The Virginia Gazette

A Gentleman arrived in town last week from New Jersey informs us, that General Sullivan, with 1500 men, under Generals Smallwood and Borie, went from Morristown last Thursday se'nnight at noon, crossed at Elizabeth town point, and was on Staten Island at day-break the next morning.

One party went towards New York till they got in sight of it, the other went towards Amboy. In their course killed many of the new levies, and took Colonels Allen, Barton, and Dongan, 2 Majors, 4 Captains, 6 Lieutenants, 2 surgeons mates, and 203 privates, with which they crossed to Amboy about two o'clock. About three o'clock the rear guard of our army, consisting of 126 men, was attacked, and twice repulsed the assailants, who suffered much in killed; but our party having expended all their ammunition, were obliged to surrender; among which are Col. Antill, Major John Stewart, of Maryland, a Major of Col. Hazen's regiment, and two other Majors, with 6 or 7 other officers.

Four officers of ours are missing.
Extract of a letter from Hanover (East Jersey) dated Aug. 24.

"About 10 o'clock last night I returned to this place from an excursion upon Staten Island. Thursday, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the division marched from this place, and arrived at Elizabeth town at 10 in the evening; moved down to Halsted's point, where there were boats collected, and at day-break the division had completely crossed. Col. Ogden, with his own regiment, Col. Dayton's, and about 100 militia, crossed at the same time at the Old Blazing Star. General Sullivan moved with General Deborre's brigade, to attack Col. Barton's regiment that lay at the New Star. General Smallwood, with his brigade, moved in another column to the Dutch church, to attack Col. Buskirk's regiment; and Col. Ogden marched in another column to attack Allen's, Lawrence's, and Dungan's regiments, that lay about the Old Star. General Smallwood's guide, instead of bringing him in the rear of the regiment, led him in full front of them; they formed on the east side of the bridge, and the General was moving over in a solid column to attack them; but the enemy, unwilling to be shot at, retreated to their lines in the north east part of the island. Instead of Buskirk's, it was a British regiment which retreated so precipitately that the General took their stand of colours, burnt 7 small armed vessels, and a large barn full of forage. The General being ordered not to go any further than that place, joined General Sullivan at the New Star, who had in a little time settled the matter with Col. Barton's regiment, they being but few in number, and the greatest poltroons I ever saw. They made a show of fighting, but did not stand to receive our fire; we took about 30 of them, and their Colonel. Col. Ogden's party advancing with the utmost precipitation, drove the cowardly enemy before them, took Col. Lawrence, 3 Captains, 6 subalterns, one doctor, and 80 privates. General Sullivan marched the division to the Old Star, and got them all over except the rear guard, which the enemy advanced upon and took. The bravery of the little party commanded by Major Stewart would do honour to the first troops in the world; they were posted behind a hedge, and kept up such a blaze upon the enemy, that they were forced to retreat every time they advanced; the little party, consisting of not more than fifty men having bravely maintained their post and expended their ammunition, Major Stewart, whose gallant behaviour would do honour to the first of characters, told his party that he had too great a respect for their bravery to sacrifice them, that he would surrender himself, and give those, that could swim an opportunity to get off; they all pulled off their hats, and begged of him not to surrender; that some of them had two cartridges left, that they would fire them, and stand by him till they were cut to pieces; Stewart fixed a white handkerchief upon the point of his sword, and walked as cool as if he had been going to shake hands with a friend; many of the party got over the river. The action was grand, though horrid. I plainly saw the whole. We have lost three Majors, some Captains, subalterns, stragglers, and in all one hundred and twenty seven privates."