The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG, September 19.

Postscript of a letter from a Gentleman in Maryland to his friend in this city, dated Saturday, Sept. 13, 1777.

O post from the northward.—I apprehend he hath been taken by Howe, who is marched by the head of Brandywine for Philadelphia, and is coated by General Washington, who is at Shad's Ford, upon Brandywine, between Howe and Philadelphia; the lines are manned, and every man to his post. An engagement every moment expected on Wednesday last. Putnam, with 8000 men, is ordered to join General Washington, and expected to join him as to night.

To the immortal honour of the militia on the Eastern Shore but one man refused to take the oath of allegiance to the State, though the fleet was on their coasts, and every artifice had been used by the Tories to intimidate them from taking it; the man who refused to take it was allowed a day to consider of it, when again refusing it, the militia pulled his house down. It is high time the Tories should awake from their dreams of conquest, and of lording it in America. Surely they are infatuated to believe, that if America is conquered they would be permitted to enjoy the triumph; no, they may be assured that it is the determined resolution of thousands not to suffer one of those wretches to see one single State in that humiliating condition. They have too long abused the lenity and generosity of our virtuous legislatures; the people at large, and the army, to a man, are resolved to shew them no mercy if we are conquered, and are also determined, in case of a general invasion, to put it out of their power to join the enemy. It is to be hoped, therefore, that for the future they will dread an invasion as much as they have hitherto wished for one.