The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from George town (Maryland) November 26.

"Agreeable to what I wrote you by---, I set out on Tuesday morning last for Frederick town, and when within eight or nine miles of that place had the pleasure to hear that major Connolly, with three companions, were taken about five miles above Hagar's town, on their way to fort Pitt. Connolly has been this summer at Boston, where he presented a plan of operation for the next spring to general Gage, which met the general's approbation, and he was now on his way to put it in execution. He is made lieutenant-colonel commandant, was to proceed to fort Detroit, where capt. Lord, who is now at the Illinois with companies of the Royal Irish, was to meet him with the field-pieces and stores that are there. Connolly was to raise a regiment, as many Indians and partisans as he could; to enable him to do this he had power to engage every person, that entered into the service, 300 acres of land when the troubles were over, and whatever other pecuniary rewards he might think proper, was to appoint and commission all the officers under him, which commissions were to be confirmed by lord Dunmore.

"With this force he was to destroy fort Pitt and fort Fincastle, if the Americans should make any resistance, and meet Dunmore by the 20th of April next at Alexandria, where he (Dunmore) was to land an army under the cannon of the ships of war. Connolly's companions were one Cameron, who is now a lieutenant with promise of promotion, one dr. Smith, who says he was to be surgeon of Connolly's regiment; the other was Connolly's servant. They were brought into Frederick town on Wednesday morning, and on Thursday examined before the committee. On searching their portmanteaus, a copy of Connolly's plan was found. Thus you see a part of the diabolical scheme is detected, but make no doubt Dunmore will land an army at alexandria in the spring; but as their scheme has thus providentially come to light, hope such preparations will be made as will enable us to give him the reception he merits."