The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

RICHMOND, (Virginia) December 28.

Extract of a letter from Gen. Clarke, dated Lincoln, November 27, 1782.

"We left the Ohio the 4th instant, with 300 men, surprised the principal Shawanese town on the evening of the 10th. and immediately detached strong parties to different quarters; in a few hours afterwards two thirds of their towns were laid in ashes, and every thing they were possessed of destroyed, except such articles as were most useful to the troops. the enemy not having time to secrete any part of their property. The British trading post at the head of the Miami and Carrying Place to the waters of the lakes, shared the same fate by a party of 150 horse commanded by Col. Logan, and property to a great amount was also destroyed: the quantity of provisions burnt far surpassed any idea we had before of their stores. The loss of the enemy was ten scalps, seven prisoners, and two whites re-taken; ours, one killed and one wounded. After lying part of our days in their towns, and finding all attempts to bring them to a general action fruitless, we retired, as the season was far advanced & the weather threatening. I could not learn by the prisoners that they had the least idea of General Irvine's design of penetrating into their country. Should he have given them another blow at Sandusky, it will more than double the advantages already gained. We might probably have got many more scalps and prisoners, could we have known in time whether or not we were discovered, which we took for granted until getting within three miles, when some circumstances occurred that gave us reason to think otherwise though uncertain. Colonel Floyd, with 20 men, was ordered to advance and bring on an action or attack the town, Major Walls with a party of horse being previously detached by a different route as a party of observation: although colonel Floyd's motion was so quick as to get to the town but a few minutes later than those who discovered his approach, the inhabitants had sufficient notice to make their escape to the woods by the alarm cry being given and which was repeated by all that heard it: of course our party only fell in with the rear of the enemy.

I must beg leave to recommend the militia of Kentucky, whose behaviour on this occasion do them honor particularly their desire of saving prisoners."