USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey, from its discovery by Europeans, to the adoption of the federal Constitution > Part 40
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In the account given by General Campbell, he claims to have made tuo hundred and fifty-nine prisoners, among whom were one lieutenant colonel, three majors, two captains, and fifteen inferior officers.
XV. The British fleet ascended the Chesapeake Bay, and the Elk river : nad on the 25th of August, landed the army at the ferry, without a show of appe. tion. Their whole force was computed at eighteen thousand men, in good health and spirits, trained to the service, abundantly supplied with the materiel of war, and led by a general of experience and military talent. If it were dela. cient in aught, it was in horses, which had suffered much during the preceding winter, and in the long voyage from New York to the Elk river.
Great effort was made to increase the American army. The militia n. ponded to the call of their country in greater numbers than could be armed. The whole force was estimated at fifteen thousand, but the effectives, at & t more than eleven thousand. Morgan's regiment of riffemen having been e nt to the northern army, a light corps was formed by detachments from each brigade, and put under the command of General Maxwell; who, during the preceding winter, had acquired reputation as a partisan officer. This corps was thrown in advance of the American army, but was driven m la a co- lun under Lord Cornwallis with considerable loss. The conduct of Gene. ral Maxwell was much condemned by his officers, but he was acquitted of blame by a court-martial. Washington felt and deplored the absence of Mor- gan and his rifle corps. On the 3d of September, the British were encamped with their right about Pencader, with their left extending across Christiana creek, towards Newark. On the 5th, the whole American army, except the light infantry, took position behind Red Clay creek, having its lett at Now . port, on the Christiana, and on the road leading directly from the camp of Sir William Howe to Philadelphia. On the sth, the main body of the enemy advanced by Newark upon the right of the American encampment, and towin post within four miles of that place; whilst a strong column made a show of
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attacking in front, and after manœuvring for some time, halted at Milton, within two miles of the centre. General Washington perceived that the column in front was designed only to amuse, whilst the left should endeavour to turn his right, and, suddenly crossing the Brandywine, seize the heights on the north of that river, and cut off his communication with Philadelphia. To prevent this, he moved during the night over the Brandywine, and took post next morning behind the river, at Chad's Ford. The light corps under General Maxwell, was advanced in front, and the Pennsylvania militia under ' General Armstrong, were placed at a ford two miles below Chad's; the right extended some miles above that place, with a view to other passes deemed less practicable. In this position, the general awaited the movement of his adversary.
On the morning of the 11th, the whole British army advanced on the road leading over Chad's Ford, and the Americans prepared to defend the passage of the river. Some sharp skirmishing between the advanced column under Knyphausen, and the light corps of Maxwell, took place on either side, below the ford, with little damage to either party. About 11 o'clock, Washington, instructed that a division of the enemy had marched up the country, on the south of the Brandywine, formed the bold design of detaching Sullivan and Stirling to fall on its left, while he should cross the ford, and with the centre and left wing attack Knyphausen. At the critical moment, unhappily, erro- neous intelligence was received that the movement of the British on the left, was a feint only; and about two o'clock, it was ascertained that a column, led by Cornwallis, having taken a circuit of seventeen miles, had passed the river above its forks, and was advancing in great force. The divisions of Sullivan, Stirling, and Stephens, marched to meet it; and that lately com- manded by Lincoln, now by Wayne, remained at Chad's Ford, with Max- well's corps, to check Knyphausen; whilst Green's division, and General Washington in person, formed a reserve and took a central position.
The divisions detached against Cornwallis, had scarcely formed on ad- vantagcous ground, above Birmingham meeting-house, when the attack com- menced, at about half past four o'clock, and was for a season firmly sustained. The American right first gave way, exposing the flank of the remaining di- visions to a galling fire; and in a short time, the whole line was routed. General Washington pressed forward to support this wing, but arrived only in time to check the pursuit. This service was efficiently rendered by a Pennsylvania regiment under Colonel Stewart, and a Virginia regiment under Colonel Stephens. Whilst the right was thus engaged, Knyphausen forced the ford. The whole American army retreated that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadelphia. Its loss was estimated at three hundred killed and six hundred wounded, and three or four hundred, principally of the wounded, made prisoners. That sustained by the enemy was reported at one hundred killed, and four hundred wounded. Among the wounded of the Americans, were Brigadier-general Woodford, and the Marquis de La Fayette.
XVI. The disposition to risk another battle was general, on the part of Congress, and the army. An opinion prevailed, which was carefully che- rished, that the British had gained, only, the ground. Fifteen hundred conti- nenial troops were ordered from Peck's-kill, and directions given to the nii- litia of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the remaining adjacent country, to march to the aid of the army, whilst due measures were taken to complete the defences of the Delaware river.
Sir William Howe, lay on the night of the 11th, on the field of battle. On the succeeding day, Major-general Grant, with two brigades, took post at Concord meeting-house. On the 13th, Lord Cornwallis having united with
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Grant, marched towards Chester. Another detachment seized Wilmington, whither the wounded were escorted.
XVII. On the 15th, the American army was again collected, and intend- ing to gain the left of the British, had reached the Warren tavern, on the Lancaster road, when intelligence was received of the approach of the enemy. Washington hastened to meet, and attack him in front. Both arnies, eager for battle, had scarce engaged, when they were separated by a tremendous storm of rain, which rendered the retreat of the Americans indispensable. The wretched condition of their arms, produced, at all times, an inequality be. tween them and the British; and, on this occasion, caused them the most it- minent peril. Such was the effect of the rain upon the muskets and cartridge boxes, that of the former, scarce one in a regiment could be fired; and m the latter, of forty rounds per man, scarce one was fit for use. The retreat was continued all the day, and the greater part of the night, through a cold and most distressing rain, and very decp roads, to the Yellow Springs; and subsequently, to Warwick Furnace, on French Creek.
The weather, which compelled the flight of the American, arrested the progress of the British, army; and, until the 18th, it made no other move. ment, than to unite the columnns. It then took post at Trydrithin, whener a party was detached to destroy a magazine of flour and other stores, at the Valley Forge. The American commander, as soon as circumstances would permit, ordered General Wayne to join General Smallwood, in the rear of the enemy; and, carefully concealing himself and his movements, to seize any occasion which might offer, to engage them with advantage. Mean- while, he himself crossed the Schuylkill at Parker's ferry, and encamped on both sides of Perkiomen Creek; posting detachments at the several fords, by which it was presumed the enemy would attempt a passage.
XVIII. Wayne had taken a position near the Paoli tavern, about three miles in the rear of the left wing of the British. Notwithstanding his precautions he was betrayed by some of the disaffected inhabitants; and about eleven o'clock of the night of the twentieth, was surprised by a party of the enemy under Major-general Gray. His pickets were driven in, and gave the first intima- tion of Gray's approach. Wayne, instantly, formed his division ; and whilst his right was fiercely assailed, directed a retreat by the left, under cover of a few regiments, who, for a short time, withstood the shock. The British, aided by the light of the American fires, put to death three hundred of his troops, by the free and exclusive use of the bayonet ; sustaining a loss, themselves, of eight men, only. In consequence of animadversions on his conduct, Wayne demanded a court-martial, which unanimously acquatrd him with honour.
XIX. Sir William Howe marched from his position, along the valley road to the Schuylkill, and encamped on the banks of the river, his line extending to French Creek, along the front of the American army. This arrange. ment seeming to threaten Reading, which contained a large depot of stores, Washington changed his position and marched towards Pottsgrove, with his left above, but near, the British right. This movement left the roads to Philadelphia open to the enemy, and the capture of the city could be prevented, only, by an engagement. Though urged to this, by public opi- nion, Washington prudently declined it. His forces were not concentrated. Wayne and Smallwood had not joined him, nor had he received the Jersey militia he expected under General Dickenson. Of the actual state of his army, it may be enough to say, that more than a thousand of his troops were barefooted, and had performed the late evolutions in that condition. The want of necessaries was such, that Colonel Hamilton, one of the gene. ral's aids, had been authorized and employed to take forcible possession of 2 1
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such linen, woollens, shoes, spirits, and other stores, as might be found in Philadelphia, giving certificates of quantity and value to the owners. "Your own prudence," said the general to him, " will point out the least exceptiona- ble means to be pursued ; but remember, delicacy and a strict adherence to the ordinary mode of application must give place to our necessities." But no effort could obtain a supply for the pressing and growing wants of the army. . The duty of securing the public stores, was, also, assigned to Colonel Hamilton, which he executed by transporting them up the Delaware. On the twenty-sixth of September, Lord Cornwallis, at the head of the British and Hessian grenadiers, entered Philadelphia, and the main body of the British army encamped at Germantown.
XX. On the loss of the battle of the Brandywine, Congress resolved to remove to Lancaster. At this town they assembled on the twenty-seventh of the month, and soon after adjourned to Yorktown.
XXI. To the secure possession of the city and the comfort of his army, General Howe found the free navigation of the Delaware indispensable. But of this, he was wholly debarred by the fortifications, of Fort Mifflin, on Mud Island, at the confluence of the Schuylkill and the Delaware, and of Red Bank on the eastern shore; and by the chevaux de frise sunk in the chan- nel, between these batteries, and at a point three miles below, opposite to Byllingsport, where some imperfect works had been erected for their pro- tection. Whilst these defences were maintained, Howe could not communi- cate with his fleet ; and the American vessels in the river, above the forts, would prevent him from foraging and obtaining provisions in New Jersey ; whilst the army of Washington might cut off his supplies from Pennsylvania. The disadvantages resulting from the vessels, however, were soon diminished by the capture of the Delaware frigate, the largest of them.
Some British ships of war were already in the Delaware, and Captain Hammond, who commanded one of them, represented, that the possession of the fort at Byllingsport, which was feebly garrisoned, would enable him to raise the lower line of obstructions, and admit the fleet to Fort Mifflin. On the twenty-ninth of September, Colonel Stirling, with two regiments, cap- tured it, without opposition ; the garrison, on his approach, having spiked the artillery, and fired the barracks, withdrew without discharging a gun. This service performed, the detachment returned to Chester. On the third of October, another regiment was called from Germantown to Philadelphia, with orders to unite, on the next day, with Colonel Stirling.
Washington had now received all the reinforcements he expected; con- sisting of nine hundred continental troops from Peck's-kill, under General M.Dougal ; about . six hundred militia from Jersey, under Brigadier-general Forman, (General Dickenson having been detained by the apprehension of a second invasion from New York) and about eleven hundred from Maryland, under General Smallwood. His effective strength, rank and file, amounted to eight thousand continental troops and three thousand militia. With this force, he, on the thirtieth of September, took a position on the Skippack road, twelve miles from the enemy's camp, sixteen from Germantown, and twenty from Philadelphia. The line of encampment of the British army crossed Germantown at right angles with the main street, somewhat south of its centre, the left wing extending to the Schuylkill. Lord Cornwallis continued at Philadelphia.
Washington observing this division of the British force, formed the design of surprising the camp at Germantown, and thus giving a blow, which might decide the fate of the war. He proposed a simultaneous attack upon the wings, front and rear, which should be suddenly and vigorously made, and from which, the troops might expeditiously retreat, if it were unsuccessful.
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Pursuant to his plan, the divisions of Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Con- way's brigade, were ordered to enter Germantown, by the way of Chesnut Hill, while General Armstrong, with the Pennsylvania militia, should fall down the Manatawny or Ridge road, and gain the British left, and by Van- deering's or Robinson's Mill, attack its rear: the divisions of Greene and Stephens, flanked by M'Dougal's brigade, to take a circuit by way of the Limekiln road, and entering the town at the market house, attack the right wing: the militia of Maryland and Jersey, under Generals Smallwood and Forman, to march by the Old York road, and turning the right, to fall on its rear: the division of Lord Stirling, and the brigades of Nash and Max- well to form a corps de reserve : and parties of cavalry silently to scour the roads to prevent observation, and to keep up the communication between the heads of the columns.
XXII. With these dispositions the army moved on the third of October, about seven in the afternoon. About sunrise the next morning, the advance of the column led by Sullivan, encountered and drove in a picket placed at Mount Airy, or Mr. Allen's house.
The main body followed close, driving before it the fortiethi regiment, commanded by Colonel Musgrave, until that officer threw himself, with six companies, into the large stone house of Mr. Chew, from which they galled the Americans, with a heavy and constant fire of musketry. Some attempts to storm this house, and an effort to bring a field piece to bear upon it, broke the line of the right wing, and with the darkness caused by an extraordinary fog, threw it into great confusion. The column led by Greene, arrived on its ground, and commenced an attack on the light infantry, in front of the British right wing. It was at first successful, and after driving in the pickets, forced the battalion of light infantry to give way.
The country through which the army was advancing, abounded with many small and strong enclosures, which broke the line, in every direction ; the fog obscured surrounding objects, and the commander-in-chief, could neither observe nor correct the confusion that commenced. The causes which separated the regiments, prevented them from discerning the situation of the enemy, and from improving the first impression, and directing their after efforts to advantage. The attacks on the flanks and rear were not made. The Pennsylvania militia came in view of the chasseurs, who flanked the left of the British line, but did not engage them, closely. The Maryland and Jersey militia just showed themselves, on the right flank, about the time Greene's column was commencing a retreat.
These embarrassments gave the British time to recover from the conster- nation into which they had been thrown. Knyphausen, who commanded their left, detached one battalion to support the chasseurs; and part of the third and fourth brigades, under Generals Gray and Agnew, to attack the front of the column led by Sullivan, which had penetrated far into the village. Scott's and Muhlenberg's brigades were surrounded and made prisoners. The broken parts mistook each other for the enemy, and, whilst warmly engaged and sanguine of success, the main body of the army began to retreat. Washington was compelled to relinquish a victory he thought within his grasp, and to endeavour to secure his army. His retreat was, however, made withont loss ; the enemy being unable to pursue. In the battle, about two hundred were killed and six hundred wounded. The principal damage was sustained from Chew's house, and in Germantown. About four hun- dred were made prisoners. Among the killed was General Nash of North Carolina ; and among the prisoners, Colonel Matthews of Virginia. The British loss, as stated by General Howe, was one hundred killed and four hundred wounded. Among the former were Brigadier-general Agnew and
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Colonel Bird. The grenadiers in Philadelphia, under Cornwallis, hastened to the field of battle on the first alarm, running the whole. distance, and reaching it, as the action terminated.
The American army retreated, the same day, about twenty miles, to the Perkiomen Creek; but soon after, resumed its former encampment on the Skippack.
XXIII. Immediately after the battle of Brandywine, New Jersey was re- quired to furnish the army with reinforcements of militia, and General Put- nam to detach fifteen hundred continental troops; and, at the same time, to cover the Jerseys with an equal number. The militia of Connecticut were relied upon to supply the vacuum in the posts on the North river, occa- sioned by these heavy draughts. These troops were, however, detained by the demonstrations made from New York. Sir Henry Clinton who commanded there, supposed, that, an alarm might serve both Howe and Burgoyne, by diverting, for a time, the aids which were designed for Wash- ington and Gates. With this view, he entered East Jersey, at the head of three thousand men, by the way of Elizabethtown Point and Fort Lee; the columns uniting at the New Bridge, above Hackensack, on the twelfth of September. They encountered little opposition, and collected, on their way, large quantities of fresh provisions. About the fifteenth, observing that the continental troops under M.Dougal were approaching, and that, Gene- ral Dickenson, with great exertion, was assembling the Jersey militia, he returned to New York and Staten Island, having lost in the excursion, only eight men killed and sixteen wounded. The supply of militia, for the conti- nental army, collected very slowly, notwithstanding the efforts of Governor Livingston and General Dickenson. Accustomed to judge for themselves, they declared, that the danger of another invasion, rendered their services essential on the eastern frontier. Five or six hundred, however, crossed the Delaware at Philadelphia, about the time Sir William Howe passed the Schuylkill, and were employed in the removal of stores. As the enemy ap- proached the city they retired from it, by the Frankford road; but the com- manding officer having separated himself from his corps, was captured by a small party of the British light horse; on which the regiment dispersed and made its way, by different roads, to New Jersey. With much labour Ge- neral Dickenson had collected two other corps, amounting to nine hundred men, with whom he was about to cross the Delaware, when he received intelligence of the arrival from Europe, of an additional force at New York. He returned, himself, with part of his levies, from Trenton toward Elizabethtown, whilst the remainder proceeded to Pennsylvania, under Ge. . neral Forman; but they, immediately after the battle of Germantown, were discharged.
XXIV. The attention of both commanders was, now, almost wholly given to the Delaware ;- the one to remove, the other to sustain, the impediments to its navigation. Lord Howe had early brought round the ships of war and transports from the Chesapeake, and they were stretched along the Delaware shore from Reedy Island to Newcastle. But, although, with great difficulty, the cheraux de frise had been raised from the channel opposite to Byllings- port, so as to admit the passage of vessels of force, it was impracticable to proceed above the line from Fort Mifflin to Fort Mercer, or Red Bank. Every effort was consequently made for the destruction of these forts. Batteries were erected on the Pennsylvania shore, to play upon Mud Island, whilst a fierce attack was directed against the redoubts on the Jersey shore.
XXV. On the twenty-first of October, Colonel Count Donop, a distin- guished German officer crossed the Delaware at Cooper's Ferry, at the head
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of a detachment of Hessians, amounting to about twelve hundred men, in order to proceed the next day to the attack of Red Bank.
It was part of the plan, that, so soon as the assault should commence, a heavy cannonade on Fort Miffim should be made from the batteries on the Pennsylvania shore; and that the Vigilant ship of war, should pass through a narrow channel between Hog Island, next below Mud Island, and the Maine, so as to attack the fort in the rear. Meanwhile, to divert the atten- tion of the garrison and marine force, from the Vigilant, and other snous attacks, the advanced frigates, with the Isis and Augusta, were to approach Fort Mifflin in front, by the main channel, as far as the impediments would admit, and to batter the works.
The fortifications at Red Bank consisted of extensive outer works, within which, was an intrenchment eight or nine feet high, boarded and fraized, on which Colonel Greene of Rhode Island, the commander, had bestowed great labour. Late in the evening of the 22d, Count Donop attacked it with great intrepidity ; it was defended with cqual resolution. The outer works being too extensive to be manned by the garrison, which did not exceed five hun- dred men, were only used to gall the assailants; and on their near approach, were abandoned by the Americans, who retired within the inner intrench. ment, whence they poured upon the Hessians, pressing on with great gal. lantry, a most destructive fire. Colonel Donop, Icading his troops, received a mortal wound, and Lieutenant-colonel Mingcrode, second in command, fell about the same time. Lieutenant-colonel Linsing drew off the detachment; and being favoured by the darkness of the night, collected many of the wounded. He marched about five miles that night, and returned next day to Philadelphia. The loss of the assailants was estimated at four hundred men. The garrison, reinforced from Fort Mifflin, and aided by the gallies, which flanked the Hessians both advancing and retreating, fought under cover, and lost only thirty-two, killed and wounded. It would appear from the statement given by General Howe of this enterprise, that the inner works could not be carried without scaling ladders, which had not been fur- nished.
In performance of the part of the plan allotted to the navy, the Augusta, a sixty-four gun ship, the Merlin sloop of war, and four smaller vessels, strove to get within cannon shot of Fort Mitllin. But the two first got aground, and were, on the next day, sct on fire and abandoned. The Augusta blew up. The repulse of the Hessians from Fort Mercer, and the able defence of Co- lonel Smith, at Fort Mitllin, inspired Congress with hopes, that these posts might be permanently maintained; and that body voted a sword to each of these officers, and one to Commodore. Hazlewood, who commanded the gal- lies, as a testimony of the national gratitude.
XXVI. On the march of Donop to Jersey, Washington presumed, that his design was not to carry Fort Mercer by storm, but regularly to invest it. Immediate efforts were, therefore, made to get out the Jersey militia; but owing to the perpetual calls for service, on the eastern frontier, and there being, at the moment, no governor in the state, the gubernatorial term having expired before the re-election, a very inefficient force was gotten into the field ; and had not General Dickenson ventured to give orders by his own authority, none would have been put in motion. Unable to obtain a sufficient aid from Jersey, Washington, on the twenty-ninth of October, sent over some Penn- sylvania militia; and a few days after, General Varnum, with his bri- gade, were posted about Woodbury, having orders to relieve and reinforce both forts, as his strength would permit. General Forman, with such militia as could be brought into the field, was directed to join him.
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