ninety men stationed at a mill near Brigadier Howe’s plantation. However, they bravely attacked, in his house, three old women, shot one through the hip, pierced another with a bayonet, beat out the teeth of the third, and then burnt the house. In their approach to the mill, they had to encounter a formidable body, consisting of a sentinel and three men, who, without loss to themselves, killed two, wounded an officer, and took a Sergeant prisoner. This rencounter gave the officer at the mill an opportunity to retreat, with his men, baggage, and everything, but four horses, grazing, which fell a prey to the enemy. After burning the mill, they retreated, with this booty, on board the vessels they came from; which should be recorded, to perpetuate the fame of these renowned Generals. Another time, a Captain and his company precipitately fled from the attack of eight riflemen, leaving one prisoner behind them. The enemy have since landed seventeen hundred men, and are intrenching at Fort Johnston. It is said there are two thousand men at St. Augustine.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to your favour of 27th of last month, we have ordered that Captain Wells’s company be an Artillery Company, and Captains Dean’s and Thomas Rutter’s companies added to the Baltimore town Battalion. The commissions for Dean’s company are enclosed to Colonel William Buchanan.

We request you will render a particular account of the expenditure of your £1,000, sent the 8th of March, to defray the expenses of the Militia on the alarm occasioned by the Otter sloop-of-war; and, also, furnish us with your vouchers for the general charges in the account of moneys expended on the fortification at Whetstone-Point.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Baltimore County.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, June 5, 1776.

SIR: The Congress having this day made several promotions in the Army of the United Colonies, and established some rules for the future direction of the Deputy Commissaries-General, Deputy Quartermasters-General, &c., I do myself the pleasure to enclose you a copy of the same.

I have delivered Colonel Reed his commission, and have sent Mr. Whetcomb, Mr. Mercer, and Mr. Moylan theirs.

Should you stand in need of any more blank commissions, they shall be immediately forwarded, on your letting me know it. I entirely forgot to make inquiry into the matter while you were in this city.

Having nothing further in charge from Congress at this time, I beg leave to assure you that I am, with the greatest respect and esteem, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. June 6.—This morning two small privateers arrived here, after a very successful cruise, having taken three West-India ships, with $22,420 on board, one thousand and fifty-two hogsheads and tierces of sugar, seventy pipes of best Madeira wine, and a variety of other articles.* The captain and owners this moment called to acquaint me that the money is now in this city, and have generously made an offer of it to the Congress.

I have this morning advanced thirty dollars to Fessenden, in part of his account, which you will please to deduct on settlement.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO COLONEL JOSEPH REED.

Philadelphia, June 5, 1776.

SIR: The Congress, in consideration of your zeal and ardour in the American cause, have appointed you Adjutant-General in the Continental Army, with the rank of Colonel. As it is necessary this important department should be filled as soon as possible, you will please to take the earliest opportunity of repairing for that purpose to Head-Quarters, at New-York. I do myself the pleasure to enclose your commission; and am, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President .

To Colonel Joseph Reed.

PETITION OF WILLIAM ADAMS.

[Laid before the Marine Committee, June 5, 1776.]

To the Honourable the Delegates of the Thirteen United Colonies in Congress assembled: The Petition of WILLIAM ADAMS, Surgeon in the Continental Naval Service, humbly showeth:

That your Petitioner had the honour to be appointed Surgeon in the service of this continent, on board the armed sloop the Hornet; that he conceives he could afford more considerable service to his country in a fighting capacity; that, anxious to contribute his assistance towards repelling the hostile invasions of the enemies of America, he was an early Associator in the Third Battalion of this city, in one company of which battalion he acted as an officer; that he hath a very large and extensive acquaintance in this Province, and notwithstanding the present scarcity of men, is fully and firmly persuaded that he could, in a very short time, raise a company; that your Petitioner understands that some companies of Marines are now to be raised for the frigates building for the defence of this continent; and as he begs leave to resign his commission of Surgeon, requests that your Honours would be pleased to appoint him to the command of one of said companies; and he begs leave to assure your Honours that if, in case of any engagement, his assistance should be wanted or required by the Surgeon, he will ever be ready to afford it; and hopes his conduct in either capacity will be serviceable to his country and merit the approbation of your Honours.

WILLIAM ADAMS.

Philadelphia, May 28, 1776.

JOHN WATTS TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, June 5, 1776.

GENTELMEN: Mr. Benjamin Birdsall, of the Committee for Queen’s County, Oyster-Bay, Long-Island, hath sent to inform me, by Mr. William Wallace, boatman, that the boat formerly belonging to me, but now in the hands of Mr. Nathan Gyer, (though not yet paid for by him,) hath been seized by a party of Riflemen, suspecting the said Nathan had been on board the men-of-war at the Hook; and she being threatened to be destroyed, the whole loss, by his imprudence, will wholly fall upon myself. As I am, and always hope to remain, a steady friend to my country, I beg the favour of this honourable House to advise me how to proceed to recover my boat. Mr. Birdsall requires a speedy answer from me, for fear she should be destroyed before I have your authority to prevent it.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

JOHN WATTS.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of New-York.

CAPTAIN CREGIER TO THOMAS RANDALL.

WORTHY SIR: After my due respects to you and all friends, I think it a point of my duty to acquaint you that I sailed from this the next day after the date of my last to you. I stood to the southward a whole day, with little wind, and about four in the afternoon, it blowing very hard to the south-southwest, making a heavy sea, I was obliged to bear away for this inlet, where I have remained, on account of the wind blowing at east-southeast, which occasioned a very high sea on the bar. At eight A. M. we saw a sail to the southeast, standing in for the Hook; at ten A. M. concluded with the Captain of the whale-boats, being twelve in number, to tow me out; the tide being flood, with little wind, we came to the bar, where we found a high surf. The Captain of the whale-boats concluded their boats could not get out over the

* Phiiadeiphia, June 6, 1776.—Two privateers, belonging to this port, have taken three very valuable ships, bound from Jamaica to London, laden with rum, sugar, molasses, &c; having also a large quantity of dollars and plate on board.

We hear that on board of the above ships there were several very fine sea-turtle, intended as a present to Lord North; one of which, with his Lordship’s name nicely cut in the shell, was yesterday presented by the captain to the worthy President of the American Congress.