General WASfelNGTO N's Utter f the PrtjUtnt oCs
greft, tvgetber witk toe return of kiUtd, lUCMf&J, &c.
SIR EXCLJSHTOWK, Julj !.
I EMBRACE this firfl moment of ieifure to give Congrefs a
more full aod particular account of the movements of the ar
ny coder my command, ncce its pafling the Delaware, than the
fituation of our affairs would ncreofore permit.
I had the honour to advife them, that on the appearances of
the enemy' intention to march through Jerfey becoming ferious,
I had detached general Maxwell's brigade, in cohjsnciion wicn
the militia of that Hate, to interrupt and impede their progrefs by
ever oWtraftion in their power, fo as to give time to tne army
nnder my command to come up with them, and take advantage
of any favourable c'ucu alliances that might prefent tnemfelves. .
The army having proceeded to Cotyeli'a terry, aod crofled the
Delaware at that place, I immediately dejacbed Col. M organ,
with a fdea corps of fix hundred men, to reinforce General
Maxwell, and marched with the main body toward Prince-
The flow advance of the enemy had greatly the air of defign,
and led me, with others, to fufpect that general Clinton, deur
ocs of a general aclion, was endeavouring to draw us don into
the lower country, in order, by a rapid movement, to gain our
right, and take pofieffion of the ftrong grouncsabove us. Tins
ccnli deration, and to give the troops time to rpoHs and refreih
therafelves frcm the fatigues they bad experienced rrora rainy and
excelfive hot weather, determined me to halt at Hopewell town
ihin, above five miles from Princeton, where we remained till
the morning of the 25th. On the preceding da I ciade a f
cond detachment of 1500 chofen troops, under Brigadier Gene
ral Scott, to reinforce thole already in the vicinity of the enemy,
the more effectually to annoy and delay their march. The next
day tbe army moved to Kingfton, and having received intelli
gence tlaat the enemy were profecuting their route towards Mjn
mouth eourt boofe, I dilpatcr.ed a thoufand felefcr, men under ge
neral Vavne, and fent the marquis de la Fayette to taka the
iztrurcu uy a very n.r. v.j-, .. ";uj tneir rejr
and their whole front coverwd by a wood, and for a confinu
extent towarda tbe ieit wur. a ciorais. in tnis uiuaticn thev hai.
. .... . !
cd tiii the morning 01 ;ne ain.
tion that if the enemy were once arrived at the heights of Mid.
dltnwn, ten cr twelve raik:, from where they were, would be
impcilible to attempt any thing againft them with a profpe&C
facet!, I determined to attack their rear the moment they Ihocij
ge; in motion, from their prefent ground. I communicated my
indention to general Lee, andordered him to make his difpofiti.
on for the attack, and to Icetp his troops conftandy Jiving on their
arms, to be in rcadinefs at the fiiorieft notice. This was dcae
with refpeit to the troops, under my immediate command.
About Svc in the morning General Dickinlon fent an exorefs
oepsn tneir inarch, f
w ,, ,
iniiaadv put the army in motion, and fent orders by one of rr.?
Als tu General TLsfc to m.,ve on and attack them, utiefj the,'.
Ciona be verf .powerful rcaions to the contrary, acguatonng KIq
u r r . 11 s m r i irt-r i v j iiiwiiiiiiiis . . . linn J 1 5
r-i-'r hr uiuSff Liicmltives ol their packs and bLnL-
oinz ic with t
make the men
ets.
inoi vi ivouoii. a. hi' s . - . i - '- 1 wiv
manu CoJ. Buitfcr. on tuSir bein charged by the enemy'
- - w 'f - ! - -
cavalry, who were repuiftd. I proceeded immediately to tne
- i i r i i fir i i it
. - l i .if. i r 1 1 nil r n cm mm -aw. -.
rjsr nr rn rorr. wi k- i i luuiiu wiuivty uiiivu w.iw tucmv
o r.firp AlA A tan; t. .r rVmtna nsrtoF the retreaiiDP1 troons. uh.
1 III S'T-W VII VVil'JtJ . V v---6. r" w T - W 9 w mmv
i. . h fc. . i r Vl I V W Ml J WW -. W
-.. - 4-
.t .jarr.w mi. in fn.iner.ee. 2nd in a wood a iltiie in the
W ii i v uiwir mm - - - j p- v XL t.
rear, covered by a morals in iront. tnis were piacca loma
wu r which Played upon the. enemy with great effect, and fc
zrths of tofantry, detachea to oppoiv uiciu, eucau-
lair or-criunr.y oi aii"'g U"M " "
of the fame day the whole srniv marched from KiDfcl.on, where
oor barrage was left, with imenticn to prefcrve a prrpei du
tancelor furporting the advanced corps, ar.d arrived at Cran
berry early the next morning. The intenfc heat of the jnthef,
-nd a heavy ttcrtn unluckily coming on, made it impcffible to
efeme car march that day without great inconvenience and inju
ry to ihe troops. Our advanced corps being differently circum
ftanced, moved from lae pcfiuon it had neld the night be:c;e,
a.d ttxk poft in 'he evening on the Monmouth road, about hve
milea from the enemy's rear, in expectation of attacking them
ext morning, on their ma.cb. 7 he mam body having remain
ed at Cranbeiry, the advanced corps was found to be too remote,
tmA too far opon the right, to be fuppcrted either in cafe cf an
attack upon cr from the enemy, wMch indnted me to fend or
ders to the marcuia to file off by his left rowaro, hnghilitown,
which he accordingly executed early m the morning ol the j7:h.
The enemy in marching fiom AUcntcun bad chalrgtd tne:r
difpefition, and olaccd thcif belt troops in the rear, ctafiftin cf
all the grenadiers iiht infantry, aod chaffeurs of the line. This
akerauon mace it ncc.ffa y to d.creaie the number cf car ad
tanced corps ; in confequence of h.ch I detached Major Gene
ral Lee with two brigades to join the maiouis at ingliintoa, on
whem. ofcoorfr. the command of the whole devolved, amcunt
ine to abont live thoufand men. The main body marcned the
fame day, and encamped within th.te miles of that place. Mor
gan's corps ! left hovering on the enemy s right flank, and
Jn Jerfey militia, amounting at this t.mc to about fcvea Of
ciphi : hundred men, order genera! Dickinson, on tneir left.
The ec-my were now encamped in a ftrong pcfction, with
their right extending abcat a miie and an kaif beyond the court
houfe. in .he parties of the roads leading to Shrewtury and
Middletown, and tneir left along the road from Aileron to
Monm. uth, about three mile on this hde the ccart-hosfe. 1 &e:r
right ank lay cn the (kir: of a fmU wood, while then Sell wai
Co:;-' - Q
General Lee being detached with the advanced corps, the
command ox :he runt wing, tcr inc. ov.-iuo,v v B w v
r.rV-n Fkr the exotuition of the march, ana to coumei
act any attv-mot to turn car right. L nad orpcrea mm to a.eoa
by the new church, two miles from Ecghflitcwn, and fall into
the Monmouth road, a fmaii diilance in the rear of the,cburi
hoiife, while the nil of tne column moved directly on towards
iU ccurt-houl.. On intelligence of the retreat, he marched up,
tad tcck a very adautageas ptntion on tne right. . J
The enemy, by this time, hnoing themfeivea warmJy pppoied
is front ra ide an auempt to turn our left fiauk, but tUy were
b.-.ciy repafed and driven bavk by detached parties of infantry.
They aifo made a noieaneut to our righ;, wit.1, aa little fuccelj,
Gceral Gieen having advanced a body of troofee, with artillery,
to a commanding piece of grcuad, which net only disappointed
tneir cei;i;n oi iLf!:!?' vu: t r - a
fr.ntof tie left win. In aadi;ion to this, general -VaytleaJ.
vanced uith a body of trcopi, aao kept up io fcve.e and well M
fecd a hre, that the enemy wc.e compeiicd to retire behind
the dchie, where the firfi liani in tne begiuning of the action had
been made. . - , r , ,
In rhis litunticn, the -enemy had both their JEur.Ks fecured by
thi- k WOOd;
ind incraiFes,1 while their iront could only be a?
preached through a narrow pals.
ta
ow
i rt Lived, never thelefs, to at-
ck tnem, anc lor that purple brsred general oojwuhbi
j ,..:.-?' tk rr.rim reend uoon - their not:,
rd General Woodford open their left, and tne aru.'lery to gait
Item in front, butane impeaimeat in taeir way PrcvCr-
oettine within Sh before it was dark. They remained upca
the ground, th v bad or.n cirt:-d to occapy daring toe n
with inrntion to begin the aac ealy the next mormng, and
to
c army continued lying rn tneir 3riti5 ,n thc heid oi action,
be i i xeadiucss to fcppri la ue mean uae eae.