USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 23
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BAY RICHMOND, who was removed from his stand at Long Bridge, upon the approach of the enemy, is now re- turned, and covering as usual.
A few chests of TEA, warranted the first quality for Bohea, to be sold very cheap for cash. Enquire at the printing-office.
STOLEN on the 20th day of June, 1778, from under the shed at David Gordon's in Nottingham township, in the county of Burlington, and State of New-Jersey, a dappled grey MARE, 15 hands high, shod before, a natural trotter, six years old, with an old saddle and bridle. Who- ever takes up the said mare, and brings her to David Gordon, or to the subscriber, at his plantation in the town- ship and county aforesaid, shall receive Twenty Dollars, and all charges paid.
BEN. BILES. 1
N. B. If the thief is brought to justice, the owner will pay 30 dollars more.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
STRAYED OF STOLEN, near English-Town, the evening after the battle, a brown MARE, about 14 hands and an half high, no natural marks, branded on the near shoulder and thigh with a D and an s in the middle of it; she is something in years. Whoever secures said mare, so that the owner may get her again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, if brought home, paid by me JAMES STOUT, in Hopewell, Hunterdon county.
July 6, 1778.
STOLEN OF STRAYED from the subscriber at the camp, 4 miles from Englishtown, a dark brown MARE, full fifteen hands high, four years old last spring, trots and canters
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well, has a small star not plain to be seen, one of her hind feet white above the fetlock. Whoever takes up said mare, so that the owner may get her again, shall have THIRTY DOLLARS reward, and, if stolen, SIXTY DOLLARS for mare and thief, paid by JOSEPH GREEN, jun. near Trenton. June 28, 1778.
TO BE SOLD,
AN excellent CHAIR OF WAGGON HORSE, near fifteen hands high, handsome and able bodied, of a bright brown, good carriage and easy to drive. Inquire of BENJAMIN SMITH, saddler, in Trenton.
Trenton, July 3, 1778.
WAS delivered to me the 20th of April last as a deserter from General Washington's army, a certain John Curtis, about 28 years of age, five feet three inches high, slim built; but since says he is a servant to Edward Edwards, Lieutenant in the 4th Maryland battalion: His master is desired to pay charges and take him away, otherwise he will be sold for his fees.
JOHN OSBORN, Gaoler. -New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 31, July 8, 1778.
Englishtown, July 1, 1778.
SIR 1 I EMBRACE this first moment of leisure to give Con- gress a more full and particular account of the movements of the army under my command, since its passing the Delaware, than the situation of our affairs would hereto- fore permit.
I have the honour to advise them, that on the appear- ance of the enemy's intention to march through Jersey becoming serious, I had detached General Maxwell's brigade, in conjunction with the militia of that state, to interrupt and impede their progress, by every obstruction
1 See pages 273, 274, 275, 276, ante.
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in their power, so as to give time to the army under my command to come up with them, and take advantage of any favourable circumstances that might present them- selves. The army having proceeded to Coryell's ferry, and crossed the Delaware at that place, I immediately detached Colonel Morgan with a select corps of 600 men, to reinforce General Maxwell, and marched with the main body towards Princeton.
The slow advance of the enemy had greatly the air of design, and led me, with others to suspect that General Clinton, desirous of a general action, was endeavouring to draw us down into the lower country, in order by a rapid movement to gain our right, and take possession of the strong grounds above us. This consideration, and to give the troops time to repose and refresh themselves from the fatigues they had experienced from rainy and excessive hot weather, determined me to halt at Hopewell township, about five miles from Princeton, where we remained till the morning of the 25th. On the preceding day I made a second detachment of 1500 chosen troops, under Brigadier-General Scott, to reinforce those already in the vicinity of the enemy, the more effectually to annoy and delay their march. The next day the army moved to Kingston; and having received intelligence that the enemy were prosecuting their route towards Monmouth Court-house, I dispatched 1000 select men under Briga- dier-General Wayne, and sent the Marquis de la Fayette to take the command of the whole advanced corps, in- cluding Maxwell's brigade and Morgan's light infantry, with orders to take the first fair opportunity of attacking the enemy's rear. In the evening of the same day the whole army marched from Kingston, where our baggage was left, with the intention to preserve a proper distance for supporting the advanced corps, and arrived at Cran- berry early the next morning. The intense heat of the weather, and a heavy storm unluckily coming on, made it impossible to resume our march that day without great
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inconvenience and injury to the troops. Our advanced corps being differently circumstanced, moved from the position it had held the night before, and took post in the evening on the Monmouth road, about five miles from the enemy's rear, in expectation of attacking them next morning on their march. The main body having remained at Cranberry, the advanced corps was found to be too remote, and too far upon the right, to be supported either in case of an attack upon or from the enemy, which in- duced me to send orders to the Marquis to file off by his left towards Englishtown, which he accordingly executed early in the morning of the 27th.
The enemy in marching from Allentown had changed their disposition, and placed their best troops in the rear, consisting of all the grenadiers, light infantry, and chasseurs of the line. This alteration made it necessary to encrease the number of our advanced corps, in conse- quence of which I detached Major General Lee with two brigades to join the Marquis at Englishtown, on whom of course the command of the whole devolved, amounting to about 5000 men. The main body marched the same day, and encamped within three miles of that place. Morgan's corps was left hovering on the enemy's right flank, and the Jersey militia, amounting at this time to about 7 or 800 men, under General Dickinson, on their left.
The enemy were now encamped in a strong position with their right extending about a mile and an half be- yond the Court-house, in the parting of the roads leading to Shrewsbury and Middletown, and their left along the road from Allentown to Monmouth, about three miles on this side the Court-house. Their right flank lay on the skirt of a small wood, while their left was secured by a very thick one, a morass running towards their rear, and their whole front covered by a wood, and for a consider- able extent towards the left with a morass. In this situa- tion they halted till the morning of the 28th.
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Matters being thus situated, and having had the best information, that if the enemy were once arrived at the heights of Middletown, ten or twelve miles from where . they were, it would be impossible to attempt anything against them with a prospect of success, I determined to attack their rear the moment they should get in motion from their present ground. I communicated my intention to General Lee, and ordered him to make his disposition for the attack, and to keep his troops constantly lying upon their arms, to be in readiness at the shortest notice. This was done with respect to the troops under my imme- diate command.
About five in the morning General Dickinson sent me express, informing that the front of the enemy had began their march. I instantly put the army in motion, and sent orders by one of my Aids to General Lee to move on and attack them, unless there should be very powerful reasons to the contrary; acquainting him at the same time, that I was marching to support him, and for doing it with the greatest expedition and convenience, should make the men disencumber themselves of their packs and blankets.
After marching about five miles, to my great surprise and mortification, I met the whole advanced corps re- treating, and, as I was told, by General Lee's orders, without having made any opposition, except one fire given by the party under the command of Col. Buttler, on their being charged by the enemy's cavalry, who were repulsed, I proceeded immediately to the rear of the corps, which I found closely pressed by the enemy, and gave directions for forming part of the retreating troops, who, by the brave and spirited conduct of the officers, aided by some pieces of well served artillery, checked the enemy's ad- vance, and gave time to make a disposition of the left wing and second line of the army upon an eminence, and in a wood a little in the rear, covered by a morass in front. On this were placed some batteries of cannon by Lord Stirling, who commanded the left wing, which played upon
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the enemy with great effect, and seconded by parties of infantry, detached to oppose them, effectually put a stop to their advance.
General Lee being detached with the advanced corps, the command of the right wing, for the occasion, was given to General Green. For the expedition of the march, and to counteract any attempted to turn our right, I had ordered him to file off by the new church, two miles from Englishtown, and fall into the Monmouth road, a small distance in the rear of the Court-house, while the rest of the column moved directly on towards the Court-house. On intelligence of the retreat, he marched up, and took a very advantageous position on the right.
The enemy, by this time, finding themselves warmly opposed in front, made an attempt to turn our left flank, but they were bravely repulsed and driven back by de- tached parties of infantry. They also made a movement to our right, with as little success, General Green having advanced a body of troops, with artillery, to a commanding piece of ground, which not only disappointed their design of turning our right, but severely enfiladed those in front
of the left wing. In addition to this, General Wayne advanced with a body of troops, and kept up so severe and well directed a fire, that the enemy were soon compelled to retire behind the defile, where the first stand in the beginning of the action had been made.
In this situation, the enemy had both their flanks secured by thick woods and morasses, while their front could only be approached through a narrow pass. I re- solved, nevertheless, to attack them; and for that purpose ordered General Poor, with his own and the Carolina Brigade, to move round upon their right, and General Woodford upon their left, and the artillery to gall them in front; but the impediment in their way prevented their getting within reach before it was dark. They remained upon the ground they had been directed to occupy during the night, with intention to begin the attack early the
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next morning, and the army continued lying upon their arms in the field of action, to be in readiness to support them. In the meantime the enemy were employed in removing their wounded, and about twelve o'clock at night marched away in such silence, that, though General Poor lay extremely near them, they effected their retreat with- out his knowledge. They carried off all their wounded, except four officers and about forty privates, whose wounds were too dangerous to permit their removal.
The extreme heat of the weather-the fatigue of the men from their march-through a deep sandy country, almost intirely destitute of water-and the distance the enemy had gained by marching in the night, made a pursuit impracticable and fruitless. It would have an- swered no valuable purpose, and would have been fatal to numbers of our men, several of whom died the preceding day with heat.
Were I to conclude my account of this day's transaction without expressing my obligations to the officers of the army in general, I should do injustice to their merit, and violence to my own feelings. They seemed to vie with each other in manifesting their zeal and bravery. The catalogue of those who distinguished themselves is too long to admit of particularising individuals. I cannot, however, forbear mentioning Brigadier-General Wayne, whose good conduct and bravery, through the whole action, deserves particular commendation.
The behaviour of the troops in general, after they re- covered from the first surprize, occasioned by the retreat of the advanced corps, was such as could not be surpassed.
All the artillery, both officers and men, that were en- gaged, distinguished themselves in a remarkable manner.
Inclosed Congress will be pleased to receive a return of our killed, wounded and missing: Among the first were Lieut-Col. Bunner, of Pennsylvania, and Major Dickinson, of Virginia, both officers of distinguished merit, and much to be regretted. The enemy's slain left
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on the field and buried by us according to the return of the persons assigned to that duty, were four officers and two hundred and forty-five privates ; in the former number was the honourable Col. Monckton. Exclusive of these they buried some themselves, as there were several new graves near the field of battle. How many men they may have had wounded, cannot be determined; but from the usual proportion, the number must have been considerable -There were a few prisoners taken.
The peculiar situation of General Lee at this time, requires that I should say nothing of his conduct. He is now in arrest. The charges against him, with such sen- tence as the court-martial may decree in his case, shall be transmitted for the approbation or disapprobation of Congress, as soon as it shall be passed.
Being fully convinced by the gentlemen of this country, that the enemy cannot be hurt or injured in their em- barkation at Sandy Hook, the place to which they are going, and unwilling to get too far removed from the North river, I put the troops in motion early this morning, and shall proceed that way, leaving the Jersey brigade, Mor- gan's corps and other light parties (the militia being all dismissed) to hover about them-countenance desertion, and to prevent their depredations as far as possible. After they embark, the former will take post in the neighbour- hood of Elizabethtown-the latter rejoin the corps from which they were detached.
I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir your most obedient servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
The honourable Henry Laurens, Esq. President of Congress.
RETURN of the killed, wounded and missing of the American army in the battle of Monmouth on the 28th day of June, 1778.
Killed: 1 Lieut-Col. 1 Major, 3 Captains, 2 Lieuten- ants, 1 Serjeant, 52 Rank and File.
.
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Wounded: 2 Colonels, 8 Captains, 4 First-Lieutenants, 2 Second Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 1 Adjutant, 8 Serjeants, 1 Drum, 120 Rank and File.
Missing: 5 Serjeants, 126 Rank and File. Many of the missing dropped through fatigue, and have since come in.
ARTILLERY. Killed: 1 First Lieutenant, 7 Matrosses, 1 Bombadier.
Wounded: 1 Captain, 1 Serjeant, 1 Corporal, 1 Gun- ner, 10 Matrosses.
Missing: 1 Matross.
Six horses killed and two wounded.
STRAYED Or STOLEN, from the subscriber at the artillery park, on the 30th of June, while the army lay at English- Town, viz. two HORSES and one MARE. One bay horse with a bald face, 13 and a half hands high, about ten years old, branded on the near buttock Mc; a chestnut- sorrel ditto, 15 hands high, about 12 years old, branded on the near buttock Mc; and the mare is white, about 14 and a half hands high, near 11 years old, branded Mc. Whoever takes up and secures the above mentioned horses and mare, and delivers them to Mr. Cornelius M'Caskey at Trenton, to Mr. William Covenhoven at English-Town, or to the subscriber at the artillery park, shall have Eight Dollars for each, and all reasonable charges paid by
ANDREW COLDCLUGH, F. M. Park of Artillery.
TO BE SOLD
A HOUSE and LOT, situate in Kingsbury, Nottingham township, Burlington county,1 the house is well calculated for any kind of publick business, with some very con-
. 1 Now a part of the city of Trenton. Nottingham township, of very early creation, no longer exists. The Assanpink creek was the boundary line between the counties of Burlington and Hunterdon until Mercer county was created.
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venient out-buildings. Any Gentleman inclining to pur- chase the same, may know the terms by applying to the subscriber, at Otter-Hall, about two miles from Trenton. WILLIAM WATSON.
TO BE SOLD.
At publick vendue on Saturday the 18th day of this instant at Pitts-Town.
A CONSIDERABLE number of CAST HORSES, belonging to the Continental Army. The sale to begin at ten o'clock in the morning.
Pitts-Town
MOORE FURMAN,1
July 6, 1778
D. Q. M. Gen. of N. Jersey.
TAKEN thro' a mistake, from the house of Mr. William M'Lane, living in Horsham township, Philadelphia county and State of Pennsylvania, by a Doctor belonging to General Maxwell's brigade, on their march from Head- Quarters to the State of New-Jersey, the beginning of May last, a knapsack with the following articles in it: A brown cloth coat, with polished steel buttons; one pair white summer breeches, mark'd B A inside the waistband ; a white summer jacket, mark'd B A inside lapel; two white stocks, mark'd B A; one coarse shirt; a pair pumps very little worn; a buckle brush; and half a quire of white paper. 'Tis expected that the Doctor who carried off the above knapsack and cloaths, will bring or send word to the proper owner where he shall get them, living at Mr. Christopher Howel's, near Maidenhead, about four miles from Trenton.
BENJAMIN ARMITAGE.
July 2, 1778. -New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 31, Supplement, July 8, 1778.
1 Moore Furman, of Trenton, as Department Quartermaster-General of New Jersey during the war, was a very faithful patriot and greatly trusted by Washington .- Manuscript of the late William S. Stryker.
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As the subscriber is very pleasantly situated in a large and airy house in Burlington, she proposes to her friends, the keeping of a BOARDING SCHOOL for any number of young ladies under twelve .- As provisions are scarce, and other articles at this time very high, she hopes a generous price will be given, in order to enable her to answer the expectations of those parents who choose to place their children under her care and tuition.
Burlington, New-Jersey,
July 1, 1778. ANN DAVENPORT. -The Pennsylvania Evening Post, July 8, 1778.
New-York, July 13. To our former Account of the Action of the 6th inst. in Jersey, we add the following Particulars, as, hitherto we have been unprovided with a State of the Day's Operations.
The Action commenced at Twelve, on the hottest Day imaginable. After a March of eight Hours, the British Guards forming the Rear of the Army, the Rebels in- sulting the flanking Parties, at Eleven the General recon- noitered the Enemy, and finding them in Force, ordered an Halt on the Heights of Freehold, having given orders to the advanced Party of the Army on the March, accord- ingly. The Rebel Battalions shewing themselves with a Disposition to stand, the Commander in Chief ordered the Rear of the Army to form in the Front, and the Light Horse to advance, and Charge those in the Front of the Wood leading to Freehold Court-House, at the same Time commanding the first Battalion of Guards to support the Cavalry, and follow the Charge with Bayonets, while the Cavalry were advancing during the Moment in which the Guards were Loading, in Consequence of Orders, they received a Fire on the Right from the Wood, of 300 of the Enemy posted in Ambush. Orders were now given to face to the Right, and Charge through the Wood. This Order was executed with such Alacrity, that the Rebels were forced with Bayonets through a deep Morass, a Wood
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hardly penetrable, during a very hot Fire, cross a Plain and Ravine, to the Edge of a second Wood; when the Ardour of the Troops was most judiciously stopped by Orders from the General, who perceiving them affected by the excessive Heat of the Weather; this Influence having occasioned a Check to the first Line of the Rebel Army, they retreated under the Cover of a Cannonade, which occasioned the Loss of the gallant Lieut. Col. Monck- ton, and several other very respectable Officers.
In this Affair the first Battalion of Guards, and a Part of the British Grenadiers charged, and occasioned the de route of the whole Rebel Army, confessed by themselves, to consist of Fourteen Thousand Men, and led by their most approved Officers.
The whole line of March consisted of thirteen Miles . extent, was effected without the Loss of a single Waggon, howsoever molested and harrassed by the whole Rebel Army.
Col. Trelawney, who commanded the first Battalion of British Guards, and was dangerously wounded at the Affair of Freehold, on the 29th of June, we have the Pleasure to hope is out of Danger, and so are almost all of the other Gentlemen present in this Affair.
General Washington's Army is now encamped at Eliza- beth Town, Newark, Second River, Hackinsack, &c. in New-Jersey.
The Count de Estange, with 11 Sail of the Line and three Frigates, came to an Anchor last Saturday After- noon a few Miles from Sandy-Hook, where he now lies.
We hear there are at this Juncture, very great Confusion in General Washington's Army; there has been a Duel fought between a French General, Conway, and Col. Cad- wallader, in which the former was shot thro' the Eye, and died on the Spot. General Lee has been accused of Mis- conduct in the late Action the 28th ult. in New-Jersey ;
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[1778
but 'tis said exculpates himself in two Letters published in a Pennsylvania Paper a few Days since. The Somerset Militia we are told suffered much in the Battle of yester- day Fortnight .- New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, July 13, 1778.
PHILADELPHIA, July 14. In CONGRESS, July 7, 1778.
Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of Congress be given to General Washington for the activity with which he marched from the camp at Valley Forge in pursuit of the enemy; for his distinguished exertions in forming the order of battle; and for his great good conduct in leading on the attack and gaining the important victory of Monmouth, over the British grand army, under the immediate command of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Clinton, in their march from Philadelphia to New-York.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to signify the thanks of Congress to the gallant officers and men under his command, who distinguished themselves by their conduct and valour at the battle of Monmouth. Extract from the Minutes.
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.
TRENTON, JULY 15.
Within a few days past about 650 prisoners, chiefly Hessians, from the Westward, passed through this place on their way to Elizabeth-Town, to be exchanged.
Since our last twelve British prisoners, lately taken near Sandy-Hook, were brought to this town and confined in gaol.
We hear the British army are now encamped on the east end of Staten-Island.
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It is currently reported that the French fleet, under the command of Admiral Count d'Estaign, is arrived off Shrewsbury, from whence we hourly expect to hear some important intelligence.
From a correspondent we learn that "on the 23d of June the brave and gallant Capt. JOOST ZABRISKIE, who commanded a company of rangers in the county of Bergen in New-Jersey, having received orders to impress a num- ber of waggons to carry some grain for the use of the army, was murdered by the tories. Two guns were dis- charged at him as he passed by a wood in a disaffected part of the county; one of the balls entered his body in the small of his back, and he lived only thirty-eight hours. He was a terror to the enemies of his country, and the aversion of the only people that deserve to be slaves. We that have experienced, and have been protected by his valour, weep at his loss."
Princeton, July 14. On Thursday, the 9th inst. at two o'clock in the afternoon, the Mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer rose to 98 3-10;1 on Friday at the same hour to 97 9-10; and on Saturday at the same hour to 97 7-10.
To BE SOLD at publick vendue, at the late dwelling- house of Henry Davis, deceased, in Maples-Town, Mid- dlesex county, on Thursday, the 23d of July, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, bees in the hives, wheat, rye, oats and flax in sheaves, waggon, cart, plow, harrows, axes, hoes, spade, scythes and cradle, carpenters tools, beds and bedding, tables, chairs, pots, large brass kettle, pewter, andirons, trammels, a quantity of old iron, and many other articles. The vendue to begin at 10 o'clock said day, when the con- ditions will be made known, and attendance given by
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