USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey, from its discovery by Europeans, to the adoption of the federal Constitution > Part 36
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After crossing the Hackensack, General Washington posted his troops along the western bank ; but he could not defend it with an army of only three thousand offretives, exposed, without tents, to the inclement season which already prevailed, in a level country without an entrenching tool, and among people no wise zealons for the American cause; and being stilt en- closed by two rivers, the Hackensack and Passaic, his position was, thereby, rendered more dangerous. This gloomy condition was not cheered by the prospect of the future. No reliance could be placed on reinforcements from any quarter. The general made every exertion to collect an army, and in the mean time to impede, as much as possible, the progress of the enemy. General Carleton having retired from before Ticonderoga, he directed Ge- neral Schuyler to hasten to his assistance, the troops of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But the march was long. their term of service nearly expired, and they refused to re-enlist. General Lee was directed to cross the North river, and hold himself in readiness, if the enemy should continue the cam- paign, to join the commander-in-chief; but his army, too, from the same fatal canse, was melting away, and would soon be totally dissolved. Genc. ral Mercer, who commanded part of the flying camp stationed about Bergen, was called in, but these troops had engaged to serve, only, until the first of December, and like other six months' men, had abandoned the army in great
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numbers. No hope existed of retaining the remnant, after they should possess a legal right to depart.
Under these circumstances, no serious design could be entertained of de- fending the Hackensack. A show of resistance was momentarily preserved, with a view of covering the few stores which could be removed. General Washington, with Beal's, Heard's, and part of Irvine's brigades, crossed at Acquackanonck Bridge, and took post at Newark, on the south side of the Passaic. Soon after he had marched, Major-general Vaughan, at the head of the British dragoons, grenadiers, and light infantry, appeared before the new bridge over Hackensack, and the American detachment in the rear being wholly unable to defend it, could only break it down, and retire before him over the Passaic.
General Washington having entered the open country, halted for a few days, to endeavour to collect such a force, as might preserve the semblance of an army. The better to effeet this, he despatched General Mifflin to Penn- sylvania, where he possessed great influence, and Colonel Joseph Reed, his adjutant-general, long known and highly valued in New Jersey, to Governor Livingston, to press upon him the absolute and immediate necessity of making further exertions to prevent the whole state from being overrun.
In this perilous state of things, he found it necessary to detach Colonel Forman of the New Jersey militia, to suppress an insurrection which threat- ened to break out in the county of Monmouth, where great numbers were well disposed to the royal cause. Nor was this the only place from which there was reason to expect the enemy might derive aid. Such an indisposi- tion to further resistance began to be manifested throughout the state, as to excite serious fears respecting the conduct which might be observed when Lord Cornwallis should penetrate further into the country .*
Unable to make effective resistance, as the British crossed the Passaic, General Washington abandoned his position behind it; and on the 28th of November, as Lord Cornwallis entered Newark, he retreated thence to Brunswick. The time had now come, (December 1,) when the Maryland and Jersey levies in the flying camp, became entitled to their discharge, and he had the extreme mortification to behold his small army, still more en- feebled by the abandonnent of these troops almost in sight of an advancing enemy. The Pennsylvania militia of the same class had engaged to serve until the first of January; but so many of them deserted, that it became ne- cessary to place guards on the roads and ferries over the Delaware to appre- hend the fugitives.
From New Brunswick, the commander-in-chief, again, urged upon Gover- nor Livingston, that the intention of the enemy was, to pass through New Jersey to Philadelphia, and that some efficacious measures should be adopted to call out the strength of the state to his support, and its own defence. But it was not in the power of the governor to furnish the aid required. The Legislature, which had removed from Princeton to Trenton, and from Tren- ton to Burlington, had now adjourned, and the members had returned to their homes to protect their own more peculiar interests. The well affected part of the middle counties was overawed by the British army. The lower coun- ties were haunted by tories, or paralyzed by their non-combatting Quaker population, and the militia of Morris and Sussex turned out slowly and re- luetantly .¡ Washington, also, again urged General Lee to hasten to his assistance.
The troops were continued in motion for the purpose of concealing their weakness, and of retarding the advance of Cornwallis, by creating an opinion
* Marshall, Wash. Lett. t Ibid.
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that the Americans meditated to attack him; but as the British van came in view, and approached the opposite side of the bridge, he was compelled to quit New Brunswick. Leaving Lord Stirling in Princeton with two brigades from Virgima and Delaware, amounting to twelve hundred men, to watch the enemy, he continued his march with the residue of the army to Trenton. Directions had already been given to collect and place under sufficient guard, all the boats on the Delaware, from Philadelphia upwards, for seventy miles, so that a hope might be reasonably entertained that the progress of the che- my would be stopped at this river; and that in the mean time, reinforcements might arrive, which would enable him to dispute its passage. Having, with great labour, transported the few remaining military stores and baggage over the Delaware, he determined to remain as long as possible with the small force which still adhered to him on the northern banks of that river. "
This retreat into, and through New Jersey, was attended with almost every circumstance that could embarrass and depress the spirits. It commenced immediately after the heavy loss at Fort Washington. In fourteen days after that event, the whole flying camp claimed its discharge, and other troops also, whose engagements terminated about the same time, daily departed. The two Jersey regiments which had been forwarded by General Gates, under General St. Clair, went off' to a man, the moment they entered their own state. A few officers without a single private, were all of these regi- ments which St. Clair brought to the commander-in-chief. The troops who were with Washington, mostly of the garrison of Fort Lee, were without tents, blankets, shoes, and the necessary utensils to dress their provisions. In this situation, the general had the address to prolong a march of ninety miles, to the space of nineteen days. During his retreat, scarce an inhabit- ant joined him, whilst numbers daily flocked to the royal army, to make their peace, and beg protection. On the one side, was a well appointed tidll clad army, dazzling by its brilliance, and imposing by its success ; on the other, a few poor fellows whose tattered raiment but too well justitied the soubriquet of " ragamuffins," with which the sneering tories reproached them, fleeing for their safety. The British commissioners issued a proclamation connanding all persons assembled in arms against his Majesty's government, to disband and return to their homes; and all civil officers to desist from their treasonable practices, and to relinquish their usurped authority. A full par- don was offered to all, who within sixty days would appear before an officer of the crown, claim the benefit of the proclamation, and subscribe a declara- tion of his submission to the royal authority. Seduced by this proclamation, not only the ordinary people shrunk from the apparent fate of the country in this its murkiest hour, but the vapouring patriots who sought office and distinction at the hands of their countrymen, when danger in their service was distant, now crawled into the British lines, humbly craving the mercy of their con- querors; and whined out, as justification, that though they had united with others, in seeking a constitutional redress of' grievances, they approved not the measures lately adopted, and were at all times opposed to independence. f
General Washington having secured his baggage and stores, and finding Cornwallis pause at Brunswick, he, on the 6th of December, detached twelve hundred men to Princeton, in hope, that by appearing to advance, he might not only delay the progress of the British, but in some degree, cover the country and re-animate the people of New Jersey.
XVI. The exertions of General Mifflin, though making little impression
* Marshall.
1 Dr. Ramsay has given to political infamy, the names of Galloway and Allen, of Pennsylvania, he might have added those of Tucker, and others, of New Jersey.
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on the state of Pennsylvania at large, were highly successful in Philadelphia. A large proportion of that city, capable of bearing arms, had associated for the defence of the country; and futeen hundred now marched to Trenton. A German battalion was also ordered by Congress to the same place. On re- ceiving this reinforcement, Washington commenced his march to Princeton; but before he could reach it, he received intelligence that Lord Cornwallis, also, strongly reinforced, was rapidly advancing from Brunswick by different routes to get into his rear. . Thus a retreat even across the Delaware, became indispensable.
On the 8th of December, having secured the boats, and broken down the bridges on the roads leading along the Jersey shore, he posted his army on the western bank in such a manner, as to observe the fords by which the enemy must pass. As the American rear guard crossed the river, the British army came in sight. The main body halted at Trenton, whence detach- ments were thrown out above and below, so as to render uncertain where they might attempt to pass. Small parties, unimpeded by the people of the country, reconnoitred the river for a considerable distance. If the British general as reported, had brought boats with him, it would have been impos- sible for Washington, with his small force, to prevent the passage. From Bordentown, four miles below Trenton, the Delaware turns westward, and forms an acute angle with its upper course, so that Cornwallis might cross high up and be as near Philadelphia as the American army. For this reason, Washington advised, that lines of defence should be drawn from the Schuyl- kill about the heights of Springetsbury, eastward to the Delaware, and Gen- eral Putnam was ordered to superintend them. General Mifflin, who had just returned to camp, was again despatched to the city to take charge of the numerous stores it contained.
Cornwallis made some unsuccessful attempts to seize a number of boats, guarded by Lord Stirling, about Coryell's Ferry ; and having repaired the bridges below Trenton, advanced a strong detachment to Bordentown, de- monstrating the design of crossing the river at points above and below Trenton, and to march in two colunins, directly, to Philadelphia; or com- pletely to envelope the American army.
To counteract this plan, some galleys were. stationed, so as to communi- cate the earliest intelligence of movements below, and to afford aid in repel- ling an attempt to cross the river, whilst the commander-in-chief made other dispositions to prevent the passage above, which, he believed, the real object of the enemy. Four brigades under Generals Lord Stirling, Mercer, Ste- phens, and De Fermoy, were posted from Yardley's to Coryell's Ferry, in such manner as to guard every suspicious point of the river, and to assist cach other in case of attack. General Irvine, with the Pennsylvania remnant of the flying camp, and some Jersey militia under General Dickenson, were posted from Yardley's down to the ferry opposite Bordentown. Colonel Cadwalader, brother of him taken at Fort Washington, with the Pennsyl- vania militia, occupied the ground on either side of the Neshaminy as far as Dunk's Ferry, where Colonet Nixon was posted with the third Philadelphia battalion. Precise orders were given to the commanding officer of cach de- tachment for his conduct, directing his route in case he should be driven from his post, and the passes he should endeavour to defend, on his way to the high grounds of Germantown, where the army was to rendezvous if forced from the river.
In the mean time, General Washington continued his exertions to aug- ment his army. Expresses were sent through the counties of Pennsylvania, and to the governments of Delaware and Maryland, urging them to forward their militia without delay. General Mifflin, whose popular eloquence had
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been most serviceable, was again directed to repair immediately to the neigh- bouring counties, and Congress declared it of the highest importance, that he should make a progress through the state of Pennsylvania, to rouse its free- men to the immediate defence of the city and country; naming a committee to assist him in the good and necessary work. General Armstrong of Penn- sylvania, was, at the same time, despatched by General Washington, into that part of the state, where he possessed most influence. In the hope of thus obtaining adequate force, even for offensive operations, General Heath was called from Peck's-kill, and General Gates ordered on with regulars of the northern army.
XVII. Although General Lee had been frequently directed to join the commander-in-chief, he tardily obeyed, manifesting a strong disposition to retain his separate command, and rather to hang on, and threaten the rear of the British army, than to strengthen that in their front. With this view, in opposition to the judgment of Washington, he proposed to establish himself at Morristown. Again urged to march, still declaring his opinion in favour of his own proposition, he proceeded, reluctantly, towards the Dela- ware. Whilst passing through Morris county, near Baskingridge, at the distance of about twenty miles from the British encampment, he, very indis- erretly, quartered, under a slight guard, in a house about three miles from his troops. - Information of this circumstance was given, by a countryman, to Colonel Harcourt, then, with a body of cavalry, watching his movements, who, immediately, formed and executed the design of seizing him. Early in the morning of the twelfth of December, by a rapid march, his corps reached Lee's quarters. The general, receiving no intimation of his approach, until the house was surrounded, became a prisoner, and was borne off in triumph to the British army; where, for some time, he was treated, not as a prisoner of war, but as a deserter from the British service.
This misfortune made a painful impression throughout America. The confidence, originally placed in General Lee, alike due to his experience and talents, had been increased by his success, whilst commanding the southern department, and by the conviction, that his advice, to which was ascribed the operations in New York, which defeated the plans of General Howe, would, if more closely followed, have prevented the losses at Fort Washington and Fort Lee. No officer, save the commmander-in-chief, had so large a share of the confidence of the army and country, and his capture was universally bewailed, as the greatest calamity which had befallen the American arms.
XVII. General Sullivan, on whom the command devolved after the loss of Ixce, promptly obeying the orders which had been given to that officer, joined Washington, by the way of Phillipsburg, on the twentieth of Deeem- ber. On the same day, General Gates arrived with some northern troops. By these and other reinforcements, the American army was augmented to about seven thousand effective men.
Having failed to obtain boats for crossing the Delaware, the British gene- ral determined to close the campaign, and retire into winter quarters. About four thousand men were cantoned, on the Delaware at Trenton and Borden- town, at the White Horse and Mount Holly; and the remainder of the army was distributed from that river to the Hackensack. Still, Washington be- lieved, that an attempt to gain Philadelphia would be made, should the ice become sufficiently firm to bear the army. He supposed, also, that one of the objects of General Howe, in covering so large a portion of New Jersey, was to impede the recruiting service. To counteract this, three regiments marching from Peck's-kill, were halted at Morristown, and united with about eight hundred Jersey militia, who had collected at the same place, under Colonel Ford, the whole being placed under the command of General Max-
2 F
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well of New Jersey. He had orders to watch the motions of the enemy, to harass their marches, give intelligence of their movements, especially, of such as might be made from Brunswick towards Princeton or Trenton, to keep up the spirits of the militia, and to prevent the inhabitants from going within the British lines, from making their submission, and taking protec- tions.
Whilst these measures were in progress, the commander-in-chief laboured to impress upon Congress, the necessity of still further exertions to form a permanent army, particularly, to increase the cavalry, artillery, and engi- neers, and, also, to enlarge his own powers, which were incompetent to many cases that daily occurred. The moment was certainly one of fearful interest. The existing army, except a few regiments from Virginia, Penn- sylvania, Maryland, and New York, affording an effective force of about fifteen hundred men, would dissolve in a few days. New Jersey had, in a great measure, submitted, and the militia of Pennsylvania had not displayed the alacrity which had been expected; and should the frost bridge the Dela- ware, it was to be dreaded, that General Howe would seize Philadelphia, and that its capture might induce the belief, that the contest had become desperate.
XIX. But even this deepest gloom had its ray of hope,-the first beam of a rising sun of unparalleled brightness. In the dispersed situation of the British army, General Washington perceived the opportunity of striking a blow which might retrieve the holy cause, in the public opinion, and recover the ground he had lost. He formed the daring plan of attacking, at the same instant, all the British posts on the Delaware. If successful in whole or in part, he would erase the impression made by his losses and retreat, would compel his adversary to compress himself so, as no longer to cover New Jersey, and would remove from Philadelphia the imminent danger which threatened it. The merit of having originally suggested this attack, may, according to Dr. Gordon, be claimed for General Joseph Reed .*
Washington proposed to cross the river, in the night, at M'Konky's Ferry, about nine miles above Trenton, with four thousand troops, under his own immediate command, assisted by Generals Sullivan and Greene, and Colonel Knox, of the artillery; to march down in two divisions, one by the river, and the other by the Pennington road, both leading to the town,-and that they might reach their destination by five o'clock of the next day, to pass them over the river by twelve o'clock. General Irvine was directed to cross at the Trenton Ferry, and to secure the bridge below the town, to prevent the escape of any part of the enemy by that road; and General Cadwalader to pass at Dunks' Ferry, and carry the post at Mount Holly. It had been de- signed to unite the troops engaged in fortifying the city of Philadelphia, with those of Bristol, and to place them under the command of General Putnam; but there were such indications, in that city, of an insurrection in favour of the royal cause, that it was deemed unsafe to withdraw them.
The weather, on the night of the twenty-fifth of December, was very severe; mingled snow, hail, and rain, fell in great quantities, and so much ice was made in the river, that, the division passing at M.Konky's Ferry could not be gotten over, before three o'clock, and it was near four, before the line of march could be taken up. As the distance by either road to Trenton was the same, it was supposed that each column would arrive there about the same time. Orders were, therefore, given to attack at the instant of arrival, and after driving in the out-guards, to press rapidly after them into the town, so as to prevent the main body from forming.
* Gordon's American Revolution, vol. ii. p. 391.
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General Washington accompanied the upper column; and arrived at the wal-post on that road precisely at eight o'clock. He immediately drove it in, and in three minutes heard the discharge from the column on the river road. The picket guard kept up a fire from behind houses as they retreated, but the Andrians followed with such ardour and rapidity, that they could make no stand. Colonel Rawle,* a gallant officer who commanded in Trenton, pa- raded his men, in order to meet the assailants. In the commencement of the action he was mortally wounded ; upon whichi his troops attempted to file off from the right, and gain the road to Princeton. Washington threw a de- tachment in their front, and at the same time advanced rapidly on them in Is'Tson. Being surrounded, and their artillery already scized, they laid down their arms, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
Unfortunately, the quantity of ice rendered it impracticable for General Irvine to execute the part of the plan allotted to him. He was unable to cross the river; and of consequence the lower road towards Bordentown remained open. About five hundred men, among whom was a troop of cavalry, stationed at the lower end of Trenton, availed themselves of this circumstance, and crossing the bridge in the commencement of the action, escaped. The same cause prevented General Cadwalader from attacking the post at Mount Holly. With infinite difficulty, he got over a part of his infantry; but it being impracticable to transport the artillery, the infantry returned.t
Although in consequence of the extreme severity of the night, the plan failed in many of its parts, the success attending that assumed by General Washington in person was complete. One thousand of the enemy were made prisoners, and as many stands of arms, with six field pieces, were se- cured. About twenty of the enemy were killed, including officers. On the part of the Americans, two privates were killed, two frozen to death, and one officer, and three or four privates, were wounded.
Had the divisions of General Irvine and Cadwalader crossed the river, the British would, probably, have been swept from the banks of the Delaware,¿ and Washington would have taken a position in the Jerseys. But it was now deemed unadvisable to hazard the loss of the advantage already gained, and the general crossed the river with the prisoners and stores he had taken.
XX. The British commander was greatly astonished by this unexpected display of vigour on the part of the American General. Knowing the en- forbled condition of his army, and the expectation of its immediate dissolu- tion, he had supposed the war almost at an end; and, probably, looked for- ward to a triumph at Philadelphia, so soon as the river Delaware should be rendered passable by frost, when this energetic apparition, as if from the dead, awakened him from a delightful dream. He determined, though in the depth of winter, to recommence active operations; and Lord Cornwallis, who had retired to New York, for the purpose of embarking for Europe, suspended his departure and returned, to the Jerseys, in great force, for the purpose of regaining the ground which had been lost.
Meanwhile, Count Donop, who commanded the troops posted below
· Quere? Rahl.
! Marshall. Wash. Lett.
: How practicable this would have been, appears from the following fact. Colonel Reed, who was with the division of Cadwalader, passed the ferry with the van of the infantry. He immediately despatched some trusty persons to examine the situation of the troops at Mount Holly. The report made by his messengers was, that they had looked into several houses in which the soldiers were quartered, and had found them, generally, fast asleep, under the influence, as was conceived, of the spirituous liquors they had drauk the preceding day, which was Christmas. That there appeared to be no apprehension of danger, nor precautions against it.
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Trenton, learning the disaster which had befallen Colonel Rawle, imme- diately commenced his retreat by the road leading to Amboy, and joined General Leslie at Princeton. The next day General Cadwalader took post on the Jersey shore, with orders to harass the enemy if he could do so safely, but to put nothing to hazard until he should be joined by the continental bat- talions. General Mifflin now joined General Irvine with a detachment of Pennsylvania militia, amounting to about fifteen hundred men, who were also ordered to cross the Delaware.
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