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complete their corps, sought for recruits among the prisoners, and ventured to hold out to them the temptations of pay, liber ty and pardon. Notwithstanding all these efforts and encourage, ments, gen. Delancey raised only 597 men."-Mr. Courtland Skinner, who is acknowledged to possess considerable influence in Jerseys, was also appointed a brigadier general, and authorized to raise five battalions, to consist of 2500 privates.-The same ef forts were made as for the raising of Delancey's corps, but Skinner's number amounted only to 517."* No sooner had gen. Howe taken the field, but the Jersey militia turned out in a very spirited manner, as though determined, in conjunction with the continentals, to harrass and oppose the royal army on their march through the country. The gen. came out as light as he could, leaving all his baggage, provisions, (except enough to subsist the troops two or three days at a time) boats and bridges at Bruns wick; which, in the judgment of general Washington, forcibly contracted the idea of an expedition toward the Delaware. Every appearance coincided to confirm the opinion, that Howe intended in the first place a stroke at his army. The American general reasoned thus: "Had their design in the first instance been to cross the Delaware, they would probably have made a strict rapid march toward it, and not have halted, as they have done to awaken our attention, and give us time to make every preparation for obstructing them+."— Of the sudden retreat of the royal army. The general wrote on the 20th," The ene my decamped the night before last, and have returned to their former position. It appears to have been in consequence of a sudden resolution, as they had raised a chain of redoubts from Somerset to Brunswick. What may have determined them to change their plan is hard to tell. Whether alarmed at the animation among the people-disappointed in the movements they may have expected us to make, thence concluding their design impracticable-or whether they may have an operation in view in some other quarter, the event must show."- -Howe's front extended to Somerset Court-house, about nine miles; his rear remained at Middle-Bush, half way between that and Bruns wick. Washington was encamped upon his right flank (as he marched) at the distance of about five miles. His troops were so disposed under Sullivan and himself, as to have been capable of giving a pretty successful opposition. When the royal army retreated back to Brunswick, they burnt and destroyed the far houses upon the road. Their cruelties to the inhabitants were

*Sir William Howe's narrative, p. 49.
+ General Washington's letter of June 17.

inexpressible.

inexpressible, they ruined and defaced every public edifice, particularly those dedicated to the Deity. They removed their bag gage to Amboy, for which place they set out on the 22d. The evening before, several pieces of information, and a variety of circumstances, made it evident to the American general, that a move was in agitation, and it was the prevailing opinion that it would be the next morning. The general therefore detached three brigades under gen. Greene, to fall upon the rear and kept the main body paraded to support them, if necessary. A party of col. Morgans light-infantry attacked, and drove the Hessian picket about sun-rise. The enemy, upon the appearance of Wayne's brigade, and Morgan's reginrent opposite Brunswick, immediately crossed the bridge to the east side of the river, and threw themselves into redoubts. The Americans advanced briskly upon them, upon which they quitted the redoubts without making opposition, and retired by the Amboy road. In the pursuit, col. Morgan's riflemen exchanged several sharp fires with the enemy which did considerable execution. From intelligence through various channels, there was reason to believe, that their loss was considerable and fell chiefly on the grenadiers and light infantry, who formed their covering party. Gen. Howe arrived at New-York on Sunday afternoon the whole of which day was employed in removing the wounded soldiers from the docks to the hospitals there, said to amount to some hundreds.* One of the American generals humorously wrote concerning Sir William Howe's returning to Brunswick by night-" Gen. Howe remained five days, and then sneaks off by night, and it is well he did for had he went by day, we could have done nothing, but have looked at him.".

• Lieut. col. Palfrey, formerly an aid-de-camp to gen. Washington, and now pay-master-general, wrote to his friend," I was at Brunswick just after the enemy had left it. Never let the British troops upbraid the Americans with want of cleanliness, for such dog kennels as their huts were my eyes never beheld. Mr. Burton's house, where lord Cornwallis resided, stunk so I could not bear to enter it: The houses were torn to pieces, and the inhabitants as well as the soldiers have suffered greatly for want of provisions."

[June 24.] Gen. Washington, upon the enemy's retreat to Amboy, with the advice of his general officers, moved the whole army to Quibble-town, that he might be nearer to the royal forces, and might act according to circumstances. The British general, after sending over from Amboy to Staten-Island, the heavy baggage and all the encumbrances of the army, ordered a number of the troops to follow; with an intention of deceiving the A* A letter to gen. Washington, Remembrancer, Vol. V. p. 269. VOL. II

C C

mericans

mericans into an opinion, that they had nothing more to appre hend from that quarter. The troops returned the evening of the 25th, and the next morning, the general advanced unexpectedly with his whole army, in two columns, from Amboy. Gen. Wash ington conjectured, that so sudden a movement, was designed ei ther to bring on a general engagement, upon terms disadvantage ous to the Americans; or to cut off their parties, and lord Sur ling's division, which had been sent down to support them: of to possess the heights and passes in the mountains on the left of the continental army. The two last were adjudged to be the first object of Howe's attention, as his march was rapid againt these parties, and indicated a strong disposition to gain the passes Upon this gen. Washington judged it absolutely neccessary to move his force from the low ground to occupy the heights be fore the enemy, which was affected with much dispatch. The enemy fell in with some of the light parties, and a part of lord Stirling's division. His lordship was in no hurry to letreat, but preferred engaging for a while, wherein he made a wrong choice, for he had nearly been cut off, by the right column under lord Cornwallis. He lost three field pieces, but the loss of men was trifling. The enemy's loss in the several skirmishes of the day, was thought to be more considerable than that of the Amen cans. The royal army continued the pursuit as far as Westfield; but the woods and intense heat of the weather prevented its ef fect. When the American general had gained the passes, he detached a body of light troops to watch their motions, and af terward ordered Morgan's riflemen to join the service. The Bri, tish remained till the next day about three in the afternoon, and then returned to Rahway and the day following to Amboy .On the 30th, at ten o'clock in the morning, the troops began to cross over to Staten-Island, and the rear guard passed at two in the afternoon, without the least appearance of an enemy. Thus they evacuated the Jerseys, to enter upon new conquests, in hope of reducing the United States to unconditional submission. Unless they can hold, when they have conquered, they will ne ver accomplish the business assigned them by the British min istry.

Let us leave gen. Howe engaged in embarking his army from Staten-Island, and preparing for some grand expedition; that we may attend to the affairs of the northern department.

Gen. Scuyler presented a memorial to congress explaining the expressions in his letter which had given them offence. They re solved, on the 8th of May, that the explanation was satisfactory, and that now they entertained the same favourable sentiments concerning him, which they entertained before that letter

was

was received. This seems to have been designedly preparative to what followed a fortnight after, when it was resolved, "That Albany, Tyconderoga, Fort Stanwix and their dependencies, be henceforth considered as forming the northern departmentthat major-general Scuyler be directed forthwith to proceed to the northern department, to take the command there." It was said that he was the only single man who could keep the NewYork subjects united against the common enemy, and that his presence was absolutely necessary for their immediate succour and service, as well as that of the United States, closely connected therewith. The New-England delegates, the president excepted, opposed his being directed to take the command, as it superseded general Gates. But they were obliged to yield to numbers, at a time when unluckily some men were absent, whỏ would otherwise have turned the scale. The choice of general Scuyler caused great boasting, though there were only five states out of eleven in favor of the measure, and others were either against it, or could not vote for want of the requisite number of delegates, or their being equally divided. There is what numbers deem a New-York party in congress, whose proceed. ings have in some instances been mysterious. An absolute order for relinquishing the western lines and Tyconderoga, was pushed for before the choice of Scuyler, but did not prevail; however it was resolved, that general Gates should be empowered to abandon Tyconderoga at pleasure.

It was incumbent on the states of New-Hampshire, Massachu setts in particular, and Connecticut, to furnish the troops neces sary for the defence of the northern posts; but a strange remissness prevailed, greatly from an expectation that Tyconderoga would not be attacked. The Massachusetts general court learning that this was the opinion of the commander in chief, neglected forwarding their quota of men. Reports (occasioned probably by the arts of the enemy) were spread, that the troops in Canada were to join gen. Howe. Members of congress were deceived by them, so that gen. Gates, after he had taken the command, wrote that he had the strongest assurances from congress, that the king's troops were all ordered round, by the river St. Lawrence, to New-York, leaving only a sufficient number to garrison their forts. Gates estimated, that for the defence of Ty and its dependencies, 11,700 continentals, beside the aid of the militia, would be wanted. Scuyler afterward estimated them at 10,000, but then he thought the lines at Mount Independence not one half so extensive as he found them.

The British operations against tris department, were taken out of the hands of Sir Guy Carleton, and committed to the

charge

charge of gen. Burgoyne. The force alotted to them, consisting of British and German troops, amounted to more than 7000 men, exclusive of the artillery corps. Of these the Germans, mostly Brunswickers, exceeded 3200. Arms and accoutrements were amply provided to supply those royalists who were expected to join the army as soon as it penetrated the frontiers of the United States. A powerful brass train of artillery was fur nished, probably the finest, and the most excellent supplied as to officers and private men, that had ever been alotted to second the operations of any army not exceeding the present in num➡ ber. Beside the regular forces, several tribes of Indians were induced to come into the field. It has been generally supposed, that Carleton's scruples upon the point of employing them, were by no means acceptable to ministry. They were considered as a principal number of the force destined to the prosecution of the northern war; and the governor of Canada was accordingly ene joined to use his utmost influence in bringing them forward in support of it. In the execution of the proposed operations, gen. Burgoyne was seconded by able and excellent officers, gen Philips, of the artillery, generals Frazer, Powel and Hamiltons with the Brunswick generals Baron Reidesel and gen. Specht. The army was, in every respect, in the best condition; the troops were in the highest spirits, admirably disciplined, and uncommonly healthy. Colonel St. Leger was detached by way of Oswego, to make a diversion on the Mohawk river. He had 220 men, from the eighth and thirty-fourth regiments, Sir John Johnson's corps of New-Yorkers, lately raised, some Hannau chasseurs, a company of Canadians and a party of Indians, be side the expectation of being joined by a much larger numberi His force did not propably exceed 800 men. The main army, under gen. Burgoyne, proceeded up Lake Champlain, landed, and encamped at no great distance from Crown-Point, where he met the Indians in congress, and afterward, in compliance with their customs, gave them a war feast. He made a speech to them [June 21.] calculated to excite their ardor in the common cause, and at the same time to repress their barbarity. He ens joined it upon them, that they should only kill those who ope posed them in arms; that old men, women, children and pri soners, should be held sacred from the knife or hatchet, even in the heat of actual conflict; that they should only scalp those whom they had slain in fair opposition; but that under no pres tence should they scalp the wounded, or even dying, much less kill persons in that condition. They were promised a compens sation for prisoners, but informed that they should be called to account for scalps. Four days before this speech, gen, Scuyles arrived

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