The Virginia Gazette

FISH-KILL, August 14.

Last Friday a few of the enemy's vessels appeared standing up the North River; and the next morning about 20 sail, great and small, with a number of flat bottomed boats came up as far as Tarry Town, where they landed some of their men, with a view, no doubt, to draw our forces from Peek's-Kill that way; the next morning they re-shipped them, and, with a fresh southerly breeze, proceeded up the river, till nearly opposite Peek's-Kill, where they again landed a few of their troops, but their main body they landed on the opposite shore; and on Monday those at Peek's-Kill crossed likewise. The enemy then, to the amount of about 4000 men, marched towards forts Montgomery and Clinton, which were garrisoned by about 600 men, and between the hours of one and two, P. M. attacked them. Our fire, which was very hot, put them into confusion several times; but about the dusk of the evening, through the superiority of their numbers, they got our breastworks, and possessed themselves of the forts. Many of the garrison, taking the advantage of the night, made their escape, even after the enemy had been some time master of the posts. It is said the enemy refused to give quarter, and continued firing on our people after they had scaled the ramparts, but being favoured by the night, our men received little damage from their fire. Our men fought with surprising bravery, made a gallant defence, and nothing was wanting but more men. His Excellency General Clinton narrowly made his escape, as did the General his brother, who is wounded. Colonels Dubois and Lamb, and several other officers got safe off. The enemy knowing but too well our weakness, and the tardy march of our militia, availed themselves of these advantages by a most sudden attack; for had the forts been able to hold out but two or three hours longer, they had been supplied with a reinforcement fully sufficient to defend them. Their loss at these forts was very considerable; the British General Campbell was killed in the assault, and we were under the disagreeable necessity of destroying fort Constitution, after removing part of the stores, and of burning the frigates Congress and Montgomery, to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands, the wind and tide being unfavourable to their moving farther up the river.

The enemy sent in a flag to demand the fort, which the Governor refused in the most peremptory terms; at the same time they were most dishonourably surrounding it.