have something more serious in view than a mere diversion; but I am in hopes, when General McDougall comes to unite his force with the militia, General Dickinson will be strong enough effectually to make head against them.* Yesterday the enemy moved from Concord, by the Edgemont towards the Lancaster road, with evident design to gain our right flank. This obliged us to alter our position and march to this place, from whence we intend immediately to proceed to Warwic. We suffered much from the severe weather yesterday and last night, being unavoidably separated from our tents and * Sir Henry Clinton was left in the command at New York; and, as the State of New Jersey became defenceless, when the main army was withdrawn to Pennsylvania, he seized that opportunity for effecting an incursion into the country. His troops landed in four divisions, at Elizabethtown Point, Schuyler's Landing on Hackinsac River, Fort Lee, and Tappan. Generals Clinton, Vaughan, Campbell, and Skinner accompanied the expedition. The object was to drive off the cattle, and to attack any small party, that might be met with; as it was known that, in the divided state of the American army, no force of much magnitude could at this time be in Jersey. The number of troops engaged in the enterprise amounted to more than two thousand. They penetrated the country from the different points of landing, remained from the 12th to the 16th of September, and then returned to New York with a booty of four hundred cattle, four hundred sheep, and a few horses. Colonel Malcolm's regiment, then stationed at Ramapo, watched their motions, but was not in force to offer much resistance. A party under Lieutenant-Colonel Aaron Burr, of Malcom's regiment, was sent down to collect intelligence, and prevent the ravages of the enemy's small detachments. There was also skirmishing with the militia. Eight of the enemy were killed, and eighteen wounded, according to Sir Henry Clinton's account; and seventeen were taken prisoners. As soon as General Putnam heard, that the British were in Jersey, he ordered General McDougall to cross the Hudson with fifteen hundred men. The order was obeyed, but not in time to overtake the enemy. This incursion caused alarm in New Jersey, and made it necessary for General Dickinson to station at Elizabethtown and Amboy one thousand of the militia, who were intended to reinforce General Washington. - Clinton's Letter to Sir William Howe, September 23d.· Dickinson's Letter, Sep tember 17th. baggage, which not only endangers the health of the men, but has been very injurious to our arms and ammunition. These, when we arrive at Warwic, we shall endeavour, as soon as possible, to put again into a proper condition; to do which, and to refresh the men, are two principal motives for going there. I have the honor to be, &c. SIR, TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Camp, 19 September, 1777 I am much obliged to Congress for the late instance of their confidence, expressed in their resolution of the 17th, and shall be happy if my conduct in discharging the objects they had in view should be such as to meet their approbation.* I am now repassing the Schuylkill at Parker's Ford, with the main body of the army, which will be over in an hour or two, though it is deep and rapid. General Wayne, with the division under his command, is on the rear of the enemy, and will be * In the prospect of the speedy removal of Congress from Philadelphia, and the uncertainty as to the time of the next meeting, enlarged powers were delegated to the Commander-in-chief, suited to the exigency of the occasion, and involving a high responsibility.—“Resolved, that General Washington be authorized and directed to suspend all officers who misbehave, and to fill up all vacancies in the American army, under the rank of brigadiers, until the pleasure of Congress shall be communicated; to take, wherever he may be, all such provisions and other articles as may be necessary for the comfortable subsistence of the army under his command, paying or giving certificates for the same; to remove and secure, for the benefit of the owners, all goods and effects, which may be serviceable to the enemy; provided that the powers hereby vested shall be exercised only in such parts of these States as may be within the circumference of seventy miles of the head-quarters of the American army, and shall continue in force for the space of sixty days, unless sooner revoked by Congress." -Journals, September 17th. VOL. V. 9 F* As joined to-morrow or next day, I expect, by General Smallwood and Colonel Gist with their corps. * soon as the troops have crossed the river, I shall march them as expeditiously as possible towards Fatland, Swedes', and the other fords, where it is most probable the enemy will attempt to pass. When I left Germantown with the army, I hoped I should have an opportunity of attacking them, either in front or on their flank, with a prospect of success; but unhappily a variety of causes concurred to prevent it. Our march, in the first place, was greatly impeded through want of provisions, which delayed us so long that the enemy were apprized of our motions, and gained the grounds near the White Horse Tavern, with a part of their army turning our right flank, whilst another part, composing the main body, were more advanced towards our left. We should have disappointed them in their design by getting on their left; but the heavy rain, which fell on Tuesday evening and in the course of that night, totally unfitted our guns for service and nearly the whole of the ammunition with which the army had been completed a day or two before, being forty rounds a man. At first I expected that the loss was by no means so considerable, and intended only to file off with the troops a few miles to replace it and clean the arms, and then to proceed on my original plan; but on examination I found it as I have mentioned, and that we had not a sufficient supply with us to furnish the men with the necessary complement. In this situation it was judged necessary, that we should proceed as far as Reading Furnace for the security of the army. On these accounts, particularly the latter, matters have General Smallwood was coming forward with eleven hundred and fifty Maryland militia, and Colonel Gist with seven hundred. |