USA > New Jersey > The history of New Jersey : from its earliest settlement to the present time : including a brief historical account of the first discoveries and settlement of the country, Vol. II > Part 5
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Immediately after the battle of Brandywine, New Jersey was required to furnish the army with reinforcements of militia, and General Putnam to detach fifteen hundred continental troops, and at the same time to cover the State with an equal number. Sir Henry Clinton entered East Jersey at the head of three thousand men by way of Elizabethport and Fort Lee, the columns uniting at the New Bridge, above Hackensack, on the 12th. They encountered but little opposition, and on their way gathered up a large quantity of fresh provisions, but about the 15th, observing the Continental troops under General Mc- Dougall approaching, and that General Dickinson, with great exertion, was assembling the New Jersey militia, he returned to New York and Staten Island, having lost only eight men killed and sixteen wounded.
Five or six hundred American troops crossed the Delaware at Philadelphia, but seeing the enemy, under Sir William Howe, approach it, they retired by the Frankford road ; but the com- manding officer having separated himself from them, was cap- tured by a small party of the British light horse, upon which the regiment dispersed by different roads to New Jersey.
With much labor General Dickinson had collected two other corps, in all nine hundred men, and was about to cross the Del- aware, when he learned of the arrival from Europe of an addi- tional force at New York. He returned with a part of his levies from Trenton towards Elizabethtown, while the remainder, under General Forman, proceeded to Pennsylvania, and were immediately after the battle of Germantown discharged.
The attention of both commanders was now almost wholly
* "Our Whole Country," by Barber and Howe, page 74.
שללטל*
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given to the Delaware : the one to remove, the other to sustain the impediments to its navigation. Lord Howe had brought around the transports and ships of war, and they were stretched along the Delaware, from Reedy Island to New Castle. Count Donop, a distinguished German officer, crossed the Delaware on the 21st of October with about twelve hundred Hessians, intend- ing to proceed the next day to attack the Americans at Red Bank.
But this place was strongly fortified, having extensive outer works, and inside an entrenchment eight or nine feet high, boarded and fraised. Upon this fortification Colonel Greene had bestowed great labor in order to make it as secure as pos- sible. Count Donop attacked it with great boldness late in the evening of the 22d, and it was as resolutely defended. The gar- rison did not consist of more than five hundred men, and they were therefore unable to man these extensive outer works, and on the near approach of the enemy, the Americans were com- pelled to abandon them and retire to the inner works, from which they poured upon the Hessians a most galling and destructive fire. Count Donop received a mortal wound, and Lieutenant- Colonel Mingerode, the second in command, was killed. The detachment was drawn off by Lieutenant-Colonel Linsing, and in the darkness of the night they collected many of the wounded. He marched about five miles that night, and the next day re- turned to Philadelphia. His loss was estimated at about four hundred men, while the loss of the Americans was only thirty- two killed and wounded.
During the winter of 1777-78 the sufferings of the troops were terrible, for want of proper clothing as well as food, which disabled them from keeping the field. The returns of the first of February showed three thousand nine hundred and eighty- nine men in camp unfit for duty for want of clothes, scarcely one of whom had shoes, and even among those returned fit for duty, very mány were so poorly clad that the exposure to the colds of the season would have destroyed them; and although the total of the army at that time exceeded seventeen thousand men, only five thousand and twelve were effective for duty. Nakedness, unhealthy food, and hunger filled the hospitals, and
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many of them were removed by death. They were crowded in small apartments, and a violent putrid fever raged among them, carrying many off. This condition of the troops was unknown to Sir William Howe; if he had taken the field while they were in this condition, the results would have been disastrous. Upon the opening of spring the British commander designed to relieve his own army as well as to distress ours; he therefore in the month of March sent Colonel Mawhood and Major Simcoe, at the head of twelve hundred men, into this State. Their place of landing was at Salem, where they dispersed the small bodies of militia stationed in that neighborhood under Colonels Hand and Holme. These were posted at Quinton's Bridge, Alloway's Creek, to prevent the British from forcing a passage. Colonel Shreve was ordered into New Jersey to aid in protecting the country, and upon his arrival at Haddonfield, the militia who had assembled to aid him and intercept the communication of the enemy with Philadelphia amounted to less than one hundred men.
. Mawhood wrote to Colonel Hand, proposing to draw off his troops and refrain from further injury to the country, and pay for the forage and cattle he had taken, upon condition that the militia would lay down their arms and depart for their homes, . and that upon their refusing to do this he would arm the Tories, attack all persons found in arms, burn their dwellings, and sub- ject their families to the utmost distress. This proposition was rejected by Colonel Hand with indignation, whereupon the British Colonel put his threat into execution. The attempt to reinforce Colonel Shreve proved a failure, as not more than two hundred men could be collected together.
In February, 1778, Lord North proposed a plan in the House of Commons to conciliate the colonies, and as he stated, to put an end to the war. This was caused by the part the French nation had taken in the war on the part of America. To effect his purpose he introduced two bills, one called "A bill for removing all doubts and apprehensions concerning taxation by the Parliament of Great Britain in any of the colonies and plan- tations in North America," and another, " To enable his Majesty to appoint commissioners with sufficient powers to treat, consult,
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and agree upon the means of quieting the disorders now subsist- ing in certain of the colonies of America." The first declared that Parliament would impose no duty payable in America except such as might be expedient for the purposes of commerce, the net produce of which should be paid and applied for the use of the colony in which it should be levied, as other duties collected under authority of the Legislature. The second authorized the appointment of commissioners by the Crown, with powers to treat either with the constituted authorities or with individuals in America ; but that the stipulations which might be entered into should be subject to the approval of Parliament. They were also empowered to proclaim a cessation of hostilities in any of the colonies; to suspend the operation of the non-intercourse law, and during the continuance of the act, so much of all or any of the acts of Parliament which had passed since the Ioth of February, 1773, relating to the colonies ; to grant pardon to any number or description of persons ; and to appoint a governor in any colony in which his Majesty had heretofore made such . appointments. The last act was limited to the first of June, 1779. These acts were almost unanimously passed by Parlia- ment, but they came too late, and were considered by the colonists as insults, for matters had progressed so far that no alternative was left, and they were determined to prosecute the war to a successful issue, and had adopted the motto of " VIC- TORY OR DEATH ;" much life and treasure had been expended ; the American people had been fully aroused, and the country was now united, and therefore no backward step would be taken ; their independence had been declared to the world, and they determined to maintain it to the end, as they had pledged before Almighty God and the world to maintain it, " with their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honors."
Before these bills were passed the treaty with France had been ratified, and Monsieur Girard, who had negotiated the treaties between that country and the United States, arrived at Philadel- phia as minister plenipotentiary, which produced unbounded joy both among the people and Congress, by whom he was received with every demonstration of respect.
Congress without any hesitation rejected the propositions of the mother country.
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As soon as it was ascertained as to the course France intended to adopt in the war, and the extent of the naval force she had prepared, the British saw that Philadelphia city was a dangerous position, and therefore determined to abandon the Delaware.
It was for a time uncertain to what point the enemy was des- tined, but it soon became apparent they intended to reach New York through the State of New Jersey.
General Washington therefore ordered General Maxwell with the New Jersey brigade to establish himself at Mount Holly, and to unite with Major-General Dickinson for the purpose of breaking down the bridges, felling trees in the road, and other- wise embarrassing the march of the British General.
The British army crossed the Delaware on the ISth of June, 1777, and as soon as that fact was learned General Washington convened a council of his general officers to determine as to the best course to pursue.
The two armies were nearly equal at this time, the numerical strength being with the Americans, they having between ten and eleven thousand, and the British ten thousand men.
In this council there were seventeen general officers. Gene- rals Wayne and Cadwalader were alone decidedly in favor of an immediate attack, to which opinion General Lafayette had a leaning, though he did not openly express it. The opinion of the officers being so strongly against it, it was therefore resolved not to risk a battle.
Sir Henry Clinton moved with great caution, expecting an attack from our army. He proceeded through Haddonfield, Mount Holly, Slabtown, and Crosswicks, to Allentown and Imlaystown, reaching the latter place on the 24th.
Generals Dickinson and Maxwell retired before him, destroy- ing the bridges as they went. Clinton followed up the Delaware until he reached Crosswicks. General Washington in order to avoid him made an extensive circuit, and crossed the river at Coryell's Ferry on the 22d, and remained one day at Hopewell, among the hills adjacent to the river, after which he proceeded to the Highlands, on the Hudson River.
General Arnold, who was still suffering from his wounds, and unable to perform active duty in the field, was ordered to Phila-
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delphia, from which place he detached four hundred Continental troops to harass the enemy in the rear. The Commander-in- Chief confided this service to General Cadwalader, who added to his force already in the field fifty volunteers and forty militia commanded by General Lacy. From Hopewell, Morgan with six hundred riflemen, was detached to annoy the enemy on the right flank, while Dickinson with one thousand New Jersey militia, and Maxwell's brigade were to annoy them on the left.
General Washington, who had rather acquiesced in than ap- proved the decision of the late council of war, and was rather disposed to seek battle than otherwise, again submitted the pro- posal to the consideration of his general officers, by whom it was negatived. But by the advice of the council, Brigadier- General Scott, with a chosen body of fifteen hundred men, was added to the corps on the left flank of the enemy. But Wash- ington, supported by the wishes of some officers whom he highly valued, determined on his own responsibility to bring on a gen- eral engagement.
The enemy being on the march to Monmouth Court-house, he determined to strengthen the force on his lines, and de- spatched General Wayne with an additional corps of one thou- sand men. The troops now in front of the enemy amounted to four thousand. General Lee was appointed to conduct this ser- vice, but he was opposed to even hazarding a partial engagement, and therefore yielded the command to General Lafayette. All the Continental troops were placed under his direction, to act in concert with General Dickinson, and to take such measures as would most effectually impede the march of the enemy and occasion them the greatest loss. The intention of the Com- ' mander-in-Chief in these measures was to bring on a general engagement. This was earnestly advised by General Wayne, while Lafayette inclined towards a partial engagement. Colonel Hamilton was desirous of accomplishing all the wishes of Wash- ington.
On the 26th the main army moved to Cranberry for the pur- pose of supporting the advance. The weather was intensely hot, a heavy storm set in, which prevented the army proceeding fur- ther the next day, besides there was a temporary scarcity of pro- visions.
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The advanced corps had pressed forward and taken a position on the Monmouth road, about five miles in the enemy's rear, their intention being to attack them on the following morning. They were now too remote, and too far to the right of the enemy to be properly supported in case of action, and General Lafayette filed off by his left towards Englishtown, which place he reached on the 27th.
General Lee had declined the command of the advance party, supposing that it was not in condition for effective service, but as he saw, soon after its advance, that much importance was attached to it, and fearing that his reputation might suffer, he earnestly requested to be placed at its head. In order to relieve his feelings, without at the same time wounding those of Lafay- ette, General Washington detached the former, with two other brigades, to support the Marquis. Lee would in this case have the direction of the whole front division, which at this time amounted to five thousand men, but he promised that if Lafayette · had formed any enterprise it should be executed the same as though the commanding officer had not been changed.
Sir Henry Clinton had taken a strong position on the high grounds about Monmouth Court-house, with his right flank in the edge of a small wood, and his left was secured by a heavy woods, and towards his rear was a morass. His entire front was protected by a woods, and there was a morass extending a con- siderable distance, while about twelve miles from him was the high grounds about Middletown, which he knew if he could reach he would be perfectly secure.
General Washington determined to attack him in the rear as soon as he should move from his ground. He communicated these facts to General Lee and ordered him to keep his troops constantly lying on their arms in order to be in readiness to take advantage of their first movement. The same orders were given to the first division.
On the 28th, about five o'clock in the morning, General Dickinson communicated the intelligence that the front of the enemy was in motion, which immediately put our troops in motion, and Lee was directed to move on and attack them in the rear, and that the main army would march to his support.
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These instructions were to be carried out unless there should be strong reasons to the contrary. Whereupon, Sir Henry Clinton learning that the Americans were in his neighborhood, changed the order of his march, and about eight o'clock in the morning he descended from the heights of Freehold into a plain about three miles in extent, taking up his line of march in the rear of the front division.
General Lee disposed his troops to execute his orders ; and soon after the rear of the enemy was in motion, prepared to attack it. General Dickinson detached some of his best troops to cooperate with him, and Morgan was to act on the right flank of the enemy, but he was ordered to use sufficient caution that he might readily extricate himself and form a junction with the main body.
Soon after the enemy had left the heights of Freehold Lee appeared, and following the British into the plain, gave orders to Wayne to attack their covering party sufficiently to halt them, but not to force up their main body, or to allow them to draw reinforcements from thence to aid them. After which his in- tention was to get on their front by a shorter road on their left, and thereby intercept their communicating with their line, and by that means bear them off before they could be able to gain assistance from the rest of their forces.
While this design was being executed, one of General Wash- ington's suite came up to gain intelligence in reference to his . contemplated movements, to whom Lee made known his present object ; but Sir Henry Clinton, while his rear division was in full march, observed a division of the American army on his left flank, and being militia he soon dispersed them.
When the rear guard of Clinton had descended from the hills it was followed by a strong corps ; soon after which a cannonade upon it was commenced by some pieces commanded by Colonel Oswald, and at the same time he received intelligence that a respectable force had shown itself on both his flanks. Believing a design to have been formed on his baggage, which in the defiles would be exposed, he determined, in order to secure it, to attack the troops in his rear so vigorously as to compel them to call of the troops on his flanks. In order to accomplish this
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he had to march back his entire rear division, which movement he was making as Lee advanced for the purpose of reconnoiter- ing, to the front of the wood adjoining the plain. He soon perceived himself to have mistaken the force which formed the rear of the British, but yet he proposed to engage them on that ground ; but when an inquiry into his conduct had afterwards . been made, he stated that his judgment disapproved the course he had pursued, as there was a morass immediately in his rear, which could not be passed without difficulty, and which would also necessarily impede the arrival of reinforcements to aid him, and should he be finally overpowered, embarrass his retreat.
While both armies were preparing for action, about ten o'clock in the morning, General Scott, as stated by Lee, mistook an oblique march of an American column for a retreat, and fearful of being abandoned, left his position and repassed the ravine in his rear, as he entertained the opinion that the ground on which the army was drawn up was by no means favorable to them. . Lee did not correct the error Scott had committed, but directed the whole detachment to regain the heights they had passed. He was pressed by the enemy, and some slight skirmishing ensued during this retrograde movement, but not much loss was sustained on either side.
When the commencement of the action was announced by the first firing, the rear division threw away all unnecessary luggage and rapidly advanced to support the front. As they approached the scene of action, Washington, who had received no intelli- gence from Lee notifying him of the retreat, rode forward and about noon, after the army had marched five miles, to his utter astonishment and mortification, met the advanced corps retiring before the enemy without having made a single effort to main- tain their ground. Those whom he first fell in with neither understood the motives which had governed General Lee, nor his present design, and could give no other information than that by his orders they had fled without fighting.
Washington then rode to the rear of the division, which was closely pressed. There he met Lee, to whom he spoke in terms of some warmth, and implied disapprobation of his conduct. He also gave immediate orders to the regiments commanded by
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Colonel Stewart and Lieutenant-Colonel Ramsey to form on a piece of ground which he deemed proper for the purpose of checking the enemy, who were advancing rapidly on them. General Lee was then directed to take proper measures with the residue of his force to stop the British column on that ground, and the Commander-in-Chief rode back himself to arrange the rear division of the army.
These orders were executed with firmness. A sharp conflict ensued, and when forced from the ground on which he had been placed, Lee brought off his troops in good order, and was then directed to form in the rear of Englishtown.
The check thus given the enemy afforded time to draw up the left wing and second line of the American army on an eminence, partly in a wood and partly in an open field covered by a morass in front. Lord Stirling, who commanded the left wing, brought up a detachment of artillery under Lieutenant-Colonel Carring- ton, with some field-pieces, which played with considerable effect on the enemy, who had passed the morass, and were pressing on to the charge. These pieces, with the aid of several parties of infantry detached for the purpose, effectually put a stop to their : advance. The American artillery were drawn up in the open field, and maintained their ground with remarkable firmness, under a heavy and persevering fire from the British.
The right wing for the day was commanded by General Na- thaniel Greene. To expedite the march and to prevent the enemy from turning the right flank, he had been ordered to file off by the Tennent Church, two miles from Englishtown, and to fall into the Monmouth road, a short distance in the rear of the Court-house at Freehold, while the residue of the army proceeded directly to that place. He had advanced on this road consider- ably to the right of, and rather beyond the grounds on which the armies were now engaged, when he was informed of the retreat of Lee, and of the new disposition of the troops, when he immediately changed his route, and took an advantageous position on the right.
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CHAPTER XXII.
1777-1779.
Battle of Monmouth continued-Advantages gained by the battle -- Washington receives the thanks of Congress for his victory at Monmouth-Lee court-martialed-Sentenced to be suspended for one year-Molly Pitcher-Her bravery-Atrocities by refugees -Captain Joshua Huddy-Retaliatory articles.
A FTER Greene had changed his position, the enemy being warmly opposed in front, attempted to turn the left flank of the American army, but in this they were repulsed and driven back by parties of our infantry. They next attempted the right, but met with no better success. General Greene had advanced a body of troops with artillery, to a commanding piece of ground in front of the enemy, which not only prevented their carrying out their design of turning our right, but severely enfiladed the party which yet remained in front of the left wing. At this moment General Wayne advanced with a body of infantry in front who kept up so hot and well-directed a fire of musketry, that the British soon gave way, and withdrew behind the ravine to the ground on which their first halt had been made. Here the British line was formed on very strong ground. Both flanks were secured by thick woods and morasses, while their front could be reached only through a narrow pass. The day had been intensely hot, and the troops were much fatigued. Still Washington resolved to renew the engagement. For this pur- pose Brigadier-General Poor, with his own and the Carolina brigade, gained the right flank of the enemy, while Woodford, with his brigade, turned their left, and the artillery advanced on them in front. But the impediments on the flanks of the enemy were so considerable, that before they could be overcome, and the troops approach near enough to commence the attack, it was nearly dark. Under these circumstances further operations were deferred until morning. The brigades on the flank kept their
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ground through the night, and the other troops lay on their arms in the field of battle, in order to be in perfect readiness to sup- port them. General Washington, who had through the day been extremely active, passed the night in his cloak, bivouacing in the midst of his soldiers.
"The British were in the meantime employed removing their wounded and burying their dead, and about midnight they marched away in such silence, that though General Poor lay near them, he was unconscious of their retreat until the morning light revealed it to him.
" As it was certain that they would gain the high grounds about Middletown before they could be overtaken, and that they could not there be attacked to advantage, as the face of the country afforded no prospect of opposing their embarkation, and as the battle already fought terminated favorably to the reputa- tion of the American arms, it was thought advisable to relinquish. the pursuit. Leaving the Jersey brigade, Morgan's corps, and McLane's command (the militia having returned to their homes immediately after the action), to hover about them, for the pur- p se of countenancing desertion, and to protect the country from their depredations, it was resolved to move the main body of the army to the Hudson, and there take a position which should effectually guard the important passes in the Highlands.
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