THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 377 
sent forward with, an advanced corps of 5,000 men to attack the rear 
of General Clinton's army, after crossing some narrow passes across a 
marsh under the belief that he was only opposed by a rear guard of 
two or three battalions, suddenly found himself confronted in a plain 
by 6,000 British picked troops. As Lee considered his position, if 
attacked and overpowered, would have been hazardous, he retired at 
once before the enemy were able to form and attack him. During his 
retreat he met Washington with the main army advancing, who caused 
a stand to be made by Lee's corps supported by his own troops. 
Washington in his despatch to Congress dated July 1st, 1778, 
makes no distinct charge against Lee beyond the fact of his having 
retired, but states that he is under arrest. 
September 5th .—We are just now informed by accounts dated 
August 29th, that the fleet under Lord Howe had safely effected the 
very difficult passage of the south channel as far as latitude 40.51. 
That H.M. ship Ariel had the preceding Wednesday taken a rebel 
privateer of 16 guns, carrying 18 pilots as they acknowledged to meet 
the French fleet under the Comte d' Estaing, and to navigate them 
into Boston harbour. The pilots mentioned that the Zele } which the 
Isis engaged, had again found the French fleet, and that she has suf¬ 
fered much. The commander lost his right arm, 20 seamen were 
killed, and 50 wounded. When the informant left the British fleet 
last Saturday, Captain Hyde Parker in the Phoenix hoisted a signal, 
“four sail to the N.E.," on which the whole fleet immediately gave 
chase. General Hancock, the arch-rebel, writes thus to his brother 
rebel at Boston, August 11th: “General Sullivan intends to ad¬ 
vance to-morrow, if the French fleet returns, to attack the next day." 
The French fleet did return, but neither the admiral nor their general 
dared risk an attack. Another rebel gentleman writes as follows : 
“ The advance of the army is commanded by Colonel Livingstone, the 
right wing by General Green, the left by the Marquis de Lafayette, 
the 2nd line by General Hancock, and the reserve by Colonel West. 
The army are in high spirits and are determined to return victorious." 
By a vessel which left Rhode Island last Monday, we are told that the 
British transports that went from New York the other day through 
the sound with the 3rd and 4th brigades of the army, the 1st grena¬ 
diers and 1st light infantry with their artillery on board under General 
Clinton himself, intending for a dash on Rhode Island, from the shift¬ 
ing of wind to the eastward were obliged to anchor off the harbour of 
Newport. This occassioned a sudden adjournment of the above- 
mentioned high-spirited army with its wonted celerity to the continent, 
an insular position having ever since the Brooklyn and Staten Island 
affairs been deemed hazardous to the operations of heroes thus deter - 
