The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON, October 18.

Last Friday Evening the Province Ship King George, Capt. Hallowell, arrived here from Newfoundland, with the agreeable News of the Retaking of St. John's By Col. AMHERST, on the 18th of September last.

An Account of the Expedition against St. John's in Newfoundland, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM AMHERST.

Colonel Amherst sail'd from New York with two Companies of Light Infantry, formed from recovered Men of the different Corps that had been sent to New York from the Army in the West Indies: having Transports with him for the Troops he was to take with him from Halifax and Louisbourg, with great Plenty of Stores, and a fine Train of Artillery.

Arrived at Halifax, and having embark'd the Light Infantry and Grenadiers of the Royals, with three Companies of Montgomery's Highlanders, and 200 Provincials, he immediately proceeded to Louisbourg.

Sept. 24th. Arrived at Louisbourg.

26th. In the Morning five complete Companies of the 45th Regiment embarked.

27th. The whole Fleet sailed out of Louisbourg Harbour.

28th. Lord Colvill with his Squadron being cruising before St. John's he received an Account from Col. Amherst of his being at Halifax with a Body of Troops, and was to proceed to Louisbourg, and there take on board a Detachment of the 45th Regiment, and proceed to invest St. John's: on which Intelligence Lord Colvill immediately stationed himself about 4 Leagues to the Westward of the Harbour, and procured all the Shallops possible to be had, and put them under the care of the several Ships of his Squadron, in order to be ready to land the Troops on their arrival.

Sept. 28th. A Cartel came out of St. Johns for Halifax, who informed, that the Ships land Garrison were determined to remain and oppose any Attempt that should be made for the Reduction of that Place.

29. Lord Colvill received Intelligence that Mons. Tourney with his Squadron was determined to come out next Day, having on board the greatest Part of the Garrison; upon which his Lordship with his Squadron proceeded before the Harbour.

11th. About 7 o'Clock discovered 11 Sail in the S. W: which his Lordship steer'd for, and about 12 came up with the Ships, in which was Col. Amherst and the Troops; the Night being almost calm, made but little Way towards Torbay.

12th. Came to Anchor in Torbay.

12th. In the Morning the Army consisting of 800 Regulars and 200 Massachusetts Provincials, made their Landing good, having little Opposition, and only three Men wounded: the Landing was covered by Capt. Douglas, who commanded his Majesty's Ship Syren. No sooner was the Army Landed, than Col. Amherst began his March for Kitty Vitty, about 9 Miles from Torbay. Post absolutely necessary for the Army to take Possession of, for landing the Provisions, Artillery, Stores, &c. The Army was a good deal harassed in their March by different Parties of the Enemy, and the badness of the Roads made the March very fatiguing. On the Army's arriving near Kitty Vitty, they found the Enemy amounting to about 300 Men in Possession of this Post, and all the commanding Grounds: 'Tis naturally extremely strong, being surrounded with high craggy Mountains covered with Rocks, which make it extremely difficult to Approach: yet it was resolved immediately to dislodge them, and the light Troops having received their orders for that purpose began the Attack with their usual Bravery, and in less than half an Hour drove the Enemy from all their Posts, [Here Capt. M' Kenzie was wounded.] Part of the Army took Possession and Secured the Entrance by Water to Kitty Vitty. The Army layed here all Night, & lay on their Arms.

Sept. 14, About 20 Shallops with Artillery, Stores, Provisions, &c. sailed from Torbay, and arrived safe noon. The Army having received two Days Provisions, and such Artillery and Ammunition as were immediately wanted, being landed; it was resolved to attack the Enemy as soon as possible, who still remained in Possession of the Ridge of Mountains, that runs from Kitty Vitty to the Mouth of the Harbour of St. John's, and hangs over and commands the Fort. The Ships of St. John's covering the Landing of the Shallops.

15th, Half an Hour before Day Break the Troops attacked the Enemy and drove them from the Ridge of Mountains, killed several of them, and took some Prisoners, among which was a Captain of Grenadiers who was very much wounded....Captain Mc Donald that commanded a Company of Light Infantry, and Capt. Bailey of the Royals, were both wounded, and Lieut. Schuyler killed:....Most of this Night and Day it rained very hard, and a high Wind from the E.S.E. which drove the Men of War off to Sea: At 6 o'Clock in the Evening the Wind shifted to the Westward, but still continued foggy, under which Cover the French Ships made their Escape out of the Harbour, cutting their Cables, and leaving Count D'Hous De Ville, and all the Royal Marines, consisting of 5 Companies Of Grenadiers: And that notwithstanding there was a Party of 200 Men posted at the Entrance of the Harbour, the Ships got out undiscovered.

16th. The Army marched from Kitty Vitty in the Afternoon, to within a Mile of the Garrison.

17th. Early this Morning a Detachment with a working Party Was sent to a convenient Hill near the Fort to throw up an Entrenchment, and make a Bomb Battery; about the Evening it was finished; and at half an Hour after Seven o'Clock the Eight inch Mortar and about Eleven Cohorns began to Play on the Town, and continued till Seven o'Clock in the Morning.

18th. in the Morning an Officer with two Drums came out of the Fort, - beating the Chamade, and about Noon the Garrison surrendered themselves Prisoners of War....Le Compte de Hous Ville, and the other Officers and Men amounted to upwards of 700, among which were five Companies of Grenadiers

19th. Lord Colvill, with Part of his Squadron, went into St. John's.

20th. The rest of the Ships with all the Transports got in, with three Ships of the Line and one Frigate, who arrived the Night before from England, after a Passage of 6 Weeks and 3 Days, but knew nothing of the French Ships.

21st. Ships Wooding and watering, and Transports getting ready to receive the French Garrison, and about 60 more which were taken Prisoners during the Siege.

22d. Duty going on as before.

23d. His Majesty's Ship Syren Sailed Express for England, after being detained two Days by contrary Winds. This Day all the French Prisoners embark'd and would have sail'd, but being little Wind could not get out.

24th. The Transports sailed.

25th. His Majesty's Ship Gulph sailed for New York, having all the Sick and Wounded, and 113 of the Troops from that Place, with a Transport, having the Remainder. In the Evening his Majesty's Ship Enterprise arrived from the Havannah.

26th. The King George sailed, with a Transport, both of which having the Detachment of the 45th Regiment for Louisbourg; and by the 28th all the Troops of the several Corps were to embark for the different Stations, except 300 Regulars left to garrison St. John's. This Day Capt. McKenzie died of his wounds.

October 2d. The King George arrived at Louisbourg, landed the Troops, and took on board 200 Provincials and landed them at Halifax the 10th.

The killed, wounded and Missing of the Enemy was upwards of 100. That on our side was about 20 killed, and 25 wounded.

The following Men of War arrived at St. John's from England, on the 20th of September, two Days after the Place surrendered, having been out 6 Weeks and 3 Days, viz.

The Enterprise arrived from the Havannah the 26th of September.

We hear that the articles of capitulation were but three, and those very hard; that the Garrison surrendered prisoners of war, to be sent to France, and were to be transported by the 18th Inst. tho 'tis thought they are near home by this time

We hear that our Provincial troops which went in the above expedition, behaved with the greatest spirit and resolution particularly Capt. Barrons of Lincoln, in this province, who with his company assisted the Light Infantry in dislodging the Enemy from their strong post at Kitty Vitty, and who with his Men climb'd up rocks and precipices, before thought inaccessible, and from which the Enemy did not expect an assault could be made, and put them into such surprise and confusion, that they were soon drove from a 6 gun battery they had advantageously erected there, and defended by 300 Grenadiers of France, was entirely put to a rout with considerable Loss in killed and wounded. Our whole number in this attack amounted to but 870 Regulars and Provincials, of which we lost only 4 or 5: This gallant behaviour of Capt. Barrons and his party, 'tis said, merited the particular notice of Col. Amherst, and has done great Honour to themselves and country

Men of War.	Guns.	Commanders
Shrewsbury	74	Capt. Pellew
Bedford	74	Capt. Martin
Superb	74	Capt. Rowley
Minerva	32	Capt. Patton