The Virginia Gazette

NEWPORT, December 11. About one o'clock yesterday morning, the bomb-brig, a schooner, and 2 or 3 armed sloops, left this harbour, went to Conanicut, and landed upwards of 200 marines, sailors, and Negroes, at the East ferry, marched in three divisions immediately over to the West ferry, and set the several houses on fire which were near the ferry place, then retreated back, setting fire to almost every house on each side the road, from the West to the East ferry, and several houses and barns some distance on the N. and S. side of the road, driving out the women and children, swearing they should be burnt in the house if they did not instantly turn out. Widow Hull lost one house, Joseph Clarke, Esq; two houses and one barn, Thomas Fowler one house, barn and crib full of corn, Benjamin Ellery, two houses, store, and barn, Benjamin Remington, two houses, John Gardner, Esq; one house and tanyard, Thomas Hutchinson, one house, Widow Franklin, two, Abe Franklin, one, Benedict Robinson, one. All the above houses were plundered of beds, wearing apparel, and such household furniture as could be conveniently carried off, the rest were consumed. Some women, we are told, were stripped of some of their best clothes they had on. It is said Capt. Wallace commanded on this HUMAN expedition. A company of minute-men had left Conanicut the afternoon before, so that there were but about 40 or 50 soldiers on the island, most of whom had been enlisted but a few days, and arrived there but the evening before, in miserable condition for so sudden an attack; but notwithstanding, it is said, there is certainly one officer of marines killed, and 7 or 8 badly wounded. There was not one provincial either killed or wounded, except Mr. John Martin, who was shot in his belly standing unarmed in his door. The above vessels brought off 30 head of oxen and cows, a few sheep and hogs, most of which they killed before they took them on board. They left Conanicut yesterday, and came to this harbour again about noon. The above houses were not all occupied by the owners, but each had at least one family in it, and some had two. We expect to give more particulars of this matter next week.