The Virginia Gazette

Elizabeth Town (New Jersey) July 28.

This town was last night alarmed by a riot, committed by several of the officers of the 28th regiment (late from Montreal) the particulars of which are as follow, viz.

The officers being under arms to march with the troops quartered here, by 4 o'clock this morning, to join their regiment at Amboy, in order to embark for Europe, between 12 and 1 o'clock at night they assembled in a body, and marched through several parts of the town, with drums and fifes. As the inhabitants had used them so very ungenteel as to make them pay their debts, which they had generally been obliged to do according to law, the officers seemed determined upon revenge. They first broke a window in the meeting-house, afterwards attacked the court-house and gaol, by breaking the windows and endeavouring to break open the doors, swearing vengeance against the gaoler, who was under sheriff and constable, and had frequently been obliged to do his duty upon them. As they attacked the house in this manner, the gaoler got up and desired them to desist, which they refused; he then, to deter them, pointed out of the window a fusee loaded with small shot, the end of which was seized, and endeavoured to be wrested from him; upon which he fired among them, and wounded one of the rioters in both legs, as afterwards appeared. The gaoler then released the prisoners for his assistance, and rung the bell; the officers then marched off but soon returned with a body of soldiers, some with bayonets fixed. The inhabitants, by this time alarmed, began to assemble. The gaoler finding some assistance had come, opened the doors for their reception, when the officers and some of their soldiers entered with them, and a fray ensued, but happily no lives were lost. The inhabitants continuing to collect, the officers thought fit to abscond; and it being by this near the time of their departing, they joined their companies, which began their march a little after 4. Some of the magistrates however assembled before they left the town, and demanded the assistance of the commanding officer, Captain Johnson, then present, at the head of his men, but were refused. The Colonel, Sir John St. Clair, happily being at Amboy, the magistrates then proceeded thither, leaving the soldiers and their officers on their march behind them. The magistrates, in expectation of their arriving soon after at Amboy, applied to the Chief Justice for his warrant to apprehend the rioters; but were surprised to hear that they had deserted their men upon the road, and had, in a private manner, conveyed themselves on board one of the transports. Upon which the Chief Justice then applied to the commanding officer at Amboy, who immediately ordered them on shore; and being brought before the Chief Justice, and the magistrates of this town, it was thought proper, as they were then bound home, to accept of their humble submission and acknowledgment, satisfying the persons particularly injured, with submission, which was made in a publick humble manner. The said rioters, after paying the damages at 25 l. and asking pardon of the gaol keeper, were again set at liberty.