The Edinburgh Advertiser, August 13-17, 1779, printed by and for James Donaldson. Red tax stamp. Report from Report from Boston that “there were not above 100 armed men in that town, and those only militia…the inhabitants were in the greatest distress for every necessary of life, particularly the article of bread, which money could hardly purchase.” From the minutes of Congress, “the province of Maryland have refused to accede to the confederation of the rebel states.” Letter from Carolina reports the activities of British General Prevost, who called for a received a conditional surrender; however, Count Pulaski marched in a considerable reinforcement, and forbade the inhabitants fulfilling the terms of the capitulation, under the severest injunctions. In consequence of which General Prevost, not willing to run any hazard in investing the town with his present force, withdrew a few miles, without a single shot being fired on either side, in order to receive the promised reinforcement of 2500 men from St. Lucia, under the command of Gen. Medows.”
King orders prayer to be read in all churches which includes: “Turn, O Lord, the hearts of his rebellious subjects in America, and let neither our unhappy divisions, nor our other manifold sins and provocations, obstruct his designs for the public good, nor bring down thy judgments upon us…” Letters from Boston assert that the “alliance with France gave great disgust to every body.” Letters from New York indicate that the “rebel fort commanded by General McDougal was so strong, being situated in a mountainous and almost inaccessible country where there were no roads to bring wagons, stores or artillery, it was doubted if General Clinton would attack it. Washington had taken post in very strong ground, from which he could not be dislodged without great loss and difficulty. The accounts from the South said, that the reason of General Prevost’s retiring to John Island was that Polish Count Pulaski had thrown himself with considerable force in to Charlestown, while the rebel General Lincoln was advancing in the rear of General Prevost with a great army…”
