The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

FISHKILL, November 22.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman near the lines.

I have the pleasure to forward the account of an instance of partisan bravery on the coast, which, though it may have its equal, is seldom exceeded.

On the morning of the 15th inst. a party consisting of about twenty Continental troops, under the command of Lieut. De Forest, of the Connecticut line, and fifteen volunteers under Capt. Lockwood, late of the Continental army, with Lieut's Hull and Mead, went on board a small unarmed vessel which lay in Oyster Bay, and made chase after a fleet which appeared off, between them and Long Island. They came up with a privateer well equipped, mounting ten carriage guns, secured by a strong netting, twelve feet in height above her gunwale, with twenty five regular troops on board, of the regiment of Anspach, armed with spears for their defence. On seeing her strength and equipment, they found there was no other way to reduce her but by close action; they accordingly threw their little vessel alongside of her, and commenced the attack, and with that determined bravery which knows no repulse, in the space of a few minutes, with their knives and bayonets, made themselves a passage through her netting, and properly vindicated their superiority. Unfortunately Lieut. Mead, (who like the true soldier was amongst the foremost on board) received a wound which it is feared is mortal: several others of the party, the Captain of the privateer and four of the crew, were also wounded.

In the time of the attack, some boats who were also of the party, under Capt. Jones and Mr. Manchie, took six of the convoy, two of which were ransomed: the rest, with the privateer, are arrived in Stanford harbour.

Though this is an instance of the petite guerre, yet the difficulty of the object, compared with the situation of the assailants, does no less honour to the individuals in point of reputation as soldiers: and shews that they have the same spirit of military ardor & enterprise, which has crowned us with the successes and expectations of the present day.