The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

NEW-LONDON, Sept. 10.

About day break on Thursday Morning last, 29 sail of the enemy's shipping appeared to the westward of this harbour, which by many were supposed to be a plundering party, after stock: alarm cannon were immediately fired, but the discharging of cannon in the harbour, has become so frequent of late, that they answered little or no purpose. The defenceless state of the fortifications and of the town, are obvious to our readers: A few of the inhabitants who were equipped, advanced towards the place where the enemy were thought likely to make their landing and maneuvered on the heights adjacent, until the enemy, at 9 o'clock, landed in two divisions; one of them at Brown's Farm, near the light house, consisting of about 500 men, the other at Groton Point, of about 500 men: the division that landed near the light house marched up the road keeping out large flanking parties, who were attacked in different places on their march by the inhabitants, who had spirit and resolution to oppose their progress; the main body of the enemy proceeded to the town, and set fire to the stores on the beach, and immediately after the dwelling houses lying on the mill cove. The scattered fire of Our little parties, unsupported by our neighbours more distant galled them so, that they soon began to retire, setting fire to stores and dwelling houses promiscuously in their way: the fire from the stores communicated to the shipping that lay at the wharves, and a number were burnt; others that swung at single fast, and remained unhurt, At three o'clock they began to quit the town with great precipitation, and were pursued by our brave citizens with the spirit of veterans, & drove them on board their boats. Five of the enemy were killed, and about 20 wounded; among the latter is a Hessian captain who is a prisoner, as are 7 others. We lost 4 killed, and 10 or twelve wounded. none mortal. The most valuable part of the town is reduced to ashes, and all the stores. Fort Trumbull, not being tenable, was evacuated as the enemy approached. and the few men in it crossed the river to fort Griswold, on Groton Hill, which was soon after invested by the division that landed at the point; the fort having in it only about 157 men, chiefly militia hastily collected. defended it with the greatest resolution and bravery, and once repulsed the enemy; but the fort being out of repair could not be defended by such a handful of men, tho' brave and determined, against so superior a number; they did all that men of spirit and bravery, in such a situation, could do; but after having a number of their party killed and wounded, they found that further resistance would be in vain they resigned the fort: Immediately on their surrender, the valiant Col: Ledyard, whose fate in a particular manner is much lamented, and 74 other officers and men, were murdered, most of whom were heads of families. The enemy lost a Maj. Montgomery, and 52 officers and men in the attack, who were found buried near the fort; their wounded were carried off. Soon after the enemy got possession of the fort, they set fire to and burnt a number of dwelling-houses and stores on Groton Bank. and embarked about sun set, taking with them sundry of the inhabitants of New London and Groton. A Colonel Ayers, who commanded the division at Groton, was wounded. and it is said died on board the fleet, the night they embarked. About 15 sail of vessels with effects of the inhabitants, retreated up the river on the approach of the enemy and were saved, and four others remained in the harbour unhurt. The troops were commanded by that infamous traitor to his country. Benedict Arnold, who headed the division which marched to this town. By this calamity it is judged that more than one hundred families are deprived of their habitations, and most of them of their all. This neighbourhood feel sensibly the loss of many deserving citizens, and though deceased cannot but be highly indebted to them for their spirit and bravery in their exertions & manly opposition to the merciless enemies of our country in their last moments. Sixty dwelling houses and 84 stores were burnt. The following names are all we have been able to collect of those we had killed and wounded in the above actions.

KILLED.

Col. Wm. Ledyard --Captains, Amos Stanton, Simeon Allen. S. Allen. Peter Richards. Elisha Avery, John Williams - Lieutenants Richard Chapman. Henry Williams, Ebenezer Avery, James Cuntock. Lewis -- Ensign John Stedman s David Avery. Esq: Ezekiel Baily and two sons. Thomas Williams. Stonington; David Palmer. two sons of Capt. Phinehas Stanton, Stonington; -n-Fox, New London: Elnathan Perkins and three sons. Samuel Billings. John Billings, Preston; Henry Woodbridge. -- Woodbridge,- Nelson, New London: Nathaniel Beebe. ditto. (aged 75 years) Daniel Avery, Patrick Ward, Daniel Chester. Thomas Miner. Nicholas Starr, Thomas Starr. John Clark, John Holt, New London; Christopher Avery, Adam Allen. Bolton Allen, Rufus Hallet; two negroes, one named Shorum, the other's name we don't learn.

WOUNDED

Captains. Wm. Latham. Edward Latham. Solomon Perkins. Nathan Moore, since dead; Youngs Ledyard. do. Adam Shapley, Lieut. Charles Eldridge. junr. Wm: Seymour, Jonathan Ledyard. David Seabury. since dead: Elijah Richards. New London: Wm. Starr. John Starr. James Bailey, Peter Lester, Cary Leeds. Ziba Woodworth, Norwich; Azel Woodworth, ditto.