April 11, 1778 The Pennsylvania Gazette
Last Monday Afternoon arrived here the Continental Frigate WARREN, of 32 Guns, under the Command of John Hopkins, Esq; which a few Weeks ago got out from Providence, in the Course of which she took two Prizes; one a Ship, taken in Sight of Bermuda, from Whitehaven bound to Philadelphia, laden with Salt and Dry Goods; the other a Snow, from St. Eustatia, her lading unknown, both of which Prizes are hourly expected in Port. - Capt. Hopkins has favoured us with a Whitehaven Paper, of the 3d of January, from which we have taken the following Articles, viz.
LONDON, December 24, 25.
Upwards of 20,000 caldrons of coals have been this week ordered upon commission for America.
Three battalions of the Guards, consisting of 800 men each, are to be formed from the draughts to be made from the three regiments, to embark the latter end of next month for America.
The additional German auxiliaries intended for service in America, are to embark at Hamburgh the beginning of February next.
Dec. 26, 27. We are informed the reason so many brave men and officers were lost under Gen. Burgoyne was, the American musquet cartridges were made up with one ball and two buck shot, which killed our men outright, or left them cripples forever, by being wounded in two or three different places at one shot.
It is said that Admiral Keppel, early in the spring, will sail for America, with a large squadron under his command; and that Lord Amherst will certainly be appointed to the command in America.
On Wednesday last, when their Graces the Dukes of Athol and Hamilton waited on his Majesty at the Levee at St. James's, their Graces made an offer to his Majesty of raising a regiment on their own estates, after the same plan as that of Manchester, to serve his Majesty as the exigencies of his affairs may require, either at home or in America, which was most graciously accepted of by the King.
The regiments that are compleating in England are ordered to Ireland to make u their complement, and compleat regiments are to embark from thence for America.
The New England troops have refused, t a man, to leave their Province, having come to a unanimous resolution to act only on the defensive, and to oppose the progress of any part of the King's army that may attempt an expedition therein.
We hear that the true reason of Sir William Meredith's resigning the Comptrollership of the houshold was, his private opinion differing with the cabinet in some of the proceedings against America. Such a reason does him honour, particularly as his office did not make him amenable for any miscarriage on that ground.
It is very currently reported, that some officer of rank is on his way home from the army at Philadelphia, supposed to be owing to some disgust between him and the Commander in Chief, or to some disagreement about the operations of the campaign. And some go so far as to assert, that there is now on the seas a memorial from some offices in the army, that were for attacking the Provincial camp when they went out to reconnoitre it in the Jerseys.
Twenty thousand tons of shipping are ordered to be taken up immediately, that they may be fitted out in time to receive the troops on board early in the spring; none are to be under 350 tons. The above ships, with those daily expected for New York, are to carry the reinforcements to America.
If the reported number of troops be sent to America next year, the expence of transports alone will amount to 500,000l.
The new corps talked of, as proposed to be raised immediately, are the following viz.
A battalion of Highlanders under Lord Macleod, consisting of 1000
The Manchester volunteers 1000
Duke of Argyle's Highlanders 1000
Campbell's Welsh loyal volunteers 2000
Duke of Athol's Highlanders 1000
Col. Gordon's Highlanders 1000
Duke of Hamilton's regiment of Arran 1000
Col. Dalrymple's loyal Lowlanders 1000
Midland Highlanders 1000
Sutherland's and Mackay's Highlanders 1000
The Earl of Seaforth's Highlanders 1000
Scotch Dutch brigades, augmented to 5000
Irish Roman Catholics 5000
Ten English battalions, 1000 men each 10000
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Total 32000
Dec. 29, 10. Saturday morning some dispatches were received at Lord George Germaine's office from Newfoundland, by which we learn, that the American coast swarms with privateers, from 10 to 26 guns each, and that scarce one ship that sails, or passes by, but what is immediately chased by one or two of them.
Several thousand pieces of linen, and several thousand pair of worsted stockings, are now getting ready, on contract, to be sent out as soon as possible for the use of his Majesty's troops in America.
This morning orders were given for the three regiments of Guards to march to Hyde Park, in order to be viewed by their officers, for a number of them to be draughted for America.
Many of the German troops under Gen. Burgoyne deserted, and the remainder did not fight with much bravery. It is said those who surrendered wish to be naturalized in America. They are ordered by the Americans to be kept separate from the British troops, with a view, it is supposed, that they may escape into the country. Britain will have to pay for all such, as every man who is not returned to Germany will be looked upon as killed, and must be paid for accordingly.