till further danger appear, and is noticed, and that you give them orders accordingly,” and leaves the matter to my discretion. The Towns of New-London, Groton, and Norwich, have, by their civil authority and Selectmen, appointed watches in their several Towns, and the law appears to me to have made most ample provision in the case; and should the three Companies aforesaid be ordered to watch and ward, would they not think hard for them to do the whole duty in the case for the Town? nor would it be possible for me to know what number of men would be proper, or where to station them. And since the law has made such ample provision, and the authorities in Lyme so much better able to conduct the affair than I am, make no doubt they will instantly. However, if you think my assistance will be advantageous, shall be glad to confer with any proper persons of your Town on the subject.

I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant,

G. SALTONSTALL.

To the Committee of Lyme.

Cambridge, August 31, 1775.

The enemies to liberty and America, headed by Gen. Gage, lately gave a notable specimen of their hatred to the very name of liberty. A party of them, of whom one Job Williams was the ringleader, a few days since repaired to a tree, at the south end of Boston, known by the name of Liberty Tree, and, armed with axes, &c., made a furious attack upon it; with malice diabolical they cut down a tree, because it bore the name of liberty. But be it known to this infamous band of traitors, that the Grand American Tree of Liberty, planted in the centre of the United Colonies of North America, now flourishes with unrivalled, increasing beauty, and bids fair, in a short time, to afford under its wide-spreading branches a safe and happy retreat for all the sons of liberty, however numerous and dispersed.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM PROSPECT-HILL, DATED AUGUST 31, 1775.

Last Saturday evening a party of one thousand men, attended by a picket guard of two thousand Provincials and four hundred Riflemen, were ordered to throw up an intrenchment on the Ploughed-Hill, which lies on Charles-town Neck, about half a mile from Bunker’s Hill. They