PHILADELPHIA,
October 31.
Extract of a letter to
Congress, from Fort Lee (formerly Fort Constitution) dated Oct. 28, 1776.
A SHIP moved up the river,
early in the morning, above our lower lines, right opposite to Fort No. 1,
near old head quarters at Morris’s. She began a brisk cannonade upon the
shore. Col. Magaw, who commands at Fort Washington, got down an eighteen
pounder, and fired sixty rounds at her, twenty-six went through her. The gun
was mostly loaded with two balls. She was annoyed considerably by two
eighteen pounders from the shore. The confusion and distress that appeared on
board the ship exceeds all description. Without doubt she lost a great number
of men. She was towed off by four boats sent from the other ships to her
assistance. She slipt her cable, and left her anchor. Had the tide run flood
one hour longer, we should have sunk her. At the same time the fire from the
ships began, the enemy brought up their field pieces, and made a disposition
to attack the lines. But Col. Magaw had so happily disposed and arranged his
men, as to put them out of conceit of that manœuvre. A cannonade and fire
with small arms continued almost all day, with very little intermission. We
lost one man only. Several of the enemy were killed, two or three [of] our
people took and brought off the field, and several more were left there. The
firing ceased last evening, and has not been renewed this morning. The troops
(of our army) are in good spirits, and in every engagement, since the retreat
from New-York, has given the enemy a drubbing.
Published by order of
Congress, 31st of Oct. 1776.
CHARLES THOMSON,
Secretary.
The Pennsylvania Evening Post (Philadelphia,)
October 31, 1776.