The Virginia Gazette

BALTIMORE, January 14.

Extract of a letter from a general officer in the continental service, dated at Trenton, January 9.

A regiment of British troops at Spankton, six miles below Elizabeth town, was attacked on Sunday by a party of Jersey militia; the encounter continued about two hours. Two regiments marched up from Woodbridge and Amboy to reinforce the enemy, which I suppose has saved them. The remains of the 17th, 40th, and 55th regiments, which had been engaged at Princeton, and now amount only to 250 men, are at Bonamton.

Lord Howe lies ill, and the Hessian general scratched out one half of his hair on hearing of the news at Trenton. Fifty Hessians were taken prisoners, and carried the other day to Morristown.

We lost a very good officer, capt. Fleming, of the 1st Virginia battalion. When within ten yards of the enemy, he called to his men, "Gentlemen, dress before you make ready." The British troops blackguarded our people, and damned them, "they would dress them," and gave the first fire. Our men placed their fire so well, that the enemy screamed as if many devils had got hold of them. They were encouraged by their officers, and advanced with their bayonets, but were forced out of the field by the brave Americans.