The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

NORWICH, October 23.

The following is an Extract of a Journal kept by Mr. Daniel Safford, who left St. John's on the 7th Instant.

Sept. 28. Intelligence is received that Colonel Allen, with about 80 men had engaged a body of 200 of the enemy, about two miles from Montreal, that Col. Allen was either killed or taken prisoner, together with 20 of his men.

Sept. 29. The enemy fired a few shot this morning, and about 9 o'clock at night a smart fire began on both sides, which continued till ten.

Oct. 1st, 2d, and 3d. The enemy fired a few shot.

Oct. 4. A party of the French, who act in concert with our army began an entrenchment on the east side of the Lake, which the enemy perceiving, sent an armed sloop with troops on board to drive them off; but the French gave them so warm a reception, that they were obliged to make a precipitate retreat back to St. John's, with the loss of about 20 men—the French had one man slightly wounded.

Oct. 5. No material occurrence.

Oct. 6. In the night we threw 6 bomb shells into St. John's, and had 31 in return, without doing any damage.

Oct. 7. The enemy were playing their cannon on our troops this morning, when I came away.

Mr. Safford informs, that it is generally believed Col. Allen is alive.—That the account of the armed schooner being taken, is without foundation—That St. John is surrounded, and must soon surrender, as it is thought, their stock of provisions in nearly exhausted, and that the Canadians are much in our favour.

HARTFORD, Octo. 23.

Extract of a Letter from an Officer at St. John's, dated Octo. 23.

On the 18th of September we left the Isle aux Noix, in order to lay siege to St. John's: we had before sent a party of 100 to Chamblee, who hearing that some regulars were transporting provisions to St. John's, attacked them, took 2 prisoners, and a considerable prize, and then began to fortify about a mile distant from St. John's, in order to cut off communications, expecting soon some reinforcement from our army. But, being discovered by the enemy at St. John's, a party of 200 regulars sallied out with field pieces, and our men being but half their number, and poorly fortified, were obliged to retreat to the woods. In this action Capt. John Watson, in Col. Hinman's regiment, was badly wounded, but is likely to recover. We were then on our march thro' the woods for their relief, but too late! when we came to the place where the battle was fought, we found the enemy in possession of our breast work. They gave us a very heavy fire, and then retreated back to the fort. Col. Allen with a party hath since had a battle near Montreal, &c. is taken a prisoner with 14 more. We have shut up St. John's, and expect soon to be in possession of that place. We are constantly playing on them with our cannon and bombs... The Canadians are chiefly on our side.—The Indians are for us.

Our intelligence from St. John's is as late as the 10th instant, when our army were bombarding that place, and it was expected the enemy would soon surrender.