The Virginia Gazette

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 5.

Extract of a letter from an officer in the expedition on Long Island, dated at Jericho, January 26, 1776.

"We set out from Woodbridge, on Wednesday the 17th inst. with about 600 militia, and were joined at New York with a detachment from Lord Stirling's battalion, consisting of near 300; and on Friday morning we crossed with all our troops at Horn's Hook, near Hell Gate, and met with no opposition; proceeded on our way to Jamaica, took in custody some of the principal persons proscribed, sent out parties and brought in many of those who voted against sending Delegates, disarmed them, and required them to sign an obligation we had drawn up, in which we enjoin them not to oppose either the Continental or Provincial Congresses, but to be subject to them, and not to aid or assist the ministerial troops in the present contest. From Jamaica we went to Hempstead town, where we expected the warmest opposition, but were disappointed, or the inhabitants came and brought in their arms voluntarily for two days as fast as we could conveniently receive them. We have got about 300 stand of arms, and a considerable quantity of powder and lead. We are now on our way to Oyster bay, and shall scour the country as we go, and shall exert ourselves to discharge the trust enjoined on us. Col. Heard sent the detachment home last Tuesday, as he thought the militia sufficient. He is indefatigable in discharging his duty, treats the inhabitants with civility and the utmost humanity, and even the delinquents express themselves well pleased, that a detachment of Jersey-men (and not of New England) were sent to disarm them. Many of those who are proscribed as principals, have either fled or secured themselves; several we have in custody. Some others I believe are yet to be had, but by some means or other they have had a list of the persons pointed out as principals, before our arrival; we are making inquiry how they got their intelligence, but are not yet informed. Those that have come in, and surrendered their arms, are much irritated with those who have led them to make opposition, and have deserted them in the day of difficulty. I conceive they will be as safe, if not safer, in our custody, than at present among their neighbours, of which some of them seem very apprehensive, and complain that they have met with insults already."