Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Latest from Holland.

The ship Rising Sun, Captain Thompson, arrived at this port last evening from Cork, in 52 days. Through the politeness of the Captain, who favored the Editor with a Dublin paper of the 19th of October, (containing London dates to the 15th) the Mercantile Advertiser will, this morning, publish later intelligence from the armies in Holland, than has yet been received in America. Besides the following letters—and the London paragraphs which succeed them, we have a long letter from the Duke of York dated at Alkmaar the 6th of October, containing a minute detail of the action of the 2d—the publication of which is necessarily postponed until to-morrow, from the pressure of other foreign matter which had been previously prepared.

"Head quarters, Alkmaar Oct. 7.

"SIR,

"THE enemy, after the action of the 2d, having taken up the position between Beverwyck and Wyck-op-Zee, I determined to endeavor to force him thence before he had an opportunity of strengthening by works, the short and very defensible line which he occupied, and to oblige him still further to retire before he could be joined by the reinforcements, which I had information, were upon the march.

Preparatory, therefore, to a general forward movement, I ordered the advanced posts which the army took up on the 3d instant, in front of this place, of Egmont-op-Hoof and Egmont-op-Zee, to be pushed forward, which operation took place yesterday morning. At first little opposition was shewn, and we succeeded in taking possession of the villages of Schermerhorn, Aker Sloot, Limmen, Buccum, and of a position on the sand hills near Wick-op-Zee: The column of Russian troops under the command of Major General D'Essen, in endeavoring to gain a height in front of their intended advanced post at Buccum, (which was material to the security of that point) was vigorously opposed, and afterwards attacked by a strong body of the enemy, which obliged Gen. Sir R. Abercromby to move up in support with the reserve of his corps

and

The enemy on their part advanced their whole force; the action became general along the whole line from Limmen to the sea, and was maintained with great obstinacy on both sides until night, when the enemy retired, leaving us masters of the field of battle. The conflict has, I am concerned to state, been as severe, and has been attended with as serious a loss (in proportion to the numbers engaged) as any of those which have been fought by the brave troops composing this army since their arrival in Holland. The gallantry they displayed, and the perseverance with which they supported the fatigues of this day, rival their former exertions.

The corps engaged were,

Major gen. D'Oyley's brigade of guards.

Major gen. Burrard's ditto.

Major gen. earl of Chatham's brigade.

Major gen. Coote's ditto.

Major gen. the earl of Cavan's brigade, commanded by major general Hutchinson.

The reserve under the command of Col. M'Donald.

Part of the 7th and 11th light dragoons,

And seven battalions of Russians.

To general Sir Ralph Abercromby, and the other general officers in command of the brigades before mentioned, as also to col. M'Donald, my warmest acknowledgments are due, for their spirited and judicious exertions during this affair; nor ought I to omit the praise due to colonel Clephane, commanding four companies of the 3d, and one of the Coldstream regiments of guards, who, by a spirited charge, drove two battalions of the enemy from the post of Acher Sloot, making 200 prisoners. I have sincerely to regret, that in the course of the action major general Hutchinson received a musket shot wound in the thigh, which, however, is not serious.

I have not yet received any reports of the killed and wounded, but I am apprehensive that the number of British is not less than 500, and that the loss of the Russian troops as far as I can understand, amounts to 1200 men. I shall, as early as circumstances possibly admit, transmit particular returns.

The loss of the enemy upon this occasion has been very great; and, in addition to their killed and wounded, 500 prisoners fell into our hands.

I am, &c.

FREDERICK.

Rt. hon. Henry Dundas, &c. &c.

Headquarters, Sthagen Brug,

October 9, '99.

SIR,

I have already acquainted you with the result of the action of the 6th inst. which terminated successfully to the allied arms, and at the same time pointed out the necessity of the movement which produced this affair.

From the prisoners taken upon the 6th inst. I learnt the certainty of the enemy having been reinforced since the action of the 2d by two demi-brigades, amounting to about 6000 infantry, and of their having strengthened the position of Beverwyck and fortified it strongly in the rear of it, points which it would be still necessary to carry before Harlem could be attacked.

It ought also to be stated, that the enemy had retired a large force upon Purmerend, in