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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
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Report from Baltimore on Dec. 18 details atrocities by British and Hessian troops advancing through New Jersey, including murders, rapes, beatings, and widespread plundering that devastated settlements like Hopewell and Maidenhead, reducing families to poverty.
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THE progress of the British and Hessian troops through New Jersey has been attended with such scenes of desolation and outrage as would disgrace the most barbarous nations.
Among innumerable other instances, the following are authenticated in such a manner as leaves no doubt of their truth.
William Smith, of Smith's farm, near Woodbridge, hearing the cries of his daughter rushed into the room, and found a Hessian officer attempting to ravish her. In an agony of rage and resentment, he instantly killed him; but the officer's party soon came upon him, and he now lies mortally wounded at his ruined and plundered dwelling.
On Monday morning they entered the house of Samuel Stout, Esq; in Hopewell, where they destroyed his deeds, papers, furniture, and effects of every kind, except what they plundered. They took every horse away, left his house and farm in ruin, injuring him to the value of 2000l. in less than three hours.
Old Mr. Phillips, his neighbour, they pillaged in the same manner, and then cruelly beat him.
On Wednesday last three women came down to the Jersey shore in great distress, upon which a detachment of the American army went and brought them off, when it appeared that they had been all very much abused, and the youngest of them, a girl about fifteen, had been ravished that morning by a British officer.
A number of young women in Hopewell, to the amount of about sixteen, flying from this ravaging and cruel enemy, took refuge on the mountain near Ralph Hart's; but information being given of their retreat, they were soon brought down into the British camp, where they have been kept ever since.
The fine settlements of Maidenhead and Hopewell are entirely broke up. No age nor sex has been spared; the houses are stripped of every article of furniture, and what is not portable is entirely destroyed; the stocks of cattle and sheep are drove off, every article of clothing and house linen seized and carried away, scarce a soldier in the army but what has a horse loaded with plunder; hundreds of families are reduced, from comfort and affluence, to poverty and ruin, left, at this inclement season, to wander through the woods without house or clothing.
If these scenes of desolation, ruin, and distress, do not rouse and animate every man's spirit to revenge their much injured countrymen and countrywomen, all virtue, honour, and courage, must have left this country, and we deserve all that we shall meet with, as there can be no doubt the same scene will be acted in this province upon our own property, and our beloved wives and daughters.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New Jersey
Event Date
Recent, As Of Dec. 18 (Including Monday Morning And Wednesday Last)
Key Persons
Outcome
william smith mortally wounded; samuel stout's property damaged to value of 2000l.; mr. phillips beaten; three women abused, one 15-year-old girl ravished; sixteen young women captured and held; settlements of maidenhead and hopewell destroyed; hundreds of families reduced to poverty and ruin.
Event Details
British and Hessian troops advancing through New Jersey committed desolation and outrages, including attempts at ravishing, killings in defense, destruction of homes and property, plundering of livestock and goods, beatings, and capturing women; specific incidents at Smith's farm near Woodbridge, Stout's house in Hopewell, Phillips' home, Jersey shore, and mountain near Ralph Hart's.