USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. I > Part 19
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"The others soon followed their example, except a part which had got off in the hazy weather, towards Princeton, and a party of their light horse which made off on our first appearance. Too much praise cannot be given to the officers of every regiment. By their active and spirited behavior, they soon put an honorable issue to this glorious day.
"I was immediately sent off with the prisoners to M'Conkey's ferry, and have got about seven hundred and fifty safe in town and a few miles from here, on this side the ferry, viz. one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, four Captains, seven Lieutenants, and eight Ensigns. We left Col. Rohl, the Commandant, wounded, on his parole, and several other officers and wounded men at Trenton. We lost but two of our men that I can hear of, a few wounded, and one brave officer, Capt. Washing- ton, who assisted in securing their artillery, shot in both hands. Indeed every officer and private behaved well, and it was a most fortunate day to our arms, which I the more rejoice at having an active part in it. The success of this day will greatly animate our friends, and add fresh courage to our new army, which, when formed, will be sufficient to secure us from the depredations or insults of our enemy.
"Gen. Ewing's division could not pass at Trenton for ice, which also impeded Gen. Cadwalader passing over
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with all his cannon and the militia, though part of his troops were over, and if the whole could have passed, we should have swept the coast to Philadelphia. We took three standards, six fine brass cannon, and about one thousand stands of arms."
Published by order of Council of Safety.
G. BICKHAM, Sec. pro tem.
By an authentic account received this morning, the following is a list of prisoners taken, viz. : One Col. two Lieut. Cols. three Majors, four Captains, eight Lieuts, twelve Ensigns, two Surgeon Mates, ninety nine sergeants, twenty five drummers, nine musicians, twenty five ser- vants, and seven hundred and forty privates.
Philadelphia, Dec. 31. By the last advices from the Jersies, we learn the enemy are every where flying before our army, who frequently take small parties of them. Since the affair at Trenton, it is said, we have taken four hundred, amongst whom are several officers.
Yesterday morning upwards of nine hundred Hessians, who were taken at Trenton, were brought to this city. The wretched condition of these unhappy men, most of whom, if not all, were dragged from their wives and families by a despotic and avaricious prince, must sensibly affect every generous mind with the dreadful effects of arbitrary power.
Last Monday seven of the lighthorse belonging to this city, took nine lighthorsemen from the enemy, near Princeton, without firing a gun.
Last Thursday afternoon Col. Rohl died, at Trenton, of the wounds he received that morning .- The Pennsyl- vania Evening Post, December 31, 1776.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 4.
We hear that on Thursday night last, General Wash- ington (who then occupied one part of Trenton, whilst
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the main body of the British army were in possession of the other) having received intelligence that General Howe,1 with four thousand men, was advancing to rein- force the main body of the enemy, he went off privately at midnight, in order to intercept Howe; and meeting with him and his army at Maidenhead, after making the necessary dispositions, an engagement ensued early in the morning, when the enemy, standing a smart fire for half an hour, gave way. General Washington has taken eight field pieces. He found his army so superior to the enemy, that he not only pursued them, but found him- self able to despatch two brigades to the relief of that part of his army he left behind him, to amuse the main body of the enemy at Trenton, which decamped as soon as they heard of Washington's victory, and filed off towards Pennytown.2 Our men, it is said, behaved with the greatest bravery. It is very probable General Howe's expedition into the Jersies will be as fatal to him as that of Gage's to Lexington, and New-York will be evacuated like Boston, for a body of the New England forces are in possession of the heights above Kingbridge .- The Penn- sylvania Evening Post, January 4, 1777.
New-York, January 6. On the 28th ult. the handsome Dwelling House of the Hon. Stephen Skinner, Esq ; at Amboy, was accidentally set on fire and entirely con- sumed. The Warehouses adjacent were filled with military stores, which were saved from Destruction by the Activity of the 33d Regiment quartered there, and of the Sailors belonging to the Ships in the Harbor, Mr. Skinner, we hear, by this Fire and the Depredations of the Rebels, has suffered within this Month a Loss of full £. 3000.
1 See note, p. 240.
2 Pennington, Mercer county, New Jersey.
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This Paper may be had every Week at Mr. Drummond's at Acquacanack-Bridge ;1 at the Sun, in Newark ; at Mrs. Noel's in Elizabeth-Town ; at Mr. Hick's, Amboy. and at Mr. Lloyd Danberry's, in New- Brunswick, New-Jersey .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, January 6, 1777.
EIGHT DOLLARS Reward.
W AS put on board one of the Ferry Pettyaugers at Elizabeth-Town Point, on Friday the 13th Inst. a small Mahogany Box about 3 Feet long, 14 or 15 Inches wide, 9 or 10 Inches deep, marked on the Lid with Ink Robert Adair, and with Chalk, At Mrs. Smith's Coffee-House, New-York. Which Trunk has not been seen nor heard of since the Arrival of the Pettyauger in New- York, and is supposed to be taken away through Mistake. Whoever will bring the Box to Hugh Gaine, or the Sub- scriber at Elizabeth-Town Point, shall have the above Reward.
JONATHAN J. DAYTON.
N. B. If the Person in whose Hands the above Box has fallen, will convey the Papers contained therein, to Hugh Gaine,2 (which can be of no Use to any Person but the Owner) they will be welcome to the other Part of its Contents.
1 Robert Drummond, who was the principal merchant at Acquackanonk (now Passaic) ; he was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775 and 1776, but early in 1777 joined the British, and was commissioned Major of the Second Battalion. He served till the close of the war, when he went to London, where he died, and was buried, February 3d, 1789, in St. Luke's churchyard, Chelsea, His property was confiscated in 1778. He married, April 1st, 1759, Jannetje (Jennie) Vreeland, in the Acquackanonk Reformed Dutch Church. He was a member of the Assembly from Essex county, in 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773 and 1774, and was a Deputy to the Provincial Congress of May, 1774, September, 1775, June, 1776, rendering some service to the patriot cause. but voted to defer the adoption of the Constitution of July 2d, 1776. A portrait of Major Drummond, taken in London in 1784, in his British uniform, is in the possession of a descendant at Paterson, and has been reproduced in the History of Paterson by the writer of this note .- W. N.
2 Hugh Gaine, see p. 130.
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T THIS is to forewarn all persons from trusting Lydia, wife of Henry Hammond, (she having made an elopement) as I will pay no debts of her contract- ing after this date.
HENRY HAMMOND.
Elizabeth-Town, Nov. 27, 1776.
-New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, January 6, 1777.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 7.
This day an express arrived from Gen. Washington's army, at Pluckemin, Morris county, East-Jersey, which he left last Sunday night. By him we learn our army is in high spirits, having had various engagements with the enemy, in which they have been victorious, and have taken several field pieces, a considerable quantity of bag- gage and upwards of seven hundred prisoners, amongst whom are many officers of rank and fortune .-
Further particulars the printer hopes he shall be able to obtain for the satisfaction of his readers next publica- tion.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in the army to his friend in this city, dated Pluckemin, Jan. 5, 1777.
" We have a number of officers prisoners. I am just called on to command the infantry at the funeral of Capt. Leslie,1 a British-officer, killed at Princeton. We bury him with military honors. On the field I saw lying another Captain of the name of Mostyn,2 said to be the next heir to an estate of twenty-five thousand pounds per annum in England."-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, January 7, 1777.
1 William Leslie was a Captain in the Seventieth Regiment of the British Line. He was mortally wounded in the fight at Princeton, and taken care of by the eminent physician, Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia. He was carried off by the American Army after the battle of Princeton, and died at Pluckemin on January 5th, 1777, where he was interred with military honors. A monument erected by Dr. Rush is still standing in the graveyard.
2 Robert Mostyn entered the British Army in 1768, in the Sixty-fifth Regiment of Foot; was made a Lieutenant in 1774, and a Captain in the Fortieth Regiment, May 6th, 1776. He received his death wound at the beginning of the fight at Princeton .
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Philadelphia, Jan. 11.
We are informed that a body of Jersey militia, under Gen. Maxwell,1 attacked and defeated one regiment of Highlanders2 and one of Hessian troops at Spank town,3 on Sunday last. This accounts for a heavy firing heard on that day by different persons towards Princeton .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, January 11, 1777.
NOTICE is hereby given, That four waggons will shortly set off from this city, to proceed to Gen. Wash- ington's head quarters in New-Jersey, by order of the Council of Safety .- Such of the inhabitants of the city and Liberties, as chuse to avail themselves of this oppor- tunity to send clothing and other necessaties to their friends of the militia now in service, are desired to apply immediately to Jacob Schreiner for the first battalion, Alexander Todd, for the second, William Davis for the third, and Benjamin Armitage for the artillery companies.4
No more than twenty pounds weight will be received for any one person at the camp, nor any pay demanded for carriage.
Jan. 10. -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, January 11, 1777.
New-York, January 13. Several Skirmishes between the King's Troops, and the Rebels have lately happened in the Jersies. But the most distinguished Rencounter occurred on the 3d Instant, near Princetown. The 17th Regiment, consisting of less than 300 Men fell in with the Rebel-Army of between 5 and 6000, whom they at- tacked with all the Ardor and Intrepidity of Britons. They received the Fire of the Rebels from behind a Fence. over which they immediately leaped upon their Enemies,
1 William Maxwell, see note, p. 5.
2 Forty-second Regiment, British Foot-Highland Watch.
3 Spanktown, now Rahway, N. J.
4 General John Cadwalader's Brigade of Philadelphia Associators.
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who presently turned to the right about with such Pre- cipitation as to leave their very Cannon behind them. The Soldiers instantly turned their Cannon, and fired at least 20 Rounds upon their Rear, and had they been assisted with another Regiment or two, the Rebels would have found it rather difficult to make good their Retreat. This has been one of the most splendid Actions of the whole Campaign, and has given a convincing Proof that British Valour has not declined from its antient Glory. Of Col. Mawhood, their gallant Commander ; and of his Conduct in the Affair, too many Encomiums cannot be said. The Loss was about Twenty Killed and Eighty wounded of the Troops. Of the Rebels above 400 were killed and wounded. Among their Slain were eleven Officers. Mr. Mercer, (one of the wounded Rebel-Officers, since dead) when he was taken up by our People, asked how many the Numbers were who had thus attacked him, and upon being told, he cried out with astonishment ; " My God, Is it possible ? I have often heard of British Courage ; but never could have imagined to find such an Instance as this !"
Another Account says. That the 17th Regiment just before they charged the Rebels, deliberately pulled off their Knapsacks, and gave three Cheers, then broke through the Rebels, faced about, attacked, and broke through them a second Time. Col. Mawhood then said, it would be prudent, as they were so few, to retire ; upon which the Men one and all cried out, "No, No ; Let us attack them again ;" And it was with great Difficulty their Colonel could induce them to retreat; which at length they performed in the utmost Order.
To the Honor of this brave Regiment, both as Soldiers and as Men, not one of them has ever attempted to plunder, or encourage it in others.
In the several Skirmishes, the Rebels have lost above 700 Men.
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By the nearest Calculation that can be formed, the Rebels, in the Course of the last year, did not lose by Sickness and Battle less than 25,000 Men. An immense Draught in a Country, where the Price of Labor is so great, and the Hands so few.
Isaac Pearson, Esq ; endeavoring to pass through the Jersies in his Way to New-York, was last week murdered by some of the rebellious Banditti who infest the public Roads between this City and Philadelphia.
On Sunday the 5th Instant, at half an Hour before Sun- rise, a party of about 90 Rebels made an Attack upon Lieutenant Cameron of the 46th Regiment, and about 20 of his Men, lying at Raway. They were bravely repulsed with the Loss of one Man killed and three slightly wounded. The Rebels left nine killed behind them. They fled with the more Precipitation, upon seeing Lieut. Col. Dongan with about 20 Jersey Volunteers, belonging to Col. Luce's Battalion, coming up to Lieut. Cameron's Assistance.
It is said, that several of the Hessian officers, from a just Sense of Honor, and Conviction of the Meanness of suffering a soldier to plunder, are resolved to discourage it intirely. Perhaps, the best Means of preventing it in future, would be to burn all that the Soldiers have col- lected before their faces, and to assure them they must expect the same Attention to real military Discipline hereafter .- New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, January 13, 1777.
F OUND in the Jersies, a brown and white spaniel bitch, with a brass collar and engraved upon it, Capt.
Kenneer Royal Fuzileers. The owner applying to Capt. John M'Neal, on board the ship Jenny, in Beek- man's-slip, or Capt. Robert Shuter, of the Lord Dunluce, said slip, paying the advertisement, shall have her again. -Ibid.
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A Grammar School is now opening at Jamaica, on Long Island, by ANDREW WILSON, who for some years has taught the Latin and Greek Languages at Morris-Town, in East-Jersey. Boarding may be pro- cured at Jamaica .- Ibid.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 14.
It is said Gen. Heath1 has destroyed more than a hun- dred flat bottomed boats, which lay near Elizabeth town.
By several people from the Jersies we learn that a heavy cannonade was heard yesterday towards Bruns- wick.
Last night a party of Waldeckers arrived in this city, who were taken in the East Jersies.
A part of General Washington's army occupying the houses and stores belonging to William Richards,2 at Lamberton, near Trenton, for barracks, hospitals, and slaughter houses, on Friday the third instant, the dwel- ling-house was burnt down (supposed by accident) with a large quantity of mustard seed, some household goods, and a chocolate mill, &c. &c.
Extract of a letter from Major General G .- 3 to a gentleman in this city, dated Morristown, Jan. 9.
1 William Heath was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, March 7th, 1737; organized the Suffolk County Regiment of Militia at the beginning of the war; was made a Major-General of the Provincial Troops in June, 1775, and two days afterwards a Brigadier-General of the Continental Army. On the 9th of August, 1776, he was promoted a Major-General. After the battle of White Plains, he took command of the posts in the Highlands, and after June, 1779, until the close of the war he had charge of the American troops at the several posts on the Hudson river. He was the last surviving Major-General of the Revolutionary Army.
2 William Richards was a storekeeper at Trenton Landing, just below the Blooms- bury farm, near Trenton, New Jersey.
3 Nathanael Greene was born in Rhode Island in 1742. From a boy he was a student of military science, and although his father was a Quaker preacher, he was made a Brigadier-General of the Continental Army June 22d, 1775, and raised three regiments of troops for the Rhode Island contingent. He distinguished himself at the battles of Trenton and Princeton; fought bravely at Brandywine and German- town, and commanded the right wing of the American Army at the battle of Mon- mouth. For more than two years he held the office of Quartermaster-General of the army. In the closing year of the war he commanded the American forces in Virginia and the Carolinas, and received a medal from Congress for a decisive victory at Eutaw Springs. He died at Mulberry Grove, Georgia, June 19th, 1786. See Greene's Life of Nathanael Greene.
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" Not a line have I received from you since you left us at Newtown-I am much obliged to you for the attention -Were I not fully persuaded that you are anxious to know the success of our late manœuvres, I would not have wrote you a syllable this fortnight. I almost think the author of the Crisis a prophet where he says the Tories will curse the day that Howe arrived upon the Delaware. I verily believe the observation is coming true. The two late actions at Trenton and Princeton have put a very different face upon affairs. Within a fortnight past we have taken and killed of Howe's army between two and three thousand men-Our loss is trifling -we are daily picking up their parties-yesterday we took seventy prisoners and thirty loads of baggage.
"Great credit is due to the Philadelphia militia ; their behaviour at Trenton in the cannonade, and at Princeton was brave, firm and manly ; they were broken at first in the action at Princeton, but soon formed in the face of grapeshot, and pushed on with a spirit that would do honor to veterans, besides which they have borne a winter's campaign with a soldier like patience. General Cadwallader is a brave and gallant officer."-The Penn- sylvania Evening Post, January 14, 1777.
Mr. Towne,
The following advertisement was put up in the most public parts of the Jersies, and by giving it a place in your paper, you will oblige a
LOVER of HUMANITY.
His Excellency GENERAL WASHINGTON strictly forbids all the officers and soldiers of the Continental army of the militia, and all recruiting parties, plundering any person whatsoever, whether Tories or others. The effects of such persons will be applied to public uses in a regular manner, and it is expected that humanity and
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tenderness to women and children will distinguish brave Americans, contending for liberty, from infamous mercen- ary ravagers, whether British or Hessians.
G. WASHINGTON.
Trenton, January 1, 1777.
-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, January 14, 1777.
PHILADELPHIA, JAN. 16.
By letters from General Washington's army of the eighth, tenth, and eleventh instant, we have the following authentic intelligence, viz. That our army marched from Pluckemin, and arrived at Morristown on the sixth ; that Gen. Maxwell,1 with a considerable body of Con- tinental troops and militia, having marched towards Elizabeth town, sent back for a reinforcement, which having joined him, he advanced, and took possession of the town, and made prisoners fifty Waldeckers and forty Highlanders who were quartered there, and made prize of a schooner with baggage and some blankets on board. About the same time one thousand bushels of salt were secured by our troops at a place called Spank town, about five miles from Woodbridge ; when a party of our men attacked the enemy at that place, they sent for a reinforce- ment to Woodbridge, but the Hessians absolutely refused to march, having heard we were very numerous in that quarter. The English troops at Elizabeth town would not suffer the Waldeckers to stand sentry at the outposts, several of them having deserted, and come over to us.
The main body of the enemy is at Brunswick ; they have also some troops at Amboy, where some men of war and transports are collected, it is supposed to take off the baggage .- The Pennsylvania Evening Post, January 16, 1777.
Extract of a letter from an officer of distinction in
1 See note, p. 5.
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General Washington's army, dated Pluckemin, Jan. 5, 1777.
"I have been so much engaged with marches and countermarches, that I have not had a moment to write. We left Crosswicks the first inst. about ten o'clock in the morning, and arrived a little after sunset at Trenton, through the worst roads that were ever seen. About eleven o'clock we were alarmed by the approach of the enemy. We only sent out a brigade to amuse them, while we took post on the lower side of the creek, and back in the woods. There was a pretty smart cannonade till dark, when both sides ceased firing. The men ordered to keep their posts, and lie on their arms. A council of war was held, and it was determined to file off to the right, through the woods, and by bye-roads, leaving the enemy on the left, and attack Princeton by daylight ; about five hundred men, and two pieces of iron cannon, were left to amuse the enemy.
"Our whole army, with a great train of artillery, marched about one, and you may suppose that we must form a very long line of march. We arrived one hour too late. About seven hundred British troops were pre- pared to march, to join their main body, part of which lay at Maidenhead.1 They saw our army about a mile and a half distance, which made a very formidable ap- pearance. They returned to the town, and made ready to receive, us; one division of their troops. formed in front of a house on the south side of the college, and on the right hand of the road. Gen. Mercer's brigade filed off to the right, and was attacked by the other division. The brigade did not fire till they advanced within forty yards. The enemy received this brigade with charged bayonets. Gen. Mercer2 was wounded (it is said by a ball fired) but it is a fact he was afterwards wounded in
1 Now Lawrenceville, between Princeton and Trenton.
2 See note, p. 170,
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the belly by a bayonet. Our brigade advanced through the skirts of a wood in front of the enemy, posted on an eminence with two field pieces. Gen. Green 1 ordered me to form as soon as we arrived on a hill about two or three hundred yards distance. Our column was formed from the right by divisions. About fifty light infantry of the enemy posted themselves behind the fence about an hun- dred yards distance. And, on our left flank, I despatched Capt. Henry, with a body of light infantry, about an hundred, to flank that party. But the first discharge from our field pieces on the left, drove them up to the main body. I immediately rode in front to the column, and ordered the second divisions to double up to the right ; the third to the left, and so on alternately. This was done in the face of the enemy, and under a shower of grape shot. About half the first battalion was formed when they broke, fell back upon the column, threw the whole into confusion. I immediately rode round the left and formed a division, joined one man after the other to it; but the fire was so hot that they again broke. Some of the officers behaved very bravely, and exerted themselves to the utmost. Gen. Washington came down and exposed himself very much, but expostulated to no purpose. I just then saw a considerable party of horse moving off to our right, to take advantage of the con- fusion, but a discharge or two from the cannon imme- diately dispersed them. I asked the General if it would not be proper to form about an hundred yards in the rear. He desired me to try, which succeeded beyond my expectation. I collected some of the brigade and some New-Englandmen, and advanced obliquely to the right, passed a fence, and marched up to the left of the enemy. Two small parties were formed on the left and advanced at the same time, and bravely pushed up in the face of
1 General Greene, see p. 256.
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a heavy fire. The enemy then left their station and in- clined to the left, and gave us several heavy fires, in which two were killed, and several wounded. I pressed my party forward, huzzaed, and cried out " They fly, the .day is our own," and it passed from right to left.
I fancy the enemy found it impossible to escape, as our troops all began to rally and join in the pursuit. They all dropped their packs and flew with the utmost pre- cipitation and we pursued with great eagerness. The men were much fatigued for want of rest, provisions, and with marching. We followed about two miles, and then gave over. Many parties are yet out, and have taken several prisoners. The town surrendered, and about sixty including fourteen officers surrendered. We have taken in the whole about three hundred, about thirty killed, and fifty wounded. I have no doubt but others will be brought in. We lost about thirty killed, and thirty wounded. We took three pieces of brass artillery. The troops that lay at Maidenhead returned about the same time we returned from the pursuit. Horses could not be secured to carry off the artillery. Major Proctor1 made an exchange ; he left an iron three pounder, and brought a brass six pounder. The enemy proceeded towards Brunswick with the utmost expedition, the British arrived there at about daylight, and the Hessians at twelve yesterday. All was in the greatest confusion, and the British troops left town last evening, and the whole this morning. We marched immediately to Morris- town, where we shall be ready to fall down on Elizabeth- town, Newark, or Amboy. Gen. M'Dougalz is back of
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