The New Hampshire Gazette

SALEM, Sept. 10.

Captain Henderson, in the schooner Polly, arrived since our last from Nantes, in 50 days--he informs us, That he left that city the 13th July, and that for 15 days previous to his departure it was besieged by an army of between 60 and 80,000 Royalists or Insurgents--that the city was defended by 50,000 National troops, who are aided by the inhabitants, that the General, after visiting the different posts, and guarding securely the city, made a sally upon the enemy with 30,000 chosen troops, at 10 in the morning on the 20th June-he met a warm reception from them, and the contest continued the whole day--at dark, the National troops returned, leaving the Insurgents, who in the night retreated to their fortifications, about nine miles from Nantes. The day Captain Henderson sailed, the General marched from the city with 35,000 troops, in order to attack the Insurgents in their encampment-he was to be joined with an army of 100,000 men from Paris, with a fine field of Artillery-and it was generally believed at Nantes, that the two armies would utterly destroy that of the Rebels.--The people in the city had been much alarmed for their fate during the siege, but had recovered their spirits at the defeat of the Royalists, and were under no apprehensions of a second attack. It was impossible to ascertain the number killed--upwards of One Hundred Thousand Men were fighting nearly 10 hours, and the firing was incessant-it was supposed there were nearly 20,000 killed and wounded on both sides. The General would not give a statement of the killed and wounded of the Patriots-the latter must have been considerable, as the trumpeters went through the city, requesting the use of the spare beds of the inhabitants for the wounded soldiers, which was immediately complied with. The Insurgents were poorly armed, many of them having nothing but long wooden pikes, but they have been infatuated to such a degree by the obstinate Priests, their leaders, that they evinced great valour marching up to the mouths of the Patriot's field-pieces. Many of the prisoners who were brought in, declared their wish to have died in battle on that day, St. Peter's, as the Priests told them that saint would deliver up to the slain the keys of heaven, and permit them to march therein! A volunteer Artillery Officer, who frequently dined with Captain Henderson, informed him that in pursuing the retreating Insurgents for 3 miles, they were obliged to drag their field-pieces over the dead bodies of the enemy. We regret Captain Henderson's not bringing any French newspapers-he had procured some of the latest, but in haste on his departure left them at his lodgings.