THE LONDON CHRONICLE, England, August 8, 1776

* Battle for New York City
* Revolutionary War newspaper
* Plot to assassinate George Washington

  Nice to have a newspaper with Revolutionary War coverage dated just 5 weeks after the Declaration of Independence!
The entire ftpg. is a continution of an article headed: "Retrospective View of Affairs in the Colonies" which has much great reading on the political aspects of the war (see photos for portions of it). Pg. 2 has more on this, plus other reports which include: "...ships arrived from Boston...who told them that the Bostonians had raised a battery on Pudding Point & another on Long Island & had drove the men of war out of Nantucket roads & that one of the transports was taken by the Americans. Sir Peter Parker, Gen. Clinton, and Lord Cornwallis, with the fleet & army under their command had left Cape Fear River in North Carolina & proceeded to the soutward, but their destination was kept a profound secret." and also: "When independency was proposed the Maryland delegates withdrew from the Congress. The people about Lewistown, on Delaware Bay, being suspected by the congress of holding a correspondence with the ships of war in the river...a body of 3000 men was sent from Philadelphia to reduce them to obedience..." with a bit more. Also: "...Sir Peter Parker's fleet arrived all safe at Charlestown. Lee set off to oppose Gen. Clinton with his Virginian shirtmen, but when they came to their utmost lines they told him they would not stir out of their own colony, & added that he must do his best with himself & his Carolinians. Lee has sent to Virgtinia requesting a supply of troops." Another letter from the camp near Cape Fear, North Carolina, mentions: "On the 7th, the 15th and 28th regiment landed on a peninsula at the mouth of the river but the enemy not chusing to shew themselves, the General...reimbarked them. A few days after...sent 15 miles up the river & disposessed the Rebels of a post they had at that place called Brunswick...Part of the rebels are within 2 or 3 miles of us, but their strongest post, or chief dependence, is at Wilmington...". Another page has a question-answer segment concerning the war (see photos), followed by a letter from Virginia contains an oath of allegiance, reading in part: "I A.B., in the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly swear, That I will, to the utmost of my power, support, maintain & defend the government of Virginia in the present just & necessary war against all powers whatever...and that I will not in any manner aid or assist, comfort...have designs to further aid or assist the tyrannical & cruel war which the British Parliament have levied against America...So help me God." with more (see photos). Some items on the war events at Quebec as well. Yet another report from Phila. includes: "...one third of the delegates have entirely withdrawn themselves from the congress & Mr. Hancock has of late wavered very much in his sentiments, it is therefore thought he will not long continue in that assembly...". There are even more items on the Revolutionary War, some seen in the photos below, including some a great back page report--which is fascinating reading--on the invasion of New York, with bits including: "...gallant behaviour of our countrymen though unattended with success...the rebels were intrenched there with a large army...gave orders for the attack...the General, who exhorted them to behave like men, for that day's victory would determine the fate of America...General gave orders for an attack to be made; our soldiers advance with fortitude amidst a dreadful fire...the army rose to the highest pitch, as victory seemed to hover over their heads, but lo! a large body of rebels, who lay in ambush in the woods, appeared on our flanks which did incredible damage...the General did all which could be expected on such an emergency & issued orders for a retreat which was performed with much prudence & courage, so that our loss is not very considerable...the slaughter among the Hessians has been terrible..." with more (see photos). Also on the bkpg. is the report of: "...an account that a few days before he passed through New York, where a dangerous conspiracy against America had just been discovered. The scheme, he says, was to seize General Washington, Putnam, and Gates, and to blow up the American magazine in New York the moment that General Howe came into the harbour. This horrible plot was discovered by the acuteness & vigilance of General Washington, who immediately had the ringleaders seized, vis. about 16 of the principal tories in the town, by whose confession it appeared that the plot had been hatched in London by the renegades from New York...The conspirators were in gaol when the gentleman left New York & would probably meet the punishment they very justly deserved."  This would be the the case of colonial traitor Thomas Hickey who would be publicly hanged in New York on June 27.
Truly a terrific issue with a wealth of great reading, and some of the better reporting on the battle to take New York that I have seen in a period newspaper.
Complete in 8 pages, some minor foxing throughout, generally in very nice, clean condition. Measures about 8 1/2 by 11 inches.