The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

The following letter was last week omitted, for want of room.

BOSTON, Nov. 18.

Extract of a letter from Mile-Square, dated October 22, 1776.

"You no doubt heard the enemy landed all their army on Frog's Point, the 11th inst. (leaving only 1200 men in York) and there remained till the 18th, which was Friday. I arose early in the morning and went on the hill, with my glass, and discovered a number of ships in the Sound under way; in a very short time saw the boats, upwards of 200 sail, all manned and formed in four grand divisions. I immediately sent off Major Lee express to General Lee, who was about three miles distance, and without waiting his Orders, turned out the brigade I have the honor to command, and very lucky for us I did, as it turned out afterwards, the enemy having stole a march one and a half miles on us. I marched down to oppose their landing, with about seven hundred and fifty men, and three field-pieces, but had not gone more than half the distance before I met their advance guard, about thirty men: upon which I detached a Captain's guard of forty men, to meet them, while I could dispose of the main body to advantage. This plan succeeded very well, as you will hereafter see. The enemy had the advantage of us, being posted on an eminence which commanded the ground we had to march over; however, I did the best I could, and disposed of my little party to the best of my judgment. Col. Reed's on the left of the road -- Col. Shepherd's in the rear, and to the right of him; Col. Baldwin's in the rear and on the right of Shepherd's, my own regiment commanded by Capt. Courtis, (Col. Jobonnot being sick, and major Lee being brigade-major) bringing up the rear with the three field pieces of artillery: thus disposed of, I rode forward to the advance guard, and ordered them to advance, who did within fifty yards, and received their fire, without the loss of a man: we returned it, and fell four of them, and kept the ground till we exchanged five rounds; their body being much larger than mine, and having two men killed and several wounded, which weakened my party; the enemy pushing forward, not more than thirty yards distance: I ordered a retreat, which was masterly well done by the captain that commanded the party: the enemy gave a shout & advanced: Col. Reed's having under cover of a stone wall undiscovered till they came within thirty yards, then rose up and gave them the whole charge: the enemy broke and retreated for the main body to come up. In this situation we remained about an hour and a half, when they appeared about four thousand, with 7 pieces of artillery; they now advance, keeping up a constant fire with their artillery; we kept our post under cover of the stone wall before mentioned, till they came within fifty yards of us, rose up and gave them the whole charge of the battalion; they halted and returned the fire with showers of musquetry and cannon balls; we exchanged 7 rounds at this post, retreated and formed in the rear of Col. Shepherd, and on his left: they then shouted and pushed on till they came on Shepherd, posted behind a fine double stone wall: he rose up and fired by grand divisions, by which he kept up a constant fire, and maintained his post till he exchanged seventeen rounds with them, and caused them to retreat several times, once in particular, so that a soldier of Col. Shepherd's leaped over the wall, and took a hat and canteen, off of a Captain that lay dead on the ground they retreated from. However, their body being so much larger than ours, we were for the preservation of the men forced to retreat, and formed in the rear of Baldwin's regiment; they then came up to Baldwin's, but the ground being much in their favour, and their heavy train of artillery, we could do but little before we retreated to the bottom of the hill, and had to pass through a run of water, the bridge I had taken up before, and then marched up a hill the opposite side of the creek, where I left my artillery, the ground being rough & much broken. I was afraid to risk it over; the enemy halted and played away their artillery at us, and we at them till night, without any damage on our side, and but very little on theirs: at dark we came off and marched about three miles, leading to Dobb's Ferry; after fighting all day without victuals or drink, lay as a picquet all night, the heavens over us, and the earth under us, which was all we had; having left our baggage at the old encampment we left in the morning; the next morning marched over to Mile-Square, I had 8 men killed and 13 wounded, among which was Col. Shepherd, a brave officer. Sunday General Lee sent for and informed me there was 200 barrels of pork and flour at East Chester, if the enemy had not taken it: would be glad I would think of some way to bring it off. I sent out and pressed 15 waggons, and at night turned out the whole brigade, and went down so nigh the enemy: we heard their music and talk very plain, and brought off the whole. On Wednesday sent out a scouting party, principally from my own regiment, who met with a party of Hessians and attacked them, killed 12 and took three prisoners, one of the slain was an officer of rank on horseback, the horse was taken and brought off: we had one man mortally wounded of Col. Baldwin's regiment. Sunday the enemy struck their tents, and were on a march in two columns, one to the right, and the other to the left, towards the north river: General Lee immediately gave orders for his division, which consisted of 8000 men, to march for North-Castle to take the ground to the Eastward, and North of them, about 14 miles distance. We had not marched more than 3 miles, before we saw the right column advancing in a cross road to cut us off, not more than three quarters of a mile distance, this being our situation, 8000 men on the road with their baggage, artillery, and 150 waggons filled the road for four miles; we then turned off, and marched by Dobb's Ferry road and got into White Plains about 10 o'clock monday morning, after being out all night; we left Gen. McDougal's brigade posted on a height between the enemy and us, to cover our march; about 12 o'clock they attacked him with a heavy column supported with 12 pieces of artillery, who pressed him so hard was obliged to retreat, having 20 men killed and about 40 wounded, and wholly from their artillery. I am posted on a mountain commanding the roads to Albany and New-England; the enemy on one opposite, about one mile distance; we expect an attack every moment. I don't care how soon, as I am very certain with the blessing of God we shall give them a drubbing -- where you will hear from me next is very uncertain."