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Sage 1891 :A:iitL'/..i>. ■.,■■■■,..:■■....- t3////./f;f CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 086 860 784 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924086860784 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON BY WILLIAM S. STRYKER A djtiia?tt- General of New Jersey ; President of the New Jersey Society of the Ciitcinnati ; Presidetit of the Trenton Battle Monument Association ; President of the New Jersey Historical Society^ etc. BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1S9S, BY WILLIAM S. STRYKER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PREFACE In my youth I spent many pleasant hours in hstening to the residents of Trenton as they related the brave deeds of their fathers in the old war, and told the story of the trials and sufferings of the heroic men and women of the Revolu- tionary period, which they had heard directly from the lips of those who had taken a part in the struggle for independ- ence. In my early manhood I began to take notes from the conversations of my mother and her aged friends, as they described the personal appearance and peculiarities of the rich merchant who had lived here in 1776 and for forty-five years thereafter ; of the country miller who had entered the village as an American spy ; of the beloved physician who had commanded the local military force ; of her grandfather who had been one of the guides of the American army to the surprise at Trenton. . After some years had elapsed I published a little pamphlet for private distribution, entitled "Trenton, One Hundred Years Ago," which gave a brief description of the citizens and their homes in the village as it appeared in 1776 and 1777. As I continued to study the past of this historic town, and found myself surrounded in official life by the manuscript records of those brave soldiers who fought for liberty in the hour that tried men's souls, I compiled all the authentic military rolls which I could obtain, and published my " Official Register of the Oiificers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War." In the prepara- tion of this work I became possessed of a large amount of iv PREFACE new facts and unpublished documents relating to the battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth. In 1877 I crossed the ocean to examine the official records at Cassel, Germany, and in 1 892 I caused a most exhaustive search to be made in the State Archives at Marburg, Germany, by competent men, and secured copies of all documents filed there (some eleven hundred pages of manuscript, certified under seal as correct) which bear directly on the conduct of the Hessian force in New Jersey. This new material has never before been thoroughly examined by an American. Every history, every letter, every diary, every document that came to my notice has been carefully studied for facts which bear in any way on this important crisis in our country's history. Many of these documents are published in full in this volume. In the light of all the new material to which I have referred this work has been prepared, and I trust it will be found a complet'e history of the wonderful winter campaign of 1776 and 1777 in New Jersey. For facts, advice, or careful revision I acknowledge myself greatly indebted to General T. F. Rodenbough, U. S. Army ; Colonel Asa Bird Gardiner, U. S. Army ; Professor Henry P. Johnston of the College of the City of New York ; Rev. Dr. Henry C. Cameron of Princeton University ; General Henry B. Carrington, U. S. Army ; Dr. Austin Scott, president of Rutgers College ; the late Frederick D. Stone, librarian of the Pennsylvania Historical Society ; William Nelson, cor- responding secretary of the New Jersey Historical Society ; Dr. William H. Egle, librarian of the State Library of Penn- sylvania ; Hon. John B. Linn of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania ; General William W. H. Davis of Doylestown, Pennsylvania ; Colonel E. M. Woodward of Ellisdale, Monmouth County, New Jersey ; Joseph H. West of Hamilton Square, Mercer PREFACE County, New Jersey ; Hon. Garret D. W. Vroom, Captain Charles B. Dahlgren, Hon. William S. Yard, all of Trenton ; Friederich Hirschfeld of Hamburg, Germany ; the late Hon. Edmund D. Halsey of Dover, New Jersey ; the late Dr. Friederich Kapp of Berlin, Germany ; the late Dr. Benson J. Lossing and the late Dr. George H. Moore, and to the men living and dead whose books appear in the list at the close of this volume, as authorities cited in the work. W. S. S. Trenton, New Jersey, December 26, 1897. CONTENTS PART I. PAGE The Battles of Princeton and Trenton' ... i PART II. 1. American Army at beginning of Campaign, 1776-1777 308 2. Washington's Orders . . . . 310 3. Proclamation of the Howes .... 314 4. Hessian Field Officers . . . 316 5. General Howe to Colonel von Donop . 316 6. Colonel von Donop to Colonel Rall . . 318 7. Colonel von Donop to General Leslie . 318 8. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . . 320 9. Extract from a Letter to a Gentleman in Connecticut 321 10. Colonel Joseph Reed to General Washington . 322 11. Colonel Cadwalader to Council of Safety, 1776 . . 323 12. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 323 13. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . 324 14. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . 326 15. General Washington to Major-General Lee . 326 16. General Howe to Lord Germain 327 17. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 329 18. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . . . 329 ig. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . 331 20. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 331 21. Colonel Rall to Colonel von Donop . . 332 22. Colonel von Donop to General Gr.ant . 333 23. General Grant to Colonel Rall . . 334 24. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterling to Colonel von Donop 335 25. Memoranda ... . 336 26. Captain Loray to Colonel Rall . 339 27. General Leslie to Colonel Rall . . . 339 28. Colonel Reed to General Washington . 339 29. General Washington to Colonel Reed . 342 30. Quartermaster Gamble's Circulars . . 343 31. Colonel John Cadwalader's Division 344 32. Brigadier-General James Ewing's Division . 346 viii CONTENTS 33. General Officers of the American Revolution . 347 34. Field Officers of Troops under Washington's Immediate Command 351 35. John Honeyman . ... 358 36. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee . 359 37. From Diary of an Officer on Washington's Staff 360 38. Colonel Cadwalader to . . 364 39- Colonel Cadwalader to . 365 40. Colonel Clement Kiddle to . . 365 41. Tench Tilghman to James Tilghman, Esq. . . 366 42. Extract of Letter from an Officer of Distinction . 367 43. From the "Pennsylvania Evening Post" . 369 44. Colonel Clement Biddle to Committee of Safety . 369 45. Lieutenant Patrick Duffy to Colonel Thomas Procter 370 46. Colonel Knox to his Wife . . 371 47. Captain Thomas Forrest to Colonel Thomas Procter 372 48. Governor Tryon to Lord Germain . . . 373 49. Memorandum in General Robert Anderson's Letter Book 373 50. Proclamation . . 374 51. Captain William Hull, Seventh Connecticut Regiment, TO Andrew Adams ... . . 375 52. Colonel John Haslet to C^sar Rodney . 376 53. Commissioned Officers of Rall's Brigade, December, 1776 378 54. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee 379 55. Hessian Outposts of Trenton . . 379 56. Hessians who escaped Capture . ... 383 57. Return of Prisoners taken at Trenton . . 386 58. Hessian Prisoners of War . 386 59. Roster of Officers of Rall's Brigade . 388 60. Lord Stirling to Governor Livingston . . 394 61. Proclamation by the Pennsylvania Council of Safety 395 62. Count de Schaumburg to Baron Hohendorf . . 396 63. Colonel von Donop to General Knyphausen . 398 64. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . 400 65. General von Heister to the Prince of Hesse 401 66. Earl of Suffolk to General von Heister . 402 67. Prince of Hesse to Lieutenant-General von Knyphausen 403 68. Friedrich L. I. Hessen to General von Knyphausen . 404 69. Return Casualties Rall's Brigade . . . 408 70. Proceedings of Hessian Court-Martial . . 409 71. Finding of Hessian Court-Martial 411 72. Report of Hessian War Commission . . . 419 73. Colonel Cadwalader to General Washington . 423 74. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop .... 424 75. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop . . . 424 76. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . . . 425 77. General Grant to Colonel von Donop . . . 425 78. Colonel von Donop to General Grant . . 426 79. General Washington to Colonel Cadwalader . . 427 CONTENTS ix 80. General Washington to the Congress . . 429 8t. British P'grces in New Jersey . ... 430 83. General Mifflin's Orders 83. General Cadwalader to General Washington 84. General Washington to the Congress . 85. General Knox to his Wife 86. Colonel Reed to General Putnam . 87. General Putnam to .... 88. From the Journal of Captain Thomas Rodney 89. Private Lardner to Captain Smith go. Congressional News 91. Doctor Potts to Owen Piddle 92. General Cadwalader to Council of Safety 93. Letter from an Officer of Distinction .... 446 94. Colonel Lambert Cadwalader to Mrs. Samuel Meredith 448 95. General Knox to his Wife 96. Lord Stirling to 8 , 1777 . 97. American Officers killed at Princeton 98. British Officers killed at Princeton 99. British Casualties at Princeton . 100. General Howe's Congratulations Id. Note on General Mercer . 102. Washington's Report on Princeton 103. General Washington to General Putnam 104. Comments on the Battle of Princeton . 105. Letter from the American Army . 106. Major Samuel Meredith to . . . 468 107. Letter from the British Army . . 469 108. From the "New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury" 471 109. General Greene to . . . . 472 no. From the "Freeman's Journal" . . 473 III. From the "Pennsylvania Evening Post" . 474 n2. From the "Connecticut Journal" . . . 475 113. Proclamation. . . . . .... 476 114. From George Inman's Narrative of the American Revo- lution ... 477 115. Sergeant Joseph White's Narration . . . . 478 116. Extract from the Journal of Lieutenant Samuel Shaw OF THE Artillery ... . ... 480 117. From Almon's Parliamentary Register . 482 118. General Howe to Lord Germain .... 482 119. Lord Germain to H. M. Peace Commissioners . 483 120. Translation of a Hessian Diary . . . . 483 121. From an English Book of Orders found at Trenton 484 122. Contemporaneous Documents . . . 485 Books examined and Authorities used in the preparation of THIS Work . . . 486 Index . . . ' . . . . 493 431 434 435 436 437 437 438 442 444 445 446 449 452 452 456 458 458 459 460 462 463 466 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS George Washington {photogravure) Frontispiece From the painting by Charles Wilson Peale, in the museum of Princeton University. Page Lord Cornwallts's Path 3 On Old Closter Dock Road (now Alpine, Bergen County, N. J.), as it ap- peared in September, 1S97. Adjutant-General Joseph Reed, Staff of the Commander-in- Chief 7 Brigadier-General Thomas Mifflin, Continental Army . 9 General Sir William Howe, British Commander-in-Chief . 1 1 William Livingston, First Governor of New Jersey . . 13 Captain Alexander Hamilton, New York Provincial Com- pany of Artillery ... . . ... 16 Residence of Quartermaster Robert Stockton, Prince- ton, N. J 17 ■'Tusculum," the residence of Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon . , 19 Lieutenant-Gexeral Charles Cornwallis, British Army . 21 Admiral Richard Howe, British Navy . . -23 Protection Paper signed by Colonel Rail in Trenton .... 24 From the original in possession of the author. Washington's Headquarters (present appearance) . . 29 At Trenton Landing on the Pennsylvania shore of the river. Called by him " Mr. Berkeley's summer seat." Colonel Knox's Headquarters (from a photograph in 1894) . 31 Owned in 1776 by Dr. Chapman. Situated near Jericho Hill, about a mile from Brownsburg, Bucks Co., Fa. Washington's Headquarters, called the " Keith House " • . 33 From a photograph. Major-General Israel Putnam, Continental Army . . 35 Hessian Grenadier 41 Parole of Rev. Jonathan Odell, of Burlington, N. J. . 43 From the original in possession of the author. Major-General James Grant, British Army ... 49 xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Major-General Charles Lee, Continental Arnay 55 iMajor-Gexeral John Sullivan, Continental Army ... 60 Brig.vdier-General Alexander Leslie, British Army . . 71 George Washixgtox ..... • ■ 79 After the TnuiibuH portrait in Vale College. Colonel Johx Cadwalader, Philadelphia Associators . .81 Ferry-House of Patrick Colvin 82 Still standing at Trenton Ferry on ttie Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson, New Jersey Militia 83 Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel B. Webb 84 Plan of the Operations of General Washington against THE King's Troops in New Jersey facing 84 Rall's Headquarters 92 The house of Stacy Potts, and the residences of Miss Rebecca Coxe and Thomas Barnes. ■Ky Map of Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776. (Prepared by Wil- liam S. Yard) . .... ... . . 93 Post-Office, on the corner of Second and King streets ... 94 City Tavern, on the corner of Second and King streets . 95 The " Old Barracks " (present appearance) 97 Fox Chase Tavern . . loi Dr. William Bryant. . . . in Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Hunt, First Regiment Hunter- don County Militia .... . .121 Residence of Abraham Hunt . . . .123 Lieutenant Piel's Map . . facing 124 Lieutenant Wiederhold's Map . . facing 126 Lieutenant Fischer's Map . facing 128 Major-General Horatio Gates, Continental Army 130 Monument at Taylorsville, Pa. . . ... 131 Near the spot where Washington crossed the Delaware. Erected by the Bucks County Historical Society, October 15, 1895. Colonel John Glover . . . 132 From his portrait in The Surrender of Burgoyne by John Trumbull. John Russell, private in Colonel Glover's regiment . . . 133 From the bronze statute at the doorway of the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Washington crossing the Delaware 135 After the painting by F. Leutze in the New York Metropolitan Museum. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xiii "The Continental Akmv crossing the Delaware" . 136 Bronze tablet on the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania. House at " Washington's Crossing " . . . . . 137 Still standing on the New Jersey side. Amos Scudder .... .139 One of the guides of Washington's army down the River road to the bat- tle of Trenton, December 26, 1776. Gun carried by Amos Scudder when guiding. Washing- ton's Army to the Surprise at Trenton ... . . 140 Monument at Washington's Crossing, New Jersey . 141 Erected by the New Jersey Society of tlie Cincinnati, October 15, 1895. Bear Tavern (still standing) at Jacob's Creek, Mercer County . 142 Major-General Nathanael Greene, Continental Army . . 143 Richard Howell's Cooper-Shop . ... 146 The Hessian picket post on the Pennington road. Alexander Calhoun's House . 148 The quarters of Captain von Altenbockum's company. Blair McClenachan, private in Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse ... . ... 149 From the bronze statue at the doorway of the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the City Troop of Philadelphia. Captain Samuel Morris, Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse 150 "The Hermitage," residence of General Philemon Dickinson . 151 The yager picket post on the River road. The -Barracks (as they appeared at the time of the battle at Trenton) i53 Headquarters Guard-House (Lieutenant Sternickel in com- mand on Christmas night) . . ... 154 Still standing on the southeast corner of Warren and Perry streets, Tren- ton. Place where the Artillery opened on the Hessian Troops (as it appeared in Revolutionary days) . ... 155 Trenton Battle Monument . . . • iS7 General Washington . . 160 From the bronze statue on the top of the Trenton Battle Monument pre- sented by the State of New York. High Ground where Washington remained during the Battle . . . . ... . . . . . 161 "Opening of the Fight" ... ... 163 From the bronze tablet on the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the State of New York. xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Captain William Washington, Third Virginia Continental Regiment . . . . 164 Lieutenant James Monroe, Third Virginia Continental Regi- ment . . . . . 165 Captain Thomas Forrest, Pennsylvania State Artillery Bat- talion . ... 167 General John Stark . . . . 169 From the statue in the Capitol at Washington, iMr. Davies' House, on Second street ... . . 171 Methodist Church, on corner of Queen and Fourth streets . .173 Presbyterian Church, on Second street . ... . . 175 Friends' Meeting House, on Third street . . . 181 "Surrender of the Hessians" . . ... 183 From the bronze tablet on the Trenton Battle Monument presented by the State of Connecticut. Major James Wilkinson, acting as aide-de-camp to General St. Clair . . , . 185 Brigadier-General Lord Stirling, Continental Army . 186 Generals Washington and Greene calling on Colonel Rall at the House of Stacy Potts . . . 191 From the painting by George W. Flagg. The likeness of Rail is from a sketch made by Colonel John Trumbull. Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rall 197 From painting by George W. Flagg. The von Lossberg Regimental Flag . 203 Colonel Henry Knox, Continental Artillery ... . 205 Flag of the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse . . . 209 Signatures of Hessian Officers on the Parole . .212 The House of Major John Barnes, the loyalist 247 The headquarters of General Washington, December 30, 31, and January i. "Morven," the residence of the Hon. Richard Stockton . 249 Facsimile of Washington's Call to Arms, December 31, 1776 . .... 252 Friends' Meeting House at Crosswicks . . . 255 Robert Morris . . 257 Colonel Edward Hand, of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment . 259 Captain Henry' Miller, of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment . 260 General Washington at the Bridge over the Assun- PINK Creek . . . 262 After the painting by Colonel John Trumbull. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv The Beakes House (still standing) .... . . 267 The Douglass House . 270 General St. Clair's headquarters, where General Washington held a council of war, January 2, 1777. Tavern kept by Jonathan Richmond 271 General Washington's headquarters, January 2, 1777. Brigadier-General Arthur St. Clair, Continental Army . . 272 Chair used by General Washingto_n at the Council of War held in the Douglass House, Trenton, January 2, 1777. Now in the Battle Monument 273 The Quaker Meeting House at Stony Brook on the Pri.ncetox Battlefield . 276 The building is still standing. It was used as a hospital after the battle, and many of the dead were interred in the graveyard adjoining. Interior of the Quaker Meeting House at Stony Brook 277 Bridge over Stony Brook 278 Map of the " Lower Road to Princeton " ... 279 Brigadier-General Hugh Mercer, Continental Army . .281 Wounding of General Mercer at Battle of Princeton 283 Sword of General Hugh Mercer . . . 284 Given on the battlefield to Colonel Jacob Morgan, first battalion, Philadel- phia Associators, and by him to the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia. It is now in the rooms of the Pennsylvania Historical Society in Philadelphia. The House of Thomas Olden . . ... . 287 Now the lodge of Drumthwacket, the residence of M. Taylor Pyne, a trustee of the Princeton University. Map of the Battlefield of Princeton ... ... 288 Prepared from a map made by the late Professor Albert B. Dod for the library of the college. Nassau Hall, as it appeared at the time of the battle of Prince- ton . ... 289 Ensign Anthony Morris, Philadelphia Battalion of Associators 291 Stone at the Grave of Captain Leslie;, of the British Army ' 293 House in which General Mercer died 294 Room in which General Mercer died . . ... 295 The stains made by his blood are to be seen on the left of the picture. Dr. Benjamin Rush .... 299 John Van Doren's House (present appearance), Somerset Court House . . • ■ • • 3°! Where General Washington spent the night of January 3, 1777. THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON PART I Nowhere in the annals of warfare can be found a coun- terpart of the winter campaign of Washington and his army in I JJ^i-JJ — that army which left the vicinity of New York a ragged, starved, defeated, demoralized band, which passed through the Jerseys and over the river, then dashed upon the Hessian advance, punished the flank of the British line, doubled on its own bloody tracks through the village of Princeton, and at last marched into quarters an army of vic- tors. In just one month and a half the patriot troops of America had been forced to surrender the forts of the Hud- son and beat an inglorious retreat ; then they struck such blows at the royal army that it was thought prudent to allow them to reorganize, undisturbed, among the mountains of Morris County. On the 27th day of August, 1776, the disastrous battle of Long Island was fought. At that time the American army had never met the enemy in the open, and it was with great solicitude that General Washington contemplated a conflict between his small unskilled force and the trained troops of England and Hesse. The battle was also unequal in that the foreign soldiery outnumbered our own fully one half. And although the patriots fought bravely, — the Continental battalions of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware, with the militia levies of New York and ISTew Jersey, inflicting 2 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON great damage on the enemy, — they were overwhelmed and thoroughly routed. About 600 men were killed and over 1000 taken prisoners, among whom were the general officers Sullivan, Woodhull and Lord Stirling. The effect of this disaster upon the commander-in-chief and his troops was absolutely distressing. Almost in despair they abandoned the soil they had defended so bravely, and during the night of August 29, and in the fog of the early morning of the following day, they quietly passed over the East River into New York. In October the affairs at Harlem Heights and White Plains took place, but without any decided results. On November 16, after a severe assault and a loss to the British army of about 800 men slain, Fort Washington, with its gar- rison of 2000 soldiers of the Continental line and 600 of the militia, was surrendered to General Howe. This garrison marched out between the Hessian regiments of Rail and von Lossberg and laid down its arms. Colonel Rail was mentioned in orders for his gallantry on this occasion. Not a week later General Greene was compelled to aban- don Fort Lee, on the west bank of the Hudson River, when he found that Lieutenant-General Cornwallis, who had landed with a force of some 4000 men at old Closter Dock in the early morning of November 20, and ascended the steep and rocky roadway to the top of the ridge of the Pali- sades, was rapidly gaining a position which would soon make the fort utterly untenable. In making a hasty retreat to the main army at Hackensack, New Jersey, General Greene's division had time to carry only their firearms and ammu- nition. The want of wagons and the necessity for a rapid withdrawal of the garrison compelled them to abandon a large quantity of commissary stores, camp equipage and baggage, thirty mounted guns and two brass mortars. The American army had lost in prisoners 329 officers and 4101 enhsted men, in all 4430 soldiers, during the past twelve weeks. The remnant of the army was posted on the west bank GREENE ABANDONS FORT LEE 3 of the Hackensack River, under the immediate command of General Washington, who occupied the house of Peter Zabriskie in the village of Hackensack. Official reports made at that time show scarcely 4000 men fit for duty, and even this force was being constantly diminished. The divi- sion of troops under General Greene was entirely without tents, and in great need of shoes, stockings and blankets. LORD CORNWALLIS'S PATH ON OlAJ CLOSTER DOCK ROAD (NOW ALPI.N'E, BERGEN COUNT\', NEW jersey), AS IT APPEARED SEPTEMBER, lSu7 The chilling frosts and cold winds which swept down the Highland range through the valley of the Hackensack already betokened the early approach of winter. Under the circumstances it did not appear possible for General Wash- ington to fortify himself there and give battle. A sufficient quantity of shovels and axes could not be procured for the purpose of intrenching the position. The river was fordable in many places, and not all the people of that section of the State could be counted on as thoroughly true to the cause of independence. An appearance of preparation for resist- ance was for some time assumed, but the idea of contesting 4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the British advance was not for a moment seriously enter- tained. The future of the states never wore a more gloomy aspect than at this period. Desertions increased daily ; hardly a recruit joined the army, and the militia remaining could not be depended on for any active duty. There was imminent danger that the force might be hemmed in between the Passaic and Hackensack rivers and be unable to extricate itself. For the patriot army to give battle was but to invite defeat and the early surrender of " the lives, fortunes and sacred honor " which its representatives in the Continental Congress had just solemnly pledged. A retreat across the State was the only alternative, and this must be made by a demoralized band, closely followed by the trained troops of Britain. It was, indeed, a hazardous expedient. By the direction of Congress, General Washington ordered General Philip Schuyler, who, with the Continental line of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, was then at Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain, to send aid to him without delay. These troops, however, had nearly completed their terms of service, and were reluctant to re-enlist for the war. Brigadier-Gen- eral Hugh Mercer, with his flying camp which had been stationed at Bergen Neck for some months, was ordered to report to the commander-in-chief, although his troops, hav- ing scarcely a week longer to serve, were rapidly absenting themselves without leave. Major-General Charles Lee, who had commanded the rear-guard of the army during the oc- cupancy of New York, and who was still stationed at White Plains, on the east side of the Hudson River, under orders from General Washington, dated November lo, 1776,^ had been instructed to cross the river and join the main army. General Lee's command, like the rest, was suffering from de- sertions. Having completed all the preparations which could be made, General Washington began the retreat through the Jerseys with only twenty-eight regiments of infantry, three 1 The Lee Papers, vol. ii. p. 267, New York Historical Society Col- lections. WASHINGTON'S RETREAT THROUGH THE JERSEYS 5 companies of artillery and a detachment of dragoons, — say, 5500 oiBcers and men.^ As already stated. General Washington feared that his army might soon be hemmed in between the Hackensack and Passaic rivers ; therefore, on the 2 1 st day of Novem- ber he began his march southward by crossing the Acquack- anonk bridge over the Passaic River to its westerly bank, and, during the evening of the 22d and early on the morning of the 23d, posted his force at Newark. The British ad- vance column under Major-General the Hon. John Vaughan, colonel of the Forty-sixth regiment of foot, soon after ap- peared on the east bank of the Hackensack River, ready to commence the march into New Jersey which General Washington had predicted in his letter to Congress, Novem- ber 6, 1776. The rear-guard of the American army, which had remained near the village of Hackensack, quickly burned the bridge over the river, and hastened to join their retreat- ing comrades. Amid all these discouraging circumstances. General Wash- ington was still planning some movement which might bring success. The Rev. William Gordon, D. D., in his "History of the American Revolution," gives us this account of a conversation which is said to have occurred about this time between the American chief and his adjutant-general : " Should we retreat to the back parts of Pennsylvania, will the Pennsylvanians support us .? " Colonel Reed answered, " If the lower counties are subdued and give up, the back counties will do the same." The general passed his hand over his throat, and remarked : " My neck does not feel as though it was made for a halter. We must retire to Augusta County in Virginia. Numbers will be obliged to repair to us for safety ; and we must try what we can do in carrying on a predatory war ; and if overpowered we must cross the Alleghany Mountains." It is quite apparent that he had no intention of abandoning the sacred cause to which he had devoted his life. ^ For details see Part ii. No. i. 6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Even at this early stage of the war we can clearly trace in the character of Washington qualities all important to a successful commanding general — a brave heart, unwearied vigilance, great strength of will and boundless resources. His profession in early life made him a close observer of the topography of the country through which he passed, and prepared him to utilize his knowledge when the time for ac- tion arrived. Defeat seldom depressed him for any length of time, and in the hour of victory he preserved a calm demeanor. His patience under the ofttimes slow and unwise action of Congress is a marvel to the historians of to-day. His dignified bearing attracted the attention of everyone, and the grandetir of his character and hfe compelled all to honor, respect and trust him. Far above the petty intrigues of military life, he was so strong in his patriotism, so pro- found in his conviction of ultimate success, that all cabals ended in finding him stronger alike with the soldiery and the people. At Newark General Washington halted his entire force, sent his sick to Morristown, and made every exertion to re- organize his shattered command. Desertions were of hourly occurrence. The New Jersey brigade had about completed its tour of duty, and all the influence of its leaders was required to prevent the dissolution of the army. At this juncture one more effort was made by the com- mander-in-chief to procure reinforcements. His adjutant- general, Colonel Joseph Reed, a Jerseyman by birth, was dispatched to Governor William Livingston on November 23, with the urgent request that he and the legislature of New Jersey, then sitting at Burlington, would urge forward recruits for the army. General Washington wrote, "The critical situation of our affairs and the movements of the enemy make some further and immediate exertions abso- lutely necessary." No man was more freely admitted to the confidence and counsel of General Washington than his friend Reed, and to no man did he more frequently refer for advice. To him NEW JERSEY'S REINFORCEMENTS 7 Washington always wrote with a familiarity and frankness wliicli lie never used toward any other officer. Colonel Reed was always energetic and brave, a model staff officer, a " won- derfully quick, penetrating genius," and an accomplished ADJUTANT-GENERAL JOSEPH REED. STAFF OF THE COMMA NIJER-IX-C HI EF gentleman. Who has not heard the indignant answer which he made to George Johnstone, the British diplomatist, who had tried to bribe him to return to the support of the Eng- lish crown, — "I am not worth purchasing, but, such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to do it." As a result of Adjutant-General Reed's efforts an act was passed by the Council and General Assembly of New Jersey to organize four battalions of state troops by embody- ing, as occasion required, a certain quota of volunteers from the militia of the different counties. Great efforts were made to put this force into the field, but it does not appear 8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON that they took any part in the brilHant events which fol- lowed. Brigadier-General Thomas Mifflin, at the request of the other general officers, was sent to Congress, then in session at Philadelphia, and to the adjacent counties, to arouse the patriotism of the people and urge them, in view of the im- pending fate of their principal city, to encourage enlistments and hurry forward troops. He was well received by Con- gress, he " spoke animatedly pleasing, which gave great satis- faction," and a committee was appointed to advise with him and aid him. His success in dispatching reinforcements will appear more fully hereafter.^ To add to his discouragement, Washington was compelled, on November 24, to send Colonel David Forman and his bat- talion from General Nathaniel Heard's brigade to Monmouth County to suppress an outbreak among the loyalists of that section of the State, with orders to " apprehend all persons who appear to be concerned in any plot or design against the liberty or safety of the United States." " Black David," as he was called, full of energy and merciless severity, was the very man to suppress an intestine conflict around his own home. This he did quickly and well. On November 26 the American force at Newark made a demonstration against the English, but it was ineffectual. On Thursday morning, the 28th day of November, Wash- ington abandoned the town, after a rest of nearly a week, and with his broken forces resumed the memorable retreat through the Jerseys. Again and again he hoped to receive 1 General Mifflin was well suited for this work. He was born in Philadelphia in tlie year 1744, and although of Quaker parentage he early displayed all the great qualifications of the soldier. When Gen- eral Washington took command of the army, Mifflin was placed on his staff as colonel and quartermaster-general. He was made a brigadier- general, May 16, 1776, and October i of the same year Congress re- quested him to resume the office of quartermaster-general. Soon after the battle of Princeton he received tlie commission of major-general. He was a man of pleasing manners, singularly attractive presence, and in speech he was truly eloquent. BRITISH ENTKR NEWARK 9 aid from the militia of New Jersey and the neighboring States, so tliat he might make a temporary stand, inflict some damage on the foe, and then retire to the Delaware River. But no large body of recruits joined him until he reached Trenton, and all the while the remnant of his ragged army was compelled to fall back before the British force. BRIGAIJIER-GENERAL THOMAS MIFFLIN 12,000 strong, confidently advancing. The enemy's advance guard entered Newark, November 28, as the American army left that city. It is difficult to understand how the patriot army sustained itself and concealed its weakness in the face of such a power- ful enemy. A very small detachment of the Second regi- ment of light dragoons. Continental army, commanded by 10 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Colonel Elisha Sheldon of Connecticut, appears to have been the only cavalry for protecting the flanks of the American army and impeding the British advance. ^ When the Americans left Newark, one column marched by way of Elizabeth Town and Woodbridge, and the other by Springfield, Scotch Plains, and Quibbletown, now New Market, Middlesex County, reaching Brunswick at noon on Friday, the 29th day of November. They formed a junc- tion there with a small body of troops under Brigadier-Gen- eral Lord Stirling, which had been sent in advance to guard the river at Brunswick and the coast at Amboy against any unexpected incursion of the British. Shortly before this period Lieutenant-General Sir William Howe had succeeded General Gage in the command of all the forces of Great Britain in America, and had established his headquarters in New York. This command he contin- ued to hold until the spring of 1778, when he was succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton. General Howe was a poor com- mander for an army whose business it was to crq^h out rebellion. He was fond of taking his own ease, and given to postponing decisive action. The fascinations of gaming and the blandishments of beauty had more charms for him than the rough path of duty in a soldier's life. General Lee said of him, " He was the most indolent of mortals, and never took pains to examine the merits or demerits of the cause in which he was engaged." It has always seemed strange that General Howe did not 1 We find the members of this detachment described in Captain Graydon's Memoirs as " old-fashioned men, apparently beyond the me- ridian of life. They were truly irregulars; and whether their cloathing, equipments or caparisons were regarded, it would have been difficult to have discovered any circumstance of uniformity. Instead of carbines and sabres, they generally carried fowling pieces ; some of them very long, and such as are used for shooting ducks. Their order of march corresponded with their other irregularities. It spindled into longitude immense. One of them, on being captured, told the British officers, who made themselves very merry at his expense and obliged him to amble about for their entertainment, that his duty in the army ' was to flank a little and carry tidings.' " CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERAL HOWE ii intercept General Washington's retreat before he reached the Raritan River. A force sent from New York on the vessels of his brother, Lord Richard Howe, admiral of the British fleet, could have landed at South Amboy, marched along the Raritan River, and cut off the retreating army, which would have been crushed between the two British GENERAL SIR WILLIAM HOWE columns. That this was sugfErested in Ensflish war councils is evident, as Sir Henry Clinton insisted that the expedi- tion destined for Rhode Island should be " landed at Amboy to have co-operated with Lord Cornwallis or should be embarked on board Lord Howe's fleet and landed on the Delaware and taken possession of Philadelphia." General Washington's rapid movement from Newark to Brunswick certainly implied that he feared he might have an enemy in front as well as in the rear.^ ' Major Stephen Kemble, deputy adjutant-general of General Howe, 12 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON At Brunswick, in the very face of the enemy, then at Woodbridge and near to Amboy, the mihtia of the flying camps of Maryland and New Jersey, which had been enhsted only until the ist of December by virtue of an order to " reinforce the army at New York," and whose terms of ser- vice had now expired, demanded their discharge, notwith- standing the patriotic appeals of General Mercer, and almost to a man left for their homes. Desertions still continued, and to such a degree that it was found necessary to request Governor Livingston to post proper guards on the roads south of Trenton and at all the ferries across the Delaware River, to arrest all the soldiers without a regular discharge or pass, so that the Pennsylvania militia, which still had one month to serve, might not also escape over the river. As General Greene informed Governor Cooke of Rhode Island, the American army, at this time, did not number 3000 efficient men. General Washington once more made an attempt to pro- cure reinforcements, "because," he said, "of the broken state of our troops, and that the enemy had changed their plan, and were rapidly advancing on the Delaware." He sent another messenger to Governor Livingston to urge the necessity for troops to drive out the invaders.^ makes this " Observation on the Conduct of Commanders in Chief of Armies," etc., in his journal: "After Fort Washington was taken why not send a detachment of the Army to Brunswick to cut off Mr. Wash- ington's Retreat, while Lord Cornwallis was pursuing him to Newark etc. ? General Clinton's Troops would have answered that purpose Efiectually." He also adds in the same strain : " Why not pursue Wash- ington from Brunswick with more Spirit? His Cannon and Baggage must have fallen into our hands. Provisions might have been sent to Brunswick for all these services by Water and no delay in the proceed- ings of the Troops." — N. Y. Hist. Soc. Collections., 1883, p. 104. 1 William Livingston was the first governor of New Jersey under the Constitution, having been elected August 13, 1776. He was born in 1723, and educated at Yale College. He was a lawyer by profession and also a writer of considerable talent. No one was more zealous than he in urging the colonies to separate from the mother country, and after the separation no one was more faithful in defending the WEAKNESS OF THE PATRIOT ARMY 13 It was impossible, liowever, for even so patriotic a gov- ernor to do much to aid tlie retreating army. The legisla- ture, on the first knowledge of the movements of the enemy, left Princeton for Trenton, and then removed to Burlineton o Even there they did not remain long, but soon dispersed to their homes. To all these discouragements was added the fact that the Tories, of whom there were many in the State through which the army was retreating, spoke out openly in favor of the GOVERNOR WILLL-VM LIVINGSTON royal cause, and the Quakers, always friendly to peace, if not loyalists, were doing nothing to aid the cause of inde- pendence. Again General Lee was urged to hasten his column to the support of the commander-in-chief. Washington wrote him rights of New Jersey against all opposers. He was re-elected governor, annually, fourteen times, and died in office, July 25, rypo. 14 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON from Brunswick, December i : " The force I have with me is infinitely inferior in numbers, and such as cannot give or promise the least successful opposition. I must entreat you to hasten your march as much as possible, or your arrival may be too late to answer any valuable purpose." ^ ^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 62. II As soon as Washington arrived at Brunswick he directed Colonel Richard Humpton, commanding the Eleventh Penn- sylvania regiment, Continental line, then organizing in that State, to collect all the boats on the Delaware River, and secure them on the west bank opposite Trenton. i He sent General William Maxwell to the Delaware River on the same mission. He also directed General Putnam to have rafts made from timber to be found at the ferry land- ing in that village. A semblance of preparation for resistance was made at Brunswick to deceive the enemy's pickets, and thus gain time. But on Sunday afternoon, December i, on the ap- proach of the British column to the bridge across the Raritan River and the banks along its fordable parts, the little army of Americans partially destroyed the bridge, and retired toward Princeton under cover of a brisk fire from Captain Alexander Hamilton's battery.^ Washington entered Princeton between eight and nine o'clock on the morning of December 2, wrote a letter to the President of Congress, and, tradition says, partook of break- fast at the residence of Quartermaster Robert Stockton, still standing, on Constitution Hill, and with the main body of the army pushed on immediately to Trenton, which he reached before noon.^ In Trenton he learned that Lord ^ Part ii. No. 2. 2 It is said of Hamilton's battery that "it was a model of discipline; its captain a mere boy, with small, slender, and delicate frame, who with cocked hat pulled down over his eyes, and apparently lost in thought, marched beside a cannon, patting it every now and then as if it were a favorite horse or pet plaything." " Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 63. i6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Cornwallis had halted his column near Brunswick. It ap- pears that orders had been received from General Howe to go no farther than Brunswick ; but Cornwallis, thinking that he could virtually annihilate the fragment of an army in CAPTAIN ALEXANDER HAMILTON, NEW YORK PROVINCIAL COMPANY OF ARTILLERY front of him by a sharp pursuit, sent a message to Howe for ])ermission to attack the Americans before they could cross the ri\'er. Howe's inertness undoubtedly saved the patriot army, for his answer to Cornwallis was that he "would join him immediately ; " but he did not do so before December 6. He brought with him the fourth brigade, Major-General Tames Grant commandins:. In this brifjade was a stronff contingent of Hessians, commanded by Colonel Rail. Evi- dently Howe's plan was to obtain a foothold in the State, place a large body of troops in winter quarters, with a fine WASHINGTON CONCENTRATES HIS ARAIY '7 opportunity of procuring provisions for his men and for his horses, and then await the opening of the following spring for active operations. As soon as he found the British army had halted, Wash- ington ordered two brigades, consisting of five regiments from Virginia and the Delaware regiment, in all about 1400 men, under command of Brigadier-General Lord Stirling, senior officer, and Brigadier-General Adam Stephen, to re- main near Princeton, observe the enemy's movements, and cover the passage of stores and baggage over the Delaware River. On December 6 Major-General Greene returned to Prince- ton with an additional force of 1200 men, and assumed com- mand there ; soon after, the entire American army was concentrated at Trenton. The king's troops, with General Howe in supreme com- QUARTERM.ASTIiK ROBHRT STC'CKTON'S HOUSE mand, left Brunswick at four o'clock on the morning of December 7 in two columns, one corps commanded by f^ord Cornwallis and the other by Colonel von Dono]3. The advance guard of the left column entered Princeton the same i8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON afternoon, but the right column did not reach there until some hours after dark. Lord Cornwallis took immediate possession of the college buildings and the Presbyterian church. The British army held the village of Princeton for nearly a month, during which time they pillaged the houses of the principal patriots. "Tusculum," the residence of the Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, president of the college, was stripped, and "Morven," the home of the Hon. Richard Stockton, who, as well as Dr. Witherspoon, had signed the Declaration of Independence, was denuded of its library and furniture. The residence of Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, now the Miller property, was burned by the soldiery. General Washington finished his masterly retreat through New Jersey with scarcely the los'fe of a single life, and reached the banks of the Delaware River with his bare- footed and almost naked army. It was a march of hardly one hundred miles, and yet Washington had prolonged to a journey of nearly three weeks what might have been ac- complished in four days, had Lord Cornwallis pressed him closely. As Washington said, "Nothing but the infatuation of the enemy " saved them.^ During the retreat but few recruits joined the American army, though at Trenton a small detachment of the New Jersey militia, belonging to the First regiment, Hunterdon brigade. Colonel Isaac Smith, and part of the Second regi- ment, Middlesex brigade. Colonel John Neilson, volunteered to assist the forlorn cause.^ 1 Thomas Paine, who was with the army on this march, says : " With a handful of men we sustained an orderly retreat for nearly a hundred miles, brought off our ammunition, all our fieldpieces, the greatest part of our stores, and had four rivers to pass. None can say that our retreat was precipitate, for we were three weeks in performing it, that the country might have time to come. Twice we marched back to meet the enemy and remained out until dark." 2 Captain Johann Ewald of the German yagers refers to these troops in his notes on the war in this language : " The irregular militia of this province were brave during the whole war ; they performed all the service that could be expected of them on every occasion, and although MIFFLIN AS A RECRIHTING OFFICER 19 TUSCULUM, REV. .lOHN \VITHl-;KSrf ION S HOl'SE The Continental Congress sent to Trenton a German bat- talion, raised in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and commanded by Colonel Nicholas Hansseger. As a first response to the appeals of General Mifflin, Philadelphia sent three battalions of " Associators " under Colonel John Cadwalader, Captain Samuel Morris's troop of light horse, and Captain Thomas Forrest's battery of artillery — in all about one thousand men.i General Washington determined to remain in Trenton as often greatly assisted by the regular troops, they were willing to sac- rifice themselves at their own hearthstones." 1 The militia of the citv of Philadelphia and liberties enrolled as Associates — for thev had associated together to " defend with arms, their property, liberty and lives" — were called out for review Novem- ber 26, when General Mifflin addressed them in an eloquent manner, as- serting that Howe's army contemplated the invasion of their State. He appealed to them to march out in defense of their commonwealth and the cause of freedom. Congress also requested them to march into New Jersey. Another review took place November 28, and soon after, by detachments and companies, the city battalions proceeded to Tren- ton, as stated. They agreed to remain in service six weeks, unless sooner discharged. On December 12 the Assembly offered a bounty 20 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON long as possible. Boats were still being gathered, military stores were being transported to the west of the Delaware River, and the sick and disabled men sent to Philadelphia, The Durham boats, much used at that time for carrying fresh provisions to different points on the river, and which held what was then a full regiment of men, were now put into immediate use. Strange indeed does it appear that Cornwallis, with his large and well-equipped force, did not crush out with one blow this apology of an army, composed, as it was, of men despondent, and many of them eager to seek safety in flight. The debates in the English Parliament show us that Lord Cornwallis was once interrogated as to the reason the pur- suit was not made with greater rapidity. To save the re- putation of General Howe, perhaps, he could only give this rather evasive reply : " We wanted reinforcements in order to leave troops for the communication between Brunswick and Amboy. It was likewise necessary to pay some atten- tion to a considerable body then passing the North River under General Lee." In his examination Lord Cornwallis further said, as an excuse for his own slow movements : " I am free to say that I could not have pursued the enemy from Brunswick with any prospect of material advantage or without distressing the troops under my command. We arrived at Brunswick the night of the ist of December. We had marched that day twenty miles, through exceeding bad roads. We sub- sisted only on the flour we found in the country ; and as the troops had been constantly marching ever since their first entrance into the Jerseys, they had no time to bake their flour ; the artillery horses and baggage horses of the army were quite tired ; that sufificiently proves that we were not in a good condition to undertake a long march. The bridge over the Raritan was broken, which caused a necessary delay of ten dollars to all volunteers who should join General Washington on or before the 20th of the month, and seven dollars and five dollars, respectively, for all joining before the 25th or 30th of the month. CORNWALLIS EXPLAINS 21 of one day. If the enemy could not have passed at Tren- ton, they might have marched down the east side of the Delaware." ^ The condition of the State of New Jersey during the pas- sage of these hostile armies across its territory was most deplorable. Situated between two large and powerful States, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CHARLES CORNWALLIS close to two great cities, one under British rule and the other the objective point of the march of the English army, 1 Lieutenant-General Charles Cornwallis was the son of the first Earl CornwaUis. He commenced military studies early in life, was made colonel of the Thirty-third foot August 2, 1765, major-general September 29, 1775, and January I, 1776, received the local rank in America of lieutenant-general. He was considered the most able and reliable of all the English commanders during the war, but his reputation was greatly stained by the many cruelties afterward inflicted in the South- ern Department by his e.xpress orders. 22 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the people living on the highway between these centres of interest had to undergo all the sufferings which follow in the track of war. Their farms were devastated, their houses ransacked, their barns consumed, their money and valuables stolen, their cattle and horses, their forage, crops and merchandise carried off, their bridges and their churches damaged and despoiled. Society was thoroughly disorgan- ized, quarrels were engendered, families were subject to every indignity or else were obliged to flee for their lives. The wanton destruction of private property by Howe's army fully accounts for its slow movements across the State.^ An old Quaker who had been thoroughly robbed by the foreign soldiery expressed his opinion of them in emphatic language when he said : " Well, God made these men, though I am sure the devil governs them." The State was virtually in the possession of the enemy, and nothing was wanting but freezing weather to bridge the Delaware River, so that the foe might pass direct to the city where the Continental Congress was in session. The national treasury was known to be well-nigh bankrupt, and all the power of Congress could not keep up the credit of the gov- ernment and provide for the relief and strengthening of the army. Symptoms of general distrust in the power of Con- gress and the efficiency of the army seemed widespread and increasing. As soon as the British army entered the State, General Howe and his brother. Admiral Howe, by instruction of their government, issued a proclamation, dated November 30, directing all men in arms against his majesty's authority to return to their homes. At the same time they tendered a free and general pardon, and a secure enjoyment of their liberties and properties, to all who would, within sixty days, renounce the cause of independence, claim the benefits of this offer, and declare their full loyalty to the crown, and their obedience to the laws, by subscribing a declaration of 1 This delay of Howe's army is more fully explained in the History of Paterson, New Jersey, by William Nelson, vol. i. pp. 415, 416. THE HOWES ISSUE A PROCLAMATION ^3 this submission to the constitutional authority and suprem- acy of Great Britain. ^ This document was scattered broad- cast over the State, and increased, if possible, the fears of the patriots. There were many who thought this an easy ADAIIKAl. KlCllAlcli HdWH method of sa\ing themseh-es and securing their property from molestation, and these flocked in great numbers to make their submission. It is said that twent)'-se\'en hundred citizens of New Jersey took protection in this way. Lord Cornwallis stated that "three or four hundred came in e\-ery day for ten days to take protection." When asked to aid in ' Part ii. No. 3. 24 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON driving out the foe they said, "General Howe promises peace, hberty and safety — more than this we could not desire." But the Reverend James Caldwell (afterward the patriot martyr) wrote to General Washington : " General Howe gives sixty days of grace and pardons from the Con- o-ress down to the committee. No one man in the Con- o tinent is to be denied his mercy. The Lord deliver us from his mercy." The timid, the distrustful, the sycophantic, in this dark hour cjuietly entered the liritish lines and craved protection. They apologized to their more patriotic neighbors and the reproof of their own consciences by saying they did not be- lieve in war ; that they opposed rebellion ; that all wrongs should be constitutionally righted, and that acts of Congress, ■^c^,.^»^^ M ^.._i^ .. , ■ ^a/i' PROTECTION PAPER SHJNEU RY COLfiNliL RALE IN TRENTON Original lu possession of Author recently adopted, especially that of the Declarati(jn of Inde- pendence from the mother country, were too hastily drawn and voted on before the delegates properly understood the views of their constituents. They thought the army thor- oughly routed, the cause virtually abandoned, and that their clear duty was to insure the protection and safety of thcjse dependent upon them. However, the Hessian soldiery had little regard for these protection papers, which they would not read and did not care to understand. They looked upon everything in an enemy's country as free for them to enjoy. The British soldiers, too, HESSIAN EXCESSES 25 thought the plundering of the people a fair game, and they did not relish the idea of the German troops taking all the spoils. Therefore both acted regardless of "safeguards," and shamefully violated the pledged faith, attacking friend and foe, irrespective of age or sex. Their brutal passions, uncontrolled by any order of their superior officers, urged them to commit acts of rapine that were both distressing and disgusting.^ In reference to the brutal conduct of the British troops and the Hessian mercenaries. Governor Livingston, in his message to the Council and General Assembly of New Jer- sey, February 25, 1777, made the following forcible state- ment : " The rapacity of the enemy was boundless, their rapine indiscriminate, and their barbarity unparalleled. They have plundered friends and foes. Effects capable of division they have divided ; such as were not they have destroyed. They have warred upon decrepit age ; warred upon defenseless youth. They have committed hostilities against the pro- fessors of literature and the ministers of religion ; against public records and private monuments ; against books of im- provement and papers of curiosity ; and against the arts 1 This is frankly admitted under date of November 24, 1776, in the journal of Major Stephen Kemble, deputy adjutant-general of General Howe, wherein he says : " His lordship will not be able to restrain the troops from plundering the country; their excess in that respect is carried to a most unjustifiable length." Dunlap, in his History of the American Theatre, thus describes the conduct of the British soldiery at Piscataway in the march through New Jersey: " I saw the soldiers plundering the houses, the women of the village trembling and weeping or flying with their children ; the men had retired to await the day of retribution. In many houses helpless old men or widowed females anxiously awaited the soldiers of monarchy. A scene of promiscuous pillage was in full operation. Here a soldier was seen issuing from a house armed with a frying-pan and gridiron, and hastening to deposit them with the stove over which his helpmate kept watch. The wo- men who had followed the army assisted their husbands in bringing the furniture from the houses, or stood sentinels to guard the pile of kitchen utensils or other articles already secured and claimed by right of war." 26 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON and sciences. They have butchered the wounded asking for quarter ; mangled the dying weltering in their blood ; refused the dead the rights of sepulchre ; suffered prisoners to perish for want of sustenance ; violated the chastity of women ; disfigured private dwellings of taste and elegance ; and in the rage of impiety and barbarism profaned edifices dedicated to Almighty God." Sir Henry Clinton afterward severely criticised the course of the English army in plundering the people of New Jersey, many of whom, as is well known, were kindly disposed toward them, and some of whom had renewed their allegiance to the crown. These are his words : " Unless we would refrain from plundering we had no business to take up winter quar- ters in a district we wished to preserve loyal. The Hessians introduced it." Ill To return to the little army at Trenton. During the night of December 6, or early in the morning of December 7, General Washington set out with a small body of men on the road toward Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville, and Prince- ton. He had not marched far before he came up with Gen- eral Greene's command on the retreat to Trenton, the First Maryland regiment and the Delaware regiment covering the rear of the column. The British army, after nearly twenty hours' rest in Princeton, commenced the march toward the river by different roads, hoping to intercept or get in the rear of the patriot lines, in some place, and so prevent any attempt to cross. At Stony Brook the column was obliged to halt and repair the bridge over that stream, which had been broken down by the Americans in their retreat, and it was not until nine o'clock on the morning of December 8 that it was rendered fit for the passage of artillery. General Washington was privately censured, even by his own officers, for risking his army, by keeping them on the Jersey side of the river, and delaying the crossing until the royal forces threatened their entire capture by a single forced movement. Colonel George Weedon of the Third Virginia Continental regiment, keenly alive to the danger of the situa- tion, wrote a friend at Fredericksburg, Virginia, that " Gen- eral Howe had a mortgage on the rebel army for some time, but had not yet foreclosed it." Boats which had been used for conveying the military stores having been placed in readiness on the bank of the river near the village of Trenton, the passage of the troops commenced at Beatty's and Trenton ferries, just above and below the falls. During the afternoon of December 7, and up to daylight of Sunday, December 8, the boats were 28 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON constantly passing back and forth. Lieutenant-Colonel David Henley, acting as deputy adjutant-general on General Washington's staff, superintended the transfer of the troops to the Pennsylvania side of the river, and was with the rear- guard as the army passed over. Scarcely had the last of the Americans crossed in safety when the British fourth brigade, two battalions of light infantry, three battalions of Hessian grenadiers, and the reserves, the advance of the royal army, entered Trenton with music and much display. ■ The Hessian battalions, under command of Colonel von Donop, came into the town about eleven o'clock in the morning of December 8, and as they marched down to the river bank they were greeted with a shower of grapeshot from the western shore. Having tarried in Princeton for nearly an entire day, the British army had then taken fully twice the necessary time to reach Trenton. Their action, in this respect, was a source of considerable satisfaction to General Washington. Another division of the corps of Lord Cornwallis, and under his immediate command, halted for the night at Maid- enhead, about six miles from Trenton, preferring to wait until morning before entering the town. But at one o'clock in the morning of December 9 he was ordered to take a strong detachment, consisting of two battalions of British grenadiers, three battalions of British light infantry, the Forty-second British regiment, and two battalions of British foot, and cross the river about two miles south of Coryell's Ferry, or twelve miles above Trenton, capture the boats there collected, and then attempt to carry over the whole army. He failed, however, to find the means to get his de- tachment over the river, and like the Hessians at Trenton, was greeted with shot from the opposite bank. Every boat which could be pressed into service had been brought to the Pennsylvania shore and fastened ; and to secure their further safety. General Lord Stirling had placed a strong guard over them. Even a large Durham boat, which had been sunk in the river a few days before, had fortunately been raised HOWE'S PURSUIT CHECKED 29 and taken away. After reconnoitring the shore for a long time, and finding no possible means of crossing, the British returned to their posts, halting, however, by order, at the village of Pennington. General Howe's adjutant, Captain Frederick Ernst von MUnchhausen, of the regiment Land- graff, had been very zealous in his search for boats and in his desire to place his Hessian brethren across the river. In this manner General Howe's pursuit of the Americans was suddenly checked on the river bank. The game had been almost within his grasp, yet it had eluded him. Sted- man, the historian, says of the movements of the British army at this time, that it looked as though " Howe had cal- culated with the greatest accuracy the exact time necessary for his enemy to make his escape." A detachment of the British was also ordered down the WASHINGTON'S HEAUOUAliTERS AT TRENTUN L.ANDlNe river to Bordentown, and this movement gave the American spies the impression that Howe's intention was to cross in two columns, above and below Trenton, and so surround the patriot army. But this party also was baffled, and nothing could now be done by the British but wait the forming of ice 30 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Strong enough to admit of their passing over the Delaware River, the procuring of boats from the Raritan River, or the building of flat-bottomed boats at Trenton. On the morning of December 9 the remnant of the Amer- ican army was divided into parties of observation, guards and patrols, to prevent as far as possible any attempt at crossing the river. Small earthworks were thrown up where a passage might be attempted, opposite the ferries known as Sherwood's, Coryell's, McKonkey's, Yardley's, Howell's, Kirkbride's, Beatty's, and Trenton. From Coryell's Ferry to Yardley's Ferry four brigades of Continental troops were stationed. These brigades were commanded by Generals Stirling, Stephen, Mercer and De Fermoy. The Pennsyl- vania militia belonging to the flying camp, with a small body of New Jersey militia, protected the shore from Yard- ley's Ferry to the ferry opposite Bordentown. At first the Philadelphia battalions of Associators were also stationed just below Trenton Ferry, and there they' began to build themselves rude huts for shelter from the inclement weather. These were nearly completed, when, on December 11, the third battalion was ordered to Dunk's Ferry, below Bristol, and the next day it was joined by the entire brigade. ^ The commissary and quartermaster's departments of the army were established at Newtown, in Bucks County. This village, about eight miles from the river, was a central point for supplies for both wings of the army. After crossing the river on December 8, Washington spent the night at the summer residence of Thomas Barclay, about half a mile back from the shore at Trenton Ferry, now Morris- ville,2 ' For the orders in these cases see Part ii. No. 2. ^ Washington calls this house " Mr. Berkeley's.'' It is still called " Summer Seat," and is owned by the estate of John H. Osborne. (See sketch of Thomas Barclay, p. 61, Baker's Itinerary of George Wash- ington.) The commander-in-chief probably remained there several days, dating all his letters at " Headquarters, Trenton Falls." He ap- pears to have changed his quarters on December 14 to the farmhouse of 'William Keith, in Upper Makefield Township. This dwelling was at GUARDING THE DELAWARE 31 COLONEL KNOX S HEADQUARTERS On the evening of the loth day of December Commodore Thomas Seymour was directed by General Washington to place the galleys under his command on the river between Bordentown and Philadelphia, so that he could furnish im- mediate information of the appearance of the enemy on the New Jersey shore, or of any preparation they might make to effect a crossing. He had command of all the vessels, gon- dolas and row-galleys above the chevaux-de-frise at Billings- port. It was expected that a portion of this naval force would Knowles's Creek, about a mile and a half from the mouth of the creek and about four miles north of Newtown. The stone house, which still stands, was built in 1763, and is on the road from Brownsburg to the Eagle Tavern, and on the south side of Jericho Hill. General G.reene quartered in Samuel Merrick's house. General Sullivan in John Hav- hurst's house; General Lord Stirling at Robert Thorap.son's, the miller, at Beaumonts, often called " Blue Mounts '' in dispatches, near Brownsburg, and Colonel Knox in Dr. Chapman's house, now owned by Edward Johnson. All of these dwellings were near Jericho Hill, an excellent place to obtain a view of the surrounding country. General De Fermov with his brigade was at Coryell's Ferry, at what is now called New Hope. General Lord Stirling's and General De Fermov's brigades built themselves wooden sheds as barracks. — History of Bucks Coiintv, Pcnn., by Gen. William W. H. Davis. 32 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON aid materially in preventing the British from crossing at Cooper's Creek, opposite Philadelphia, or even lower down on the Jersey shore. The gondolas, armed with small ship- guns, cruised up as far as the " Falls " at Trenton, watching the enemy, and keeping in check the Tories, who were eager to obtain information for the English officers. These sailors and marines also kept strict control of the little village of Burlington, and often sent parties off from the galleys to search for those unfriendly to the cause of independence. Adjutant-General Reed, who had been trying to hasten reinforcements from New Jersey for the army, joined his chief at Trenton, and on December 8 again left the army with a letter for the Continental Congress. In this commu- nication the commander-in-chief urgently stated that there was " not a moment's time to be lost in assembling such force as can be collected." In addition to this appeal, he made every effort in his power to strengthen the army. Brigadier- General William Smallwood, who was unfit for field service on account of wounds received at the battle of White Plains, was sent in all haste to Maryland and Delaware to beg them to forward militia as rapidly as possible. Brigadier-General John Armstrong, of Cumberland County, was also detached from his command, and sent into those counties of Pennsyl- vania where it was thought he could most effectually arouse the people. The preservation of Philadelphia was now the desire of every patriot. Washington bestowed much thought upon this subject, and, having placed Major-General Israel Putnam in command of the city, directed him to defend it at all hazards. Lines of defense were then planned from the river Schuylkill, covering the high ground around Germantown in an easterly direction to the Delaware River.i General Mifflin, having returned from his mission, was then at the general headquarters, and was ordered back to 1 On December 9 Washington suggested to Congress a French en- gineer of eminence, Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, as the proper officer to take charge of this work. PROTECTING PHILADELPHIA 33 Philadelphia to take charge of the supplies and camp equi- page which had been collected there. On the loth of December Congress resolved to defend the federal capital with all the force which could be mus- tered. They commenced earnestly to work on a plan pro- posed by the commander-in-chief for the reorganization of the army. Up to this time the militia had been called out by classes, some for but one month, and state troops had been called for sixty days or four months. These short terms of service did much to impair the practical efficiency THE KKITH HOI bK. WASHING i U.N b Hli.AD'JU.AKTLl^S of the force. No sooner was a man well drilled as a soldier, than he was ready for discharge. Congress for the first time offered bounties to men who would enlist in the eighty bat- talions of Continental troops which it had directed to be raised, and agreed to borrow live million dollars for the pur- pose. About this time an appeal was made by Washington to Congress not to wait to fill up the old regiments, but to increase the number of new organizations enlisted for the 34 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON war. He thought that every new officer would draw around him an additional number of new men to be trained for the next campaign. Although this method might involve con- siderable expense, and it seemed to some members of Con- gress a dangerous precedent, yet " desperate diseases require desperate remedies." ^ Congress also gave power to Major-General Israel Putnam to assume absolute control of the city of Philadelphia. This brave old officer, blunt and unpolished, was yet true to his country's cause. Endowed with a cool, clear head and a de- termined will, he was the very man to govern the alarmed and almost disaffected city. The state of affairs in Philadelphia at this time is best shown by Putnam's order, that all the inhabitants of the city who appeared in the streets after ten o'clock at night should be arrested and confined. His order of December 13 well describes the confusion and alarm which reigned in that city during this dark hour of our country's history.^ 1 To quote at length the picture which General Washington gives of the situation : " The enemy are daily gathering strength from the dis- affected. This strength, like a snowball, by rolling will increase, unless some means can be devised to check effectually the progress of the enemy's arms. Militia may possibly do it for a little while ; but in a little while, also, the militia of those states which have been frequently called upon will not turn out at all ; or, if they do, it will be with so much reluctance and sloth as to amount to the same thing : — Instance, New Jersey: — Witness, Pennsylvania ! Could anything but the river Delaware have saved Philadelphia ? Can anything (the exigency of the case indeed may justify it) be more destructive to the recruiting service, than giving ten dollars bounty for six weeks' service of the militia, who come in you cannot tell how, go you cannot tell when ; consume your provisions, exhaust your stores, and leave you at last at a critical moment ? " — Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 112. 2 " The general has been informed that some weak or wicked men have mahciously reported that it is the design and wish of the ofiScers and men in the Continental army to burn and destroy the city of Phila- delphia. To counteract such a false and scandalous report, he thinks it necessary to inform the inhabitants who propose to remain in the city, that he has received positive orders from the Honorable Continental CONGRESS FLEES FROM PHILADELPHIA 35 On December 1 1 Congress passed a resolutiun denoun- cing as false the rumor that they intended to leave Philadel- phia, and asked General Washington to publish the same in orders to his army. This he declined to do, in a letter dated MAJOR-filiNHRAL SRAEL PUTNAM the following day ; ^ and on December 13, forgetful of their solemn and indignant resolve, they made the city gossip a Congress and from his excellency General Washington, to secure and protect the city of Philadelphia against all invaders and enemies. The general will consider every attempt to burn the city of Philadelphia as a crime of the blackest dye, and will, without ceremony, punisli capi- tally any incendiary who shall have the hardiness and cruelty to attempt it." 1 Ford's JVriiings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 82. 36 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON reality. Under the advice of Generals Putnam and Mifflin, Congress fled to Baltimore, leaving Robert Morris, George Walton, and George Clymer, of their own body, to act for them in Philadelphia. Oliver Wolcott, delegate in Congress for Connecticut, wrote : "It was judged that the Council of America ought not to sit in a place liable to be interrupted by the rude disorder of arms." This unwise proceeding increased the alarm in the city, and it was only by the watchfulness of the resolute Putnam that he was able to keep the loyahsts from making a serious outbreak. The effect was also felt in the camps on the Delaware. Captain Samuel C. Morris of the Philadelphia Associators wrote to his friends : " It has struck a damp on ye spirits of many." IV Let us now return to the king's troops, which we left vainly trying to cross the Delaware River on December 8. Every effort to procure boats had failed, and no attempt was made to build new ones. The capital city of the young republic was a prize worth a supreme effort, and the British soldiers were certainly competent to build bateaux and rafts. A hundred wooden houses in the village would have given them the material, if nothing else was at hand ; and John Rickey's hardware store and the blacksmith shops of Joseph and Samuel Lanning, Joshua Newbold and Hezekiah How- ell would have afforded them all the nails and iron necessary. But the same lack of enterprise which General Howe exhib- ited when' he allowed the escape from Long Island, and the halts at Brunswick and at Princeton, was repeated at Tren- ton, and gave the Americans the opportunity. Joseph Galloway, a Tory, who appears to have spent a few days about this time at the house of Major John Barnes, on Queen street, near the Assunpink Creek, in Trenton, said, when examined before the House of Commons by Lord Ger- main and others on June i8, 1779: "At Captain Montres- sor's request, I did inquire whether there were any materials in or about Trenton with which pontoons, boats, or rafts might be constructed ; and I found 48,000 feet of boards, a quantity of wire, and there was timber enough about Tren- ton for that purpose. No boats were brought from the Raritan River, as the Americans feared and anticipated. Nor does it appear that the work of building boats or rafts was ever begun." ^ 1 The Abb^ Raynal, in his History of the Revolution of America., truthfully remarks in reference to the proper conduct of the British at this time : " Without losing a moment, the king's troops ought to have 38 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON But General Howe was proud of the manner in which he had driven the rebels out of the State. His dispatches show that it was no part of his plan in this campaign to cross the Delaware River. He seems to have concluded that- he had had enough glory for this year, and, " the weather having become too severe to keep the field," he had thought it better to spread a portion of the royal army over the State, and thus occupy the territory so easily conquered. As citizens and soldiers he regarded the colo- nists with the utmost contempt, and by billeting his troops upon the people he thought to stop all efforts to obtain re- cruits in New Jersey for the new army of next year. In this way, unless ice formed on the river, he proposed, to remain in winter quarters until the opening of a new season, and then commence an active and final campaign. General Howe ordered that a number of cantonments in New Jersey be formed immediately in the counties of Essex, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon and Burlington. General Cornwallis rashly arranged a thin line of military posts at Elizabeth Town, Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton and Bor- dentown, the last two composed principally of Hessian troops. These stations, however, were too far apart to sup- port one another effectually in case of attack. Howe says : " My first intentions were to have made Brunswick the left and Elizabeth Town or Newark the right of these canton- ments ; and my reason for extending to Trenton was that a considerable number of inhabitants came in with their arms in obedience to the proclamation of commissioners on 30th of November." The frontier posts, then in the very face of the American passed the river in pursuit of the handful of fugitives, and have put them totally to the rout. If the five thousand men, destined for the conquest of Rhode Island, had gone up the river in the transports they were aboard of, the junction of the two corps might have been effected without opposition even in Philadelphia itself, and the new republic had been stifled in that important and celebrated city which gave it birth." THE HESSIAN MERCENARIES 39 army, were garrisoned by German officers and soldiers, who were ignorant of the character and language of the people, and who could not therefore judge rightly of any information brought them. It seems strange that a part of the Hessian contingent should have been given so important a position. The only reason is that these troops were placed by order on the left of the column, and thus the duty fell to them to hold the left of the chain of cantonments. To substitute other troops might, as General Howe said, "have created jealousies between the Hessian and British troops, which it was my duty carefully to prevent." These Hessian soldiers, whose services had been pur- chased, who were fighting for hire, were uncouth in manners, low in morals, but well trained in military duties, and familiar with war and violence. They cared little on which side their services were rendered. But to maintain her authority in the colonies, England had either to send new levies of her own soldiers, distasteful though the war might be to them, or purchase the brains and courage of some other nation. She found a market among the petty princes of Germany, where the articles were obtain able for thirty crowns banco, equal to jE,"] 4s. 4-|d. for each soldier. Negotiations were commenced with Fred- erick II., Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel ; Frederick, Prince of Waldeck ; Charles I., Duke of Brunswick ; William, Count of Hesse-Hanau ; Frederick Augustus, Prince of Anhalt- Zerbst, and Charles Alexander, Margrave of Anspach-Bey- reuth ; and from these potentates England received nearly 30,000 men, with which she proposed to conquer Amer- icans struggling for independence. Before the troops were sent the agreement was confirmed with the minister of Brunswick that three wounded men should count as one dead man, and that every man killed must be paid for as one newly mustered. Lord Mahon, in his "History of England," says Frederick the Great was so disgusted with what he called "scandalous man-traffic," that, whenever the Hessians passed through his dominions, he claimed the 40 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON same toll per head as for cattle ; for he contended they had been sold "as one sells cattle to be dragged to the shambles." ^ Before the first division of these Hessians had reached the shores of America, the Continental Congress had pro- mulgated this announcement concerning them in the Decla- ration of Independence : " He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun, with circum- stances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation."^ At Trenton were stationed three regiments of Hessian infantry, a detachment of artillery, fifty Hessian yagers, and twenty light dragoons of the Sixteenth British regiment, — in all about 1400 men in and around the town. This force ' Lord Camden said in the Britisli House of Lords, March 15, 1776: " Is there one of your lordships who does not perceive most clearly that the whole is a mere mercenary bargain for the hire of troops on the one side and the sale of human blood on the other ; and that the devoted wretches thus purchased for slaughter are mere mercenaries in the worst sense of the word?" To increase their coffers, filled now "with blood and tears," and to enable them with more splendor to support the coarse luxuries of a sensual court, these petty princes kidnapped their poor subjects in the fields, in their shops, and even in their churches, and forced them into the conscription. Yet the slaves of these despots are the men whom we find throughout the war fighting for the British crown, and dying as Colonel von Donop said he died, — " a victim of my ambition and the avarice of my sovereign." — Parlia- mentary History of England, vol. xviii., London, 1813. ^ The dress of the Hessian soldier is carefully described in Dunlap's History of the American Theatre: "A towering brass-fronted cap; moustaches colored with the same material that colored his shoes, his hair plastered with tallow and flour, and tightly drawn into a long appendage reaching from the back of the head to his waist ; his blue uniform almost covered by the broad belts sustaining his cartouch box, his brass-hilted sword, and his bayonet; a yellow waistcoat with flaps, and yellow breeches, were met at the knee by black gaiters ; and thus heavily equipped he stood an automaton, and received the command or cane of the officer who inspected him." COLONEL RALL'S COMMAND 41 was under the command of Colonel Johann Gott- lieb Rail/ as senior offi- cer of the brigade, who was given the command of the post in return for his gallant conduct at the battle of White Plains and at the assault on Fort Washington. The three regiments of infan- try, one of them having six grenadier companies, the other consisting of five fusilier companies and one grenadier com- pany each, were those designated Rail, von Knyphausen, and von Lossberg. The first two regiments came down with the main army and went into quarters at Trenton December 12 ; but the von Lossberg regiment was detained at Newark, then at Brunswick, where it was relieved by the Waldeck regiment, and again detained at Princeton, so it was unable to join the brigade at Trenton until the HESSIAN GRENADIER 1 The name of Colonel Rail has been given by various historians in many different forms. General Washington always wrote it Tft?///. John I\Iarshall, in his Life of ll'as/iington, spells the name Rawle. Jared Sparks and Dr. David Ramsey give us Rahl. Sergeant R. Lamb, in his book of Occiirrenccs during the War, and Mrs. Mercy Warren say Rhal. Captain Hall of the Forty-sixth regiment of British foot, in his History of the Civil War in America, writes Railcj and General Sir William Howe, Raille; the Rev. Dr. William Gordon speaks of him as Roll; Charles Botta refers to him as Ralle ; and Charles Stedman, the British military writer, alludes to the Hessian soldier as Rhalle. His own autograph shows that he wrote his name Rail. See p. 24. 42 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON morning of December 14, when Colonel Rail established his headquarters in that village. It was General Howe's plan to make Trenton one of the military posts, and not to dignify it by the name of a " head- quarters," or put so large a force in the village, but these men had been promised good winter quarters, and even Tren- ton did not satisfy them, When Major von Hanstein came into Trenton with his tired men, in the scanty uniform of the von Lossberg regiment, he asked Colonel Rail if these were the "good quarters" which had been promised them. Rail replied, " No, but we will have them soon in Philadel- phia." To increase the honors and influence of Colonel Rail, General Howe ordered him to open a headquarters in this important town. It may be noted, when referring to the names by which these regiments were called, that it was the custom, at that time, in the English and German armies, as well as among the troops of the Landgrave of Hesse, to call an organization of this character by the name of its commanding officer, or by the name of a general or a prince. This they continued to do for years after the colonel had been promoted to a generalship, or the prince or the general had died. The custom still prevails at the present day in the army of Great Britain, as well as in the battalions of the German Empire.^ The original strength of each of the Hessian regiments sent' to America was 21 officers, 60 sergeants, 5 surgeons, 22 musicians, and 525 rank and file. It was determined that a post of about 1500 men should be organized at Bordentown, six miles below Trenton. Two hours before daylight on the nth of December, Colonel von Donop left Trenton with several officers and a detachment of four or five hundred troops, passed over the drawbridge at Crosswicks Creek, and proceeded to Bordentown. As they advanced, the patriot militia of Burlington County broke down the bridges, but the enemy succeeded in reach- ing Bordentown, and then proceeded to Bustleton. Pursu- 1 For names of field officers of these regiments see Part ii. No. 4. BURLINGTON THREATENED 43 ing a little party of American riflemen who had crossed the ri\'er below Bordentown for the purpose of scouting, they came, about two o'clock in the morning, to the York bridge over the Assiscunk Creek. The Americans eluded further pursuit b}' recrossing the ri\'er to Bristol, Hearing that Colonel von Donop and the Hessian troops were approach- ing, John Lawrence, the mayor of the town, with two or three other prominent citizens, went out on the old York road to meet them and to plead for the safety of the village and its inhabitants. John Lawrence was a man of some distinc- tion in his time ; and in after years his son, James Lawrence, captain in the United States navy, became famous as the hero of the Chesapeake, and his dying shout, " Don't give up the ship," has rendered his name the ideal of Amer- -!}. -'t tX^f*:^.- -^'- .^,-^< ^^y■^'■'■-'iyy'^^^,^.'yS'^'^'^^y^•'^^ ■^- Jif .y PAROLE OF REVEREND JONATHAN ODELL, UF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY Origi}Lal ill I'osscssion of A jdhor 44 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ican heroism. It is not stated in history nor in that singular diary of Margaret Morris, the Quakeress, that John Law- rence was in any way charged, as she was, with Toryism, but the rector of St. Mary's Church at Burlington, the Rev. Jonathan Odell, who was also a practicing physician, and who accompanied the mayor for the purpose of speaking French to Colonel von Donop, was a loyalist of extreme views, and so a suitable man for this embassy. On October i8, 1775, the Provincial Congress of New Jersey had discov- ered that Mr. Odell had written two very un-American letters. His case had been considered with great care, but at that time Congress had declined to pass public censure against him. On the 20th of the next July, however, the county committee of Burlington was ordered to take his parole to confine himself on the east side of the river and within a radius of eight miles from his residence — because, as they said, he was " a person suspected of being inimical to Amer- ican liberty." He accompanied Sir Henry Clinton, the Brit- ish commander-in-chief, when he returned to England in November, 1783, at the close of the war.i The Burlington County committee told Colonel von Donop that if he brought his force into Burlington, they probably would have to sub- mit to a cannonade from the vessels of the American fleet lying in the Delaware River, near the town. Colonel von Donop urged the deputation to see the commander of the fleet, and, leaving his troops near the bridge, he entered the town himself with some of his staff officers and a small guard. It was agreed with the Burlington committee that these men should receive quarters and refreshments, and that no one in the village should conceal arms or ammuni- tion, under threat of pillage by the Hessians. Then the offi- cers went to the house of Mayor Lawrence, dined at his table, and waited there for Commodore Thomas Seymour's ^ Hills's History of the Church in Burlington, p. 315 ; Force's Amer- ican Archives, fourth series, vol. vi. p. 165 1 ; Tyler's Literary History of the American Revolution, vol. ii. p. 103 ; Private Journal of Mar- garet Morris of Burlington, p. 8. BURLINGTON CANNONADED 45 answer to the delegation. Being on shore at the time, Cap- tain Thomas Moore, one of the officers of the armed boat Hancock, accompanied the party. The wind was blowing very hard, and it was with great difficulty that the delega- tion reached the flagship, which was some distance down the river. While they were on their way to this vessel, some of the men in the gondolas saw the Hessian guards pacing the streets of Burlington, and fire was opened in- stantly on the town. Hearing this, the mayor and William Dillwyn, another prominent citizen of the place, went down the main street to the wharf, and waved their hats to the boats for the sailors to cease firing, but they, too, were fired upon. Then Colonel von Donop and his officers left the table, and went toward the river to make observations of the state of affairs, but they were seen, and the cannonade up Main, now High street, and along the river bank, now Delaware street, was continued all the afternoon. Several houses of the citizens were struck, but no one was injured. It is said many of the people hid in their cellars during the firing. When Captain Moore and the delegation had reached the commodore's vessel, they fpund that he had already ordered four galleys up to the town with orders to fire on it if any Hessians were seen. Seymour told the committee from Burlington that if the Hessian troops quartered them- selves in that town, he would have no mercy on the place, but would immediately open on it with all his guns. The delegation promptly reported this threat to Colonel von Donop, and as he had no heavy guns with which to reply to the fleet, and had discovered that some of the residents were loyalists, he thought it prudent to withdraw from Bur- lington. This he did, and marched his men back to Bustle- ton, where they spent the night. On the next morning, December 12, some of the men from the gondolas came into Burlington, and told the people that they intended to burn the town, for they suspected that the Hessians were concealed there. These men remained in the village until the night of December 17, when Captain Shippin, who was 46 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON afterward killed at the battle of Princeton, took all the men back to the vessels, and the town became quiet. In the meantime Colonel von Donop had marched his men to Bor- dentown, and having placed there a detachment of yagers, under special orders to prevent the inhabitants from remov- ing goods and provisions, and his own men from plundering the houses, he returned to Trenton. On the 13th of December General Howe informed Colo- nel von Donop ^ that he would place him in command of the two Hessian brigades, — his own and that of Colonel Rail, with all the yagers, dragoons and artillerists attached. He also assigned him winter quarters at Bordentown, and ordered a strong body of troops to report to him there. The Forty- second British regiment (known as the Royal Highland regi- ment, and sometimes called the " Highland Watch "), one of the best organizations in the service, and under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Sterling, a fine officer, was ordered to this cantonment. There were also three battal- ions of Hessians, — the grenadier battalions von Linsingen, von Block and von Minnigerode. Also attached to these organizations were the second company of Hessian yagers. Captain Johann Ewald in command, a detachment of Hessian artillery with six three-pounders, and one company of British artillery with two six-pounders and two three-pounders. The Hessian grenadier battalion von Koehler with four eighteen-pounders was ordered from New York to join Colo- nel von Donop at Bordentown, coming by vessel to Amboy, and then marching across the State, but it did not join him before he broke up his cantonment. Colonel von Donop also directed that Captain Georg Hein- rich Pauli, an engineer officer, should remain with Colonel 1 The commander of the grenadiers, Colonel Carl Emil Kurt von Donop, belonged to the second division of the Hessian troops. Colonel von Donop was one of the bravest and most cultured officers of the Hessian soldiery. He was mortally wounded, October 22, 1777, at the battle of Red Bank on the Delaware River. For copies of orders to Colonel von Donop, and to Colonel Rail, see Part ii. Nos. 5 and 6. HOWE'S SCATTERED OUTPOSTS 47 Rail for a few days to point out where redoubts should be erected for the protection of the post of Trenton. He then (December 14) marched to his winter post at Borden town with the troops assigned him. It was von Donop's intention to order the Forty-second regiment, British foot, and the grenadier battalion von Block to the post of Burlington, but finding that the town was under American guns, he thought it prudent to delay the occupation until the heavy artillery should come from Amboy with the battalion von Koehler. The two organizations referred to were temporarily ordered to Black Horse, Burlington County, a village now known as Columbus. One company of yagers, consisting of one offi- cer and thirty men, was ordered to post itself about two miles north of Bordentown, on the road to Trenton, and another detachment in a mill a short distance south of Bor- dentown, on the river. On the day that these Hessian battalions took post at Bordentown, Captain Henry Miller, who belonged to Colonel Edward Hand's Pennsylvania riflemen, and who had been in New Jersey with a small scouting party, reported having met and received the fire of von Donop's advance. The soldiers were quartered in farmers' houses in Burlington County in squads of ten to fifteen, much to the annoyance of a community of Quakers peculiarly averse to war. The vivacious Highlander in his kilt and tartan, his low checkered bonnet, and many colored stockings, was in strong contrast to the dull, phlegmatic German in his sombre uniform. But the Germans were the first to commence a pillage upon the inhabitants, friend and foe alike. They took possession of every article they desired, under the spirit of the orders which von Donop had received from Howe. All the assignments which have just been stated were made by General Howe, who regarded the party around General Washington with utter contempt, and was confident of his ability to hold possession of these widely scattered posts. This arrangement of numerous unsupported cantonments reflected no credit upon his generalship. 48 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Major-General James Grant, baronet, of Ballendallock, and colonel of the Fifty-fifth regiment of British foot,i was placed in command of all the troops in New Jersey, and stationed with the strongest body of soldiers at Brunswick, whither all the supplies for the army were sent and from there distributed. General Howe, accompanied by General Cornwallis, left Trenton December 13, and returned to resume, for the win- ter, his life of ease at his headquarters in New York. They both thought that the capture of Philadelphia might occur at any time, and that, if it was deemed necessary, the city could be immediately taken, as the rebel army would soon be disbanded. So impressed were they with this idea that Lord Cornwallis obtained a leave of absence to visit his home in England. He then made every arrangement to sail at an early date, and had his baggage placed on the packet vessel, confidently expecting to give the king the cheering informa- tion of the final collapse of the feeble rebellion against his authority.^ On December 15 Colonel von Donop ordered the gren- adier battalion von Linsingen to take post half way between Black Horse and Bordentown, at a little place known as 1 This is the same General Grant whom Lord Stiriing of the Amer- ican army heard declare, in the English House of Commons, February 2, 1775, " that the Americans could not fight, and that he would under- take to march from one end of the continent to the other with five thou- sand men." ^ At this time the following orders were issued : " Headquarters, De- cember 14, 1776. The Campaign having closed with the Pursuit of the Enemies Army near ninety Miles by Lieut. Gen. Cornwallis's Corps, much to the honor of his Lordship and the Officers and Soldiers under his Command, The Approach of Winter putting a Stop to any further Progress, the Troops will immediately march into Quarters and hold themselves in Readiness to assemble on the shortest Notice. " The Commander-in-Chief calls upon the Commanding Ofiicers of Corps to exert themselves in preserving the greatest Regularity and strictest Discipline in their respective Quarters, particularly attending to the Protection of Inhabitants and their Property in their several Districts." \'0N DONOP'S WARINESS 4r, Mansfield Square. A report had reached him at noon that General Putnam had come up from Philadelphia in the direc- tion of Mount Holl)' with a force of 3000 rebels. He im- mediately sent out a detachment of 200 grenadiers and mounted yag'crs to ascertain the truth of the report. The}- MAJOR-CEXHRAL JAMES GRANT were unable to find the xVmerican column, and reported to that effect. During the day Major Nichols,' crossing the river from Bristol, came up from Burlington to Bordentown for the purpose of making an exchange of prisoners. Colo- nel von Donop's criticism of this officer in his report is very interesting. The next day Colonel \'on Donop wrote to General Leslie at Princeton and to General Grant letters giving in detail the events of the preceding day.^ 1 Probably Major Francis NichoLs, Ninth Penn.sylvania Continental regiment. This oiificer is often alluded to in the documents connected with the " Reed Controversy." 2 For these letters see Part ii. Nos. 7 and 8. V On December 17 the "express riders'' between Borden- town and Brunswick must have been particularly active. Very early that morning Colonel von Donop wrote as follows to General Grant at Brunswick : — "In accordance with my communication of yesterday, I have the honour to advise you, my General, that the patrol has been sent out and has seen nothing of the enemy. They found near the bridge between Mount Holly and Moores- town a quantity of cannon-ball and shells which they threw into the water. According to the reports of the country people the enemy must be at Cooper's Creek with a force of 4000 men and General Putnam who commands them must be busy in collecting stores. If I did not know that the heavy artillery were to arrive to-day or to-morrow I would be very desirous of marching with the three battalions and making a call on Mister General Putnam. I will follow out your orders on this subject as soon as possible. Yesterday evening a farmer came to say that General Washington had crossed the river at Vessels' Ferry with a large force on the right flank of Colonel Rail for the purpose of uniting with the corps of General Lee. This man however has disap- peared after telling his story to the Mayor of Burlington. If this news is true the troops which have crossed must be the corps of General Stirhng, who has his quarters at Beau- monts about two miles above the ferry. The six chasseurs who were lately driven from the house near the river at Trenton were again attacked yesterday morning by a detach- ment of the enemy which crossed in three boats under the protection of the eighteen pounders in their batteries. We were not able to prevent them from landing and were obliged "TO DRIVE PUTNAM" 51 to retire until Colonel Rail brought up a force to their assist- ance. After this the rascals went off taking away as their only prize a pig which had j ust been killed by the chasseurs. The two gondolas which came near me here and which I made mention of yesterday, I believe have gone down the river again to await me at Burlington. I have the honour to send you two orders issued by General Putnam. It is evident we will have to make a siege of it. . . . "At this moment I have just received the news that Colo- nel Rail sent yesterday evening a patrol of six dragoons to Pennington, which has not yet returned and one of these dragoons has been seen ten miles from Trenton mortally wounded." This letter was received by General Grant the same day, and he immediately made this reply : — "Brunswick 17th Dec. 1776. I have just received your report of this Days date, that of yesterday has not reached me. The General set out this morning for New York. Your fourth Battalion of Grenadiers is still at this place. You shall be informed when they march from South Amboy with the heavy artillery, but you need not expect them for some days, and you will have time enough before their arri- val if you think proper to drive Putnam from Cooper's Creek and put a stop to his carrying off the Magazines for I am sure there is no Rebel force on this Side the Delaware, which will attempt to stand before hessian Grenadiers under your command. " I can hardly believe that Washington would venture at this season of the year to pass the Delaware at Vessels Ferry,^ as the repassing it may on account of the ice be- come difficult. I should rather think that Lee's Corps has proceeded to Philadelphia, for we have heard nothing of them, since Lee was made Prisoner, and prior to that the Intention was to march to East-Town in order to cross the river. 1 The ferry which afterward became known as McKonkey's Ferry. 52 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON " Putnam's Hand Bills and Lee's account ^ differ exceed- ingly about the Intention of the Rebels with regard to Phila- delphia. For Lee declares that they are determined to burn the Town, if they cannot prevent its falling into our Hands. General Matthew marched this morning to Plackhemin where he fell in with a small body of rebels ; they fled on his Approach — he has taken a few prisoners — some Arms and stores, his Guide was wounded in the foot, that was all the Loss we sustained. General Leslie marched this morning to Springfield and is to proceed from thence by Bound-Brook to Prince Town. I have had no report from him, indeed cannot expect it till to-morrow. "Lieut. Col. Mawhood likewise marched this morning by Hillsborough towards Flemingtown, he is not yet returned. When you send a Light Dragoon from Trenton, the Letter should be forwarded to me from Princetown, where your Dragoon should remain to carry back my answer from Princetown to Trenton, by that means the conveyance will be quicker and the Dragoons less fatigued. I will write to General Leslie to observe this rule in future. After you get the iS pounders, the rebel Gondolas will not remain long at Burlington and if the Frost continues they will not wait even this Event." It will be seen that the false report of the crossing of a large detachment of Washington's army at Vessels' Ferry had reached the Hessian commanding officers, and they were anxious to determine the truth of the statement. Gen- eral Grant did not beheve that there was any large force on the Jersey side of the river ; and even if there were he was disposed to think lightly of any troops which the foe could bring against the trained battalions under his charge. Colonel Rail, too, was curious to know what was going on around him, and that same day (December 17) he seems to have specially exerted himself to obtain information.^ ' It would appear that General Lee was even in 1776 expressing his opinion and giving information to the enemy. 2 See letters. Rail and von Donop, Part ii. Nos. 12 and 13. LEE'S VEXATIOUS DILATORINESS 53 Early in the morning of December 16 a little scouting party of the Americans crossed the river at Trenton Ferry, as stated in Colonel Rail's letter of the following day.i Having so successfully stirred up the post on the first occa- sion, the temptation to do it once more was irresistible. Colonel Rail again wrote to Colonel von Donop, giving him the news at Trenton up to December 18,^ reporting affairs between scouting parties, — a service conducted with great activity on the American side. To return to the American army in camp on the Pennsyl- vania side of the Delaware River. General Washington still wondered why General Charles Lee did not join him as directed. Requests by letter, written in the most pressing terms, and direct orders by messengers, seemed alike inef- fectual to hasten his march. All dispatches appeared to be unheeded, and although it was known that he had crossed the Hudson River even as late as December 4, and that he was now on the march, yet his progress seemed slow indeed to the commander-in-chief. On December i Washington wrote these urgent words to Lee from Brunswick : ^ " The enemy are advancing and have got as far as Woodbridge and Amboy, and from infor- mation not to be doubted they mean to push for Philadel- phia. The force I have with me is infinitely inferior in num- bers and such as cannot give or promise the least successful opposition. . I must entreat you to hasten your march as much as possible or your arrival may be too late to answer any valuable purpose." On December 7 Washington had dispatched from Tren- ton Major Robert Hoops, brigade major on the staff of Bri- gadier-General Philemon Dickinson, to urge General Lee to hasten his march and to inform him that boats had been pro- vided to transport his men across the river at what was then known as Tinicum Ferry. And again (December 10) Wash- 1 Part ii. No. 12. 2 Part ii. No. 14. 3 Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 62. S4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ington appealed to him : ^ " Do come on, your arrival may be happy, and, if it can be effected without delay, it may be the means of preserving a city, whose loss must prove of the most fatal consequence to the cause of America." Finally on the nth he wrote: "I shall only say that Philadelphia, beyond all question, is the object of the enemy's move- ments, and that nothing less than our utmost exertions will be sufficient to prevent General Howe from possessing it. The force I have is weak and entirely incompetent to that end. I must therefore entreat you to push on with every possible succour you can bring." ^ Neither of these letters ever reached General Lee. It is clear that General Lee did not regard any of these dispatches as orders, but merely as letters of advice, and he evidently did not care to merge his own command with the main army. He had had plans of his own, such as a dash on the city of New York, and even now preferred to follow laggardly somewhat in the rear of the British troops rather than place himself with his chief in their very front. He had written to the president of the Council of Massachusetts that he "considered the resolves of Congress as of no weight," and had added this strange remark: "There are times when we must commit treason against the laws of the State, and the present crisis demands this brave, virtuous kind of treason." This was singular language for the sec- ond military commander in the new republic to use. It is quite apparent that he considered himself as on de- tached service, and there appears to be no doubt that he had planned an important diversion by marching through Pluckemin to Princeton, and making an attack on the en- emy's rear-guard, or striking a signal blow at the post at Brunswick, and then passing around to the British left, and taking the old York road to the ferry at Burlington. Gen- eral Washington had written General Lee that he would have no objection to his hanging on the enemy's rear if ' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 74. ^ Ibid. vol. V. p. 83. CAPTURE OF GENERAL LEE 55 there was sufficient force to oppose an advance upon Phila- delphia. It appears that Lee was twenty-three da)'s in mo\'ing his army from White Plains, on the Hudson I^iver, to IMorris- town. But about eleven o'clock on the morning of Friday, December 13, he was surprised at White's Tavern, near Baskingridge, Somerset County, by a scouting party of d0 iMAJOR-CEXERAL CHARLES LEE thirty dragoons. This tavern was fully twenty miles from the English lines, and at least four miles outside the pickets of his own division. This little body of troopers, which belonged to the Si.xteenth regiment, also called Burgoyne's regiment, of Queen's light dragoons, at that time under the immediate command of I..ieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Wil- liam Harcourt, and which had been sent out from Penning- ton to watch the movements of Tee's division, captured the general himself with "infinite address and gallantry." ^ ^ This detachment, as we are informed in De Fonblanque's L//i of General Burgovne, was part of that regiment which Lee, then a colo- nel in the British service, led across the Tagus on October 5, 1762, S6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON General Lee was treated by the British at first as a deserter from their army rather than as a prisoner of war, because he had entered the American service before his resignation as a heutenant-colonel on half pay had been ac- cepted. He had been made an ensign in the British army while yet a youth, and had taken part in the French and Indian war in America with such fierce energy that the savages had given him the name of " the spirit that never sleeps." He was also engaged in the Spanish war in Por- tugal, and had been a general officer in the army of Poland. After being held as a prisoner for many months, the English government, considering that the war was about to close, began to deal with him as a state prisoner.^ under instructions from Burgoyne, and inflicted great damage on the enemy at Villa Velha. British accounts and the notes on the war writ- ten by the Hessian officer Captain Ewald say that the troopers captured one of Lee's messengers, forced him to act as their guide, and so came upon the American officer suddenly; but Major William Bradford of Lee's stafE, a Rhode Island officer, says that a Jersey loyalist (said to have been James Compton of Baskingridge) had informed Lieutenant- Colonel Harcourt that Lee was spending the night outside of his own lines, with but an insignificant guard. Cornet Banistre Tarleton, First regiment dragoon guards (afterward so notorious in the South), was with this scouting party as a volunteer, and led the attacking force. The troopers surrounded the tavern, fired a volley, and carried Lee off without his hat and in his slippers, an odd-looking prisoner, whom they took to " Penny Town " (Pennington). In January, however, he was in the jail at Brunswick, and later (January 22, 1777) he arrived in New York city. M. de Gaiault, a French officer (sometimes given the title of lieutenant-colonel), who had just joined Lee as a volunteer aide-de- camp, was taken with him. It may be noted here that the little troop of the Sixteenth Queen's light dragoons, while returning to its post, made a diversion for the purpose of stirring up the patriotic people of the village of Flemington. As they dashed up the old road to the town, a bullet from, the flint- lock of some Jersey farmer emptied the saddle of Cornet Francis Geary, entered in the British army lists as "killed December 14, 1776." In 1891 his grave by the roadside was opened, and the truth of the village tradition verified by the buttons of his coat, marked " 16 Q. L. D.," being found. — Proceedings N.J. Hist. Soc. 2d series, xi. 166. 1 General Washington, in a letter dated December 18, and written to A BLESSING IN DISGUISE 57 The capture of Lee had a bad effect upon the people and upon the army. They had extolled him as a brilliant officer, full of decision of character and knowledge of war. Too many believed that had Washington followed more closely Lee's advice the disasters which had fallen upon the cause would have been averted. The British, too, thought that they had captured what they termed the "American Pal- ladium" — the embodiment of the military genius of the rebellion, and they gloried greatly in the good fortune which had placed such a leader in their hands. As we look upon it now, his conduct shows that his loss was really a gain to the service. His military life was full of disobedience. He tried in secret to defame the character of Washington, that he might supplant him in command. His letters written at the very house of his capture show that he was treacherous. One letter to General Gates, dated December 1 3, 1 776, which, when he was captured, he was about to give to Major James Wilkinson (Gates's aide-de- camp), and which Wilkinson hastily thrust into his pocket as he concealed himself, shows his bitter jealousy as well as it depicts the state of his command. " Entre nous, a certain great man is most damnably deficient — He has thrown me into a situation where I have my choice of difficulties — if I •stay in this Province I risk myself and Army and if I do not stay the Province is lost for ever — I have neither guides. Cavalry Medicines Money Shoes or Stockings — I must act with the greatest circumspection — Tories are in my front rear and on my flanks — the Mass of the People is strangely contaminated — in short unless something which I do not expect turns up We are lost — our Counsels have been weak to the last degree." ^ his brother, John Augustine Washington, speaks of the capture of Lee in thisiway : " It was by his own folly and imprudence (and without a view to answer any good) he was taken." General Greene spoke of his capture in unequivocal language, calling it a " strange infatuation,'' and General Lord Stirhng wrote that it was " one of Lee's eccentric movements and only remarkable from its direction." 1 New York Hist. Soc. Collections, 1872, p. 348. 58 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON His overweening ambition, his bad judgment, his fickle will and his treacherous heart ever urged him to act inde- pendent of the commander-in-chief, both with his own troops and with those which, by diverting General Gates's command, he hoped soon to receive from the northern army. With these troops he intended to attempt some brilliant feat which would enable him, as he wrote to General Heath, to " recon- quer the Jerseys," and then to be called upon to assume the highest command in the army.^ His conduct on the bat- tlefield of Monmouth, now so fully and clearly explained in the late Dr. George H. Moore's " Treason of Charles Lee," proves him to have been a very traitor at heart. While in captivity in New York, March 29, 1777, he endeavored to betray America into the hands of her enemies. Of late years a document has been found in England in Lee's hand- writing, bearing the date just given and indorsed " Mr. Lee's plan," which was intended to show the British how they could most easily conquer America.^ Certain it is that had he lived longer in military office, like another American general he would have transferred his allegiance back to the British crown.^ 1 In the Journal of Elias Boudinot, commissary-general of prisoners (afterward president of the Continental Congress), Proceedings of Hu- guenot Society of America, vol. ii. p. 278, that distinguished patriot refers to language used by Lee to him, in which he " immediately began to urge the improbability of our troops, under such an ignorant commander-in-chief, ever withstanding British grenadiers and light infantry." And again, " that General Washington was not fit to com- mand a sergeant's guard." ^ General Lee was a witty, eccentric, conceited soldier of fortune, eager to espouse the cause of independence, rather more, it is to be feared, because of its novelty and the opportunity it afforded for the display of his brilliant talents, wide experience and military skill, than for the love which he pretended to have for American freedom. He is described by Mrs. Mercy Warren, the historian, as "a tall man, lank and thin, with a huge nose, a satirical mouth and restless eyes, who sat his horse as if he had often ridden at fox-hunts in England, and wore a uniform with a cynical disregard of public opinion." ' The Treason of Charles Lee, Major-General, Second in Command in the American Army of the Revolution, by George H. Moore, Librarian GENERAL SULLIVAN SUCCEEDS LEE 59 Immediately after the capture of General Lee, the next officer in rank, Major-General John Sullivan (who had been exchanged after his capture at the battle of Long Island for General Prescott ^), assumed command of Lee's division, and in order to show the troops that they had still a competent commander he rode along the lines and gave his orders in person to advance, hastening with his force to Germantown, from there to Pittstown, and then, to avoid the British troops at Pennington, took the road to Phillipsburg. He crossed the Delaware River to Easton December 15, and thence marched to Bethlehem, reporting to General Wash- ington, in a snowstorm, on the 20th, with about 2000 men "much out of sorts and much in want of everything." The next day the New England brigade. Colonel Daniel Hitch- cock, was sent to Bristol to reinforce the brigade of Phila- delphia militia stationed there under Colonel John Cad- walader. The division of Major-General Horatio Gates, seven regi- of the New York Historical Society, i860, depicts him as "plain in his person to a degree of ugliness ; careless even to impoliteness ; his garb ordinary ; his voice rough ; his manners morose ; yet sensible, learned, judicious and penetrating." In the Memoirs of General Lee, written by Edward Langworthy, he is said to have been " of a genteel make, and rather above the middle size ; his remarkable aquiline nose rendered his face somewhat disagreeable." Sir Hugh Bunbury writes : " In person he was tall and extremely thin ; his face ugly, with an aqui- line nose of enormous proportion." In the. Jou!-nal of a British Officer, Captain Thomas Harris (in after years Lord Harris), we find this remark in reference to the capture of this American general : " Lee behaved as cowardly in this transaction as he had dishonorably in every other. After firing one or two shots from the house he came out and entreated our troops to spare his life. Had he behaved with proper spirit I should have pitied him and wished that his energies had been exerted in a better cause. I could hardly refrain from tears when I first saw him and thought of the miserable fate in which his obstinacy had involved him." 1 Brigadier-General Richard Prescott had been captured November 17, 1775, and exchanged September 4, 1776, for General Sullivan. General Prescott was again captured near Newport, Rhode Island, July 10, 1777, and exchanged April 21, 1778, for Major-General Charles Lee. (iO THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ments in all, under the direct command of Brigadier-General Benedict Arnold, arri\'ed at 13cthlehem the same day, De- cember 20, having also crossed the river at Easton. Gates had left his command at Sussex Court House, and with his staff and escort had crossed the river a few miles above Easton. But when he reached Bethlehem, he found both his own and ^m^ Sullivan's troops there. M^^M * ■ A The force of General WB^^/^^B^i^ Gates consisted of but "■^^^^^^^^^ 500 effective men, and they had suffered greatly in a severe snowstorm which had detained them on the road through Sus- sex County, New Jersey, in the valley between the Walpack and the Kit- tatinny ridges. General Gates, after reporting himself at headquarters, was allowed to go to I'hiladelphia on " sick leave." Three other regiments, under Brigadier-General Alex- ander AfcDougall, stopped at Morristown, and were united with about 700 New Jersey militia in charge of Colonel Jacob 1^'ord, Jr., commanding the eastern battalion of Morris County. These regiments consisted in all of about 520 officers cmd men, — the Third Massachusetts or Twenty- fourth Continental infantry. Colonel John Greaton, 250 men ; the Twenty-fifth Continental infantry, formerly commanded by Colonel William Bond (who had died of fever August 31, 1776), 100 men, and the Fourth Hampshire County (Massa- chusetts) regiment, Colonel Elisha Porter, 170 men. Briga- dier-General William Maxwell, who had been in command of -MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SULLLIVAN CONCENTRATION AT MORRISTOWN 6i the New Jersey Continental line at Ticonderoga (whose term of service had expired), was placed by General Wash- ington (December 20) in charge of this corps at Morristown, with orders to harass the enemy, and, if possible, to prevent the people from taking protection from the British author- ities. He reached Morristown December 22, and assumed command of all the Continental and militia forces there. These troops in the brigade of General McDougall, and the division which crossed the river under General Arnold, were all sent by General Schuyler from the Northern army, although they had but the month of December to serve in the army. The fiery Wayne was not permitted to accom- pany them, eager as he was to do so. On Wednesday, December 11, the Continental Congress made a resolve calling for a day of fasting and humilia- tion, in view of the distressing condition of the American cause. Herewith is the text of this action in Congress : — " The committee appointed to prepare a resolution for ap- pointing a day of fasting and humiliation brought in a report which was read and agreed to, as follows : — " Whereas the war in which the United States are en- gaged with Great Britain has not only been prolonged, but is likely to be carried to the greatest extremity ; and whereas it becomes all public bodies, as well as private persons, to reverence the providence of God, and look up to him as the supreme disposer of all events and the arbiter of the fate of nations ; therefore " Resolved, That it be recommended to all the United States as soon as possible to appoint a day of solemn fasting and humiliation ; to implore of Almighty God the forgiveness of the many sins prevailing among all ranks, and to beg the countenance and assistance of his providence in the prosecu- tion of the present just and necessary war. " The Congress do also in the most earnest manner re- commend to all the members of the United States, and particularly the officers civil and military under them, the 62 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON exercise of repentance and reformation ; and further, require of them the strict observation of the articles of war, and par- ticularly that part of the said articles which forbids profane swearing and all immorality, of which all such officers are desired to take notice. " It is left to each State to issue out proclamations fixing the day that appears most proper within its bounds." The following instructions were issued by General Wash- ington to Brigadier-Generals Lord Stirling, Mercer, Stephen and De Fermoy : — Head-Quarters, at Keith's, 14 December, 1776. Dear Sir, — Lest the enemy should in some degree avail themselves of the knowledge (for I do not doubt but they are well informed of everything we do), I did not care to be so particular in the general orders of this day, as I mean to be in this letter to you. As much time, then, would be lost, should the enemy attempt crossing the river at any pass within your guard, in first sending you notice, and in the troops to wait for orders what to do, I would advise you to examine the whole river from the upper to the lower guard of your district ; and, after forming an opinion of the most probable crossing-places, let those be well watched, and direct the regiments or companies most convenient to repair, as they can be formed, immediately to the point of attack, and give the enemy all the opposition they possibly can. Everything in a manner depends upon the defence at the water's edge. In like manner, one brigade is to support an- other, without loss of time, or waiting for orders from me. I would also have you fix upon some central spot convenient to your brigade, but in the rear a little, and on some road leading into the back road to Philadelphia, for your unneces- sary baggage, wagons, and stores ; that, in case your oppo- sition should prove ineffectual, these things may not fall (into the enemy's hands), but be got off, and proceed over Neshaminy Bridge towards Germantown, agreeably to the determination of the board of officers the other day. WANTED — A PATRIOT SPY 63 Let me entreat you to find out some person, who can be engaged to cross the river as a spy, that we may, if possible, obtain some knowledge of the enemy's situation, movements, and intention. Particular inquiry should be made by the person sent, if any preparations are making to cross the river ; whether any boats are building and where ; whether they are coming over land from Brunswick ; whether any great collection of horses is made, and for what purpose. Expense must not be spared in procuring such intelligence, and it will readily be paid by me. We are in a neighbour- hood of very disaffected people. Equal care therefore should be taken, that one of these persons does not undertake the business in order to betray us. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c. Go. Washington.! ' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 92. VI Scarcely a week had passed since Washington had crossed the river, and so placed a barrier between his despond- ent army and the foe, before he began to think of making an aggressive movement. Major John Armstrong, the per- sonal aide-de-camp of General Mercer, wrote a half century after this event : " Two or three days after we had crossed the Delaware there were several meetings between the adju- tant-general and General Mercer, at which I was permitted to be present ; the questions were discussed, whether the propriety and practicability did not exist of carrying the out- posts of the enemy and ought not to be attempted. On this point no disagreement existed between the generals, and to remove objections in other quarters it was determined they should separately open the subject to the commander-in- chief and to such officers as would probably compose his council of war, if any should be called. I am sure the first of these meetings was at least ten days before the attack on Trenton was made." We find the first notice of the future plans of the Amer- ican chief in a letter to General Gates, dated December 14 :^ " If we can draw our forces together, I trust, under the smiles of Providence, we may yet effect an important stroke, or at least prevent General Howe from executing his plans." And again on the same day he wrote to Governor Jon- athan Trumbull, the patriotic executive of Connecticut, in reference to the troops of Gates : " By coming on they may, in conjunction with my present force, and that under Gen- eral Lee, enable us to attempt a stroke upon the forces of the enemy, who lie a good deal scattered, and to all appear- ances in a state of security. A lucky blow in this quarter ' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 91. RUMORS OF WASHINGTON'S DESIGN 65 would be fatal to them, and would most certainly rouse the spirits of the people, which are quite sunk by our late mis- fortunes." ^ He wrote also to Major-General William Heath on that day : " If we can collect our force speedily I should hope we may effect something of importance or at least give such a turn to our affairs as to make them assume a more pleas- ing aspect than they now have." On the 2 1st day of December General Greene wrote the following to Governor Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island : ^ " We are now on the west side of the Delaware ; our force is small when collected together ; but small as it is, I hope we shall give the enemy a stroke in a few days. Should fortune favor the attack, perhaps it may put a stop to Gen- eral Howe's progress." Rumors of these plans, entirely unofficial, however, reached Philadelphia, but it is supposed that they were scarcely cred- ited by those who had heard of the condition of the army. In Christopher Marshall's " Remembrances," under date of December 1 8 we find this expression : " News that our army intended to cross at Trenton into the Jerseys." ^ It was imperative that something be at least attempted, or the union of the States would be pronounced a failure, the Declaration of Independence counted an idle boast, and the cause of liberty immediately abandoned. In Washing- ton's letter to his brother (December 18) the situation is well described : " If every nerve is not strained to recruit the new army with all possible expedition, I think the game is pretty nearly up, owing, in a great measure, to the insidious arts of the enemy and disaffection of the colonies before mentioned, but principally to the ruinous policy of short enlistments, and placing too great a dependence on the mili- ^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 93. ^ Force's American Archives, sth series, vol. iii. p. 1342. ' Robert Morris also wrote to Washington, December 21 : "I have been told to-day that you are preparing to cross into the Jerseys. I hope it may be true." 66 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON tia, the evil consequences of which were foretold fifteen months ago, with a spirit almost prophetic. . . . You can form no idea of the perplexity of my situation. No man, I believe, ever had a greater choice of difficulties, and less means to extricate himself from them. However, under a full persuasion of the justice of our cause, I cannot entertain an idea that it will finally sink, though it may remain for some time under a cloud." ^ The historian Bancroft in his great work remarks, in refer- ence to the troubles with which General Washington had to contend and the means at hand to relieve them : — " The sharp tribulation which assayed his fortitude carried with it a divine and an animating virtue. Hope and zeal illuminated his grief. His emotions come to us across the century like strains from an eternity which repairs all losses and rights all wrongs ; in his untold sorrows his trust in Providence kept up in his heart an under-song of wonderful sweetness. The spirit of the Most High dwells among the afflicted, rather than the prosperous ; and he who has never broken his bread in tears knows not the heavenly powers. The trials of Washington are the dark, solemn ground on which the beautiful work of the country's salvation was embroidered." The situation at this time from the British point of view is set forth in the report which General Howe made to Lord Germain, colonial secretary of state, December 20, 1776.^ It describes in detail the rather dignified pursuit of the en- emy, who is represented as being at the last gasp, although it is admitted that the partial destruction of a bridge over the Raritan impedes the British progress, and that as the Americans had denuded the Delaware near Trenton of boats, it was deemed wise to await the freezing over of the river before attempting a movement into Pennsylvania. Glancing for a moment at the Hessian force in Burlington County, New Jersey, we find that (December 19) Colonel ' Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 109. 2 Part ii. No. 16. HESSIAN VIGILANCE 67 von Donop, accompanied by Colonel von Block, Lieutenant- Colonel Sterling and a strong patrol, went as far as Mount Holly for the purpose of getting a correct military idea of the country. On his return to Bordentown the next day, Colonel von Doriop received a letter from Colonel Rail, giv- ing him the incidents of the previous day at the post of Trenton,^ complaining of the exposed nature of his right flank, and noting the activity of the American scouts. On the following day General Grant wrote Colonel von Donop a letter ^ in English, and as Lieutenant-Colonel Ster- ling had not returned to Bordentown, Colonel von Donop must have had difficulty in reading it. It gave routine news, referred to the scarcity of forage, and the large detachment which Colonel Rail sent to carry his letter to General Grant. Before von Donop received this letter, however, he had written General Grant a communication in French to the effect that a contemplated attack upon General Putnam at Cooper's Creek had been abandoned for reasons mentioned.^ The same day, December 21, Colonel von Donop heard from Colonel von Block at Black Horse that the enemy had been seen that day in the village of Mount Holly. He sent an express rider to inform Colonel Rail of this fact, so that if a simultaneous attack were designed by the American troops on both posts, he need not be surprised. Colonel von Donop did not leave Bordentown that day personally to investigate the report. In the afternoon he received a letter * from Rail, which informed him of the sin- gular fact that he had sent a force of one hundred men to take a single letter through to Princeton.^ Just before dark Colonel Rail sent another letter to his immediate commanding officer, in which he pleaded for the retention of one third of his command, and in this he suc- ceeded.^ 1 Part ii. No. 17. ^ Part ii. No. 18 3 Part ii. No. 19. ^ Part ii. No. 20. 5 It will be seen that Rail was criticised for this act by General Grant. 8 Part ii. No. 21. 68 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Among the German documents at Marburg, Germany, there appears a letter written in French, but which has no indication of the writer, the recipient, or the place from which it was written. It is evident, however, from the style and the facts given, that it must have been written by Colonel von Donop, probably on the road to Mount Holly, to Major-Gen- eral Grant, and that it should have been dated December 21 or 22.^ In the mean time General Grant's messenger was hurrying on to Trenton with a letter directly addressed, contrary to military usage, to Colonel Rail, in which he speaks slight- ingly of the American army, and depicts what he believes to be their desperate condition.^ That Saturday afternoon was a busy day at Bordentown as well as at Trenton. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterling sent Colonel von Donop two letters within three hours of each other.^ The one gives Colonel von Donop some informa- tion, and the other the advice for which he had asked. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 20, 21 and 22, Colonel von Donop received much information from the loyalists of Burlington County as to the condition of the American army on the west bank of the Delaware River, and the movements of a party which they erroneously sup- posed was commanded by General Putnam and which was in the lower portion of Burlington and old Gloucester coun- ties. New Jersey. Some of these statements as made by the Tories are still on file in the archives of Marburg in Ger- many. It is interesting to note the style of this intelligence and the combination of truth and error thus furnished. Four of these documents have been copied and are given herein.* Captain Friedrich Heinrich Loray, of the Hessian chas- seurs, who had been stationed above Bordentown in close connection with Colonel Rail's picket at the drawbridge of Crosswicks Creek, reported that he had strengthened the ' Part ii. No. 22. 2 Part ii. No. 23. 2 Part ii. No. 24. ■* Part ii. No. 25. FEINT AT MOUNT HOLLY 69 guard at the bridge and would look out for the rear of Rail's command.^ At four o'clock on Sunday morning, December 22, Colonel von Donop started for Black Horse. When he reached that village he was informed that the enemy had withdrawn during the night and had left only a picket at the meeting house on the north side of Mount Holly. This seems to have satisfied him, for soon after the noon hour he left Black Horse on his return to Bordentown. It was two o'clock of the same afternoon, and he had just entered his headquarters there, when he was startled by the alarm given by the little three-pounder which he remembered stood in front of " The Sun " inn at Black Horse. A few moments afterward he heard the signal gun fired at Mans- field Square by the von Linsingen battalion. Again, after sending an express rider to Colonel Rail, he mounted his horse for another ride to Black Horse. On arriving there he found all the troops under arms, and he was informed that soon after he had left the village in the morning some four or five hundred rebels had made an attack on the picket at Rancocas bridge and had driven away the sergeant and twelve men of the Forty-second British regiment who were stationed at a small house close to the bridge. Two of the men of the regiment were badly wounded in this encounter. On hearing of this attack Captain Ernst von Eschwege and his grenadier company of the von Linsingen battalion hastened to their rescue. This company also had a soldier wounded, but they brought the affair to an end. Colonel von Donop spent the night of December 22 at the tavern at Black Horse, and the next morning he started for Mount Holly. He also ordered the Forty-second British regiment and the battalions von Block and von Linsingen to .accompany him. On nearing the church on the road to the village of Mount Holly, he descried a detachment of American militia, and he directed a few shots to be fired at them from the three-pounders. Colonel von Donop states 1 Part ii. No. 26. 70 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON that three of the enemy were either wounded or killed by this firing, but he lost none of his men. The militia re- treated in the direction of Moorestown. He then stationed the Forty-second regiment and the von Block battalion in Mount Holly for the purpose of gathering forage and stores. Glancing again at Colonel Rail at Trenton, we find that (December 22) General Leslie ordered a part of his com- mand, the First light infantry battalion, to patrol as far as Trenton.^ Colonel Rail immediately reported this movement to Colonel von Donop. It seems that Rail could not resist the temptation to indulge in a little sarcasm at the expense of his British superior officer : — Sir : ' General Leslie sent to-day the First Battalion of Light Infantry to Trenton. He thought that a battalion of my command had marched from here. As there were no more attacks on this post I have sent the battalion back. A letter from General Grant is enclosed. He has also written me and what makes me pleased is that he knows the strength of the enemy thirty miles off, better than we do here. He writes me the enemy are naked, hungry and very weak and that it is not necessary to place troops at Maiden head. Rall. Trenton 22nd of December 1776. General Grant wrote an interesting letter to Colonel von Donop, December 23. It is doubtful if the beer which he promised was ever issued to the men. Brunswick 23rd Dec. 1776. Sir : The heavy Artillery is at Amboy with your fourth Bat- talion Grenadiers. Sir Wm. Erskine is gone to put them in motion, he is to acquaint me when every thing is ready and 1 Part ii. No. 27. KING GEORGE ORDERS SPRUCE BEER 71 you shall be informed what Day they march that you may make a move to cover them. We are all in a great Favour at home. His Majesty has ordered Spruce Beer to be issued to the Troops without any stoppage, if we cannot get spruce, we must contrive to make small Beer, a Brewer here has undertaken to serve BRIGADIER-GENER.'VL ALE.XANDER LESLIE the Troops, at Ten shilling Currency for a Quarter Cask, containing thirty four Gallons, that will amount nearly to a penny Currency for a Quart to each man a Day, will you be kind enough to inform me if you can get any Body to undertake it upon the same terms. I am anxious to get the Waggons I mentioned to you. We cannot depend upon the navigation of the river rariton and without Waggons from your District I shall not be able to keep you and Gen. Leslie's Corps supplied. 72 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Be so good as to leave as much of the Country upon your right as you can to Gen. Leslie as I have directed him not to take any Forage in the country from Princeton to this place. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedt, h'ble servant James Grant. VII Leaving New Jersey and the cantonments of the Hessian soldiery, and looking again at the American army in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, it is well to give in full the text of what is known as the "Pomroy letter." ^ Colonel Joseph Reed, the adjutant-general of the Continental army, having been sent to Bristol by General Washington on special service, urged upon his chief the importance of an imme- diate crossing of the river. By this time Washington had left the house of William Keith, and had come down to the river bank that he might procure earlier intelligence and quickly consult with his subordinate officers. He dated his letters of December 20 and the three days following, "At Camp above Trenton Falls," and by this he evidently meant the camp of General Lord Stirling at Beaumonts near McKonkey's Ferry, and about ten miles above Trenton Ferry. He did not return to Keith's house until Christmas. As soon as Washington received the " Pomroy " letter he sent for Reed to come to his headquarters, when the intended movement on the Hessian outposts was fully explained. On his return to Bristol Colonel Reed held a consultation with Colonel Cadwalader, after which he crossed the river at night with Lieutenant-Colonel John Cox of the Philadelphia Associators to see Colonel Samuel Grifhn. They found him quite ill. His expedition had been only partially successful, as will hereafter appear. On Reed's return to Bristol he received a letter ^ from General Washington (probably written at Lord Stirling's quarters at Beaumonts) giving full details of the proposed movement on Trenton. The plan stated in Colonel Reed's letter, and casually 1 Part ii. No. 28. 2 p^rt ii. No. 29. 74 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON alluded to in the first line of General Washington's com- munication, of an attack by Colonel Cadwalader and 700 of his men on the Hessian troops near Mount Holly was not carried out. During the third week in December Major- General Putnam sent Colonel Samuel Griffin with a small command of about 600 militia and volunteers, including two companies of Virginia troops, to make a movement against the Hessian advance through the county of Gloucester and into Burlington County, New Jersey. Colonel Griffin was a deputy adjutant-general of the flying camp, and he had been announced in general orders, December 14, 1776, as adju- tant-general to the troops in and about Philadelphia. He made his headquarters at Haddonfield, and then began some slight demonstration on the outposts near Moorestown, a few miles from Mount Holly, and applied to the American force at Bristol for two or three hundred volunteers and two pieces of artillery. About this time he was unfortunately taken sick, and so inefficient was his command that the expedition proved almost fruitless. However, as we have already seen, it took Colonel von Donop and two of his regi- ments away from his headquarters at Bordentown, and for four days fixed his attention upon the little force in front of him, thus diverting it from Trenton, where the real attack was to be made. From Joseph Galloway's " Letters to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War in the Middle Colonies," we quote the following : — " In order to draw Colonel de Donop from his post at Bordentown, and to prevent his supporting Colonel Raile at the time of the assault, he sent a corps of 450 militia, many of whom were boys picked up in Philadelphia and the coun- ties of Gloucester and Salem, to Mount Holly, with orders not to fight, but fly as soon as the effect of the manoeuvre had taken place. The plan succeeded. Colonel de Donop marched against this insignificant part of the rebel force with his whole corps of 2000 men (eighty left at Bordentown excepted), down to Mount Holly, twelve miles from his post WASHINGTON SEEKS TO SAVE BURLINGTON 75 and eighteen from Trenton, the post he ought to have been at hand to support. The rebel corps immediately fled, and dispersed on his approach ; and yet, instead of immediately returning to Bordentown to support Colonel Raile, he re- mained loitering two days in the neighbourhood of Burling- ton, without having a single enemy to oppose." An interesting incident may not inappropriately be re- ferred to at this point in the history of the campaign. The adjutant-general of the Continental army, by direction of General Washington, made an effort to prevent the destruc- tion of the town of Burlington, New Jersey, which if occu- pied by the Hessian troops was in danger of suffering from a bombardment by the American fleet. On the 20th day of December, Colonel Joseph Reed addressed a letter to Colonel von Donop from the quarters of Colonel Cadwalader, the post commander in Bristol. This letter, found among the German archives at Mar- burg, Germany, and never before published, fully exonerates Colonel Reed from the charge made by the historian Ban- croft and others, of carrying on an illicit correspondence with the enemy. Surely if Washington had been induced to "make some propositions on the subject," it was right, it was the duty of his chief staff officer to attempt to execute his instructions. The letter is as follows : — Bristol Dec. 20, 1776 Sir : The peculiar situation of the Town of Burlington exposed to hostilities from both parties has induced General Wash- ington to make you some propositions on this subject. For this Purpose I will tomorrow do myself the honour of wait- ing on you at the time and Place you will please to appoint. I have the honour to be with the greatest respect Sir Your most obedient and very h'le servant Jos: Reed Adj. General of the Continental Army. Colonel von Donop immediately replied that his situation 76 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON was such that it would not admit of his leaving his post at present for the purpose of the interview. The truth is that the heavy artillery not having arrived, the question did not press itself strongly upon Colonel von Donop ; but on the Tuesday following, thinking an interview with Colonel Reed advisable, he wrote him this letter : — Mount holly Dec 24th 1776 Sir : In consequence of my Letter to you in answer to yours of 20th Inst, relative to the peculiar situation of the Town of Burlington at present I am to inform you, if it is agreeable, that I shall meet you at John Antrims about half way be- twixt this place and Burlington to hear any proposition you may have to make with regard to that place at 1 2 o'clock tomorrow forenoon, two of my Chasseurs shall be ready to attend you as a safe Guard at Burlington to the place ap- pointed. — • I am Sir — Your most obed. & most humble serv. Carl de Donop Colonel To Jos. Reed, Esq. P. S. — To prevent any Doubt on your part of your safety an Officer will accompany the two Chasseurs with a Flag to your house in the City and you may bring any Officer with you, you please. — Colonel Reed was in Philadelphia on Christmas day, and an express rider was sent for him. Colonel Cadwalader thought it advisable to reply to the communication himself, which he did in the following letter : — Bristol, 25th Dec 1776. — Sir: As Col. Reed is not at this Post at present, I opened the Letter sent here with a Flag, directed to him. There is no other person here so fully acquainted with the Business he COLONEL JOSEPH REED'S LOYALTY 77 proposed mentioning to you at the Interview he requested. I expect he will return to-morrow morning to this Post, and he will then request you to name an other Time and Place which may be convenient to you. — I am, Sir, with great respect Your obed't humble servant John Cadwalader Colonel. — P. S. — I did not receive the Flag today till half past ten A. M. — Colonel Reed, although he returned to Bristol on Christ- mas afternoon, did not resume the correspondence. He was then too busy in aiding the attempt to cross the Delaware River and stir up the cantonments of Colonel von Donop. In the diary of the loyalist Margaret Morris of Burlington, we find under date of December 26 a reference to this sub- ject: "Very stormy: we fear Gen. Reed will not meet the Count today." This correspondence, although by direction of Washing- ton — and therefore the subordinate officer is altogether free from military criticism — has been made the occasion by sev- eral writers of strongly expressed doubts of Reed's loyalty to the American cause. The first attack was made by Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia, under the signature of "Brutus," in the "Independent Gazetteer," September 3, 1782. General Reed thought that his former comrade. Gen- eral Cadwalader, was the author, and charged him with it in a communication dated November i, 1782. General Cad- walader replied early in the year 1783, as we find from a singular letter ^ most adroitly written to him by a friend of both parties. Colonel George Morgan, and dated April 17, 1783.2 1 Never published, but now in possession of the Hon. Garret D. W. Vroom of Trenton, New Jersey. ^ General Cadwalader expected General Reed to challenge him, but 78 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON On the day before Christmas, Acting Quartermaster-Gen- eral Gamble of the British army issued a circular to the inhabitants of Hunterdon and Burlington counties. The stores and forage which were so much needed for the British troops in the cantons of Trenton and Bordentown, as well as for General Grant's forces at Brunswick, do not seem to have been forthcoming. The price list annexed to the cir- cular is of interest as showing the cost of food and forage at that period in the war.^ It was a dark hour in our country's history, a crisis which had to be met with unflinching courage. The situation was a grave one, and unless some decisive blow were struck, regardless of the consequences of possible defeat, the cause Reed, conscious of his own innocence, determined that this should come, if at all, from General Cadwalader. In the year 1842 the Valley Forge Letters -were published, followed in 1847 by a carefully prepared bio- graphy of General Reed, written by his grandson, William B. Reed. The controversy was renewed in 1856 in a pamphlet entitled Nuts for Future Historians to Crack. In 1866 the Hon. George Bancroft pub- lished the ninth volume of his history of the United States, in which he distinctly charged General Reed with being untrue to the cause of national independence. In 1867, in a monograph entitled yoj-^/^ Reed, a Historical Essay, Mr. Bancroft asserted his belief that Reed had accepted protection, under the proclamation of the brothers Howe, from Colonel von Donop. Mr. William B. Reed replied to this severe attack in an able argument. Mr. Bancroft followed with a lengthy paper on the subject, and Mr. Reed closed the controversy with a strong refutation of each point in the attack. Mr. Bancroft attempted to sus- tain his opinion by quoting from the diary of Colonel von Donop of December 21, 1776, wherein the Hessian commander refers to " Colonel Reed, who lately received a Protection," etc., etc. In the year 1876 it was discovered beyond the slightest doubt that the Colonel Reed who did take " protection " from Colonel von Donop was Colonel Charles Read of the Burlington County (New Jersey) militia, and not Colonel Joseph Reed, Washington's adjutant-general. Mr. Bancroft acknow- ledged the mistake he had made, and an account of this discovery was published by the author of this- work in a monograph entitled The Reed Controversy — Further Facts with Reference to the Character of Joseph Reed, Adjutant-General on the Staff of George Washington. Printed for private distribution, 2d edition, Trenton, 1885. 1 Part ii. No. 30. CONFIDENCE IN WASHINCTON 79 of national freedom would be irretrievably lost. The over- whelming adversity, the desperate straits which confronted the young nation on every hand, were quite enough to dis- hearten the boldest patriot. A general depression hung over GEOKOE W.ASHINGTON the country like a dark and foreboding cloud. Yet between liberty and defeat stood a little army of desperate men devoted to their chief, soldiers who still stood by him, who still hoped that his master mind would devise some plan by which he might snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It was to Washington that all hearts turned in this hour of misfortune and disaster, and he fully merited their trust and 8o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON confidence. Not for a moment did he entertain any idea of abandoning the sacred cause. With calm dignity of manner and an undaunted spirit he moved among his men encour- aging them in their sufferings, and cheering them by the hope of a favorable change in the near future. It is doubt- ful if anywhere in history can be cited such an example of the head of a dispirited force, of a chieftain deserted by a Congress which was preparing to throw on him the entire responsibility of the war, but who turned toward his troops a cheerful countenance, and looked forward with confidence to a brighter day. During this period of depression General Washington was busily engaged in procuring reinforcements for his little army, and in this respect he was in a degree successful. The men who had already joined him arid those who were marching from different parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Mary- land toward his camp were true men, thoroughly impressed with the idea of patriotic duty, and clearly understanding the value of victory won in that critical hour, and the price which must be paid for defeat.^ Thomas Paine, the author of the tract called " Common Sense," and who is thought to have been temporarily attached to the staff of Maj or-General Greene as a volunteer aide-de- camp during this campaign, wrote, while in the American camp, that number of " The American Crisis " which made it famous. In this stirring appeal, which was published in the " Pennsylvania Journal," December 19, 1776, he expressed the feeling then uppermost in every patriotic heart : " These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and ' Elkanah Watson, writing at this time at Plymouth, Massachusetts, refers to this period of the struggle in these words : " We looked upon the contest as near its close, and considered ourselves a vanquished people. The young men present determined to emigrate and seek some spot where liberty dwelt and where the arm of British tyranny could not reach us. Major Thomas animated our desponding spirits with the assurance that Washington was not dismayed, but evinced the same serenity and confidence as ever. Upon him rested all our hopes." — Men and Times of the Revolution, or Memoirs of Elkanah Watson, p. 24. COLONEL JOHN CADWALADER 8i the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the ser- vice of his country ; but he that stands it now, deserves the thanks of man and woman." This address was ordered to be read at the head of each regiment, and the effect of its strong, patriotic sentences was apparent upon the spirits of the army. The commander-in-chief had divided his force into three separate corps, one sta- tioned at Bristol, another at Trenton Ferry, and the third and largest, which included all the remain- ing troops in Pennsylva- nia, he posted for several miles on the Delaware River north of Yardley's Ferry. Colonel John Cadwala- der, as the senior colo- nel of the Philadeljjhia battalions of Associators, acting as a general officer, commanded the division from the Bordentown Fer- ry to Dunk's Ferry, with headquarters at Bristol. i Colonel Cadwalader's division consisted of about 1800 men.^ 1 He was a native of Philadelphia, and formerly had been the cap- tain of the "Greens" or "The Silk Stocking Company," wliich was composed of young men of high social position in that city. He was an officer of polished manners and a bold, brave soldier. Twice he was appointed a brigadier-general of the Continental army, — February 21, 1777, and September 10, 177S, — but he declined both commissions. He was made a brigadier-general of the Pennsylvania militia April 5, 1777, and so continued until the close of the war. Washington characterized him as "a man of ability, a good disciplinarian, firm in his principles, and of intrepid bravery." He distinguished himself on the German- town and Monmouth battlefields. - Part ii. No. 31. COLONEL JOHN CADWALADER 82 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON General James Ewing commanded the division of Penn^ sylvania and New Jersey militia ^ which was posted along the river from Yardley's P^erry to Bond's Ferry and the ferry to Bordentown. His headquarters was at Colvin's PATRICK CCILVIN S l''ERRY HOUSE ]i"erry House, which still stands opposite to what was then called the Trenton Landing.- Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson, commanding the New Jersey militia, was with General Ewing in command of ' Part ii. No. 32. - General Ewing was born at Lanca.ster, Pennsylvania, and entered military life under (General Braddock in 1755. On the 4th of July 1776, he was made a brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia, and in this campaign was in command of the Pennsylvania troops of the flying camp. The identity of this officer has been strangely confused in his tory. General Wilkinson, in his Mcjiwirs, calls him Irvin. Dr. Gordon refers to him as Erwing. Botta spells his name Irwin; and Marshall writes it Irvine. GENERAL PHILEMON DICKINSON S3 a small body of the soldiers of that State. They were all posted at Yardley's Ferry and along the river bank for one mile south of that place.* General Washington took special command of the remain- ing corps, selecting therefrom a body of about 2400 men for the proposed expedition. The remainder he left to BRIGADIER-GENERAL EHILEMON DICKINSON guard the camp equipage at the several stations already mentioned ^ ' General Dickinson was one of the truest patriots of the Revolution. Possessed of an ample fortune, he devoted his wealth, his time, and his • talents to the glorious struggle. He distinguished himself in many engagements, and especially at the battle of Monmouth. He was made a major-general June 6, 1777. He was chosen a member of Congress from the State of Delaware February 2, 1782, and died in Trenton, New Jersey, February 4, 1S09. 2 General Washington's staff consisted of : Joseph Reed, colonel and adjutant-general ; Thomas Mifflin, brigadier-general and quartermaster- general ; Henry Kno.x, colonel and chief of artillery; Joseph Trumbull, colonel and commissary-general; William Palfrey, lieutenant-colonel and paymaster-general; George Baylor, lieutenant-colonel and aide-de- 84 THE r.ATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Washington called his general officers i together in council at his heaclquartei-s at William Keith's house, (Hi Knowles's Creek, a few miles tVom Newtown. The following officers were present : Major-Generals John Sullivan and Nathanael Greene ; Brigadier-Generals Lord Stirling, Roche de Fermoy, LinUTKN'ANT-COLrjXEL SAMUEL B. WEDB Hugh Mercer, Adam Stephen and Arthur St, Clair ; Colonels Paul D. Sargent, John Stark, John Glover and Henry Knox. camp: William Oravson, lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp ; Samuel B. Webb. lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp; Richard Carey, lieuten- ant-colonel and aide-de-camp; John Fitzgerald, lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp (he was in commission as captairL Third Virginia Conti- nental regiment, February 8, 177O, and must have been announced as lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp in November, 1776); Robert H. Harrison, lieutenant-colonel and military secretary; Tench Tilghman, captain Penns"\ivania battalion of the flying camp, and acting as assistant secretary and volunteer aide-de-camp; David Henly, lieu- tenant-colonel of the Fifth Massachusetts regiment, assigned to tem- porary duty with this staff. ' For biographical sketches of these officers see Part ii. No. 33. NUMBER OF WASHINGTON'S ARMY 85 The Reverend Dr. Alexander Macwhorter, the patriotic pas- tor of the Presbyterian Church of Newark, New Jersey, who had followed the army on the retreat through that State, was also present, and took part in the deliberations of the council of war. At this meeting the plan of recrossing the Delaware and making an attack upon the enemy's post was discussed, and finally agreed upon. The crossing of the river seemed to be the greatest difficulty ; but Colonel Glover told General Washington not to be troubled about that, as his boys would manage it. It is said that at one of these meetings Colonel Stark, who, although not a brigade com- mander, was an officer of great experience, gave his opinion of the past conduct of the army and their present situation in these pertinent words : " Your men have too long been accustomed to place their dependence for safety upon spades and pickaxes. If you ever expect to establish the independ- ence of these States you must teach them to place depend- ence upon their firearms and courage." The inspection of the army, December 22, 1776, shows on the rolls 679 officers and 10,804 enlisted men. From this return 5319, not quite one half the force, must be taken for men sick, wounded, on extra duty, or on furlough, which leaves 6164 men present for duty. Add to these the four regiments from the Northern army, which came with Major- General Gates, estimated strength 500 men, and who were then brigaded under General St. Clair, but who evidently, and without apparent reason, were not included in this inspection ; looo men belonging to the battalions of the Phila- delphia Associators, and perhaps 400 of the New Jersey militia, and a detachment of the Pennsylvania militia which joined the army on Monday, December 23, and the result is a force of 8000 soldiers, with say 6000 effective men, — the number stated by Lord Stirling to the Hessian officers in his custody after the battle of Trenton. A careful examina- tion of the return as printed in Force's " American Archives," 5th series, vol. iii. p. 1401, shows it to have been incorrectly added in several instances, and we think the result is more 86 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON accurate as just stated.^ These troops were scattered along thirty miles on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, and prepared for a dash upon the enemy's outposts. The New England brigade at Bristol was poorly provided with camp equipage and blankets, and had meagre stores of any kind. The Philadelphia battalions, so near their homes, were in good condition for a winter campaign. The detach- ments of militia at Trenton Ferry were not furnished with the necessities for encamping, marching, or fighting in an inclement season ; but it is generally understood that they were expected to serve only for a short period. The Conti- nental regiments on the river above the ferry were greatly in want of clothing and supplies. Many of the men were barefooted, as the commander of the First Pennsylvania rifle regiment said his organization certainly was, and Gen- eral Washington was obliged to send men about the country to beg and buy old clothing and blankets for his freezing soldiers. The prospects were gloomy indeed for the little army which rallied around the standard of freedom. The right- eous cause for which they had taken up arms seemed in this decisive moment of the war about to suffer defeat, and visions of new levies of taxes began to appear to the men, while certain ardent officers caught fleeting glimpses of sequestered lands and the hangman's rope. 1 A note in Sparks's Writings of Washington, vol. ii. p. 244, repeated in a note in Ford's The Writings of George Washingtoii, vol. v. p. 130, says that the return does not include Sullivan's division ; but surely the brigades of Colonels Hitchcock, Glover and Sargent were part of Gen- eral Lee's force, and composed the division which General Sullivan brought to General Washington's army. The four regiments from the Northern army are given as 1200 men; but General Gates, under or- ders, left part of his force at Morristown, under Brigadier-General McDougall, transferred afterward to the command of Brigadier-Gen- eral Maxwell, and he had but 500 effective men when he reached the main army. The Pennsylvania militia under Colonel Cadwalader at Bristol is numbered at 1800 men, but they were only 1000 men; the remaining 800 were the veteran troops of Colonel Hitchcock's brigade, and are enumerated in the return. ONE OF WASHINGTON'S SPIES 87 About this time Captain Ephraim Anderson, who belonged to Colonel Israel Shreve's Second battalion, New Jersey Continental line, with a small party of recruits for that battal- ion, was doing himself and his men much credit by constant scouting tours through Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Dr. William Gordon, in his " History of the American War," speaks of a spy, apparently a rather simple youth, who was employed to go about among the soldiers in the village of Trenton, where he soon learned the strength and position of the Hessian forces. General de Fermoy received the report of the spy at his post on the river bank, and he dispatched a staff officer to communicate the facts to Gen- eral Washington. On receiving this information the general remarked, " Now is our time to clip their wings while they are so spread." By the aid of trusted officers of the militia of New Jersey, and by intelligence obtained from the patriot farmers of Hunterdon and Burlington counties, General Washington soon became familiar with the position, size and condition of the royal army. But it is a well-established tradition that the most reliable account of Colonel Rail's post at Trenton was given by Washington's spy, John Honeyman of Griggstown, Somer- set County. This man was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a soldier in the body-guard of General Wolfe when that offi- cer fell at the storming of the Heights of Abraham. His neighbors called Honeyman the " Tory traitor ; " yet he was the trusted spy of the American chieftain. General Wash- ington had met John Honeyman when in camp on the Hack- ensack River in November, and the man had then agreed ,to serve his country, within the British lines if necessary, by acting the part of a Tory, and by talking in favor of the British cause. As a butcher and a dealer in cattle, he began his trade with the English army, and at the same time ob- served their position, numbers, and probable movements. No one knew his real character but the commander-in-chief whom he was serving. His wife was shielded from the 88 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON insult and injury which would otherwise have been offered by those patriots who thought her husband a traitor, by a letter which Washington had sent her. This letter was written in the "American Camp, November 1776," and addressed "To the good people of New Jersey and all others whom it may concern." It was ordered that "the wife and children of John Honeyman of Griggstown, the notorious Tory now within the British lines and probably acting the part of a spy," should be "protected from all harm and annoyance." But this order was to furnish "no protection to Honey- man himself." During the third week in December, John Honeyman was in and around Trenton trying to procure cattle from the farmers, and taking them into the village for slaughter. Having thoroughly informed himself as to the condition of the Hessian soldiery, he walked out, on the afternoon of December 22, on the River road, carrying his whip and a piece of rope in his hand, as if to hunt for cattle. About three miles from Trenton, while trying to lead off a cow he was seen by two American scouts, whom he had pre- viously observed, and whose attention had been attracted to him by the sharp crack of his cart whip. They captured him after a struggle, and, binding him with his own rope to one of their horses, went a few miles up the river, ferried him over, and delivered their prize at the headquarters of the army. He was taken to General Washington, who, after asking all the officers to withdraw, directed the guard around his quar- ters to shoot the prisoner if he tried to escape. A half hour's conversation then took place between the patriot spy and the American chief, after which Honeyman was placed in a log-house prison, and a court-martial was ordered for the morning. During the night, undoubtedly by some plan of General Washington, the spy escaped, eluded pursuit, recrossed the river to Trenton, and it is said told Colonel Rail of his capture and escape, giving him a doleful account of the condition of the American army. He then left Tren- ton, and wandered off to Brunswick, so that he might not be present at the capture of the village, lest he should be MORE JERSEY PATRIOT SPIES 89 upbraided by the Hessians and lose his power of being use- ful to the American cause. There appears to be no doubt that the information given by him that winter night was the direct cause of the movement on Trenton three days afterward. He lived to be ninety-three years of age.^ We find by the minutes of the Council of Safety of New Jersey, December 5, 1777,^ that John Honeyman was ordered on that day to be committed to the " Trenton Gaol for High Treason," and that on December 20, 1777, although thought guUty of so heinous a crime he was allowed to enter into recognizance to appear at the next general quarter sessions, when he was released. His surety in this case was Jacob Hyer, a patriot soldier then on duty in the quartermaster's department of the Hunterdon County militia. John Honey- man evidently had a diificult r61e to play in serving his coun- try, for in June, 1778, he was again in trouble.^ In a letter of General Washington to Governor Living- ston, dated Valley Forge, January 20, 1778, in reference to three other Jersey spies who had been apprehended upon a supposition that they were carrying on an illegal correspond- ence with the enemy, he remarked : " You must be well convinced that it is indispensably necessary to bear the suspicion of being thought inimical ; and it is not in their power to assert their innocence, because that would get abroad and destroy the confidence which the enemy puts in them." The foolishly planned chain of cantonments and the weakly guarded posts of the enemy gave the American 1 See article by the late Justice John Van Dyke of the New Jersey Supreme Court, entitled " An Unwritten Account of a Spy of Washing- ton," in Our Home, a monthly magazine published at Somerville, New Jersey, October, 1873. Also copy of letter of Justice Van Dyke to A. V. D. Honeyman, publisher of said magazine, dated January 6, 1874, On file in the adjutant-general's office at Trenton. This letter gives the authorities for the article just referred to. 2 Minutes of the Council of Safety of New Jersey, Jersey City, 1872, pp. 169, 176. 8 Part ii. No. 35. 90 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON. army the looked-for opportunity at least to attempt the re- trieval of its ill fortunes and the rescue of the State now lost to the authority of the people. General Washington was full of anxiety for the fate of the cause, which, as he after- wards said, " nothing but the infatuation of the enemy could have saved." He hoped now in some way to compel them to assume a less formidable shape, so as no longer to over- awe the entire State and threaten the city of Philadelphia.! At this time Trenton was a small village, and it derived its principal importance from the fact that it was at the head of sloop navigation at the falls of the Delaware River, and from its being on the main postal and transportation highway between New York and Philadelphia. Most of the stage travel in those days was across one or the other of the ferries at Trenton. Lieutenant Jacob Piel, the brigade adjutant of Colonel Rail, says the village contained about one hundred houses, and there appear to have been about seventy houses north of the Assunpink Creek, and scarcely thirty houses below the creek. At the time of the battle, quite a number of these houses had been deserted by their owners, and of course were quickly taken possession of by the Hessians. Most of the houses in the town were situated on the two main streets, then called King and Queen, but now known as Warren and Broad streets. These two streets, running nearly parallel, and almost north and south, united at a point north of the village, and from this junc- tion diverged to Pennington and to Maidenhead, now Law- renceville. Between these two roads leading out from the 1 Lord Mahon in his History of England ^-ay^ that General Wash- ington received a visit from General Benedict Arnold about this time, and that Arnold suggested the surprise of the post of Trenton. This statement is certainly incorrect, as Arnold did not reach Washington's camp until December 20, and an attack on the enemy had been con- sidered and written about by General Washington a week previous. Moreover, General Washington sent General Arnold, the day after his arrival, to command troops being raised in New England, which he would hardly have done if the "surprise " had been of Arnold's sug- gestion. TRENTON IN 1776 91 same point was the lane to the Beakes estate, and this is now called Princeton avenue. King street did not cross the Assunpink Creek, but with a curve to the east at Front street led into Queen street. There were two other important streets in Trenton at that time. One, Front street, began at Queen street, passed the lower end of King street, and thence turned northward near the barracks into the River road at what is now Willow street. The other, then called Second, but now State street, and running parallel to Front street, began at what is now the corner of State and Willow streets, crossed both King and Queen streets, and after passing the Presbyterian Church dwindled into a country road leading through an apple orchard to Samuel Henry's iron foundry and steel works on the creek. The Assunpink Creek, doubtless much larger then than now, was fordable at several places along the easterly side of the town, and it emptied into the Delaware River just below the falls. At the foot of Queen street a stone bridge spanned the creek, and from there led to the Trenton Ferry, to Crosswicks and Bordentown, to Allentown and Sand- town and the Quaker bridge. On either side of the creek there was rising ground, and on the south side considerable woods. The road leading from the bridge to the ferry was on the edge of what was then called the Bloomsbury Farm, formerly the residence of Chief Justice William Trent, the house being then temporarily occupied by Dr. William Bry- ant, a practicing physician, and afterward by Colonel John Cox of Philadelphia. This house is always referred to in German records as the " Doctor House." As we have stated, the town above the creek may be considered as bounded by what we call to-day the Creek, Montgomery street. Perry street and Willow street. All outside of these bounds was then in the suburbs of the village. There was a tavern on the Maidenhead road and there were several houses on the Pennington road, a few houses on King street north of the Enghsh Church, now St. Michael's Episcopal Church, and a few fine residences on the River 92 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON RALL'S HEADQUARTERS road, yet all these were then considered as on the outskirts of the town. In the village were two or three prominent taverns, a stone barracks built by the province of New Jersey in the time of the French and Indian war, two frame churches, — the Presbyterian and the Methodist, — the English Church, of brick, the Friends' Meeting House, of brick, and the stone jail, now a part of the Trenton Bank. The entire village was considered a very open one, for the houses were greatly scattered. ^ As has been stated, Colonel Rail had opened his head- quarters in Trenton on the r4th day of December. His own quarters were in a large frame house on the west side of King street, nearly opposite the Enghsh Church. It was then occupied by Stacy Potts, a wealthy gentleman, who owned a large tannery near by, and a steel works on Petty's Run, near the river. This house was opposite to what is now Perry street, and the rectory of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Trenton was subsequently erected on its site. Colonel Rail was greatly pleased to be assigned the command ' For more minute description of the village, the houses and the residents, see a pamphlet entitled Trenton One Hundred Years Ago^ by the author of this work. TRENTON" NEW JERSEY IN 1776 by 94 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of this important post so close to the enemy. He thought that there he might gain new and still greater glory. When the subject of making a cantonment at Trenton was first considered, it was thought that to place a heavy picket there would be the wisest course ; but Colonel Rail claimed that his services around New York city entitled him to the com- mand of a brigade, and General Howe yielded to him and gave him verbal as well as written orders through Colonel von Donop to assume command of the post. Even at this time it was Colonel Rail's intention to wait until the river froze and then to cross it and by a forced march attack and capture the city of Philadelphia. The Rail grenadier regiment was quartered near the cor- ner of King and Second, now Warren and State streets. -"4c>=_ POST-OFFICE, CORNER SECOND AND KING STREETS They occupied the jail, now the Trenton Bank, the post- office on the corner above, Francis Witt's City Tavern on the southwest corner, Henry Drake's Bull Head Tavern on Second street, the houses of William Pidgeon and Abraham G. Claypoole on King street, and many other dwelling-houses in the same locality. This regiment wore a dark blue uni- form. QUARTERS OF THE HESSIAN REGIMENTS 95 The von Lossberg fusilier regiment, which had been de- tained a few days at EHzabeth Town, reached Trenton on the morning of December 14, but the Rail and the von Knyphausen regiments had arrived there December 12. The von Lossberg regiment immediately went into quarters on King street, the same street in which the Rail regiment CITY TAVERN, CORNER SECOND AND KING STREETS was Stationed, and there held the right wing of the canton- ment. Some of the companies, however, were much scat- tered. The main portion, consisting of the body, the von Toos and the Scheffer companies, was lodged in the Eng- lish Church and in the houses of Micajah How, on the east side, of Colonel Isaac Smith, Thomas Barnes and Miss Re- becca Coxe, on the west side of the street, and other smaller buildings adjacent. One of the companies, commanded by Captain von Altenbockum, was at Alexander Calhoun's house and in his store on the Pennington road, just at the head of the road to Beatty's Ferry, now Calhoun street. Another, the von Hanstein company, was at Jonathan Richmond's inn, just below the Assunpink bridge. Altogether this regi- ment had the use of sixteen buildings. The men wore bright red coats, resembling somewhat the British foot. 96 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON The von Knyphausen regiment was stationed at the corner of Queen and Second streets and the vicinity. It occupied the Presbyterian Church on Second street, the village school adjacent, the houses of William and Ellet Tucker and Joseph Milnor on the corners of Queen and Second streets, and the houses of Thomas Tindall, John Bellerjeau, Thomas Ryall and Joshua Newbold, one square north and one square south of the present City Hall. The men of this regiment were dressed in a plain black uniform, and presented a very sombre appearance, as contrasted with the other soldiers of Rail's brigade. Each of the five companies in every Hessian regiment had five or six houses assigned to it, so it is easily seen that had it not been for the public buildings every private house in the village would have been occupied by the Hessian troops. The twenty British dragoons, members of the Sixteenth regiment. Queen's light dragoons, a detachment of which, as we have already seen, had captured Major-General Charles Lee of the American army, used as their quarters the Friends' Meeting House on Third street, now Hanover. This building, which still stands, had been used July 5, 1776, as the place of meeting of the provincial convention of New Jersey, and soldiers stationed in the village, or passing through Trenton from Pennsylvania to the army at Wood- bridge and Amboy, had repeatedly taken possession of the house as barracks. Both of these acts being inconsistent with the religious principles of the Society of Friends, and "wars and fightings " or conventions which led thereto being their special abhorrence, they protested in the Chesterfield monthly meeting against such abuse of their rights and privileges. But the Hessians did not ask their permission, and their wishes in the matter were not consulted. The quarters of the fifty yagers, who dressed in green with lapels of crimson, were in a small part of the barracks which had been built during the French and Indian war, and which were situated where the River road entered Front street. Their duty was to protect the canton from the HOW THE HESSIANS WERE POSTED 97 •OLD BARRACKS,' PRESENT APPEARANCE direction of the River road. A large number of the yagers were ahvays out at the picket post at General Philemon Dickinson's country seat, about a half mile from the village, and just before the battle fifty yagers were placed on duty there, where they occupied the house, the servants' quarters and the barns. A part of this house still stands and is now the homestead of the Atterbury estate within the city limits. The barracks referred to are also standing, although a por- tion of them has been taken down for the purpose of extend- ing Front street. In addition to the yagers, who occupied them for a short time, these barracks furnished accommoda- tion to the families of refugee Tories from Burlington and Monmouth counties, which were seeking the protection of the Hessian arms. The detachments of artillery were quartered in the ]\Ieth- odist Church on Queen street, nearly opposite Church alley, and in the English Church on King street. Each of the three regiments had two brass three-pounder guns, and during the 98 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ■first three or four days' occupancy of Trenton these" six pieces were parked in the graveyard back of the English Church. They were afterward placed in front of the guard- house, which still stands. This guard-house, then owned by Pontius Delare Stille, was the next house north of the church and a few steps from Rail's headquarters. On account of the narrowness of the street the guns were placed one -behind the other in the middle of King street, and there they stood when the attack on the town commenced. All the artillery- men wore blue coats with crimson lapels and white border. The brigade hospital was opened in the parsonage of the Presbyterian Church, of which the Reverend Dr. Elihu Spencer was pastor. This house was on the north side of Third street, now Hanover, and was about one hundred feet east of Queen street. During the few days of their stay at the parsonage the Hessians did considerable damage to the library, furniture and sermons of the pastor. The stable connected with the parsonage, and the fences around the parsonage lot and the burying-ground surrounding the church were used for firewood. ^ ' Hall's History of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton, New Jersey, p. 266. VIII About this time Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Major von Dechow asked Colonel Rail to send to New York for more clothing for their regiments, for they both considered that the men in their commands had not sufficient under- wear to withstand the rigors of the approaching winter. But Colonel Rail made light of this request, and remarked that he would soon run barefoot over the ice on the river and take the city of Philadelphia. Turning to Major von Dechow, who had again urged the necessity for more cloth- ing, he told him that if he did not care to share in the honors which awaited them, he might immediately retire from the post. But Scheffer and von Dechow were much depressed over the result of this interview and the careless manner of his reply to their request. The next day Captain Reinhard Jacob Martin of the Hes- sian engineers stopped at Trenton on his way to Borden- town, and called during the day on Lieutenant-Colonel Schef- fer. In the course of this visit Major von Hanstein and Major von Dechow came to Scheffer's quarters, and joined with him in representing the unsafe condition of Rail's bri- gade. They all predicted to Captain Martin the ruin of these three regiments unless some change were made, and they expressed the desire to be relieved from the responsi- bility of such a calamity. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer com- plained that many of his men were without good shoes, and that their clothing was not suitable for a severe winter. Before leaving these officers, Captain Martin promised that as soon as he had completed the business which called him to Bordentown, he would see them again in Trenton on his way to New York, and take a letter which they would join in writing to Lieutenant-General Philip von Heister, the 100 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON commander of all the Hessian troops in America. This letter was accordingly written, and a copy kept by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Scheffer, which document finally fell into the hands of the Americans. When Captain Martin came back to Trenton he took the letter, and promised to inform General von Heister personally of all the particulars of the situation as it appeared to him. He remained two days in Trenton, because he feared to go forward on the road to Princeton without an escort. However, he arrived in New York on the afternoon of December 24, and sent the letter to the old general that evening. On Christmas day he called at the headquarters of General von Heister, and gave him such impressions of the situation as he had obtained. But although the general, who had received General Howe's promise to relieve the regiments by the middle of January, was disposed carefully to look after the preservation of the troops under his command, it was then too late for him to avert the impending disaster. The duties of the Hessians in Trenton were varied and severe. While it would have been proper and eminently wise to have guarded all the crossings on the river, there were not men enough in the command to be spared for this duty. Many of the companies (Captain von Altenbockum's company is mentioned in this connection in German re- cords) were under arms three successive nights and then off duty for one night. For over a week no man in the brigade passed two consecutive nights without a call for some spe- cial service. For some time it was a daily custom to call for extra details of one hundred men from each regiment. During the early occupation of the town it was ordered that at four o'clock in the afternoon all the companies of each regiment should turn out at the houses where their respec- tive commandants were quartered, stack their arms, place a sentinel over them, and that each man should then go to his quarters under orders to remain dressed, with belts never loosened and only leggings removed, until daylight. The men could not stand this duty long, and they soon began to sicken SEVERE DUTY OF THE HESSIANS FOX CHASE TAVERN and were taken one by one to the hospital. All the horses belonging to the artillery had to be always in readiness to be hitched to the light guns, and the harness was never re- moved from them day or night while they were in Trenton. Toward the last days of the Hessian occupation of the village the duties were changed, and at evening parade a regiment was put on duty for a night and a day. In this way the von Lossberg regiment performed the duty on De- cember 23, the von Knyphausen on December 24, the Rail regiment on December 25, and of course the Rail regiment was still the regiment " of the day," and was under arms when the surprise occurred. The picket stations of the Rail brigade were six in num- ber, — on the Maidenhead, Pennington, and River roads, at the Assunpink Creek bridge, on the road to Trenton Ferry, and at the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek. The principal picket of the Trenton cantonment was at 102 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the Fox Chase Tavern, kept by Mrs. Joseph Bond, "on the Maidenhead road, now Brunswick avenue, and nearly oppo- site to what is at the present time the head of Montgomery street. It consisted of one commissioned officer, three under officers, and about seventy men. This picket did sentinel and watch duty in the town. A captain was always at this post, on duty as inspector. The Pennington road picket, comprising one corporal and fifteen men, was posted at the house of Richard and Arthur Howell, who were coopers by trade. This post was relieved from time to time from the Maidenhead road picket. The picket on the River road was at the country seat of Brigadier-General Philemon Dickinson of the New Jersey militia, and was about half a mile from the barracks and from ths village. General Dickinson, as we have stated, was on the opposite side of the river with some of his militia, and it was no doubt interesting for him to notice through his field-glass the movements of his country's enemies as they took possession of his hospitable mansion and its lovely surroundings. It is said that on one occasion General Dick- inson- saw the Hessians despoiling his wine vault, and the temptation to send a shot among them was great ; but a sergeant suggested to the general that they might retaliate by burning his house. It may be remarked that this place was purchased July 30, 1776. This investment was therefore made between the dates of the Declaration of Independence and the battle of Trenton, and it shows the confidence of General Dickinson in the final result of the war when he placed funds in a property which lay so near the track of contending armies, and on the highway between two great cities which were the objective points for British attack. The picket occupied the homestead, the servants' quarters and the barns, and the horse of one of the British dragoons, which was fastened in one of the rooms, left there the im- print of his shoe, still to be seen on its walls. This picket was under the direct control of the yagers, and was consid- ered fully equipped with a commissioned officer and fifty THE HESSIAN PICKETS 103 men. The orders at this post were to withdraw if the rebels fired across the river with cannon, and if the Amer- icans attempted to cross they should try to prevent them, and immediately report the fact to Colonel Rail's head- quarters. They were required constantly to keep a sharp lookout on the river, and to send patrols up the stream from time to time. The picket was distributed in different places about the grounds, — one post in the house, one in the greenhouse, one in the vegetable garden down by the river, one in a hut behind the barn, not a great way from the house, and the fifth some little distance up the road. This picket consisted of a sergeant and fifteen men. A daily report was made from the picket post to Colonel Rail direct, and patrols were sent out every night. Each morn- ing three or four British dragoons came to the post and examined the river above as far as Yardley's Ferry. A sergeant and eighteen men constituted the picket at the Assunpink Creek bridge. They had no special duties except to observe who passed and repassed the bridge, and to send a patrol to the " Doctor House " on the river every half hour during each night. They kept a sentinel at Major von Dechow's quarters, a square up Queen street from the bridge, another on the north side of the bridge, and a third at George Bright's bakery on the south end of the bridge. The picket at the old tavern on the Ferry road, for- merly kept by Rensselaer Williams, was composed of one commissioned officer, five non-commissioned officers and twenty-two men. This post maintained a guard at Dr. William Bryant's residence (the "Doctor House") and at the Trenton Ferry, or what might better be called the boat- landing belonging to Patrick Colvin.^ The guards posted quite near to the river bank were forbidden to show them- selves in the daytime, as whenever they did so in any num- bers, the Americans fired at them from a battery erected 1 For advertisements in reference to this ferry, see At'chives of State of New Jersey, 2d series, vol. i. pp. 96, 138, 154. 104 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON just opposite on the Pennsylvania side of the river. These guards were always relieved after dark. But the service at the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek, four miles below Trenton, was the most unpleasant, because the post was so far from the headquarters of the command. It was established for the purpose of keeping open the communication with Colonel von Donop, but it appears to have protected Colonel von Donop rather more than Colo- nel Rail, from whose command it was taken. It seems as though the troops at Bordentown, two miles below, should have taken charge of this picket post, but it fell to the lot of Rail's brigade. It was made up of three commissioned officers and one hundred men. This body of troops was subdivided into four stations, — an officer and twenty-four men posted a short distance from the drawbridge on the road to Allentown, another officer and thirty men about midway between Trenton and the drawbridge, one officer and twenty-four men one mile north of the bridge, and the rest of the force at the drawbridge itself. The senior officer had orders to retire to Bordentown in case of attack. This picket was relieved from Trenton about ten o'clock in the morning every other day. On December 14 Colonel Rail sent Captain Schimmelpfennig with the von Biesenrodt company, and Captain Baum with the body company of the von Knyphausen regiment, to the drawbridge with all their baggage, ordering them to quarter themselves in the houses there, and to keep as close together as possible, as this was a section of the country where the feeling toward them was not fully known. They had been there but a short time when Colonel von Donop sent a yager to warn them to be on the lookout, as a force of 700 rebels were reported to be ranging around quite near. Colonel Rail did not relieve this post until December 17, when they returned to Trenton. The houses near the drawbridge were quite far apart and surrounded with thick woods, which concealed them from view. This frequently left the rear and the flanks of the picket very unsafe. AN IMPORTANT INCIDENT 105 The orders at the cantonment of Trenton were to relieve the guards and sentinels at nine o'clock in the morning, and the pickets at four o'clock in the afternoon. Lieutenant Piel, the brigade adjutant, says that the parade took place in the morning at eleven o'clock, and that the parole and countersign were given out at four o'clock in the afternoon. It was not the custom of Colonel Rail to visit these picket stations. All the oflficers unite in saying that while they had command he did not come near them at any time. One of the most important and seemingly singular yet picturesque displays made in Trenton during this period was the march of a heavy patrol about half an hour before daylight on December 19, under command of the staff officer of the day, from the Fox Chase Tavern on the Maidenhead road. This patrol went down Queen street to Church alley, where it was joined by a detachment of artil- lery with two cannon, and so marched over the Assunpink Creek bridge to the " Doctor House " and Trenton Ferry. This party was called the watch-guard, and the commanding officer had orders not to attempt the capture of an American detachment unless it appeared to be one hundred strong, and then to do so without fail. It appears that the Americans had alarmed the picket before daylight, December 18, and had effected a landing with forty men under the protection of the guns of the American battery opposite, and that they had plundered and burned a house below the landing, so that this early morning demonstration was deemed the proper military movement. Colonel Rail told Captain Mar- tin, who has been previously alluded to as having been de- tained in Trenton for two days, that he did not desire to interfere very much with these excursions of the rebels, as it might occur that at some time Washington, whom he would take great pleasure in capturing, would be among them. Lieutenant - Colonel Scheffer thought these trips across Trenton Ferry were part of a general plan of Wash- ington to divert Colonel Rail's attention from the upper ferries. He considered that too much care was given to io6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Trenton Ferry, while Howell's Ferry and Johnson's Fefry, although equally important, were neglected. Before he left Trenton for Bordentown, December 14, Colonel von Donop instructed Colonel Rail to put up forti- fications on the Pennington road and at the Trenton Ferry, and he left Captain Georg Heinrich Pauli, his engineer ofificer, and Cornet Carl Levin von Heister, of the Hesse-Cassel body dragoon regiment, to select the place. The next day, in company with Colonel Rail, Lieutenant- Colonel Scheffer and other officers. Captain Pauli went up to the high ground where King and Queen streets join with the Pennington and Maidenhead roads, and indicated the place where a redoubt with flanking angles for cannon should be placed.^ The party then rode down to the Trenton Ferry, and selected for another small fortification an elevated spot near the bridge over a little stream which flowed by Dr. Bryant's house. It was thought that this would be an excel- lent place to which to retreat, and which they might hold for a time in case of a vigorous attack by a party of Americans from the Pennsylvania side of the river. The records show that Colonel Rail gave his approval, of both localities, and was especially pleased with the one at the head of King and Queen streets. At that time he must have really intended erecting these redoubts, for he directed Lieutenant Engel- hardt, of Lieutenant-Colonel Eitel's Hessian artillery regi- ment, to see that some fascines were made for the purpose. This was done, but they were never used. When Captain Pauli left that afternoon for his station at Bordentown, he told Colonel Rail that if he would send him word as soon as he was ready to begin the work on the intrenchments, he would come again to Trenton and superintend their erection. Captain Pauli reported what he had said and done to Colonel von Donop, but Colonel Rail never sent for him. When Captain Martin passed through Trenton a second tirne on his way to New York, he bore a message from Colonel von Donop to Colonel Rail, urging upon him the necessity ^ The spot on which the Battle Monument now stands. RALL'S EXTRAORDINARY CARELESSNESS 107 of immediately fortifying tiis position with intrenchments. Colonel Rail told Captain Martin that he did not think it at all necessary, as the rebels were such a miserable lot. In- deed, every remark of the officer^was turned into ridicule. It is to be supposed that Captain Martin repeated this conver- sation to Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Major von Dechow when he went to their quarters for the letter which he had promised to take to General von Heister. The next day, in company with Lieutenant Wiederhold of the von Knyphausen regiment. Major von Dechow went to Rail's headquarters on King street, and in the presence of Lieutenant Piel, Rail's brigade adjutant, and Lieutenant ZoU, the adjutant of the von Lossberg regiment, made another appeal to have the re- doubts erected. Lieutenant Wiederhold, on his own behalf and that of Lieutenant Fischer of the artillery detachment, offered to do the work at the Trenton Ferry. Rail exclaimed, when thus appealed to, " Lasst sie nur kommen ! Keine Schanzen ! Mit dem Bajonet wollen wir an sie!" ("Let them come ! We want no trenches ! We '11 at them with the bayonet ! ") The major did not allow himself to be content with this reply, but remonstrated : " Herr Oberst, es kostet ja nichts ; hilft es nicht, so schadet es auch nichts ! " (" Colonel, it costs nothing ; if it does not help, it can do no harm ! ") His desire was, however, never gratified, and the lives of both Rail and von Dechow paid the penalty of this neglect. It is very singular that while it appears that Colonel von Donop was always anxious to receive intelligence, and had men paid to procure it for him, Colonel Rail, who was much nearer the main body of the American force, had absolutely no reliable information concerning their movements. Lieu- tenant Piel, his brigade adjutant, distinctly states under oath that he never employed any spies to go into the American camp. In this the Hessian commander was surely blamable. Colonel Rail had a very poor opinion of the strength and military skill of his foe, and said that they were " nothing but a lot of farmers," of no account whatever, and that it io8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON was of no possible use to make preparations for any attack in force by them. So stubborn was he in this respect that he would not listen to advice with any grace, but preferred to do what seemed best to himself, acting on the impulse of the moment, rather than judge which was the best of all the different plans laid before him. About this time he desired to have more troops in Tren- ton, probably not that he feared an attack, but that he wished to increase the importance of his command and make a greater display in the village. On his applying to Major-General Grant, his superior officer, at Bruns\vick, for additional troops, or even for some men at Maidenhead to keep open the communication with Princeton and Bruns- wick, his opinion as to his safety was fully confirmed by that officer's reply : " Tell the colonel he is safe ; I will undertake to keep the peace in New Jersey with a corporal's guard." It is thought that this answer went far to make Rail care- less in the matter of fortifications or any other preparations for the enemy, for he considered that if they were not dis- turbed, they would be only too happy to remain quiet. As late as Christmas day Major von Dechow called Colo- nel Rail's attention to the baggage and the supplies of the brigade, and urged that they be placed in some safe position against any sudden attack. But the colonel somewhat in- dignantly exclaimed : " The rebels will not come, but if they do and can take me, they can have all the stores and the baggage to my very last wagon. If they come, all they can hope for is a good retreat." Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer of the von Lossberg regiment also was filled with the greatest anxiety, and' worried himself sick over his commander's reck- less conduct. For more than a week preceding Christmas the American militia were hovering in little detachments around the posts at Trenton and Princeton. Indeed, the road between the two villages was at no time a secure march for British troops. It may be mentioned here that on the 21st day of Decem- ber, in expectation of a winter s sojourn in South Jersey, six SKIRMISH AT JOHNSON'S FERRY 109 quartermasters of the brigades of von Donop and Rail were sent to New York, under the protection of a force of eighty Hessian soldiers, for the purpose of bringing on the balance of the camp equipage and baggage of the two commands. These officers were Quartermaster Heusser of the von Loss- berg regiment. Quartermaster Miiller of the von Knyphausen regiment. Quartermaster Unger of the von Minnigerode regiment. Quartermaster Broste of the von Linsingen regi- ment, Quartermaster Fitz of the Rail regiment, and Quarter- master Wiederhold of the Hessian artillery. They went to Brunswick, and then, avoiding the direct route to Perth Amboy, they passed over the Raritan River to Staten Island and so to New York. On December 24 Colonel Rail ordered a heavy patrol to go to Pennington, a little village eight miles distant from Trenton. One detachment started in the morning under Major Johann Jost Matthaus of Rail's own regiment, taking the direct road to Pennington. The other, under Captain Adam Christoph Steding of the von Lossberg regiment, went by the River Road, and so up to Johnson's Ferry and across to Penning- ton. Each column consisted of one hundred men. Lieu- tenant von Grothausen and his fifty yagers formed one half of Captain Steding's detachment. Colonel Rail himself, with the twenty British dragoons, followed after Major Mat- thaus on the Pennington road. The major did not find any of the enemy on the road or at the village. Lieutenant von Grothausen and his yagers marched in the advance of Cap- tain Steding's force, and came across some thirty Americans at Johnson's Ferry, who, as soon as they saw the yagers come out of the woods, entered their boats, and rowed out into the stream. The yagers fired, and they heard afterward that one officer and two men had been wounded. The American artillery fired four shots at the yagers from the Pennsylvania shore. After this affair Captain Steding's men passed on to Pennington, where Colonel Rail and Major Matthaus had been waiting for them for two hours. The entire party then returned to Trenton. On his way back Major Matthaus no THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON rode by the side of Colonel Rail, and talked freely to him about his situation at Trenton. He proposed to Rail to put a detachment at Pennington, and send daily patrols to John- son's Ferry to prevent surprise. But Colonel Rail rejected the plan, asking him if he wanted to lose a detachment. " Do you wish to go there yourself ? " he asked, and Major Matthaus replied, " If I am ordered to go there, I will go and do my duty." During the week commencing December 22 there was much gossip in Trenton concerning the movements of the American army. One day a resident of Bucks County, whose name the German records give as Mahl, told Colonel Rail, in the presence of Lieutenant Pifel, that he would cer- tainly be attacked at an early day. Rail answered, " Let them come." The next day two deserters from the Amer- ican army confirmed this intelligence to Colonel Rail, Major Matthaus and Lieutenant Piel being present, and told him that the Pennsylvania militia were gathering, and that the army had orders to prepare four days' rations. Colonel Rail did not believe it. After the battle of Trenton, Major Matthaus confidently asserted that he had reason to think that Colonel Rail had issued letters of protection to people whom he had sup- posed to be wealthy and influential in and about Trenton, and that they had dined at his table, and he strongly sus- pected that many of these people were American officers in disguise, who had come to Rail only to get information as to his position and condition. On Monday morning, December 23, at eleven o'clock. Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe of the von Lossberg regiment met on King street Dr. William Bryant, the phy- sician, who lived on the Bloomsbury Farm, and who was seeking Colonel Rail. But Rail could not be found that morning, and Dr. Bryant left Lieutenant Schwabe with the promise that he would return later in the day. He did so, and then told Colonel Rail that he had just heard from a negro who had crossed the river that the rebels had drawn RAI.L'S PERSISTENT OVERCONFIDENCE iii rations for several days, and were about to attack Trenton. " This is all idle! it is old woman's talk," impatiently an- swered Colonel Rail. Rut the doctor, who was afraid of beinfj DR. WILLI.-\M bRVANl robbed and having his house burned, took the matter more seriously.' ' Dr. Bryant was the son of Captain William Bryant of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on whose tombstone it is stated that he made fifty- five voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. His daughter Mary, who was noted for her great piety, married the Hon. William Peartree Smith of Elizabeth Town, an earnest patriot, a member of the Council of Safety, and a distinguished scholar. It is evident that the brothers-in-law Smith and Bryant took very different sides in the great struggle for American independence. — Rev. Dr. John Hall's History of the Presbyterian Church in Trenton, Xew Jersey, p. 235. IX At this time Washington was making active preparations for a simultaneous attack upon all the king's troops on the Jersey side of the river. With his skeleton bands of faithful and true soldiers, mere fragments of his own army and those of Lee and Gates, reinforced by some militia who had yet to face an enemy, he proposed as a desperate resort to throw this frail body of men on the drilled soldiers of Hesse. The gondolas and row-galleys which were under the com- mand of Commodore Thomas Seymour, and which, during the night of December 19, had been ordered down the Dela- ware River, were directed to move up as far as Bordentown, which they did in the midst of a fierce snowstorm on Mon- day, December 23, and were then stationed along the river between Bordentown and Burlington. On the evening of December 24 Washington rode over to the headquarters of Major-General Greene, at Samuel Merrick's house, and took supper with him. At Greene's request the family left the house in his charge that night, and there appears to be no doubt that the final council of war was held that evening and in that dwelling. Generals Sullivan, Mercer, Lord Stirling, Colonel Knox and other officers, with the Reverend Dr. Macwhorter of Newark, New Jersey, were at the table. During the course of the meal Lieutenant-Colonel Harri- son and his brother (both military secretaries to the com- mander-in-chief) were busily engaged in transferring the business of the headquarters of the army from Mr. Keith's house to Newtown. It is presumed that General Washing- ton did not take possession of these new headquarters in person on Christmas day. The plan adopted at the council of war was substantially THE PLAN OF THE ATTACK ON TRENTON 113 the same which had been discussed for some days past. This scheme was to cross in three different places : that Cadwalader's division attack the cantonments at Mount Holly, Black Horse and Bordentown ; that Ewing's division cross at Trenton Ferry, take position on the south side of the Assunpink Creek, and, if possible, close all avenues of escape for Rail's troops, and prevent any reinforcement from von Donop ; and that General Washington with a large detachment of the main army, about 2400 strong, make the direct attack upon the garrison at Trenton. The style of the campaign was to be changed from defensive to offensive, and if any advantage was gained by this movement Wash- ington proposed to follow it up by an active and aggressive attack upon all the outposts of the enemy. With his own immediate command and that of Ewing in possession of Trenton, while Putnam and Cadwalader forced von Donop out of his cantonments, the entire army would then rapidly push on for the military stations at Princeton and Brunswick. The night of Christmas was chosen for the crossing of the Delaware River. All were familiar with the much honored observance of the Christmas festival by the Germans, and they relied greatly on the expectation that a too free use of intoxicants on that day might to some extent disable the effective force of the enemy and make the watch dull. Early on Christmas morning Washington issued his order for the march to Trenton in the following words : — "Each brigade to be furnished with two good guides. General Stephen's brigade to form the advance party, and to have with them a detachment of the artillery without can- non, provided with spikes and hammers to spike up the ene- mies' cannon in case of necessity, or to bring them off if it can be effected, the party to be provided with drag-ropes for the purpose of dragging off the cannon. General Stephen is to attack and force the enemy's guards and seize such posts as may prevent them from forming in the streets, and in case they are annoyed from the houses to set them on fire. The brigades of Mercer and Lord Stirling, under the ri4 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON command of Major-General Greene, to support General Ste- phen. This is the 2d division or left wing of the army and to march by the way of the Pennington road. " St. Clair's, Glover's, and Sargent's brigades, under Major- General Sullivan, to march by the River Road. This is the first division of the army, and to form the right wing. Lord Stirling's brigade to form the reserve of the left wing, and General St. Clair's brigade the reserve of the right wing. These reserves to form a second line in conjunction, or a second line to each division, as circumstances may require. Each brigadier to make the colonels acquainted with the posts of their respective regiments in the brigade, and the major-generals will inform them of the posts of the brigades in the line. Four pieces of artillery to march at the head of each column ; three pieces at the head of the second brigade of each division ; and two pieces with each of the reserves. The troops to be assembled one mile back of McKonkey's Ferry, and as soon as it begins to grow dark the troops to be marched to McKonkey's Ferry, and embark on board the boats in following order under the direction of Colonel Knox. " General Stephen's brigade, with the detachment of artil- lerymen, to embark first ; General Mercer's next ; Lord Stir- ling's next ; General Fermoy's next, who will march into the rear of the second division and file off from the Pennington to the Princeton road in such direction that he can with the greatest ease and safety secure the passes between Prince- ton and Trenton. The guides will be the best judges of this. He is to take two pieces of artillery with him. St. Clair's, Glover's, and Sargent's brigades to embark in order. Immediately upon their debarkation, the whole to form and march in subdivisions from the right. The commanding officers of regiments to observe that the divisions be eqiial and that proper officers be appointed to each. A profound silence to be enjoined, and no man to quit his ranks on the pain of death. Each brigadier to appoint flanking parties ; the reserve brigades to appoint the rear-guards of the col- FINAL ORDERS FOR THE ATTACK 115 umns ; the heads of the columns to be appointed to arrive at Trenton at five o'clock. " Captain Washington and Captain Flahaven, with a party of forty men each, to march before the divisions and post themselves on the road about three miles from Trenton, and make prisoners of all going in or coming out of town. " General Stephen will appoint a guard to form a chain of sentries round the landing-place at a sufficient distance from the river to permit the troops to form, this guard not to suffer any person to go in or come out, but to detain all per- sons who attempt either. This guard to join their brigade when the troops are all over." Immediately upon receipt of this order by the brigade commanders, they began to make preparations to carry out its provisions. Instructions were then given as to the posi- tion in line and the part each organization was to take in the demonstration on Trenton. A specimen of these de- tails is the order to the commanding officer of the Fourth Connecticut Continental regiment.^ The last of the correspondence between General Grant, Colonel Rail, and Colonel von Donop, which appears among the Hessian archives, prior to the surprise at Trenton, is an interesting letter from Grant to von Donop : — Brunswick 24th Dec. 1776 past eleven at night Sir : I have been favoured with your letter of the 21st which I have transmitted to General Howe, your Intelligence from the Country People was very circumstantial but be assured there are no rebel Troops in the Jerseys, they send over small parties from twenty to thirty men at a time and Colonel Chambers ^ of Hunterdon has the command of sev- enty or eighty near Howell's Ferry. The rebel army in Pennsylvania consisted of 8000 men the 22nd instant which 1 Part ii. No. 36. 2 Colonel David Chambers, Third regiment, Hunterdon County, New Jersey militia. Ii6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON was posted at Philadelphia, Bristol, opposite to Trenton and as far as Sherad's Ferry, their greatest force between Tren- ton and Coryell's Ferry, the day I mention which was Sun- day last, Sullivan, Gates, Arnold and Sterling were with Washington at his Quarters. Mifflin was then in the back part of Pennsylvania endeavouring to force the militia. Washington has been informed that our Troops have marched into Winter quarters and have been told that we are weak at Trenton and princetown and Lord Stirling expressed a wish to make an attack upon these two places. I don't believe he will attempt .it, but be assured that my informa- tion is undoubtedly true, so I need not advise you to be upon your guard against an unexpected attack at Trenton. I think I have got into a good line of intelligence which will be of use to us all and I have the honour to be Sir, your most obed't and most h'ble servant James Grant. General Leslie sent word to Colonel Rail on December 23 that General Howe had refused to place a detachment at Maidenhead, as Rail desired, but that he would send a patrol of twenty-five or thirty men to Trenton twice a week if Colonel Rail would do the same to Princeton. This plan seems to have been agreed upon, as General Leslie sent the patrol to Trenton the next day. They also brought word that they believed an attack on either Trenton or Princeton was imminent. In their statements concerning the affair at Trenton, made after the battle, the Hessian officers unite in severely blaming Colonel Rail for not designating any alarm places, where each regiment should muster in case of an attack. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, however, had designated a place by the English Church for that purpose, and as the Rail regiment was the regiment " of the day," and so under arms at the time of the surprise, it does not seem pertinent that so much stress should be laid on this minor delinquency of the commandant. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer blames w / V1 1 A GREAT ALARM RAISED 117 him for not designating a road by which they might re- treat if attacked by a superior force ; but Colonel Rail was an officer who, although well fitted for making an assault, was by nature ill-suited to defense, and retreat and defeat were matters to which he refused to give a thought, even though the hostile party might be numerically overwhelm- ing. -"^As the American officers had anticipated, the Hessian troops at Trenton, carelessly confident in their own military strength, entered eagerly into the Christmas revelry as they did at home, and all day and far into the night they con- tinued their merrymaking, with some feasting and much drinking with the people of the town. "On Christmas morning it is said General Grant sent a messenger to Colonel Rail, stating, although erroneously, that a small detachment under General Lord Stirling was hovering near him, and might make a demonstration on the village at any time during the day. This admonition, which would have put a more careful commander on strict watch for a surprise, had little effect. The colonel rode around the outskirts of the town, visiting some of the guards, and returned quite late in the afternoon to his headquarters on King street, the house of Stacy Potts. Here he started a little game of checkers with his genial host. He was still playing when a sound of firing was heard from the northwest portion of the town. It was scarcely more than a single volley, then a few scattering shots, and all was still ; but it raised a great alarm in the village. This was between seven and eight o'clock. The picket on the Pennington road had been attacked by a party of Americans, which, they said, consisted of forty or fifty men. They came out " in front of the woods " on the road which led to Pennington on the side toward Birmingham, and retired thence to Johnson's Ferry. As has already been stated, the picket consisted of a corporal and fifteen men. The non-commissioned officer in charge was Corporal William Hartung of the body company of the von Lossberg regiment (who was born in Elbingerod, on the Ii8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Hartz Mountains in Hanover. He was twenty-six years of age, and had spent one year in tiie Hanover cavalry and three years in the von Lossberg regiment. He was accounted a good and rehable soldier. Seeing that the numbers of the enemy were strong, and six of his men being wounded, though none killed. Corporal Hartung and the nine men remaining fell back, leading and carrying their wounded comrades, to Captain von Altenbockum's company, which was quartered about a gunshot from the picket post.^ As soon as Captain von Altenbockum heard the firing he assembled his company in front of his quarters, and sent one half of them toward the picket station, under command of Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm. Shortly afterward the captain himself followed with the rest of his company. Meeting Corporal Hartung, he gave him eight of his own men and sent him hastily back to search the woods for a short distance about the picket post. When Hartung reached the post he was joined by six yagers, who had hastened across the fields from the Dickinson house on the River road to find out what had happened. These twenty- four men made a careful patrol around the picket station, but the enemy were not to be found. About this time Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer, the inspector of the guard, hurriedly came up to the picket with a party of Hessian infantry in charge of Ensign Friedrich Franz Grabe of the von Lossberg regiment, probably from the principal picket at the Fox Chase Tavern on the Maidenhead road. After a brief consultation with Captain von Altenbockum, he sent out Ensign Johann Georg Schroeder of the Rail regiment with thirty men to go still farther on the road and endeavor to find the hostile party. In the meantime the town was in an uproar. The von Lossberg regiment had gathered at their company quarters under arms. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer being ill, his com- ' The names of two of the wounded men were : Fusilier Ciriacus Wagner, von Borch company, and fusilier Wetter, body company, both von Knyphausen regiment. THE HESSIAN ALARM 119 mand did not muster at this time as a regiment. The Rail regiment formed in front of the English Church, and with Colonel Rail at its head marched up to the high ground at the junction of the Pennington and Maidenhead roads, where it awaited further orders. The von Knyphausen regiment on the lower part of Queen street, and the von Hanstein company of the von Lossberg regiment, on the south side of the bridge, also gathered at their quarters. Major von Hanstein and Major von Dechow left their regiments in charge of the next in rank, and hastened up King street after the Rail regiment to find out the cause of the firing. When they came up to Colonel Rail, Major von Hanstein remained with him, but Major von Dechow urged his horse to the Pennington road picket. There he met Lieutenant- Colonel Brethauer and his men and Captain von Alten- bockum and his company. An order had already been sent out by the lieutenant-colonel to recall Ensign Schroeder, who soon appeared with his patrol and told the officers that he had been about two miles up the road, but that the search had been unsuccessful. Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold of the von Knyphausen regiment with ten men reinforced the picket post at Howell's house, increasing its strength to one commissioned officer, one non - commissioned officer, and nineteen men. The records give the names of five of this reinforcing party as fusiliers Bicker, Rupp, Schmelz, Stein- brecker and Zugreis, all of the von Knyphausen regiment. Captain von Altenbockum and Lieutenant Kimm and their company then returned to their quarters, where the guns were stacked, the men staying together all night in the two houses near the captain's quarters belonging to John Chambers and Warrell Cottnam. Leaving Lieutenant Kimm in charge of his men. Captain von Altenbockum walked down the Pennington road with Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer and Major von Dechow until they met Colonel Rail and his regiment at the head of King street. Here he related the story of the attack on the picket. Lieuten- ant Johannes Engelhardt of the artillery was near Colonel 120 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Rail when Captain von Altenbockum gave his report, and he afterward stated that the former acknowledged that Gen- eral Grant had warned him that a party was wandering near his cantonment ; he also said he thought that they were only a few farmers collected for the purpose of annoying him, and that he was confident he could whip them all with his regi- ment alone. Major von Dechow, however, was deeply con- cerned about the matter, and, according to the statement of Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso of the von Knyphausen regiment, who was with him at the time, urged upon Colonel Rail the propriety of immediately sending out a heavy patrol to all the ferries and up the roads. But he was answered that it would be time enough in the morning. When he left Colonel Rail, Major von Dechow gave free vent to his f eehngs to the young lieutenant, and said he feared the colo- nel would get them all in trouble. Major von Dechow put sentinels in front of every house which his regiment occupied, and ordered all his men to remain therein that night ready for an alarm. The other regiments also were dismissed to their quarters. Glad to be once more indoors and sheltered from the storm, the men gathered around their fires and returned to their drunken revels. No preparation was made for another attack, and no baggage of any kind was collected. Lieu- tenant Jacob Piel, Colonel Rail's adjutant, who saw him at ten o'clock in the evening, says he issued no special orders for the night. Lieutenant Wiederhold, who was then in command of the picket on the Pennington road, states the situation clearly : " A vigilant officer would have given orders to reconnoitre all the roads up the river, and the ferries, either to find all quiet or to find the enemy, and not to come back until the fact was thoroughly established." The manoeuvre of this little scouting party, a demonstra- tion which might have proved disastrous to General Wash- ington's plans for the next day, would certainly have made a prudent officer very careful to keep his own head clear and his troops well in hand, especially as he knew that the foe A DARING SCOUTING PARTY 121 was always in sight just over the river ; yet this very move- ment seems to have removed all further apprehension from Colonel Rail's mind. The attacking party consisted of about thirty men of Stephen's brigade. History differs as to who had command LIEUTEN'ANT-COLOXEL ABRAHAM HUNT of this little force. In some cases it is given to Captain William Washington, but he was not in Stephen's brigade. There is more reason to believe that it was the company commanded by Captain Richard Clough Anderson of Colo- nel Charles Scott's regiment, Fifth Virginia Continental line. The subaltern officers of this company were John Ander- son, first lieutenant ; William Bentley, second lieutenant ; 122 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Robert Tompkins, ensign. It seems that the party was scouting through Hunterdon County, without General Wash- ington's permission, and as a mere adventure drove in the picket, wounded six men, seized their firelocks and ammu- nition, and hastened away to join their regiment, which to their surprise was then crossing the river into the Jerseys.^ It is said that General Stephen was censured by General Washington for allowing this roving party to be in New Jersey at that time, but afterward, when the commander-in- chief found that, so far from injuring his project, the little affair had given Colonel Rail the impression that the attack which General Grant had predicted had been made, and had failed, his reproof was changed to praise for the brave ex- ploit. After this incident was over, and his troops dismissed. Colo- nel Rail did not return to his own quarters and his unfin- ished game with Friend Potts, but dropped in, flushed with his fancied success, on a more convivial party, whiling away the hours of Christmas night in Abraham Hunt's parlor, on the northwest corner of King and Second streets.^ 1 Part ii. No. 49. - Abraham Hunt was the rich merchant of the village, and its post- master. He has been called a non-committal man. Patriots, it is said, feared that he was not ahogether true to the cause, for they knew that their country's enemies ofttimes partook of his bounty. He has fre- quently been spoken of in history as a Tory, but it is never asserted that he took any active part against his country. On the contrary, at this very time he held the commission of Heutenant-colonel of Colonel Isaac Smith's First regiment, Hunterdon County militia, and the state records do not show any stain upon his honor as an officer and a soldier. It has never been stated that he ever claimed protection from the British. His property does not appear to have been confiscated, which would have been done if he had been a Tory, and he certainly was in the full enjoyment of it to the date of his death, long after the close of the war. He also retained his oiifice as postmaster of the village under the national government for many years. His home was a place of good cheer for every guest, and in after years he married that most patriotic lady. Miss Mary Dagworthy, who was so busy during the war in aid- ing the sick and wounded soldiers of the American army, and who strewed flowers in Washington's pathway at the Assunpink bridge, as A FATEFUL SUl'l'ER PARTY 123 The supper party at Abraham Hunt's house, no matter what the host's sentiments, had an important effect upon the ensuing events. Can it have been after all that he was not a\'erse to seeing the Hessian commander utterly unable to perform his military duties ? Certain it is that he was a A):raham hunt's house most acti\'e though perhaps unconscious agent in bringing disaster and defeat to the British arms. Tradition says that he journeyed toward New \'ork to assume tlie duties of president of the United States. The Hon. William S. Yard of Trenton, New Jer- sey, a descendant of Benjamin Yard, who was an iron-worker and gun- smith in Trenton in 1776. has in his possession the following receipt: " Received, Trenton, July 4th, 1776, of Abram Hunt, one of the Com- missioners for the county of Hunterdon, fifty-one pounds for twelve muskets; August 19th received fifty-five pounds thirteen shillings and si.xpence for fourteen muskets: 21 Aug. received twenty-four pounds seven shillings and si.xpence for thirteen muskets, and July 15th, 1777, received one pound and fourteen shillings for seventeen scabbards delivered last Summer. Benjamin Yard." If Abraham Hunt as one of the commissioners disbursed government funds for the repair of arms July 4, 1776. would he also have been allowed to remain in the same office and do the same work July 15, 1777, if he had shown himself a loj'alist in December, 1776 ? LIEUTENANT PIEL'S MAP Plan of an engagement between six thousand Americans, with fourteen cannon and two howitzers, under command of General Washington, and a brigade of Hessians under command of Colonel Rail at Tren- ton on the 26th day of December, 1776. EXPLANATION. A. Trenton. B. Picket of i officer and 24 men. C. The 7 picket posts placed on each side of it, of which No. i was the right wing, and had connection with the left wing of the captain's picket ; the one marked No. 7 was the left wing, and had connection with the yager picket. D. Route made by the patrol of the officers' picket, and which always turned to the left to the yager picket, and thence uptown to the captain's post, and from there back through the chain of sentinels. E. The left wing post of the captain's picket. F. The right wing post of the yager picket. G. Captain von Altenbockum's company of the von Lossberg regi- ment, which formed in front of the captain's quarters while the pickets were engaged with the enemy, and which, when they fell back, moved towards the right wing, and joined with that in the charge. H. Picket of i captain, i non-commissioned officer and 75 men. I. Picket of I officer and 50 yagers who retreated at once across the bridge. K. Command of I officer and 30 men who fell back upon von Donop's corps. L. Place where the regiments formed and received their orders. M. Place where the regiments tried to rally after they had left the city, and where Colonel Rail with his own and the von Lossberg regi- ment made an attack upon the abandoned city, in order to save the baggage, but was repulsed and driven back to N. ; and there were made prisoners of war. The regiment von Knyphausen, which was to have covered the flanks, had likewise to fall back, and tried to gain the bridge. This, however, they could not reach because of the loss of time occa- sioned in trying to recover the von Lossberg guns that had become stuck in the swamp, and during this time the enemy pressed forward, and captured the regiment at O. P. Von Lossberg cannon in the swamp. Q. Von Knyphausen cannon which did not reach the regiment dur- ing the battle. R. Rail cannon that were dismounted at the beginning of the en- gagement. S. Attack of the provincials from the woods. T. Junction and formation of provincials in line of battle before the city. U.. Stirling's brigade, which pursued the von Knyphausen regiment. [St. Clair's, not Stirling's, brigade pursued the von Knyphausen regi- ment.] W. Last movement of the Americans. X. American guns and howitzers. Y. Place where General Washington took position at the beginning of the fight in order to direct the battle. i 1 (.too »'^ ^'^ f^^: ^ ai """""V "''' --ai ^i.e I KI) :^ - <«3 ■^^g^t- J"^' 1 '> " A. ■1.' n"l iflll""!,,, ,^:^ ,|.l„,l,|W«l'«l|V>l| <>? "r "1 Ouici J^ IU'//.,.."""""^'.«,...-.,« -«"'■%., e-. \. T V^' XJf'^rvrruyry "f ^ CM Nl\Mt ,^' T"i""u; J '"^i '4 ,„,n'' »ta'W„ .A M ^HlBiW t i- 3l 1." i *!'a f| :^ '<^}UuJ X 2_ . -^ ,u ,V '//> LIEUTENANT FISCHER^S MAP LIEUTENANT WIEDERHOLD'S MAP The affair at Trenton which occurred December 26, 1776, between one corps of rebels of six thousand men under command of General Washington and one brigade of Hessians under command of Colonel Rail. EXPLANATION. A. Trenton. B. Picket of i officer and 24 men. C. Captain von Altenbockum's company of the von Lossberg regi- ment, which was quartered in this neighborhood, and which was charged by the enemy while doing picket duty. D. Picket of i captain, i non-commissioned officer and 75 men. E. I officer and 50 yagers who retreated over the bridge at once. F. Command of i officer and 30 men who retired to von Donop's corps. G. Place of original formation of the regiments. H. Place where the regiments stood after leaving the city, and where Rail intended to make an attack on the city with his own and the von Lossberg regiments, but failed to do it. 1. Place of repulse and capture of the regiments; in the meantime the von Knyphausen regiment was to have covered the flank. K. Where the von Knyphausen regiment, which sought to hold pos- session of the bridge, had the misfortune to have the von Lossberg cannon, which were with them, stick in the morass, and in the work necessary to get them out, lost the opportunity of taking the bridge, which was now too strongly guarded, and they were compelled to sur- render. L. Von Lossberg cannon. M. Von Knyphausen cannon which during the affair did not reach their regiment. N. Rail cannon which were silenced at the beginning of the fight. O. Attack of the rebels from the woods. P. Advance and surrounding of the city by the same force. Q. Two battalions of the same force which pressed on toward the von Knyphausen regiment. R. Last manoeuvre and attack of the same force. S. Rebel cannon. T. Place where General Washington stood and gave his orders. SOME HESSIAN MAPS 127 readily ti'aced.^ Another map of the same general character was prepared by Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold '■' of the von Knyphausen regiment, the ofificer who commanded the Pennington road picket on Christmas night ; and a third, differing slightly from the other two, was made by Lieuten- ant Friedrich Fischer ^ of the Hessian artillery. All of these maps will be of interest to those who are familiar with the streets of Trenton as they are to-day, and their authenticity is proven by the fairly accurate position of the English Church, the Presbyterian Church, the barracks, and the As- sunpink Creek.* Still another map of the same general character may be found in the " Collections of the New York Historical Society " for the year 1882, facing page 200. This map was "copied in the month of January, 1781, in North America and on York Island," by Lieutenant Carl van Kraft of the Hessian regiment von Bose. As this officer was not at the battle of Trenton, it has been thought unnecessary to insert herein a copy of his map. On Christmas night the Rail regiment was the regiment " dn jour," the regiment to remain on duty and under arms for twenty-four hours or until the parade at eleven o'clock on the morning of December 26. The men of this regiment were not allowed to take off any portion of their uniform clothing at night, and were only permitted to unbutton their leggings and lay aside their cartouches. Again looking across the river at the American army, we refer to the last hours before the actual crossing of the Del- aware River. General Washington dispatched an express rider to the hospital at Bethlehem to summon Dr. Shippen and his assistants to join the army at once. He evidently anticipated a severe conflict. Some of the regiments which had been assigned to take part in the attack on Trenton began to march at about two o'clock in the afternoon of 1 See p. 124. ^ See p. 126. ^ See p. 128. * For personnel of outposts of Trenton, December 24, 1776, see Part ii. No. SS- LIEUTENANT FISCHER'S MAP Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776, between American Provincial troops under the command of General Washington, and three regi- ments of Hessians under the command of Colonel Rail, where a part of the latter force was compelled to surrender as prisoners of war. EXPLANATION. A. Advance of the provincial troops from John's [the American force did not cross at Johnson's, but at McKonkey's] Ferry in two columns. B. Advance on picket a and Captain von Altenbockum's company b. C. Attack on Trenton after the retreat of the picket and Captain von Altenbockum's company, and also the captain's picket c, to Trenton. D. March of the provincial troops in battalion formation. E. March of the Hessian regiments after leaving Trenton. F. Attack of the von Lossberg and Rail regiments on Trenton. G. Provincial troops guarding the bridge. H. Retreat of the von Knyphausen regiment at the time of the attack on the von Lossberg and Rail regiments. J. Surrender of the von Lossberg and Rail regiments. K. Attack on J by the provincial troops. L. Attack on H after the surrender of the von Lossberg and Rail regiments. M. Provincial artillery. N. Rail cannon which were at once silenced. R. Von Knyphausen cannon. S. Von Lossberg cannon. T. Commands which retreated to Burlington. (Note. This map, in some particulars the best of the series, has one error. There was no church near the creek, in the line of march of the von Knyphausen regiment, near K.) PREPARING TO CROSS THE DELAWARE 129 Christmas day, and by three o'clock all of the troops ordered on this expedition were in motion toward the river. General Washington gave orders that the watch of every officer should be set by his own. Speaking of his men on that day, he said, " Many of our poor soldiers are quite barefoot and ill-clad," and Major Wilkinson tells us in his "Memoirs"^ that their " route was easily traced, as there was a little snow on the ground, which was tinged here and there with blood from the feet of the men who wore broken shoes." Each man was provided with three days' cooked rations and forty rounds of ammunition, and the troops were therefore ready to push on and follow up any advantage that they might gain, if such a course were deemed prudent. It was confidently expected that all the infantry, and a few companies of cavalry and artillery, with eighteen cannon and howitzers, might be ferried over by midnight, and so have the five hours until daybreak in which to march to Trenton. The Durham boat was the ordinary means of trans- porting merchandise on the Delaware River, and of even sending iron ore from Oxford Furnace, in old Sussex County, New Jersey, to the market at Philadelphia during the forty years before and after the beginning of this century.^ A number of these boats had been carefully collected by men employed by Colonel Humpton of the Pennsylvania Continental line. For the last ten days Captain Jacob Gear- hart, Captain Daniel Bray and Captain Thomas Jones, all officers of the Second regiment, Hunterdon County, New 1 Vol. i. p. 127. 2 These boats were like large canoes, some thirty or forty feet long, usually painted blaclc, pointed at each end, and manned by four or five boatmen. A steering oar adjustable at either end gave employment to one man on the down stream trip, which was from Robeson's Ferry wharf near the Furnace to the city of Philadelphia. This was a two days' journey, but it took at least five days of hard, pole pushing by four men to get it back again to the ferry wharf, loaded as it was with provisions for men living near the upper waters of the Delaware. In revolutionary days there were about forty of this kind of craft on the river. I 30 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Jersey militia, had been busily employed in gathering all the boats of every kind on the upper waters of the Delaware and Lehigh ri\'ers, and hiding them, with those previously collected, behind the thick woods on Malta Island, close to the west bank and at the mouth of Knowles's Creek, where the)' were entirely hidden from the Jersey shore. These boats had been kept under careful guard, and were now brought down some two miles to McKonkey's Ferry, the selected place for the crossing.^ All day Monday and Tuesday the Delaware River was clear of ice, but before noon on Wednesday, the 25th, it was full of floating cakes of ice, not very thick, however, from some of its upper branches, which had been frozen by the intense cold of December 20. The cur- rent was swift and danger- ous, and the weather cheer- less and cold. As soon as it became dark, the troops came down to the river bank, ready to pass over. General Wash- ington, who was on horse- back, eagerly watched the boats, as they iiushed off one by (jne freighted with men who were to strike a desperate blow for the liberty of their country, or receive a crushing defeat from their hireling foes. Some deep, all-pervading spirit of patriotism must have burned in the breasts of these men to have made them underszo the sufferings of that awful night. Their devotion M.\JfiR i.l..sLK.\L Hueen street. The smoke of MR. DAVIES.^ HOU.SE, SECUNIJ .STREET the battle was now enveloping the streets, and, with the storm of sleet, rendered it difficult to discern friend from foe. The Americans were before them, on their right flank, and coming in behind them, and all this time but few of their firelocks would go off. Captain Steding told his company to chip their flints a little, but this had no effect, as the powder in the pan was wet. As they again reached the place where Church alley runs into Queen street, the flring became 172 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON more severe, and fourteen men of the von Lossberg regi- ment were killed or wounded. Here Captain Johann Fried- rich von Riess of this regiment was instantly killed. He was a brave and gallant officer, and had been exerting him- self in the most praiseworthy manner to urge his company to make an effective resistance. Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm was also killed by the side of Captain vOn Riess. A moment later Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe of the same regiment received a severe wound through the thigh ; and as he was being carried behind Isaac Yard's house, he called out to Ensign Friedrich von Zengen to take command of his company, and exhorted tbe men to fight bravely. Colonel Rail was still on horseback, and, his force was gathered around him. Captain Friedrich Wilhelm von Ben- ning, who from the time the first shot had been fired on the picket had been striving most gallantly to do his duty in the von Lossberg regiment, was now instantly killed, and his body lay in the street where he fell. Captain Adam Christoph Steding, Lieutenant Wilhelm Christian Miiller, Ensign Christian August von Hobe and some of the bravest men of both regiments made a little stand, and fired at the Americans in and through Church alley, desiring to delay and, if possible, to prevent a retreat. The two regiments were again much mixed up, although the men were appar- ently fighting as hard as they could. Ensign von Hobe re- ceived a spent ball in his leg, and he hobbled off to the frame meeting house of the Methodists, on the corner of Queen and Fourth streets, for protection from further injury. Lieu- tenant Georg Hermann Zoll, the von Lossberg regimental adjutant, also received a severe wound in his spine from a bullet fired from a house by a keen-eyed rifleman, and he lay in the street weltering in his blood. After the battle he was paroled, but he remained in Trenton several months. So the stand made by Captain Steding and his men, while it had no effect on the Americans, had caused a loss of fifteen men killed and wounded of his own little party. Adjutant Jacob Piel here told Colonel Rail that he thought THE HESSIAN COLONEL'S IRRESOHttION w- Mi-nuoDisr (.hur<:h, (.urnlk they should retreat to the Assunpink Creek bridge, and Rail sent him to see if they could get through. He went down nearly to Major \'on Dechow's quarters, not far from the corner of Queen and Second streets, and found that the enemy had full possession of the bridge. As he approached the American force, he mistook them in the storm for the men of the von Knyphausen regiment, and he was within thirty paces of them before he discovered his mistake. He reported to Colonel Rail that it was then too late, and there- fore no orders were issued by Rail to escape by this bridge. The Hessian colonel was then shouting to his soldiers, " Alles was meine Grenadiere sind, vorwarts ! " ("All who are my grenadiers, forward ! ") But in \ain he urged them to ad- vance. He was then apparently uncertain just what to do, and as the valuable moments flew by, the Americans pressed closer and closer on him. The galling fire of the patriot army was doing great damage among the Hessian 174 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON troops. The bayonet, on which Rail had boastingly relied, did not now prove effective, while the deadly lead was every moment disposing of his fighting men. By this time two cannon of Captain Joseph Moulder's second company of artillery of Philadelphia Associators, attached to General Sullivan's division, had opened up on Queen street from the corner of Second street. According to the statement of Ensign Grabe, an order was then issued by Colonel Rail to retreat out Third and Fourth streets toward the apple orchard. The command had hardly been given before the colonel fell from his horse with two fearful wounds in his side. This was directly in front of the house of Isaac Yard, on the west side of Queen street, about two hundred feet north of Pinkerton's alley, now East Hanover street. Colonel Rail lay on the ground for a few minutes, and then, leaning on two soldiers, he walked with much pain out of the street and into the Meth- odist Church, on Queen and Fourth streets. ■' As he was painfully making his way toward the church. Colonel Rail saw Lieutenant Zoll lying near a house, severely wounded, and he asked him if he was injured. On receiving an affirmative reply. Rail said, " I pity you." Zoll, however, recovered, but Rail died. The retreat through the two short streets eastward had begun in much confusion, as Major Matthaus of the Rail regiment, hurrying up to Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, at the other end of the column, informed him that Colonel Rail was badly wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer said that the best thing to do now was to break through anywhere and escape. Captain Steding and his men were still making 1 Some histories say that Major Frederick Frelinghuysen of the New Jersey militia fired the shot which injured Colonel Rail. It is ex- ceedingly doubtful if such an act could have been verified even at the time, and Major Frelinghuysen, who was an officer on the staff of Gen- eral Philemon Dickinson, commanding officer of the New Jersey militia, is supposed to have been where his duty required him that day, — on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, endeavoring to cross with the division of General Ewing. A DISCONSOLATE COUNCIL OF WAR '75 some futile efforts to keep the Americans in check, and the retreat eastward had begun before he was aware of it. Lieu- tenant Miiller called out to him, " The enemy are on us ! " and it was with great difficulty that Captain Steding reached the retreating regiments. By this time Captain von Altenbockum, who had some- what recovered from the shock of the bullet which had struck his head, having mounted Colonel Rail's horse, rode after his regiment toward the orchard. He was soon over- taken, however, by an American officer, who carried him to PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SECOND STREET what proved to be Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer's quarters. Here that officer was found quite ill and being bled by a Hessian surgeon. As the two retreating regiments came near the orchard, Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Majors von Hanstein and Matthaus, the three remaining field officers, held a brief council of war as to what was now to be done. They all agreed that they must immediately make one desperate ef- fort, and if possible break through in the direction of the Brunswick road, or cross one of the upper fords of the As- sunpink Creek, and try to reach Princeton. When they came to the place in the orchard where this must be done, if at all, they saw the brigades of General Stephen and General 176 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON de Fermoy, with two well-formed fronts and a number of can- non, ready to receive them. Instantly these guns began to play on the flanks of the two bewildered regiments. They wavered, and fell back fifty paces within the orchard. While all these events were taking place, quite a demoral- ized party of stragglers from the Rail, von Lossberg and von Knyphausen regiments tried to reach the Queen street bridge, but were caught between the commands of General St. Clair and Colonel Sargent, and were taken prisoners on Queen street between Second and Front streets. They surrendered in front of what is now Taylor Opera House, and hence this is often erroneously called the place of sur- render of the Hessian troops. As Sullivan's division, still pursuing the main body of the von Knyphausen regiment, came near the Presbyterian Church on Second street, a vigorous resistance was made for a few moments by the German troops. Here Major Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow, the commander of the regi- ment, was severely wounded in the left hip, and his horse also being wounded, he was obliged to dismount. Then, although suffering greatly, he took his adjutant's horse, and Lieutenant Christian Sobbe having assisted him to mount, the major continued with his regiment down the field and on the edge of the apple orchard, bearing rather more to- ward the creek than keeping to the road which led through the orchard to Samuel Henry's iron-works. He was soon compelled to dismount again, however, as riding made his wound more painful. Another fine officer was wounded near the church. Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso ; his wound was only in the hand, but it caused him much pain. The lieutenant also kept on with his company. All this time not one gun in twenty would go off on account of the wet weather. The rush of the American brigade on Second street, with the gallant Colonel Stark still leading the light infantry and shouting as he drove the foe, made considerable uproar and kept up the confusion in the town. The rally and stand of THE HESSIANS DRIVEN AGAIN 177 the Hessians was soon over, and they were hurried into a field on the edge of the orchard east of what is now Mont- gomery street and just north of the Assunpink Creek. As the von Knyphausen regiment was retreating to the low ground of the creek, Captain Bernhard von Biesenrodt came up to Major von Dechow and asked him if they should not make an effort to reach the stone bridge. They were then receiving some fire from Second street and some from the vicinity of the bridge, but they were unaware of the strength of the force at the latter place. XI Without having given any definite reply or new orders to Captain von Biesenrodt, Major von Dechow, wlio had been growing weaker and weaker, gave up the command to him, as next senior officer, on the low ground near the creek. Captain von Biesenrodt immediately formed the regiment with front toward the town, and gave orders for them to march by the left to the bridge, for he was deter- mined to take it and effect an escape at any cost. He soon found, however, that the narrow bridge was strongly guarded and that the Americans had their artillery in position to command it from the heights beyond. He then halted the von Knyphausen regiment, wheeled them to the right, took a path along the creek, and again sought the outskirts of the orchard, with the intention of trying to ford the creek some- where. They soon found themselves in a bad position, on low, swampy ground, with a thickly wooded elevation in front of them and a deep and broad creek in their rear. The von Borck company was now on the right and the von Dechow company on the left wings of the regiment. The two von Lossberg cannon, which that day were with the von Knyphausen regiment, here became stuck in the marshy ground. Much valuable time was lost in trying to extricate them from this morass, but all efforts were inef- fectual, and at last the cannon were abandoned. While the Hessians were struggling to recover the guns, the enemy began to fire at them with shot and shell from Captain- Lieutenant Winthrop Sargent's Massachusetts battery across the creek on the high ground to the south. Major von Dechow, who had been leaning against a fence while these movements were taking place, now descried Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein some fifteen MAJOR VON DECHOW SURRENDERS 179 paces away and called to him. When that officer came up, von Dechow told him to say to Captain von Biesenrodt that he would better surrender, as it was quite evident to him that the Rail and von Lossberg regiments were about to do so. Captain von Lowenstein declared that he would not as long as there were still two ways of escape open. " I know," he continued, " that a few steps from where we are it is shallow water in the creek, and we can ford it." Major von Dechow replied : " I order you to tell Captain von Biesenrodt what I have said to you." Then von Lowen- stein walked over to Captain von Biesenrodt, gave him the message, to which he received no response, and returned to Major von Dechow. That officer was still leaning against the fence when Captain von Lowenstein came to him and reported Captain von Biesenrodt's indifference to his com- mands. Major von Dechow then repeated them, and with the aid of Corporal Kustner he hobbled along Sunderland's alley, now East Front street, toward Queen street. The corporal tied a white handkerchief on a spontoon, which he held up as they went together in the direction of Joshua Newbold's house, to give themselves up as prisoners. The men of the von Knyphausen regiment were afterward much aggrieved at this action of their commander, because, as they said, by this he gave to the enemy the knowledge of their position, which must have been much hidden by the intervening woods at the time. The corner of Queen and Front streets was then held by Colonel Sargent's brigade, Major-General Sullivan being with them. Major von De- chow must have surrendered and given up his sword to General Sullivan as soon as he reached Queen street. A strange incident is found in the German records at Mar- burg, — that General Sullivan took from a Hessian officer the knot of his sword and fastened it to his own. If this really happened, this was the time and place of the occur- rence, and Major von Dechow was the Hessian whose sword- knot was fastened to the sword of the gallant Sullivan. Captain von Biesenrodt then sent Captain von Lowen- i8o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON stein, Staff-Captain Jacob Baum, Lieutenant Nicholas Vau- pell, Corporal Heeland of the von Minnigerode company and some few soldiers up the bank of the creek to find a place where a crossing would be feasible. They worked through the thick underbrush for some distance until they heard a friendly voice call from the other side of the stream that they were now at the best place for fording. Several battalions of the Americans, the men of Colonel John Glover's brigade, could then be seen on the heights lower down the creek. Both Captain von Lowenstein and Lieu- tenant Vaupell went down into the ice-cold water, sounding its depth with their spontoons, and they soon determined that the passage could be effected. Captain Barthold Hel- frich von Schimmelpfennig, Lieutenant von Geyso and a number of the men with them soon joined the first party and told them that their regiment was really surrounded and must soon surrender, and that they had determined to take the risk of fording the creek, although the men then trying it were up to their necks in the water and said that the bottom was muddy. All the servants and women attached to the several regi- ments, with the exception of the few who had escaped over the bridge at the first alarm, had gathered down by the creek with some of the musicians, and a lot of the baggage of the Hessian brigade. These men and women made a great noise, attracted much attention and increased the panic and disorder in the von Knyphausen regiment. We left the Rail and von Lossberg regiments within the orchard just east of the Friends' Meeting House on Third, now East Hanover street. They could easily see the cor- don of excited American soldiers which had encircled them, confident of victory, and the line of guns which had formed a semicircle before them. Captain Forrest's six-gun battery had come down from the head of Queen street, and was now ready to fire upon them. Behind these guns regiment after regiment stood ready to execute the last order, which certainly would have exterminated them. The American TWO MORE RECIMENTS SURKENIJER iSi officers then called out to them to throw down their arms and surrender or they would be shot down. Ensign Carl Wilhelm Kleinschmidt, the adjutant of the Rail regiment, had become slightly familiar with the English language, and he interpreted this forcible expression to his comrades. The American line was now within sixty feet of the two German regiments. Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer called out FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, THIRD STREET to an American officer who was mounted in front of him, that he believed they would have to surrender. An office)-, apparently an aide to a general officer, so the German records read, but more likely I^ieutenant-Colonel George Baylor, one of General Washington's aides-de-camp, rode up to the Hessian line, where he was met by Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Major von Hanstein, and after a few moments' conversation they separated, and the two regiments surren- dered. Then the ten standards were lowered, the arms i82 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON grounded, and the officers placed their hats on the points of their swords and held them up in token of submission. Some of the soldiers, however, inwardly raging at this indig- nity, broke the stocks of their guns against the ground, others cut the straps of their cartridge pouches, and still others, instead of placing, their guns in front of them on the ground as they should have done, according to the custom of war, threw them as far as they could into the woods. General Lord Stirling, as the senior officer in the advance, rode forward and received the swords of the officers who had thus surrendered, and placed them in the custody of Colonel Clement Biddle, deputy quartermaster-general. Lieutenant-Colonel Baylor was at this time riding back up Queen street as fast as his horse could carry him, to take the good news to General Washington. While these ceremonies were being performed, the von Knyphausen regiment under Captain von Biesenrodt's orders had sent out Lieutenant Werner von Ferry with a detach- ment of skirmishers to the high ground in the direction of the rear of William Roscoe's house and the Presbyterian Church, to see if the enemy were approaching, and if possi- ble to cover the regiment while a determined effort was made to cross the creek. Then Captain von Biesenrodt, again saying that he would not surrender, gave the order for the regiment to go down to where Captain von Schim- melpfennig and Captain Baum could be seen trying to wade across the creek. By this time they could hear the shout- ing of the Americans, and they knew full well that the other two regiments had surrendered. Soon the Continental troops pressed upon the Hessian skirmishers, and they were obliged to retreat, as three cannon were turned upon them. In the mean time Lieutenant Vaupell was well across the creek. He had lost his footing several times, but had caught a root of a tree with his spontoon, and so with much dif- ficulty and clanger was now nearing the opposite shore. He was followed by Captain von Schimmelpfennig and Captain Baum and quite a number of their men, who had all selected ^'AIN EFFORTS TO ]':SCAI'E 1 ,83 different places at which to ford the stream. Fusileer Conrad Muhling of the von Borck company came near drowning, and was rescued with the greatest difficulty. Lieutenant von Geyso, the wounded officer, left the \'on Knyphausen regiment when he saw that its capture was ine\'itable, and made his way across the creek. Three of his soldiers who accompanied him were carried away by the current, and drowned. Some few men wdio started to go througli the chilling waters of the stream, and found it very deep, turned about and rejoined their regiment. While this attempt was being made, St. Clair's brigade zf- '^ h f ;, s*u ^ -idt ' >r i >y. i^- c>r '■^t^tf^^' ,^- .SURRENDER OF THE J-IE.SS1.\NS Bronze TaUet on llio Trenton. Baltic .Uonniiieiii (the records in Germany erroneously refer to it as Stirling's brigade) with Captain Moulder's two cannon were pressing on toward the creek, and soon the)' faced the right flank of the von Knyphausen regiment. Halting about forty paces distant, they fired a volley at the regiment, but they aimed too high for execution. An American officer, probably Major James Wilkinson (afterward General Wilkinson), who was General St. Clair's aide-de-camp that day, came forward and tried to attract the attention of Captain von 13iesenrodt. i84 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON The captain shouted to him to stop, or he would shoot him. Lieutenant Wiederhold, the officer who commanded the Pennington road picket, was then sent out to talk with the American officer. On his return to the regiment, Wiederhold told Captain von Biesenrodt that the officer had said, in behalf of General St. Clair, that they must surrender, as the other two regiments had done. Firing was still heard while this interview was taking place, presumably in an attempt to disable the men who were trying to escape over the creek. Lieutenant Wiederhold returned to the American officer, and reported that Captain von Biesenrodt declined to surrender his command. The lieutenant was then taken to General St. Claii", who insisted that there was nothing further to do ; the bridge, the fords, the roads and the passes were all in their hands, and further sacrifice of life was useless. "Tell your commanding officer,'' he added, "that if you do not surrender immediately, I will blow you to pieces. Go and bring your commandant here," continued General St. Clair, and after a brief interval Cap- tain von Biesenrodt approached. Lieutenant Wiederhold accompanying him as interpreter. General St. Clair repeated his severe and peremptory threat. Then Captain von Bies- enrodt, by this time clearly seeing the perilous situation of his regiment, asked that his officers might keep their swords and baggage, and the under-officers their swords and knap- sacks. This was granted, and General St. Clair and Captain von Biesenrodt shook hands over the agreement. Lieutenant Wiederhold, evidently in a doubting mood, asked if this pro- mise would be carried out strictly, and again General St. Clair stated it emphatically. The order was then given by Captain von Biesenrodt to march up on the high ground to the right, and there to surrender. For an hour the promise given by General St. Clair was kept, but after that the offi- cers were compelled to give up their swords, and the ser- geants their swords and knapsacks. The next day, however, all the officers were given back their swords by General Washington's order. As the Hessian regiment threw down •A GLORIOUS DAY FOR OUR COUNTRY' 185 their firelocks, the patriot troops tossed their hats in the air, and a great shout resounded through the village, as the sur- render was made, and the battle of Trenton closed. General St. Clair immediately sent Major Wilkinson to report the capture of the von Knyphausen regiment to General Sullivan, and that officer directed him to inform the commander-in- chief. He came up to Gen- eral Washington as the lat- ter was riding down King street, and Colonel Rail was being carried into his quarters. With some nat- ural elation General Wash- ington pressed the hand of the boyish soldier, and said, " This is a glorious day for our country. Major Wilkin- son." And truly it was a toward retrieving the ill-fortune had been made, in a few mo- ments a series of disasters had been changed to a glorious victory, and the declaration of independence had been shown to be a reality by the most brilliant action of the war. General Sullivan and General Lord Stirling, who but a few months before had become the prisoners of these same Hessian troops, now had the satisfaction of capturing the very soldiers who had taken them at the battle of Long Island. All this time the snow and rain was beating on the two armies, but especially in the faces of the Hessians. During their march from McKonkey's Ferry the Americans had covered the firing-pans of their guns with some part of their clothing, or kept them dry under their blankets. They were therefore enabled to do effective work, whereas the Hessian guns could not be discharged. Many of the Americans MAJOR JAMES WILKINSON glorious day. The first step iS6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND IM^INCETON were expert I'iflenien, and tlie)' had concealed themselves in the honses, where their fii'earnis were preserved from the wet weather ; and thus, somewhat screened from the fire of the If essians, the}' had from the windows been able to inflict considerable damau:e on the eneni)'. So many Hessian officers had been killed (jr wounded that the urbanizations had become great])' disarranged, and it was liai'd for thrise who remahiecl to keep the men in the ranks in an\' kind of military oi'der or discipline. It woidd seem that the Americans exaffo-crated their force l;Uli;ADII.I^-nENi:KAL LORD STrRLJN( when they stated its numbers. Lieutenant-Colonel Schef- fer testified that they told him that General Washington had with him six general officers and Sooo men, with four- teen six-pounders and two howitzers. This was correct if the statement was meant to include his whole army on both sides of the Delaware Ri\'er, but of course it is well HOW LONG DID THE BATTLE LAST? 187 known that he did not bring 8000 men with him in the attack which he made on Trenton. Opinions differ as to the length of time taken for this battle. In examining the German accounts of the sur- prise, we find that Captain Steding and Lieutenant Schwabe both thought that the attack had lasted one and k half hours, Ensign Hendorff estimated the time as one and three quarter hours, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, Major von Hanstein, Captain von Altenbockum and Ensign von Hobe were of the opinion that it lasted two hours. Cap- tain von Altenbockum and Ensign Hendorff added to this statement that the actual battle was from one half to three quarters of an hour. We must then infer that from the time when the picket on the Pennington road was attacked to the time of the ceremony incident to the surrender of the von Knyphausen regiment was between one and a half and two hours. Lieutenant Piel, who, it will be remem- bered, had been awake since five o'clock, said that it was shortly after half past seven when the picket was fired on. Lieutenant Miiller stated that it was between seven and eight o'clock, and the opinion of Lieutenant Sobbe was that it was eight o'clock. We must also infer that the actual fighting, from the time the batteries opened at the head of King and Queen streets, until General St. Clair's men had fired their last shots at the Hessian skirmishers, was only from thirty to forty-five minutes. The Hessian soldiers did all that surprised and bewildered men could do. Their irregular defense was entirely futile, when opposed by the irresistible dash and impetuosity of the patriot columns. General Washington says, "They did not make any regular stand ; " and it is owing to the feeble show of resistance and to the desperate charge of the Americans that so few lives were lost in the engagement. On account of the inability of Brigadier-General E wing's division to cross the river at Trenton Ferry, a number of the soldiers of Rail's brigade escaped and either joined Colonel von Donop's command at Bordentown, or passed to the east i88 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of the village of Trenton, and took the Quaker road, finally- reporting to General Leslie at Princeton.^ After one of the battalions of the Rail regiment had be- come demoralized, many of the men had sought safety in flight down Queen street, while some ran down King street and through Pinkerton's alley to Queen street, and some of the other battalion of the Rail regiment pushed down King street and through Front street ahead of the American col- umn, and escaped over the Assunpink bridge. A few, a very few, regaining courage, joined the von Knyphausen regiment. Ensign Ludwig Klnen of the Rail regiment, a brother of Lieutenant Ki'nen of the same organization, arrived in Tren- ton with his company December 12, but had been too sick to go on daily duty. A few days before the battle Colonel Rail had sent him to Bordentown with some baggage, so he was not made a prisoner, and may fairly be numbered among those who were not captured.^ In reference to the von Knyphausen regiment, it may be noted that Captain Baum, Captain von Schimmelpfennig and Lieutenant Vaupell, with about fifty of the men of their regiment, marched toward the drawbridge at Crosswicks Creek as soon as they had forded the Assunpink Creek; but hearing the yagers firing off their guns to see if they were in order, and fearing that it was the Americans pursuing them, they turned into the woods on the east, and for some time were unable to find their way. At last, however, they 1 Mr. Bancroft, in his History of the United States, says that the number was one hundred and si.xty-two (162) men; Von Eelking, in his German Auxiliaries in the American War for Independence, ijjd to 1783, makes the number three hundred and ninety-eight (398) men ; and Quartermaster Heusser of the von Lossberg regiment writes that it was five (5) officers and one hundred and fifty (150) privates. The resuh of my researches indicates that the number was thirteen (13) ofiicers and three liundred and ninety-nine (399) enUsted men, in all four hun- dred and twelve (412) soldiers. This number includes, of course, all the men of Rail's brigade who were on duty at the two detachments on picket duty south of the Assunpink Creek, whereas two of the estimates above quoted undoubtedly do not include these outlying picket posts. ^ For names of those who escaped capture see Part ii. No. 56. GENERAL HOWE HEARS THE NEWS 189 struck the Quaker road, and reached Princeton at about eight o'clock at night. When he ai-rived there, Captain Schimmelpfennig was very ill and was taken to the hos- pital. The weary fugitives told General Leslie the story of the fight, which was the first news he had received of this blow to the British cause. The enhsted men were retained there ; but General Leslie sent Captain Baum with two dra- goons to General Grant at Brunswick to inform him of the details of the disaster, and General Grant passed him on to General Erskine at Amboy, from which place he was dis- patched with the news of the surrender to General Howe at New York city. In the early part of the fight Field Preacher Wilhelm Bauer of the von Knyphausen regiment carefully and with great prudence passed over the bridge and hurried down the old road to Bordentown. Lieutenant von Geyso of the von Knyphausen regiment, who had forded the creek, safely reached Bordentown, and' reported the facts of the surprise to Lieutenant-Colonel von Minnigerode. At the yager picket post of one officer and fifty men at General Dickinson's house on the River road, all escaped save one, who was captured. Lieutenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen was severely censured for running away without making much of a fight, but only a week later he met his fate not far from the bridge over which he and his men had escaped during the surprise at Trenton. The twenty British dragoons, a detachment of the Six- teenth regiment of the Queen's light dragoons, did not tarry in the town long after the engagement opened. In no pubhshed history of the fight and in no manuscript records can the slightest mention be found of any effort of these men to repel the hostile army. The guard at the Assunpink bridge, nineteen soldiers, after doing their duty for a short time, though without firing a shot, left their post and joined the fugitives. One soldier, however, who was posted in front of Major von Dechow's quarters was killed. Sergeant Mueller says that before they left, the light horse, the artillerymen, the yagers, whom the iQo THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON sergeant upbraided for running too fast, some of the musi- cians, the surgeons, and some of the women had passed over the bridge in the order named. Then, he says, he retired. The picket at Trenton Landing — one officer, and twenty- seven men — after enduring a vigorous sheUing from the Pennsylvania shore, one of their number being wounded, and having learned also of the capture of their comrades in the town, moved off on the main road to Bordentown just as twelve boat-loads, so the German records say, of American soldiers reached the Jersey shore at the landing, and began to form back of the "Doctor House." This picket reported at the drawbridge to Captain Boking of the Rail regiment. The picket at the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek of course took no part in the engagement, and escaped capture. They were accordingly not counted by Mr. Bancroft in his statement, nor were they included in that of Quartermaster Heusser ; but belonging as they did to the Rail brigade, they should be added to the number of those who were not taken prisoners of war. As already stated, the picket was com- posed of four officers and eighty-two men. Lieutenant von Romrodt and his men, who were stationed half way between Trenton and the drawbridge over Crosswicks Creek, heard the firing incident to the battle. The firing of the cannon could not, however, be heard at the drawbridge, as Lieuten- ant Hille of the von Lossberg regiment averred, because of the wind being in the opposite direction. They received the news about ten o'clock from fugitives who came there, some with arms, but most of them without their guns. As soon as the report of the disaster reached him, the com- mandant at this picket post sent the news to Lieutenant- Colonel von Minnigerode, who commanded at Bordentown. He instantly dispatched to the aid of the picket a grenadier company, commanded by Captain Wilmowsky, and in a few minutes the whole of the von Minnigerode battalion followed. They remained at the drawbridge about two hours, and then the entire force received orders from Colonel von Donop to march to Bordentown for the night. ESCAl'E, OR SURRKNDEK? 191 Some historians, referring to this time, make the state- ment that after the attack had commenced an attemjit was made by some of tlie German soldiers to harness up Irorses for the purpose of carrying off their ill-gotten spoils. There is no doubt that the Hessian soldiery at Trenton, foremost in rapine and plunder as they had been on their march through New Jersey, were well supplied with articles which the)- did not care to lea\'e in the hands of the Americans. Howe\'er, they did not go over the bridge with any loaded wagons, if we are to believe the German records, which give with great precision the kind and condition of men wlio \V.-\.Sl-il.\ini IN .\N[J GREtNfc. L.ALLIN .N1-:L K.ALi escaped. In 1780 Joseph Galloway, the loyalist, in his " Let- ters Written to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War in the Middle Colonies," says : " It is a fact, that Colonel Raille, although he had sufficient notice of the enem}-'s approach, could not form his men, who, more attentive to the safety of their plunder than their duty, and engaged in putting horses 192 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON to and loading their waggons, became deaf to all orders. In this state they were surrounded and taken." The Hessian commander was grievously wounded. Poor Rail, the brave and dashing colonel, given to military display, fond of the parade, proud of his well-drilled and disciplined soldiers as they marched daily on the streets of Trenton, — this courageous officer had now to die. Death alone could rid him of the heavy responsibility and the measure of dis- grace which rested on him. Soon after the surrender he was placed on a bench in the Methodist Church on Queen street, and carried through Church alley to his own head- quarters on King street. The house of Stacy Potts had been in the thickest of the battle, and showed the effects of shell and of bullet. A pane of glass through which a bullet passed remains to this day a relic of the fight. In disrobing the wounded commander, the note of Wall, the Bucks County Tory, came to light, and Rail, when he understood its con- tents, simply remarked, "Hatte ich dies zu Herrn Hunt gele- sen, so ware ich jezt nicht hier." ("If I had read this at Mr. Hunt's I would not be here.") During the morning General Washington and General Greene called at the house of Mr. Potts, and with the aid of an interpreter held a brief conversation with Colonel Rail, and took his parole of honor.^ Rail begged General Wash- ington for kind treatment to his men, and his petition was readily granted. General Washington also spoke a few words of consolation to the dying soldier. Colonel Rail lingered in pain during the night, and died on the evening of December 27. The German documents say that he was buried in the Presbyterian churchyard on Second street (now State street), but his is now an unknown grave. It must have been in ground since covered by the present church edifice. When, in 1838, the excavation was made for the foundation of the church, a large number of buttons from ^ A large painting of this scene was executed many years ago, and is now in possession of one of the descendants of Stacy Potts, Joseph P. Lloyd, Esq., of Orange, New Jersey. RALL'S EPITAPH 193 Hessian uniforms were found. Lieutenant Kitnen of Rail's regiment wrote this epitaph, which was never placed above him: "Hier liegt der Oberst Rail, mit ihm ist alles all!" (" Here lies Colonel Rail, with him all is over ! ") XII The loss of the American army in this affair was very small, being, as General Washington reported, two officers and two privates wounded. The officers referred to were Captain William Washington and Lieutenant James Monroe, who were injured in the charge on the enemy's guns on King street, and one of the privates wounded was young Robert James Livingston, of the Hunterdon County militia, afterward an ensign in the Fifth Virginia regiment, and who had matriculated at Princeton College and joined the force as a volunteer. On being wounded, he was cared for by Miss Rebecca Coxe, who lived opposite the English Church on King street. Some histories tell us that, in addi- tion to these four wounded soldiers, two officers were killed and two frozen to death. This statement cannot now be officially confirmed. It will always seem strange to the student of this battle that no greater damage was inflicted on the Americans by these German veterans, while the Hessian troops suffered so severely in proportion to their numbers and the short duration of the fight. As we look at the facts to-day, it seems remarkable ; but the German records give us the Hessian loss, and General Washington reported the casualties of his patriot band. We can only attempt to account for it by the fact that the Germans made no real stand, that a number of their guns failed, and that the surprise was so sudden and the onset so persistently followed up that they could not make their fire effective. Even with this endeavor to explain the situation, we still wonder at the difference between the casualty lists. The Rail regiment had on duty with the brigade 1 1 offi- cers and 512 men. Eighty-seven of these men were either THE HESSIAN LOSSES 195 on guard or on picket that day. Those actually in the fight during the few moments before the surrender were Major Matthaus, Captain Brubach, Lieutenant Salzmann, Ensign Fleck and Ensign Schroeder, — 5 oificers and 425 enlisted men. The von Lossberg regiment had 16 officers and 467 en- listed men in service at the beginning of the fight. The von Knyphausen regiment began the battle with 12 officers and 429 men on duty with the command. Counting Colonel Rail as killed, the Rail regiment had i officer and 12 men killed, and i officer and 10 men wounded; the von Lossberg regiment had 3 officers and 4 men killed, and 4 officers and 5 5 men wounded ; the von Knyphausen regiment, counting Major von Dechow as killed, had i officer and I man killed, i officer and 1 3 men wounded. The artil- lery detachment had 8 men wounded ; but as these were assigned for duty with the artillery detachments and really belonged to the_ infantry regiments, they are included in the losses previously given. The casualties in the brigade were therefore 5 officers killed and 6 officers wounded, 17 men killed and 78 men wounded, a total of 106 killed and wounded, as appears by the official records. Twenty-four of these soldiers — and some of the severely wounded must, of course, have died very soon — were all buried, so tradition tells us, in one place in the Presbyterian churchyard. If this is correct, their common grave must have been in ground now covered by the First Presbyterian Church. In reference to the number of prisoners taken at Trenton by the American army, the return of Sir George Osborn, muster-master-general of the British army, states that the loss was 700. This number is manifestly incorrect. General Howe made a return to the British government of the loss at Trenton, including killed, wounded and pris- oners, as I colonel, 2 lieutenant-colonels, 3 majors, 4 captains, 8 lieutenants, 12 ensigns, 2 surgeons, 92 sergeants, 20 drum- mers, 9 musicians, 25 officers' servants, 740 rank and file. Total, 918. 196 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON General Washington made a return to the Continental Congress, and appended it to his report of the battle, written December 27, 1776. There is no doubt that General Howe copied the statement of casualties in his report to the king from that of General Washington,^ as the figures exactly correspond. The official list of prisoners as made out by the command- ing officers of the three Hessian regiments and the lieutenant of artillery on the 5th day of January, 1777, while the officers were still in Philadelphia, shows a total force of 868 officers and men. 2 Taking the total number of officers and men killed, wounded and captured to have been 918 soldiers, as it was given by General Washington and appropriated by General Howe, and comparing this statement with the number of prisoners which the Hessian officers themselves acknow- ledged had been captured, that is 868 soldiers, we find that 22 were killed, 28 of the wounded were left on parole in Trenton, and that of the 868 prisoners of war who were taken over the Delaware River on December 26, 56 had in some way been wounded.^ We are given a fair idea of the kind of men in the rank and file of the prisoners by their several trades. We find among them 82 weavers, 49 tailors, 38 shoemakers, 16 smiths, 15 carpenters, 15 wagon-makers, 12 masons, 10 join- ers, 9 butchers, 7 plasterers, 7 stocking-weavers, 6 bakers, 6 millers, etc. This list was prepared in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, January 10, 1777, and contains the occupations of 315 of the 830 soldiers in that city at that date. Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rail was born in June, 1725, and when quite a young man entered on the study of a military life. During the Seven Years' War he gained considerable experience in his profession under the Duke of Brunswick, ' For Washington's return see Part ii. No. 57. ^ For these statements see Part ii. No. 58. ' For roster of ofificers of Rail's brigade, with biographical sketches, see Part ii. No. 59. SKETCH OF COLONEL KALL 197 and he served for glory as a \'olunteer under Orloff against the Turks. In 1764 he is recorded in the Hessian State and Court Calendar as lieutenant-colonel in the garrison regi- ment Stein. In the following year, and until the year 1771, he held the same position in the garrison regiment Held- ring. In 1772 the name of the grenadier regiment Muller was changed to the grenadier regiment Rail, and he was COLONEI. lOHANN GOTTLIEB RALL appointed its colonel and commandant. As such he landed in America, at New Utrecht, Long Island, August 25, 1776, with Lieutenant-General de Heister's first division of Hes- sian troops. Two days afterward he took part in the battle of Long Island. He fought well at Fort Washington November 16, 1776, and was then placed in charge of 198 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the brigade which was afterward assigned to the post at Trenton. The character of Colonel Rail has been variously and often erroneously described by historical writers. Prefer- ring the delineations of his traits made by German critics, and especially by the late Dr. Friedrich Kapp, the learned and accomplished biographer of General De Kalb and General Steuben, we must speak of the Hessian colonel as liberal, hospitable and generous. As commander of a bat- talion he displayed undoubted courage, and he performed acts of great bravery at Long Island, White Plains and Fort Washington. As a soldier he was terribly in earnest, and few officers displayed greater military skill in battle. He always personally sought the most perilous post in the mo- ment of attack. His British comrades admired him greatly and called him the " Hessian lion." To the Americans he was terror personified. Yet with all these commendable characteri|fetics he lacked a cool temper, sound judgment and a habit of quick resolve. His deficiency in these respects, while it n)ight not deter him from properly executing orders given him, certainly rendered him unfit for holding a "general officer's cpmmand. Always successful heretofore in every trust confided to him, despising as he did the American force and Underestimating its valor, he neglected the sim- plest precautions to prevent surprise. Captain Friedrich Ernst von Miinchhausen, General Howe's adjutant, says of Colonel Rail that if he had not lost his life in this battle he would certainly have lost his head. Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold, a rather self-sufiScient ofificer who had commanded the Pennington road picket on that eventful morning, gives in his journal a severe and per- haps unjust and prejudiced account of the man : — " He (Rail himself) believed the name of Rail more perfect and redoubtable than all the works of Vauban and Cohorn, and that no rebel would dare to encounter it. A fit man truly to command a corps ! and still more to defend a place lying so near an enemy having a hundred times his BALL'S FONDNESS FOR DISPLAY 199 advantages. Everything with him was done heedlessly and without forecast." . . . "There was more bustle than business at the post. The men were harassed with watches, detachments and pickets without purpose and without end. The cannon must be drawn forth every day from their proper places and paraded about the town seemingly only to make a stir and uproar." . . . "Whether his men when off duty were well or ill clad, whether they kept their muskets clean and bright and their ammunition in good order was of little moment to the colonel, he never inquired about it ; but the music ! that was the thing ! the hautboys — he never could have enough of them. The watch-guard was at no great distance from his quarters and the music could not linger there long enough. There was a church close by surrounded with a picket fence and a gate in front ! The officer on guard must march round and round it, with his men and musicians, looking like a Roman Catholic pro- cession, wanting only the cross and the banner and chant- ing choristers to lead. He followed the parade every time on releasing the guards in order to hear the music. The guards were released at two o'clock and the pickets at four o'clock. All officers and non-commissioned officers had to be on duty at that time so as to make a grand headquarters. The cannon instead of being out at the head of the streets where they could be of use, were in front of his quarters and two of them had to be paraded to the lower part of the town every morning and back again so as to make all the display possible. He gave himself all the pleasure he could up to a late hour at night, and then going to bed slept until nine o'clock in the morning. When we came at ten o'clock for parade to his quarters we had many times to wait a half hour, because he had not finished his usual bath." In his interesting journal Quartermaster Heusser of the von Lossberg regiment makes these remarks on the char- acter of Colonel Rail and his conduct in the fight : — " Our commander was too proud to retreat a step before such an enemy as the Americans. He did not suppose the 200 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON rebels would wager a battle with him. If General Howe had judged him accurately he would never have trusted him with such an important post. He was a born soldier but never a commanding general. Although he had deservedly won the greatest honor at Fort Washington, where he fol- lowed the orders of a great general, he lost all his praise and all his glory at Trenton, where he was in command himself. He had the necessary courage to attempt the most daring acts, but he lacked the cool presence of mind absolutely essential in the event of a surprise. He was full of activity and very lively in his nature, one thought quickly crowded out another and he did not come to any fixed resolve. He was to be esteemed as a generous and a hospitable man, polite to every one, kind to his subordinates and to his ser- vants. Devotedly fond of music, he was agreeable in all social gatherings." In a statement dated at Homberg, in Hesse, September 1 6, 1787, General von Heister's son. Cornet Carl Levin von Heister, attached to the Hesse-Cassel body dragoon regi- ment, and at the time of the battle acting as adjutant to Colonel von Donop, speaks of Colonel Rail as "A very brave man, who had shown his spirit and courage on every occa- sion where he had been directed to attack an enemy. His experiences in German wars, his life in Turkey, where he went as a volunteer in the Russian army, did not fit him in any way to defend a post. His success at White Plains and at Fort Knyphausen made him proud, and he thought his name and the name of his brigade would serve as a strong protection of the post at Trenton. He never thought the rebels would dare to attack him, and this made him careless in preparations for defense." The only Hessian writer who fails to blame Colonel Rail is Captain Johann Ewald of the corps of yagers. He throws the responsibility on his own chief, Colonel von Donop : " He was not able to tell a sham attack from a real one and foolishly took his force out of supporting distance of Rail's command. As Colonel Rail lost his life in the A WORD FOR COLONEL RALL ^oi fight, and was therefore unable to defend himself in person, the blame will forever rest on him. His memory has been cursed by German and English soldiers, many of whom were not fit to carry his sword." Captain Ewald concedes that perhaps Colonel Rail did wrong in allowing the enemy to get so near to him, and that the oi^cers at the picket post should have been alert enough to have discovered the Americans in time. " If," he continues, " Colonel Rail had not been wounded, his three regiments of brave men would have disputed every foot of the land, but when he was shot there was not an officer who had the courage to take up the half-lost battle." At the time of the surrender many of the Hessians hid in the houses of their Tory friends, but most of them were finally secured and carried off as prisoners of war. In this way the number of men captured was increased. On De- cember 29 General Washington reported a few more pris- oners, among them a lieutenant-colonel and a deputy adju- tant-general, — no doubt included in the lists heretofore given, — and he stated that the prisoners now numbered about 1000. In addition to capturing some of the best troops of the Hessian mercenaries, the American troops took six double fortified brass three-pounders, three ammunition wagons, four wagons full of baggage, 40 horses, about 1000 arms and accoutrements, 12 drums and 15 army colors. Two of these cannon were used by the Americans at the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777, where they were captured by the British forces. On page 28 of the second volume of Max von Eelking's work, " The German Allies in the American Revolutionary War," Hanover, 1863, the statement is made, referring to the battle of Stono Ferry, South Carolina, June 20, 1779, that "the guns and flags taken from the Hessians at Tren- ton were recovered at that place." This is given on the authority of a manuscript diary of non-commissioned officer Reuber of the Rail regiment. In a footnote von Eelking 202 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON says that Reuber twice mentions this fact, and he adds that the guns were immediately turned over to the regiment von Trumbach, but the flags were retained until the Hessian troops returned to Cassel. Von Eelking also adds that there is no explanation as to how the guns were placed on the vessel, probably meaning the Rattlesnake, an American man-of-war which had been disabled by the guns attached to the regiment von Wissenback and the fire of the Six- teenth regiment of British grenadiers. He speaks of this action as a "rare capture." The accuracy of this statement is somewhat doubtful. As has been noted, two of the cannon were retaken at Brandy- wine, and there is only a possibility that the remaining four may have been placed on the man-of-war captured in the South Carolina waters. It is not to be supposed for one moment that the Hessian standards also were taken to South Carolina, for what object would have been gained by such a disposition of them .'' One standard, if not all, cer- tainly passed into the possession of the Continental Congress, and that one was burned in the fire in the museum at Alex- andria, Virginia. In the letter of William Ellery, delegate in Congress from Rhode Island, dated Baltimore, December 31, 1776, and written to Governor Nicholas Cooke of that State, we find a description of one of the Hessian silken standards which had just been hung in the room where Congress was in session. 1 1 " In the centre of a green field of about four or five feet is a decorated gilded circle, which incloses a lion rampant, with a dagger in his right paw and this motto in the upper part of it, Nescit Pericula ; the crest is a crown, with a globe and cross upon it ; in the corner are gilded decorated circles and globes and crosses on their tops and in the middle F. S. in cyphers ; a broad blaze extends from the corners to the piece in the centre and three small blazes are placed in the field, one in the middle of the side next the staff, one in the opposite side and one in the middle on the lower side or bottom." The motto here given, Nescit Pericula, a contempt of danger, was certainly ill-suited to the retreating and vanquished Hessians, and it THE HESSIAN STANDARDS 203 It may be of interest to add an extract from the history of the fusilier regiment von Lossberg, as taken from the records of Hesse-Cassel, which refers to the capture of Tren- ton. As Lieutenant Piel, the brigade adjutant, uses simi- lar language in his diary now on file in the same office of records, it is quite probable that he wrote the report of the THE VON LOSSBERG REGIMENTAL FLAG fight for Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer, the senior officer sur- viving. It is scarcely necessary to draw special attention to its greatly exaggerated statement of General Washing- brought forth this amusing doggerel in one of the papers of the day, X!a& Freeman's Journal oi February 11, 1777: — I " The man who submits without striking a blow, May be said, in a sense, no danger to know, I pray then what harm, by the humble submission At Trenton was done to the standard of Hessian ? " Another of the standards taken was the beautiful flag of the von Lossberg regiment. It was of white silk and about four feet square, the embroidery and letters being worked in gold silk. On one side was a crown, a monogram E C T S A and the letters M L B 'i 775, and on the other side an eagle with an olive branch, and the motto, scarcely less inappropriate than the other. Pro principe et patria — for prince and country. It will be noticed that some of the returns report three colors as captured, others four standards, and still others fifteen colors. It is difficult to reconcile these statements. We can only infer that in the first-named return rnention is made simply of the three regimental flags, in the second the artillery flag is added, and in the third report the little company guidons are also included in the number. 204 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ton's force. All Hessian accounts seem to make the Amer- ican attacking party at least 7000 men. This is the number stated in the German biography of General von Ochs. " On December 24, 1776, Rail's brigade occupied the town of Trenton on the Delaware River. The enemy was on the other side of this river and as he had boats and we had not, they could cross and disturb us at every hour. On the evening of the 25th, at dark, they attacked our outposts, but retired at once having wounded six of our men. On the morning of the 26th between seven and eight o'clock, we were regularly attacked by a corps of six to seven thousand men under General Washington. Our outposts were soon forced to retire, and we had scarcely time to take up arms, while we lost many men in consequence of the fire of small arms and cannon in the town. We were surrounded from all sides, but we defended ourselves for fully two hours until the regiment von Knyphausen was cut off from us. Our muskets could not fire any more on account of the rain and snow, and the rebels fired on us from within the houses. Nothing therefore was left to us but to surrender as pris- oners of war. The regiment von Lossberg lost in this affair seventy men killed and wounded. Among the first were Captains von Riess and von Benning and Lieutenant Kimm, while Captain von Altenbockum and Lieutenants Schwabe and Zoll were among the wounded. Our whole disaster was entirely due to Colonel Rail. He did not think it pos- sible that the rebels would ever dare to attack us, and thus he neglected all preparations against any attack. I must confess that we thought too slightly of the rebels, who thus far had never been able to resist us. Our Brigadier was too proud to withdraw one inch before such an enemy, otherwise we would have had no other remedy left to us but,a retreat. Colonel Rail was mortally wounded and died the next even- ing, happy that he was not bound to survive his honor. If General Howe had judged this officer correctly he would hardly have trusted him with so important a post as that of Trenton. Colonel Rail was a good soldier but a bad Gen- ANOTHER ESTIMATE OF COLONEL RALL 205 eral. This officer, who at the capture of Fort Washington had won the highest honor because he fought under a good General, lost all his reputation at Trenton where he himself was general. He had great courage and undertook the most daring enterprises but he lacked the cool presence of mind l__^_ B ESfl 1 ■j 1 ^^M 1 W'^ /' '"■ 1 1 w^^B^^Bt ^Ri; w ^ H^^^^^^H l W Hi^B N# ' ^BI^^^^^HnP^^r^^ - ^^~^B ■' I^HhB^^^^ "''^ iCm M^'k H^M^^>ifr; m \m 1 , - ^ i / -- «*--« 1 ; «1 m hHI ^ W^B^^^SSr Si ^K^V %, I^^H H ^K^^mF - ' "^P s| m ^H 1 /F^Lj. ^^^^■j sSt' 1 \ H 1 >lom:l hiii\kv k>^ox which on such occasions as the attack at Trenton are wanted. His vivacity was too great. One idea supplanted another in his mind and therefore he was unable to arrive at a fixed determination. As a private gentleman he deserves the highest respect. He was generous, liberal and hospita- ble towards all, dignified with his superiors, but kind to his inferiors. To his servants he was more a friend than a 2o6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON master. He was exceedingly fond of music and a very agreeable companion." It may be mentioned here in reference to the conduct of the American troops in the battle, as stated in a letter written by Captain William Hull of the Seventh Connecticut Continental regiment, that " General Washington highly congratulated the men the next day in General Or,ders, & with pleasure observed that he had been in many actions before, but always perceived some misbehaviour in some individuals, but in that action he saw none." As the British were in strength at Princeton and at Bor- dentown, it was deemed prudent that the Americans should return to their former posts on the west bank of the Dela- ware River. This course was agreed upon at a council of officers, though General Greene and Colonel Knox dissented and urged a following up the surprise by a rapid pursuit of the foe. It was thought, however, that the prisoners, artil- lery, horses, stores, arms and ammunition which had been captured would be much safer on the other side of the river and the officers generally did not care to risk the posses- sion of the trophies of their victory. In a fragmentary narrative of the movements of the American army at this time. Colonel Joseph Reed, General Washington's adjutant-general, notes the following as the reasons assigned by some of the general officers as to why they should and why they should not recross the Delaware River with the fruits of their successful expedition. " I. That the Enemy was in force both above & below, viz. at Princeton & Bordentown — for at that Time it was not known, that a great Part of the Enemy's Force was gone down to Mount Hollow 25 Miles below Trenton. " 2. There were great Quantities of Spirituous Liquours at Trenton of which the Soldiers drank too freely to admit of Discipline or Defence in Case of Attack. " 3. The Stroke being brilliant & successful it was not prudent or politick even to risque the Chance of losing the Advantages to be derived from it. VICTORS AND VANQUISHED 207 " On the Other Hand it was argued that Successes & bril- liant strokes ought to be pursued — that History shewed how much depended upon improving such Advantages — & that a Pannick being once given no one could ascertain the beneficial Consequences which might be derived from it if it was push'd to all its Consequences. However the former Opinion prevailed." Accordingly after paroling all the wounded Hessians, whom they were obliged to leave in the village, and having rested and refreshed themselves, the victorious army took up their line of march soon after midday and journeyed for nine miles back over the old River road to the place where their boats still remained under guard. A few of the offi- cers and men were carried over the Trenton Ferry, Beatty's Ferry and Johnson's Ferry, but most of the army returned to Pennsylvania by McKonkey's Ferry. General Lord Stirling was ordered with his brigade to guard the prisoners and secure their safety. The disagree- able weather of the previous night still continued ; but few complaints were heard from the victors, who had borne the beating storm of hail and rain for fully twenty-four hours. Far worse were the feelings of the sad and dismayed Hes- sians as they commenced their weary march from the plea- sant village and its holiday revels, going as captives on their cheerless journey along the slippery roadway. When the column arrived at the ferry landing, the pris- oners were taken over first, with only a sufficient guard, and on the Pennsylvania shore they awaited the arrival of the American army. The crossing was difficult and danger- ous. It is noted that one boat filled with German officers came near being swamped by the icy current, and after , drifting down the stream for nearly two miles, the offi- cers at last jumped into the river and waded about two hundred feet through the angry waters, and so reached the shore. Tradition says that three soldiers were frozen during this passage over the river, a fact not surprising when we remem- 2o8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ber the scanty condition of their clothing. Captain Morris's troop of Philadelphia light horse remained on the New Jersey side, patrolling the roads until after dark, when they crossed the river, and at daylight on the next morning reported at headquarters. The whole detachment of infantry and artil- lery, many of them having marched fully thirty miles, had now returned to their former camps, barracks and quarters. It is said that the next day more than looo men were reported unfit for duty. Captain William Hull, at the time of the battle acting as a field officer of Colonel Webb's Seventh Connecticut Conti- nental regiment, says in his account of his revolutionary ser- vices that on returning to his quarters he had a large dish of hasty pudding prepared for him, and that while eating it he fell from the chair with weariness, and awoke in the morn- ing with the spoon still in his hand. The headquarters of the army was now established in John Harris's old yellow house, west of Neshaminy Creek, near Newtown. This village was five miles west of the Delaware River and five miles southwest of McKonkey's Ferry, now Taylorsville. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert H. Harrison, General Washington's military secretary, had remained at Newtown in charge of the records and papers of the commander-in-chief. " The old secretary," as he was called, was greatly trusted by his chief, and it is said of him that he was " one in whom every man had confidence and by whom no man was deceived." On the night of December 26 the Hessian officers were confined in the ferry house at the landing at Johnson's Ferry, but the enlisted men were immediately marched to Newtown. The officers said they spent the night "very miserably without anything to eat or drink," and the next day they were taken to the Brick Tavern at Newtown. They found then that their men had been confined in the Presbyterian Church and the Bucks County jail in that vil- lage. On December 28 General Lord Stirling took Lieutenant- COURTESIES TO THE CAPTURED 209 Colonels Scheffer and Brethauer, Majors Matthaus and \on Hanstein, Lieutenant Wiederhold and a few other officers, to call on General Washington. The commander-in-chief received them kindly and desired the foui- field officers to A '\ ,LM L \^\ FLAG OF THE PHILADFLI'HIA TROOP OF LIGHT HORSH dine with him, which they did. The rest of the part)' dined at General Lord Stirling's quarters. It appears that Lord Stirling treated all the captured officers with cordiality, as a return for courtesies shown him by German officers, and especially by General von Heister, when he was a prisoner of war after the battle of Long Island. While these officers were in General Lord Stirling's quar- ters a singular incident occurred, which is gra])hically de- scribed in Adjutant Piel's journal. It seems that a tall, 210 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON sour-visaged man, whom they supposed to be the German Lutheran pastor of the village, entered the room where they were, and, addressing the Hessian officers in their own lan- guage, urged upon them the justice of the war from the American point of view. He told them that he was a native of Hanover, abused the Elector thereof, and denounced George HI. At last, disgusted, as they said, with his tittle- tattle, they told him that they had not been sent to America to find out which party was right, but to fight for the king. Lord Stirling soon saw that this discourse was not pleasant to the captured officers, and he abruptly interfered and stopped the controversy. Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold of the von Knyphausen regiment gives us a rather amusing account of his interview with General Washington. The presumption of this subal- tern officer is decidedly refreshing. He speaks of the American chief as a fine, polite man, very reserved, with limited conversational powers, of medium size, good figure and cunning features. He also said that General Washing- ton somewhat resembled one of their own officers. Captain Bernhard von Biesenrodt of the von Knyphausen regiment, then a prisoner of war. It appears from the young lieu- tenant's statement that General Washington praised his conduct at the alarm-house, saying that he was glad to meet such a brave officer, and took note of his name and rank, listening to his criticisms of wherein the Hessian officers had acted wisely and wherein they had not, and commenting favorably upon Wiederhold's plan as to the way he would have fought the battle. It seems highly improbable that this conversation, of so personal a character, should have taken place in the presence of such experienced officers as Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer and Lieutenant-Colonel Bret- hauer. During this interview Lieutenant Wiederhold asked General Washington's permission to return to Trenton and procure some of his uniform and underclothing. This was granted, and he gave his parole of honor to return, went to Trenton on the afternoon of December 29, and returned the ANOTHER CRITICISM OF RALL 211 next day to Newtown. He was successful in regaining his trunk, which was in Major von Dechow's quarters, the house in which the major had died. Wiederhold says that the good lady of the house had carefully taken care of his cloth- ing.i As though he were a veteran of European wars, he sums up his opinion with the sage reflection that "experience has sufficiently demonstrated that where a surprise has really taken place the commander must first recover his own equa- nimity before he can get his men out of a panic, and that after this is done and the soldiers have seen that the danger is not as great as it seemed at first, they can soon be used as effectively as ever." He concludes with the statement that " Colonel Rail's action at the time was more foolhardy than brave, and that in such a case confusion ends in weak- ness in the moment of surprise. For this reason the three battalions were captured, and the soldierly reputation of many good names was dishonored." The Hessian prisoners at Newtown signed a parole of honor, which was in the following words : — 1 The criticisms of this young soldier on the battle of Trenton, and probably the very points which, if we are to believe his statement, he presumed to discuss with General Washington, were : — '• I. That Colonel Rail cannot be excused for allowing the enemy to cross the river so near to his post, in such force, with a river so nearly frozen that it took sixteen hours to effect a passage and then to be attacked in garrison and this without his certain knowledge, although he had been warned several times. "2. That Colonel Rail is further inexcusable in that the attack of the night before on the picket-guard was notice enough, that he did not then send out strong patrols to all the ferries and into all the woods to search for the enemy, and that he failed to have the supplies and bag- gage of the army in condition to relieve himself quickly of these impedi- ments if necessary. "3. That he did not have his men all called in and stationed above the bridge over the creek in good position to await the movement of the enemy. "4. That even though he had neglected all these precautions he did not concentrate his entire force when the surprise was really made and push across the bridge while such a movement was yet possible." 212 THE 1;ATTU-:.S of TREXTON and PRINCETON "We, tlie SubscrilitTS, Hessian Officers, made Prisoners of War b)' the American Arm}' under command of his Excel- lency, deneral Washington, at Trenton, on the 26th inst., Ix-ing allowetl ( )ur Libert)', under such Restrictions as to place as nia\' be from time to time a]ipointed, do give Our I'ai'ole of IIoiKiur, that we will remain at tlie jjlace and within the limits appninted for us b)' his Excellency, the General, the Honourable Congress, Council of Safety, or Conmiissai'v of Prisoners of War, IV-aceably beha\'ing oiu'- sel\"es and b\' no \va)' Send or gi\'e Intelligence to the ]3ritish or Hessian i\rni)- or speak oi- do anything disrespectful or Injui-iiius to the American States while we remain J'risonei's of War, We will also restrain nur Ser\"ants and Attendants who are allowed to remain with us, as far as in oiu' power, to the same contlitions. Newtown, December 30th 1776." _-^" ni^n 0/"' ' )Jt- lUJi '^'■ ■fj] "jj- ^.. 5^^. ' '^i :£ ■a,u , -/.< ■■■'i ^'jf-i'ti: -/ Part ii. No. 66. 22S THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON done if the officers remaining had done their duty and not put aside the obligations they were under to me, to the honour of my troops and to their own reputation. The full particulars of this shameful act are not known to me at present but nothing has as yet come to my knowledge which atones for this disgrace. I therefore order the lieutenant- general to examine all the officers on their return and report to me the exact state of the affair. I am compelled to make an example of the guilty party, and I will state in advance that these regiments will never receive any flags again, un- less they capture from the enemy as many as they have lost in such a disgraceful manner. . . . Greater than my joy at the honorable conduct of my troops on their arrival in America is now my surprise and indignation on reading the report of the unlucky affair at Trenton in the lieutenant-general's report of the 5th day of January. The loss of such well-organized regiments, with their flags and their cannon is not only an everlasting re- proach to my troops but I must believe according to the report of the affair which has come to my knowledge that these organizations did not regard their duty nor their own honour which up to that time they had guarded so well. I reserve still my decision until I am more fully informed of all the circumstances of this disgraceful affair, which could only have taken place by an utter disregard and neglect of all discipline and all existing orders. Colonel Rail was not a senior in rank on the army list and the lieutenant-general should not have intrusted him with a brigade but have taken the oldest colonel, even if he had to take him from a regi- ment on Staten Island or on Long Island. Other letters from the Hessian prince are given else- where. ^ It appears that General Knyphausen entered on this in- vestigation ordered by his sovereign and prosecuted it from time to time during the whole of the year 1777. At the 1 Part ii. No. 67. HESSIAN COURT OF INQUIRY 229 beginning of the next year he wrote a report and dispatched it to Cassel, but during the spring and summer following continued, as directed, the examination of the officers and men whenever they were released from captivity. In an- swer to General Knyphausen's opinion, Frederick II., Land- grave of Hesse-Cassel, wrote him April 23, 1779.^ As soon as the exchange of the captured officers began, in the spring of 1778, and the liberated prisoners returned to the British army in Philadelphia a court was instituted to examine into the cause of the surprise at Trenton and to determine who was to blame for the disaster. Colonel Carl Uphraim von Gozen of the von Donop regiment, afterward of the regiment Prinz Carl, Major Ludwig Friedrich von Stamfurth of the regiment du Corps and Captain Ludwig Maive von Mallet of the von Linsingen battalion constituted the court. From time to time all the ofificers of the Rail brigade who were then living and who had not gone over to the American army testified before this court as to their knowledge of the affair. The first meeting of the court was held in Philadelphia April 13, 1778, and continued there April 14, 18, 21, 22, 28, May I and 2. Then Justin Heinrich Motz, upper auditor, prepared. May 4, 1778, a description of the surprise at Tren- ton " as far as I can understand it from the investigation documents." The court continued to convene May 7, 8, 9, II, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22. After a march through the Jerseys and the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, it reconvened at Horn's Hook, near Haarlem, New York, in the camp of the regiment von Donop, and continued August 4, 5,6, 7, 10, 12, 13 and 17. On August 18 it met at John's House, New York, on August 24 at Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer's quarters, on August 29 again at Horn's Hook and at the Morris House on September 23, 1778. The result of all this investigation was attested by Justin Heinrich Motz, upper auditor, and sent to the Prince of Hesse, September 23, 1778, officially signed and with the Hessian auditorial seal affixed. 1 Part ii. No. 68. 230 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON On December 22, 1778, a Hessian official at Cassel, Wa- german by name, made a digest of all the reports, state- ments and conclusions for the benefit of the Prince of Hesse. The investigation dragged along during the years 1780 and 1 78 1, and on December 13, 1781, Auditor Johann Jacob Lotheisen gave to the Landgrave of Hesse an estimate of the killed and wounded of the Rail brigade.^ On January 5, 1782, a court-martial was again organized, and all the officers who took part in the affair at Trenton were again examined or had their former testimony read to them, they assenting to it. Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Scheffer of the von Lossberg regiment was unable to be present before this court, and he sent a letter to them, v/hich communication is herewith given, as well as the proceedings of the court relative to their action in the matter.^ This court was in session for a week, and at the end of that time, January 11, 1782, the officers of each of the different ranks represented were called upon for their opinions as to the cause of the disaster at Trenton. It is very interesting to read the different views of the matter, from those of the young ensigns, up through the different grades, each officer having had longer experience in the service, until we learn what the veteran colonels had to say of the cause of the defeat. 3 On the 15th day of April, 1782, a special commission which had been ordered by the Prince of Hesse to convene at Cassel to review all the minutes of the courts, the testi- mony there given and the opinions expressed, addressed to the prince a communication in which a final summing up of the whole case was attempted.* The war being then virtu- ally over, this was the last action taken in the matter. Dur- ing all these years the regiments of von Lossberg and von Knyphausen had not been allowed to carry new company and regimental colors. In 1777 the name of the grenadier 1 Part ii. No. 69. 2 p^rt ii. No. 70. 3 Part ii. No. 71. •* Part ii. No. 72. IF GENERAL EWING HAD CROSSED? 231 regiment Rail had been changed to the grenadier regiment Woellwarth, in 1778 to the regiment von Trumbach, and in 1779 to the regiment d'Angelelli. The "War Commission" confirmed the "verdict" of the court of inquiry, that " Colonel Rail and Major von Dechow in many respects acted culpably and laid the foundation for the bad fate of the brigade." To many it has always been a matter of regret that the general plan of the surprise and attack could not have been fully carried out. General Ewing, as we have seen, found it impossible to get his troops across the river, on account of the drifting ice. Yet to some this failure appears provi- dential. If he had crossed during the night, according to orders, he must have kept his men entirely concealed from daylight until eight o'clock, although within easy sight of the barracks on Front street and within twenty minutes' walk of the guard of the Hessian force at the Assunpink bridge and the quarters of the von Knyphausen regiment in the square beyond. In addition to this there was a picket at Trenton Landing and an outpost at Dr. Bryant's house, on the river, from both of which places the crossing of General Ewing's men would have been plainly visible. If, however, he had succeeded in crossing, and had not been seen until eight o'clock, he certainly could have prevented the escape across the creek of many of the fugitives of Rail's brigade and have rendered important aid in the movements of the patriot army. On the other hand, had he been seen cross- ing the river, had he failed to surprise the out-guard at the landing, or had a single man of his command exposed himself to view before eight o'clock m the morning Rail's veterans would have picked up the little party of militia before break- fast, the Hessian regiments would not have been so thor- oughly surprised, and the American army must have fought a terrible battle with perhaps a different result. Although all history speaks of this intended crossing as at Trenton Ferry, it certainly appears reasonable that Bond's Ferry, two miles down the river, must have been the place 232 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON selected for the crossing, for at that place a sudden bend in the river, there less than 300 yards wide, and the high grounds, now the Riverview Cemetery, between Bond's Ferry and Trenton, would have somewhat concealed the passage of Ewing's division from all but the picket at Tren- ton Landing. With what varied emotions the detachments of Generals Ewing and Dickinson must have listened to the firing, seen the rush of the attacking party of General Sullivan, as they swept the yager outpost from General Dickinson's own man- sion on the river bank, and watched the race of the victors through the lower streets of the village, and they unable to aid their comrades or share in the glories of the first real conquest of the war! Colonel Cadwalader also attempted to pass his division over the river, but was obliged to abandon the design. The floating ice above Bristol prevented a crossing, and he deter- mined to try Dunk's Ferry, a few miles below the town. Near this place the Third battalion of Philadelphia Asso- ciators had been encamped for thirteen days, and had erected some redoubts. The battalion was now in command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel John Ni.xon, the same who on July 8 read and proclaimed the Declaration of Independence in Philadel- phia for the first time. Soon after dark five large bateaux and three scows were ready at the ferry, and all the troops in Bristol marched there about eight o'clock in the evening of December 25. These troops were supplied with two days' cooked rations, but the Continentals were suffering greatly from want of shoes, stockings and clothing. On the march to the ferry the militia were on the right, and the New Eng- land brigade on the left of the column. Colonel Timothy Matlock, in command of the Philadelphia rifle battalion, led the advance of the brigade of Pennsylvania militia. The Kent County Delaware militia under Captain Thomas Rodney, and a battalion of four companies of militia from Philadelphia, Captain George Henry senior ofificer in command, embarked first, that they might cover the landing of the two brigades WERE THESE ATTEMPTS MERELY FEINTS? 233 on the New Jersey shore. Both of these organizations suc- ceeded in crossing the river. About nine o'cloclc the First Philadelphia battalion of Associators started over the ferry, closely followed by the Third battalion, and an attempt was made to land two six-pounder brass fieldpieces. But the tides, which they evidently had forgotten, affect the river below the falls of the Delaware at Trenton, and nearly 300 feet of thick ice which had just found a lodgment be- tween the boats and the Jersey shore rendered their task futile. The wind was blowing a gale, and the night was dark and very cold. It was found impossible to transport the guns over the ice, and it was hazardous to proceed with- out them. A single file of Colonel Glover's regiment of military mariners would have given them the proper time for crossing, and shown the way in which it could most easily be accomplished. Just before morning, after an all-night task in which Major Jehu Eyre, the noted shipwright of Philadelphia, labored with great assiduity, and although 600 men had crossed, the troops all returned by order to the former post at Bristol, and Colonel Cadwalader was again in possession of his headquarters, at the tavern of Charles Bessonett, on the river bank. Had this entire divi- sion succeeded in crossing, all of the British and Hessian troops would doubtless have been driven from their canton- ments in Burlington County, and General Washington would have instantly secured for his army a firm hold upon a con- siderable portion of the State. Referring in his diary to the attempts of the divisions of General Ewing and Colonel Cadwalader ^ to cross the river into New Jersey, Captain Thomas Rodney says : " I am inclined to think that General Washington meant these only as feints, for if our generals had been in earnest, we could have taken Burlington with the light troops alone." Colonel Joseph Reed, Washington's adjutant-general, and Major Joseph Cowperthwaite of the First Philadelphia bat- talion of Associators, after crossing with the first detachment 1 Part ii. No. 73. 234 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of the army at Dunk's Ferry, remained on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. They concealed themselves in Dr. Bowes Reed's residence in Burlington, and through his brother's agency Colonel Reed managed to send out some spies to Mount Holly during Christmas night to ascertain the condition of the Hessian advance guard. They found the guard asleep in their quarters, not expecting attack and apparently regardless of it ; indeed, in the same situation as their comrades at Trenton. After obtaining this important information, the two officers returned unseen from Burling- ton, and at daylight landed at Bristol. As soon as he heard of the disaster at Trenton, Colonel von Donop, the hitherto cautious officer, who had just made the foolish and fruitless pursuit of Colonel Griffin's command, which had decoyed him to Mount Holly, went to Black Horse and thence to AUentown. He deemed it important, as he said, to keep the way open to Princeton, and thought it best to retire before an enemy approached. He then sent Cap- tain Thomas Gamble, the acting quartermaster-general, to Princeton to inform General Leslie of the direful news he had received, and how he proposed to act. He had then but nine cartridges for each of his cannon, and his ammunition for firelocks was very small. He also sent an order to Lieutenant-Colonel von Minni- gerode, in command at Bordentown, to vacate that place and join him immediately. This order the lieutenant-colonel re- ceived at midnight, December 26. Early in the morning of December 27 his men despoiled the library of Francis Hop- kinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, com- mitted other injuries to the place and the people, and then left the village in great haste. In this way all the outposts in the advance toward Philadelphia were abandoned. The Hessians left twenty sick and wounded men in Bordentown for the patriots to care for and some provisions and forage which they were unable to carry away for want of wagons. All the fugitives of Rail's brigade, reported at this time as 292 men, including the picket force at Crosswicks bridge. GENERAL LESLIE'S ALARM 235 accompanied Lieutenant-Colonel von Minnigerode to Allen- town. It may be mentioned here that Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking, the ranking officer of the Rail regiment, was placed in charge of all the escaped men of this brigade until just before they arrived in Princeton, when he was superseded by Captain Alexander von Wilmowsky, formerly of the regi- ment von Bose, who commanded them until, marching by way of Amboy, they arrived in New York city. The following order issued by General Howe appears to have reference to the men who escaped to Bordentown and Princeton on December 26 : — Head Quarters New York Jan ist 1777 The Remains of Col. Rail's Brigade being under Orders for New York the Deputy Quarter Master General will pro- vide Vessels to receive them, at Amboy, where they are to Embark, and the Barrack-Master of New York will prepare Barracks to receive them. . . . During the afternoon of Friday, December 27, General Leslie, then in command at Princeton, wrote to Colonel von Donop, expressing his regrets for the disaster at Trenton. ^ In this letter General Leslie desired Colonel von Donop to remain at Allentown, but subsequently he must have be- come alarmed at the situation of affairs, and have spent a wakeful night. No doubt exaggerated accounts of the affair at Trenton and of the condition of Washington's army were hourly coming to his notice. At all events it seems that at two o'clock he wrote to Colonel von Donop, and at daylight an express rider took another letter to the Hessian com- mander.^ Colonel von Donop answered General Leslie's letters im- mediately. His reply, singular to relate, is written in French instead of German : — 1 Part ii. No. 74. 2 For these letters see Part ii. No. 75. 236 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Sir : I was fortunate in receiving your communication of this morning at eight o'cloclc and I will set all in motion, although the news of yesterday from Trenton does not inform me about the 1400 men which according to your information have marched toward Pennington to join the Jersey Troops at Rocky Hill. DONOP Colonel Allextown 28th Dec 1776. Will you have the kindness to advise me whether I ought in marching to join you with all my force or whether I ought to stop some on the way or post some of them here. General Grant, the British commanding officer at Bruns- wick, sent an express to General Howe at New York, desir- ing instructions as to where he should place Colonel von Donop's force, but in the mean time he wrote to von Donop, giving him orders as to what he should do until plans for the future should be settled. ^ At eight o'clock on- the morning of December 28 a re- port reached Colonel von Donop that 1400 rebels had landed in Trenton, marched to Pennington and thence to Rocky Hill, where they had united with a large body of New Jersey militia for the purpose of making an attack. on Prince- ton. Colonel von Donop sent his baggage to Cranbeny under a guard of 100 grenadiers commanded by Captain Johann Friedrich von Stein, whom he instructed to wait there for orders, and then, taking the direct road, he_ marched with all his force toward Princeton. "Scarcely was his column in motion when he received General Grant's let- ter, ordering him to go into garrison at Princeton. Two hours afterward he received another letter from General Grant, brought by Lieutenant Patrick Henry, adjutant of Lieutenant-Colonel Elisha Lawrence's First battalion of New Jersey volunteers, loyalists, of Brigadier-General Courtlandt Skinner's command.^ 1 Part ii. No. 76. 2 p^^t ii. No. 77. VON DONOP MARCHES TO PRINCETON 237 General Leslie was ordered to send toward Trenton a patrol and guard of light infantry to obtain news and to cover somewhat the march of von Donop's force to Prince- ton. He was also directed that on the arrival of this column he should place some of the British troops at Kingston and at Six Mile Run, and station the second brigade of the British line and the Forty-second regiment of foot at Rocky Hill, and let them throw out pickets towards Pluckemin. As soon as von Donop arrived at Princeton, he reported the fact to his superior officer, General Grant, at Brunswick, and touched upon the condition of matters there. ^ 1 Part ii. No. 78. XIV Colonel von Donop's force arrived in Princeton at two o'clock in the afternoon of December 28, and immediately went into quarters to take the place of Leslie's brigade of the British line. The von Minnigerode battalion succeeded in finding houses for their occupancy in the town, the Forty- second regiment quartered toward Stony Brook on the road to Maidenhead, the yagers in houses north of Princeton on the road to Kingston, and the von Linsingen and Block battalions, with the men of the Rail brigade, remained in Kingston. Even then there were ,not sufficient houses in which to quarter von Donop's entire command, and the first night some 400 men were obliged to camp out in the open fields. An order was sent to Captain von Stein at Cran- berry to bring the baggage on to Princeton. He reported in Princeton on the night of December 29. General Leslie did not relish the idea of leaving his plea- sant quarters in Princeton, and he tried in every way to delay his own departure, hoping that some change might be made in the orders and he be allowed to retain the chief command in the town. During the night of December 28 additional reports reached Princeton of the movements of American troops in New Jersey. The Forty-second regiment was then sent towards Maidenhead, where the light infantry was stationed, and the von Linsingen regiment took its place at Stony Brook and toward Eight Mile Run. At the slightest alarm Colonel Block at Kingston was to march his men to the high ground around the college at Princeton. The yagers were directed to form a rear-guard. The baggage of von Donop's division was kept packed that it might be quickly sent on to Brunswick if necessary. A BELATED CROSSING 239 Colonel von Donop then ordered two small redoubts to be erected on the south side of Princeton village, and made other preparations for the anticipated attack on his post. On the 29th of December another rumor reached him of the approach of General Washington's army. The next day strong patrols were sent out from Maidenhead toward Pen- nington, but they could not discover any traces of the Amer- icans. About nine o'clock in the morning the Hessians captured an officer of the "rebel army " who evidently was trying to discover the position and condition of the British forces. Referring again to the movements of the American army, we remark that Colonel Cadwalader had heard the firing at Trenton early in the morning of December 26, but had sup- posed it was from guns on the west bank of the river. He did not think Washington's column could have succeeded in crossing the river with their cannon when he had been unable to do so. About eleven o'clock, however, he received from General Ewing the intelligence of the crossing of Gen- eral Washington's army and of the suprise of the Hessians which General Ewing' s force had just witnessed. He im- mediately gave orders that the troops should rest that day and be ready to cross early on the morning of December 27. During the day supplies of clothing reached Bristol from Philadelphia, and the New England brigade, which was " in want of shoes, stockings and breeches," was soon in a better condition. About ten o'clock on Friday, leaving their camp equipage behind with a small party under command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel William Coates of the First battalion Phila- delphia Associators, the division began to cross the river at Minnick's Ferry, about a mile above Bristol. ^ As on Christ- mas night, the light troops covered the landing, and the crossing was completed just before three o'clock in the afternoon. It was then that Colonel Cadwalader first learned 1 This ferry was called after its owner. Christian Minnick. In the year 1795 it was changed to Bloomsdale Ferry. The ferry landing in Pennsylvania is now on property owned by D. Landreth & Sons. 240 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of the retreat of Colonel von Donop's force from Borden- town and Mount Holly. The full account of the victory at Trenton was also communicated to him, with the perplexing statement that the army had returned to its former encamp- ment in Pennsylvania. He was now greatly embarrassed to know how to proceed, ignorant as he was of the future plans of the commander-in-chief. A council of his officers was held, and while some urged a return to Pennsylvania, others thought that the new troops should be immediately allowed to face the enemy, as they desired, and to share if possible in the results of the victory won by their comrades. It was at last determined to repair to Burlington. This plan was carried out with great caution and much delay caused by a circuitous march of some miles to avoid the Assiscunk Creek, a navigable stream. Later it was discovered that it would have been quite as easy to ha\'e gone to Bordentown as to Burlington, which latter movement might almost be called a retreat before a flying foe. The march from the ferry landing to Burlington was made with the rifle battalion in single file on the right and then the light infantry in double rank. The artillery followed, and behind them came the main body of the troops in platoons. In this way Burlington was reached about nine o'clock in the evening. No enemy was found in the village, and all in the immediate vicinity were in great consternation. Early on the morning of December 27, General Washing- ton wrote an account of the surprise at Trenton and sent it to Colonel Cadwalader, who received it that evening.^ From Burlington Colonel Cadwalader wrote the follow- ing letter to General Washington. It was commenced in the morning, but not finished until the afternoon, when he received the commander-in-chief's letter : — ' Part ii. No. 79. NO ENEMY TO BE FOUND 241 Burlington 27th December 1776 10 o'clock. Sir : As I did not hear from you this morning and being pre- pared to embark, I concluded you was still on this side and therefore embarked and landed about 1 500 men about two miles above Bristol. After a considerable number were landed, I had information from the paymaster of Colonel Hitchcock's Brigade, that you had crossed over from Tren- ton. This defeated the scheme of joining your army. We were much embarrassed which way to proceed. I thought it most prudent to retreat, but Colonel Reed was of opinion that we might safely proceed to Burlington and recom- mended it warmly, lest it should have a bad effect on the militia, who were twice disappointed. The landing in open daylight must have alarmed the enemy and we might have been cut off by all his force collected to this place. We had intelligence immediately afterwards that the enemy had left the Black Horse and Mount Holly ! upon this we deter- mined to proceed to Burlington. Colonel Reed and two other officers went on from one post to another, 'till they came to Bordentown, where they found the coast clear. Colonel Reed and Colonel Coxe are now there and we shall march at four to-morrow morning for that place. This information has induced me to proceed, though not quite conformable to your orders which I received on the march this afternoon. If you should think proper to cross over, it may be easily effected at the place where we passed ; a pursuit would keep up the panic. They went off with great precipitation and pressed all the wagons in their reach. I am told many of them are gone to South Amboy. If we can drive them from West Jersey, the success will raise an army next spring and establish the credit of the Continental money to support it. I shall write to you to-morrow, I hope from Trenton. I am, Sir, your most obedient, very humble servant John Cadwalader. 242 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON P. S. — I have two six-pounders, brass and two three- pounders, iron. Colonel Cadwalader immediately sent out scouts and adopted such a course as the information gained might war- rant. Adjutant-General Joseph Reed, with Lieutenant- Colonel John Cox and Major Joseph Cowperthwaite, went toward Bordentown in search of the Hessian pickets, but of course found their posts deserted. Passing through Borden- town, where the Hessians had left their stores and their sick and wounded. Colonel Reed rode on to Trenton, which he entered long before daylight on Saturday, December 28. He found that village deserted by both armies, and the inhabitants in ,a state of fearful anxiety, not knowing what new movement was about to be made on the town. The condition of affairs there was immediately communicated to General Washington by Colonel Reed, who respectfully urged him to come over to the Jerseys and follow up his success. Colonel Cadwalader's entire command, joined by the ma- rines from the armed boats on the Delaware River com- manded by Major Samuel Nicholas, Captains Isaac Craig, Thomas Read, William Shippin and William Brown, left Burlington about nine o'clock, the light troops having left just after daylight, and they all reached Bordentown at two o'clock on the afternoon of December 29, having marched on the River road by way of Crooked Billet and White Hill. The whole country had been pillaged ; no grain nor hay nor live stock was to be found in all the day's march. The American advance troops entered the village of Bor- dentown with great caution. It was known that the main body of the British army had deserted the town, but it was understood that their light horse were near and ready to make an attack at any moment. However, the town was gradually surrounded, pickets were thrown out on all the roads, and after an hour had elapsed the Americans took possession of the village. A small hospital, very dirty, and WASJJINGTON GIVEN SUPREME POWER 243 containing a few sick and wounded Hessians, was the only evidence of the former occupation by the German troops. Soon after the arrival of the Americans in Bordentown, a party of lOO riflemen, 100 light infantry and 100 active young men, picked from the militia, was sent toward Cross- wicks and on the Old York road to harass the rear of Colo- nel von Donop's column, which rumor said was moving slowly, being encumbered with much plunder and baggage. On December 29 the advance detachment were reinforced by another strong body of militia, and they pressed on through Allentown as far as Cranberry. They did not suc- ceed in reaching the main body of Colonel von Donop's corps, but overtook only the straggling parties. At Cran- berry they received orders to return, and that same night marched back as far as Allentown. A few prisoners were made by these detachments on reconnoissance, a German officer was killed and a standard of the Bernberg company of bne of the Hessian regiments was captured. This stand- ard is still preserved. Glancing for a moment at Congress, then in session at Baltimore, we find that on December 27 they resolved to invest the commander-in-chief with extraordinary powers, and, as it was asserted at the time, with the office of " Dic- tator" of the United States. This was done before the tidings of the victory af Trenton reached them, on account of the urgent state of public affairs, their distance from the theatre of war, and the immediate necessity for a vigorous reinforcement of the army. The text of their proceedings is as follows : — "This Congress, having maturely considered the present crisis, and having perfect reliance on the wisdom, vigour and uprightness of general Washington, do hereby " Resolve, That general Washington shall be and he is hereby vested with full, ample and complete powers to raise and collect together, in the most speedy and effectual man- ner, from any or all of these United States, sixteen battalions of infantry in addition to those voted by Congress ; to 244 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON appoint officers for the said battalions of infantry ; to raise, officer and equip 3000 light horse ; three regiments of artil- lery and a corps of engineers and to establish their pay ; to apply to any of the states for such aid of the militia as he shall judge necessary ; to form such magazines of provisions and in such places as he shall think proper ; to displace and appoint all officers under the rank of brigadier-general and to fill up all vacancies in every other department in the Ameri- can armies ; to take, wherever he may be, whatever he may want for the use of the army, if the inhabitants will not sell it, allowing a reasonable price for the same ; to arrest and confine persons who refuse to take the Continental Currency or are otherwise disaffected to the American cause ; and return to the States, of which they are citizens, their names, and the nature of their offences, together with the witnesses to prove them : That the foregoing powers be vested in gen- eral Washington, for and during the term of six months from the date hereof, unless sooner determined by Congress." In the letter transmitting the resolve of Congress to Gen- eral Washington, this passage occurs : " Happy it is for this country, that the General of their forces can safely be entrusted with the most unlimited power, and neither per- sonal security, liberty nor property be in the least degree endangered thereby." General Washington wrote to the president of Congress in reference to this mark of the confidence reposed in him : — "I begjeave to assure them, that all my faculties shall be employed to direct properly the powers they have been pleased to vest me with, and to advance those objects, and only those, which gave rise to this honourable mark of dis- tinction. If my exertions should not be attended with the desired success, I trust the failure will be imputed to the true cause, the peculiarly distressed situation of our affairs and the difficulties I have to combat, rather than to a want of zeal for my country, and the closest attention to her inter- est, to promote which has ever been my study." ^ ^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 139. WASHINGTON'S SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY 245 The same day, January i, 1777, he wrote to the Commit- tee of Congress, Messrs. Clymer, Morris and Walton, who had transmitted the resolve of Congress to him : " I find they have done me the honour to intrust me with powers, in my military capacity of the highest nature and almost unlim- ited in extent. Instead of thinking myself freed from all civil obligations, by this mark of confidence, I shall constantly bear in mind, that as the sword was the last resort for the preservation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first thing laid aside, when those liberties are firmly established." ^ These resolutions gave General Washington all the au- thority necessary to recruit and reorganize his command in his own way, and then to sustain it in the field. It also gave him the power, so much needed before, to organize engineer regiments and recruit the cavalry and artillery arms to an efficient standard. It gave him the opportunity to enlist men for a long term of service instead of for a few weeks or months, as heretofore ; to embody troops into a permanent force instead of enlisting them in a temporary army ; to reform the two weak points of the American army — short enlistments and the depending on the rallying of an undisci- plined militia in the moment of peril. In reference to the condition of the American army at this time, Burke remarks in his " History of Virginia : " " Like other arts, the art of war requires an apprenticeship and the protracted duration of most contests between mod- ern governments necessitates symmetry and continuity of warlike measures, persevering and patient constancy, me- chanical rather than impulsive courage, all which are scarcely compatible with short enlistments." As soon as Washington received the letter of his adjutant- general from Trenton, having obtained some reinforcements to that part of the army under his immediate command, he resolved to return to New Jersey ; and General Greene immediately crossed the river at Trenton Ferry with 300 ^ Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. p. 143. 246 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON men, and took possession of the village of Trenton. Before moving, the commander-in-chief sent a report to Congress. ^ On Monday morning, December 30, General Washington crossed the river at McKonkey's Ferry, in advance of the main body of his troops, and hurried on to Trenton. During the day the army made the passage of the Delaware River at Johnson's Ferry, Howell's Ferry, Beatty's Ferry and Trenton Ferry, the boats having been brought down from Malta Island. To secure the ferries and guard the sur- rounding country against any surprise by strolling parties of British, General Washington left in Pennsylvania a small command, with headquarters at Newtown, under General Lord Stirling, who had been afflicted with rheumatism since the affair at Trenton. All that day and the most of the day following, the army was engaged in transpprting baggage, provisions and artillery, including the six captured cannon, across the Delaware River. Captain Forrest's artillery com- pany were unable to move " for want of shoes and watch- coats." The floating ice was still a constant and annoying hindrance. The weather, however, was rather mild, and this, with the remains of the snow and hail storm of the pre- vious week, rendered the roads exceedingly muddy. On arriving at Trenton, the general established his head- quarters at the house of Major John Barnes, a loyahst, who was at that time a field officer of the First battalion. New Jersey volunteers, of General Courtlandt Skinner's Tory brigade. This house was on Queen street, near the Assun- pink Creek bridge, and Washington remained there until the morning of the 2d of January, when he had his baggage moved to Jonathan Richmond's tavern, on the south side of the bridge. To return to the British army and its movements. We have seen that a detachment of General Leslie's command made a reconnoissance toward Pennington. On their way there they passed out of the Scotch road, and endeavored to procure some intelligence of the whereabouts of General 1 Part ii. No. 80. CORNWALLIS IS ASTOUNDED 247 Washington and his army from the inmates of Benjamin Clarke's house at Birmingham. Failing to find any trace of the American army, they at last became convinced that all the rumors of movements to Pennington and Rocky Hill were false. General Cornwallis, who was at this time in New York, packing his mihtary chest for a trip to England, and filling his notebook for the ear of the king with memoranda of the MAJOR JOHN BARNES'S HOUSE triumph of his army in the Jerseys, was suddenly aroused from his self-complacency by the news of the terrible disaster at Trenton. General Howe immediately ordered him back to his command, and directed that all his troops should be massed for an immediate advance. The commander of the British post at Brunswick, Major- General Grant, marched with his force to Princeton on the first day of January, leaving only about 600 men to guard the stores in Brunswick. These were in charge of Brigadier- General Edward Mathew. General Grant reached Prince- ton at noon that same day. / 248 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON General Cornwallis joined General Grant on the evening of January i with a considerable body of well-disciplined soldiers, — the flower of the army in America. That night Lord Cornwallis took possession, as his headquarters, of " Morven," the residence of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The outposts of the British were then at Eight Mile Run, about three and one half miles south of Princeton. ^ On Thursday morning, January 2, Cornwallis, now in full command of an army of nearly 8000 men, having sent all his baggage back to Brunswick, started on his march to Tren- ton. Slow and wearisome was the tramp and difficult the task of hauling the guns over the muddy roadway. The Fourth brigade of the British hne, — Grant's bri- gade, but now under command of its senior officer, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Mawhood, Seventeenth foot, — with three regiments and three troops of light dragoons, in all about 1200 men, with two pieces of artillery, was left in Prince- ton as a rear-guard, but was ordered to march to Trenton on the morning of January 3. In addition to this brigade there were some soldiers who had been on extra duty in and around New York, and who came to Princeton during the day, under orders to rejoin their respective organizations. The second brigade, under command of General Leslie (formerly colonel Sixty-fourth foot, and an aide-de-camp to the king, but now acting as a brigadier-general in America), was ordered by Cornwallis to remain at Maidenhead, now Lawrenceville. At least 5500 men continued on the march to take part in the anticipated fight in Trenton. The royal artillery had with them at this time four light twelve- pounders, fourteen six-pounders, eight three-pounders and two five and a half inch howitzers.^ ' For composition of British forces in New Jersey at this time, see Part ii. No. 81. ^ The following is the roster of the officers of the regiments left at Princeton ; — The Seventeenth regiment had for its colonel Lieutenant-General the ANOTHER CONFLICT IMl'ENDINt; -A<) MOR\'EN. HONORABLE RICHARD STCJCKTONS HOUSE While he was gathering together his troops for the con- flict which appeared so certain and so near at hand, General Washington tried in every way to ascertain the strength and disposition of the forces of the enemy. His brave adjutant- general, Colonel Joseph Reed, again did the cause good service. On December 30, accompanied by two officers. Second Lieu- tenant James Budden and Cornet John Dunlap, Sergeant Hon. Robert ;\Ionckton. it.s commandinij; officer; lieutenant-colonel, Charles Mawhood ; and its major. Turner von Straubenzee. The captains of companies were Francis Tew, William John Darby. Perkins MaLCra. Robert Clayton, William Brereton, C.eorge Philip Hooke, ^\'illiam .Scott, John McPherson, Hon. William Leslie and Thomas Welch. The Fortieth regiment had for its honorary colonel Major-General .Sir Robert Hamilton, baronet, its lieutenant-colonel Thomas Mu.sgrave, and its major Samuel Bradstreet. Its captains were James Duffe, James Wemys.s, William i\Iontgomery, John Graves Simcoe, Williams Wolfe, William Bamford, FIdward F2vre, John M. Adlam. and Robert Atostvn. The Fiftv-hfth regiment was General James Grant's own regiment, and was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Meadows, and its major was Cornelius Cuyler. The captains were John Luke, John C,il- lan, Garrett Fisher, Henry Downing, John Taylor Trevor, John McLach- lan, Decimus Reynolds, William Sutherland and Michael Hamerton. 250 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Thomas Leiper, Corporals William Pollard and James Hunter, and Privates Samuel Caldwell, George Campbell, John Don-' naldson, Samuel Howell, Jr., John Lardner, Thomas Peters, Benjamin Randolph, all of Captain Samuel Morris's Phila- delphia troop of light horse. Colonel Reed endeavored to reconnoitre the position of the enemy. General Washington was anxious to know the strength of the British force and the probable direction of their intended attack. The party of thirteen rode within three miles of Princeton, but on ac- count of the guards were unable to get nearer to the village. They then attempted to go around it and get in at the rear of the army, but in this also they found some difficulty. Having obtained all the information possible, they started to return to Trenton. As they were riding along the Quaker road, they observed some soldiers, apparently unarmed, pass- ing between a barn and a dwelling-house. This house the light horse party surrounded, and they secured twelve Brit- ish dragoons, who had been engaged in foraging, and had left their loaded arms within the house. The sergeant of the troop alone escaped, and he reported that he had fought his way through fifty horsemen. Besides the British sol- diers taken prisoners, a commissary was also captured, with his entire wagon train. From these prisoners they obtained a good account of the numbers and condition of the British army, and the rumor that they were about to move upon the American force at Trenton was confirmed. A part of the dwelling-house referred to as the scene of this little exploit is still standing, and is now occupied by Mr. John Tindall Flock. It is in the township of West Windsor, Mercer County, about three miles from Princeton and a half mile southeast of the village of Clarksville. As soon as Washington was advised of the movements of the British troops, he took position on the high ridge which runs along the south bank of the Assunpink Creek. In the mean time orders had been sent to Cadwalader (who on De- cember 25, 1776, had been made a general officer of the MOVEMENTS OF CADWALADER 251 Pennsylvania militia ^ by the Council of Safety, and was then at Crosswicks, about eight miles distant from Trenton) to join the main army with his full command. In the councils of the commander-in-chief, General Washington and his offi- cers had discussed the advisability of ordering Cadwalader to make a rapid detour by the road to Cranberry and attack the small garrison at Brunswick, recapture Major-General Charles Lee, and carry off all the military and commissary stores which General Mathews's force were guarding there. On the night of December 30 General Cadwalader re- ceived information that Brunswick had but a guard of 250 men, and a body of light troops started out to attack them should the report be true. On the next day they made a forced march to Cranberry, and then began to gather horses to enable them to execute the affair quickly. In the mean time spies who had been in Brunswick reported that the guard there had been reinforced by 1500 men, and this of necessity rendered the design impracticable. Accordingly, in the darkness and through deep mud the troops wearily plodded back to Allentown. In this critical time General Washington made another appeal to the New Jersey militia. He sent out a body of influential men to gather in the state forces. This commit- tee consisted of Colonel John Neilson, Second regiment of Middlesex County ; Major John Taylor, Fourth regiment of Hunterdon County; Major John Van Emburgh, Second regiment of Middlesex County, and Major Frederick Fre- linghuysen, brigade major, staff of General Dickinson. General Washington also issued the following " call to arms : '• "' General Washington addressed him as Colonel Cadwalader on De- cember 23, 1776, and expressed a wish that he should be made a brig- adier, and in a letter to the President of the Continental Congress, De- cember 27, he refers to him as General Cadwalader. But he seems from the Pennsylvania Archives not to have been commissioned as such until April 5, 1777, as heretofore stated. 2 Original in possession of William R. Weeks of Newark, New Jersey. ^ '--.'^ ^ ^1 ■■■-■■ > ■ 1 I Tv .^i 1 .. r e f \ Ik * 'II I i^ XV General Thomas Mifflin had been wonderfully suc- cessful in obtaining recruits for the army from the neighbor- ing counties, under the instructions to him by Congress on December lo, " by all the means in his power to rouse and bring them in to the defense of Philadelphia." On the 27th day of December he sent 500 men from Philadelphia across the Bristol ferry to Burlington. The next day 300 more were sent over at the same place, and on December 29 General MifHin followed in person with 800 soldiers, assum- ing command of these troops, with headquarters at Borden- town.i This force was chiefly composed of farmers, mechanics and men in mercantile pursuits, — men who knew nothing of war, of the dangers of battle, the weary march, and the exposure in sleeping on the frozen ground without tents or blankets. Yet it is probable that no stancher patriots ever enrolled themselves than those who are here enumerated, who left their homes in this crisis to do battle for the free- dom of their country. On December 28 Captain Thomas Procter's battery left Philadelphia with two fieldpieces, and joined the army on the following day. Colonel James Penrose was left in com- mand of the post at Burlington. The entire body of new troops then marched up the River road to Bordentown. On the first day of January they were ordered to join the main army at Trenton. On December 29 General Cadwalader left Bordentown about two o'clock in the afternoon, and marched his column, now about 2100 men, to Crosswicks, arriving there at dusk. 1 For General Mifflin's orders and return of these troops see Part ii. No. 82. 254 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Having posted his command in and near the meeting house there, he communicated with the commander-in-chief, and awaited further orders.^ On the first day of January General Cadwalader was directed to join General Washington's army at Trenton. He marched his force along the White Horse road, crossing Doctor's Creek and the Sand Hills, and, being joined by General Mifflin's division at the White Horse Tavern, the whole column moved on to Trenton. It was not until eleven o'clock on the morning of Janu- ary 2, however, that the whole of the additional force, about 3600 men, could be concentrated on the banks of the Assun- pink Creek. Some time had been required to gather in the picket-guards and the scouting parties which had been sent out toward Allentown, Cranberry and Princeton. It had rained during the night, and the roads were muddy and travel greatly hindered. Still more embarrassing than the apparent paucity of numbers and the inexperience of recruits was the fact that a large number of the old soldiers of the Continental army, especially those from the Eastern States, had completed their term of service on the last . day of the year, and were about to march homeward, almost "to the music of the enemy's cannon." General Knox, whom Congress had promoted on the day after the attack on Trenton, addressed the troops December 31, and urged them to remain for a few days longer. Gen- eral Thomas MifHin also came up from Bordentown to speak to the soldiers. John Howard of Colonel Lippitt's regiment describes him on this occasion as "mounted on a noble- looking horse and clothed in an overcoat made up of a large rose blanket and a large fur cap on his head." In this rather unmilitary garb he urged the old troops with the most patri- otic appeals to stand by the cause of independence. Gen- eral Washington told the men that so far they had served with great fidelity, and he frankly admitted that they had a 1 Part ii. No. 83. THE TIME-EXPIRED MEN REMAIN 255 FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE AT CROSSWICKS right to their discharge, but begged them to look at the posi- tion in which they would place the cause "of liberty if they now left for their homes. He alluded to the victory they had achieved a few days previous, and showed them how all this would be naught if they did not attempt to check the advance of the foe. General Mifflin also had been to Crosswicks, and in com- pany with General Cadwalader he made an appeal to Colo- nel Hitchcock's New England brigade to uphold the cause of national freedom until the campaign was over. Lieuten- ant-Colonel William Henshaw said to his Massachusetts men : " At present this is our business, let us not forsake it. It is you and I, brave boys, who are banded together in one common cause. We scorn the thought of flying from it." They consented. The time of the First and Second Rhode Island regiments expired with the year, but the Third regi- ment had still eighteen days to serve. The appeals to their patriotism and sense of right prevailed, and they, too, re- mained. 256 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON In these addresses General Mifflin made some promises with reference to captured property that were never fulfilled. Whether or not these pledges really affected them, it is dif- ficult to say ; but the request for at least six weeks more of service and an offer of a bounty of ten dollars, the same which Pennsylvania had already given her militia, caused some 1400 of the old Continental troops to poise their firelocks as a sign that they consented to the agreement. On the first day of January the eminent financier Robert Morris of Phil- adelphia sent " His Excellency General Washington" ^50,000 which he had collected from his friends in Philadelphia on his own credit or had taken from his private purse. This amount was in addition to the sum of hard money, " four hundred and ten Spanish dollars, two crowns, ten shillings and sixpence in English coin and a French half crown," which he had forwarded to General Washington a few days previous. The last installment was sent with a characteristic letter congratulating General Washington on the affair at Trenton, and adding, " If further occasional supplies of money are necessary, you may depend on my exertions either in a public or private capacity. The year seventeen seventy-six is over and I am heartily glad of it and hope you nor America will be plagued with such another." In this way when the military chest was empty and the emergency was pressing, this noble patriot exerted himself, and always with success, to contribute to the support of the army. The new and old troops which gathered on the bank of the Assunpink Creek may be stated as about 5000 effective men, although a large proportion of them were almost with- out discipline and had yet to learn the first duty of the soldier. The old troops were but relics of many regiments depleted by long marches and much suffering. The splendid Delaware regiment of Colonel Haslet, which had entered the service 800 strong, was now reduced to about 100 men. General Smallwood's Maryland troops, which had left the State with over 1000 rifles, numbered but 150 men fit for duty. This gallant organization, which had commanded the I'KEi'ARING FOR A NEW ATTACK 257 admiration of Philadelphians, when in July, 1776, they had passed through that city, a splendid body of soldiers, had lost ::50 men at the battle of Long Island, and was now but a mere fragment of a regiment. Nevertheless General Knox says that e\'en at this time they were " in high spirits," but he qualifies the remark with " but in want of rum and cloth- ing." It does not appear that up to this time any more cavalry ROBERT IvlOliKIS had joined the army, but the artiller}' was increased by the six guns which had been captured from Colonel Rail's bri- gade and another battery of two guns organized in Phila- delphia. ^ ^ This company of Pennsylvania artillery wa.s accompanied by Major Thomas Procter, First Lieutenant Hercules Courtney commanding. 258 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON As soon as General Washington had procured definite information of the strength and position of the enemy, he sent out, under Brigadier-General de Fermoy, a detachment consisting of his own brigade, Colonel Edward Hand's Penn- sylvania riflemen and Colonel Hausegger's German bat- talion, with Colonel Charles Scott's Virginia Continental regiment and two guns of Captain Thomas Forrest's battery, to harass the enemy in every possible way, and to dispute their advance as much as they were able, that the impending battle might be postponed for at least twenty-four hours. The Americans posted themselves at Five Mile Run, a short distance south of the village of Maidenhead, with pickets up to the town. The British outpost, as we have stated, was at Eight Mile Run, about a mile north of Maidenhead. This was the state of affairs on the old Princeton road at the close of New Year's day.^ During the night it rained heavily, and in the morning the roads were in a dreadful condition. According to orders the British army, having been divided into three columns, commenced the advance from Princeton before daylight on the morning of Thursday, January 2, with a detachment of British light infantry and Hessian yagers at their head. One of these yagers was killed by the American pickets while he was attempting to capture Elias Hunt, a farmer in that neighborhood. This Hessian was buried in the woods on the farm of Colonel Joseph Phillips, opposite the Presby- terian Church. Local tradition avers that for many years the ghost of the dead man was seen in that wood, and the negroes of the neighborhood carefully avoided the place after dark. First Lieutenant Worsley Fames, Second Lieutenant Charles Turnbull, — four officers and forty-eight enlisted men present. First Lieutenant Courtney had been detached from Captain Forrest's company, in which First Lieutenant Fames took his place. Lieutenant Courtney was soon after made captain, and Major Procter was commissioned colonel of the Pennsylvania artillery regiment. 1 For Washington's letter to Congress see Part ii. No. 84. THE r.RlTISH ADVANCE CHECKED 259 About this time the commandants of regi- ments on the ach'ance hnes of the American arm\-, finding that Gen- eral de Fermoy had re- turned to Trenton in a very questionable man- ner, determined to re- sist the advance of the king's troops without further orders. About ten o'clock the first alarm gun was fired by the American videttes. Colonel Hand, with his splendid regiment of ri- flemen, Captain Henr}- Miller of his command being in charge of the skirmish line, conducted the retreat to Trenton. Every place which would even for a few moments give shelter from which to take a steady aim was taken advantage of, and e\'ery part of the road was disj:)uted in all possible ways. On one occasion so stubborn a stand was made by the Amer- icans that a check was produced on the British advance. They actually fell back and the jDatriots carefull}- pressed tow'ard them. At last, howe\'er, the American detachment w-as driven to the woods running along the south bank of the Shabbakonk Creek, and here a severe skirmish com- menced about one o'clock, and a deadly fire was made upon the British forces, throwing them into considerable confu- sion. For a long time this conflict was maintained with great vigor, and the battalions of von Linsingen and Block, a part of Colonel von Donop's original command, were actually drawn up in order of battle, expecting then and there to COLONEL KOW.AJiD H.V.ND 2f^l/v* - " JmXATHAX :iimijnli .s appearance of retreat, and would not injuriously affect the spirits of the troops. This flank movement of the American army was a brilliant conception of the commander-in-chief. It is stated in some histories that it was suggested by General Mercer, while other writers have placed it to the credit of General St. Clair. Because the council was held in St. Clair's cpiarters is no reason for his biographer appropriating the result of these dehberations as the fruit of his great forethought and military genius. Neither General Mercer nor General St. Clair was, it is to be supposed, especially familiar with this roundabout route. It is much more reasonable to attribute the suggestion to General Dickinson, who was a resident of 27: THE IIATTLES (IF TREXTON AND PRIN'CETON I l'-i~. ENhKAL ART hi: I-; Trenton, or to Colonel Joseph ]veed, who was a graduate of Princeton Colk-ge and whose birthplace was Trenton. Colo- nel Reed, as we have seen, had just performed a brave little exploit near I^rinceton, with some men of the Philadelphia truop (if light horse, and in going and returning he must of necessit)' have jjassed over some jjortion of this very road. His report to the commander-in-chief, on whose staff he serA-ed, must ha\-e gi\'en General Washington all the neces- sary information as to this circuitous route to Princeton. It is certain that the gix-at chieftain knew what he was about, and did not deliberately juit himself in a trap that day, and ■A PROVIDENTIAL CHANGE Of^ WEATHER -73 the then despairingly ask his general officers to get hinr out of it. Nor can it be supposed that tieneral Washington left it until cle\-en o'clock at night before he at least thought of what orders he must gi\'e six hours thereafter.^ While the council of war, which he had called at Douglass house, was still in session, there occurred, as Washington said, "a pro\'idential change of weather," The mildness which had so retarded the march of Lord Cornwallis's force that day was suddenly succeeded by a cold northwest wind which froze the ground in a few hours. Here, then, was an opportunity to march an army over hard roads and move the forty guns, which could hardly have been accomplished over a muddy route. It is said that during the evening Patrick Lamb, who lived near the Quaker bridge over the Assunpink Creek, and possibly kept the tavern there, Ezekiel Ander- son, who Ih-ed in a direct line somewhat more than a mile northeast of the bridge (the house is now occupied by Wil- liam S. Morris), and Elias Phillips of Maidenhead were called into the council room, where, being well accjuainted 1 This subject I have discussed at some length in a paper entitled "The Princeton Surprise," published in The Magazine of Ainerican History. August, 1SS2. The opinion there expressed is fully confirmed by a letter written by private John Lardner of the Philadelphia troop of light horse to Captain John R. C. Smith, then commandant of the troop. This letter is dated July 31, 1S24, and is now on file in the archives of that organization. It is elsewhere given in full. If privates John Lardner, George Campbell and James Caldwell were posted on this road near the Quaker bridge on the evening of January i, 1777, to give notice of the movements of the British forces, of course Colonel Reed, as adjutant-general of the army, was aware of the fact, and knew the direction of the road, as did General Washington. (For letter see Part ii. No. 89.) CHAIR USED BY W.ASHINGTO>f -AT THE COUNCIL OF WAR 274 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON with the road which General Washington desired to take, they were intrusted with the duty of guiding the army. As soon as the plan of operations was decided, the order was issued, and in the darkness the troops began quietly to make ready for the flank movement. On the high ground by the creek a number of camp-fires were burning, and these were carefully replenished with cedar rails, the neighboring fences furnishing the fuel. A strong fatigue party was directed to throw up additional earthworks by the old mill and to strengthen those at the lower ford, in order, if pos- sible, to keep the enemy under the delusion that the men were still there preparing for the battle in the morning. The noise of the tools, the voices of the fatigue parties, the axe- blows, and the throwing up of the frozen earth could be dis- tinctly heard by the British pickets only one hundred and fifty yards distant. The lines of camp-fires could also be seen burning fiercely, the very flame concealing everything beyond ; and the guards at the bridge and the upper fords, being greatly strengthened, kept pacing to and fro until near morning. Soon after midnight three of the heaviest pieces of ord- nance and all the baggage and stores of the army not spe- cially needed were sent to Burlington by way of Bordentown, under a strong guard commanded by General Stephen. They reached Burlington about noon on January 3. On January 8 this wagon-train was ordered to proceed to Mor- ristown, and the following day it passed through Trenton, reaching Morristown January 12, guarded by detachments of the militia of Cumberland and Chester counties, Pennsyl- vania, and of New Castle, Delaware. The Philadelphia bat- talions of Associators, under a very injudicious order, had packed their blankets with their baggage, which for ten days caused them much unnecessary suffering. Instructions were also sent to General Putnam to co-operate.^ At the last moment Washington gave orders to keep up the fires until morning, when the fatigue party left in charge 1 Part ii. No. 86. THE NIGHT MARCH TO PRINCETON 275 of them, with those at work or on guard at the bridge and the fords above and below it, in all about 400 men, should push on as quickly as possible to join their marching regi- ments. Some of the American officers, who had retired to farm- houses somewhat to the rear, to enjoy a much needed rest, knew nothing of this movement, and the next day had some difficulty in reaching their commands after the battle of Princeton. An advance party, under command of Major Isaac Sher- man of Connecticut, of the Twenty-sixth regiment, Conti- nental foot, a Massachusetts regiment, led the American column, and Brigadier-General Hugh Mercer and his brigade followed closely behind them. The main army started for Princeton about one o'clock in the morning of January 3 by way of the Sand Town road. General St. Clair's brigade, with two six-pounders, followed Mercer's command, and General Washington and his staff accompanied them. With the greatest care and with death-like silence, the army moved back by small detachments from the warm fires on the banks of the creek. The orders were given in a low tone. The rims of the wheels of the gun carriages were wrapped in old cloths, that no sound might betray their night movement to the British guards. The army passed on the left flank of the British, marching by way of the Sand Town road, or very near what is now called Hamilton avenue, leading out of Trenton as far as Pond Run. From this point the route led toward the little village of four or five log housed, then called Sand Town. Most accounts of this flank movement tell us that the column passed through this little village ; the cross-road by which the village was avoided having long since been closed up, it is quite natural that historians were led into this error. A short distance west of what is now known as the residence of the late Charles V. Meade, General Washington's army left the Sand Town road, and marched over to the crossing on Miry or Muddy Run, leaving Sand Town several hundred yards to 2-r, THE 1:!ATTLKS OF TRKNTOX AND PRINCETON :>UAKER ivIEETING (IL>L^E, .sTmN\ liK(^i.)K the right. 1^'or nearly forty years after this cross-road was used In' the American army, it was in daily use ; but since then, like many other old roads not formally surveyed and deeded to the use of the public, it has been closed up by the owners of the land.^ The road led tlirough heavy woods ; but here and there the trees had been cut, and the stumps interfered with travel. As John Rowland, one of the soldiers of Captain IJa\'id Dexter's company of Colonel Christopher Lippitt's Rhode island State )-egiment, in his "Spirit of 1776," says, "these trees stopped the mox'ement of some of the guns, and caused many a fall and se\'ere biaiise to some of the over- ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Mui;he.s, now decea.sed, who hved on the Quaker bridge road, Mr. William 11. West and Mr. William C. Vannest, aged people of the t()wnship, fully x'erily the existence of this road and cer- tify to the tradition, common among the people wlien the\- were voung, that this cross-road was used by Washington and his army on their midnight march to Princeton. A \VEARY WAY 277 weary, sleepy soldiers." This road came to an end near what is now the mill-pond, and the army then marched on in the road leading north from Sand Town to the ( Hiaker bridge. The Aluddy Run was crossed just west of the mill that now stands on the bank of this stream, and the march of the army continued through a large tract of land then called " The Barrens," covered with oaks of stunted growth. j\Iuch of this land is to-clay in an excellent state , « o Q- o 28o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON unite with General Leslie at Maidenhead, and then push on to the main army of Lord Cornwallis. The Fortieth regiment of this brigade had been ordered to remain in Princeton to guard the stores. The Seventeenth regiment and a part of the Fifty-fifth regiment had crossed the Stony Brook bridge, and were passing over Millett's Hill, having taken the old road to Trenton. The remainder of the, Fifty-fifth regiment was following only a short distance behind. General Mercer's troops this day consisted virtually of the same regiments he had commanded in the streets of Tren- ton the week previous, with some of the men of Lord Stir- ling's brigade added thereto. His force was about 350 cold, hungry and weary men, and it was followed by General Cadwalader's brigade of Philadelphia Associators. As they came out of the woods and marched quickly toward the bridge, they were seen from the hill near Cochran's house by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Mawhood of his majesty's Seventeenth regiment of foot, the acting brigade commander. Colonel Mawhood rode that day a small brown pony, and two favorite spaniels bounded about in front of him. Without any idea of the army so near him, after sending out two mounted officers to reconnoitre he faced about his own regi- ment, somewhat more than 300 men, and, joined by a small party of the Fifty-fifth regiment, under Captain John Taylor Trevor, and a troop of the Sixteenth regiment of light dra- goons, commanded by Captain Thomas Trewren, quickly ran down the hill, recrossed the bridge, and made a bold dash for an orchard on a piece of rising ground and the pro- tection which would be afforded by a hedge fence and some farm buildings east of the present turnpike and near William Clark's house. Seeing this movement) the American advance party under General Mercer, who was mounted on horseback, with Colo- nel Haslet on foot and his Delaware men on the right, tried the same thing. They rushed through a gate into a thick orchard, reached the coveted position first, and, finding the enemy, in about equal numbers, forming in line of battle with A RACE FOR l'(.)SITION 2S1 two cannon in an open field just outside the orchard, instantly discharged a voile)' at them. The firing was Cjuickly returned b)' the l-Sritish, who were only about one hundred and twcnt)' feet distant, and without a moment's dela)- they jnrshed raj)- iilly forward on a charge. Cajitain Daniel Neil of New Jer- "-'-"'%, «m,m» \ ' JSmM m j^<^ JM ^^^^ V** , •^ ^^ A -— i ^ "■" "r''\ ^ ' ■ se\', commanding the eastern company of artiller)', brought two of his guns into position, and threw some shot into the ranks of the enemy's right wing, where it did great execu- tion. Still the ba)'onets of the British and their terrible charge could not be withstood by the Americans, who had only their old rifles and muskets, few of which had the bayo- net. It was difficult, indeed, for these men to stand their 282 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ground against British foot armed with the weapon for close quarters, and knowing well how to use it. After firing three volleys within five minutes, — and Major Wilkinson says the smoke from these discharges rose "in one beautiful cloud," — the line of General Mercer's brigade abandoned its position, broke and ran in utter confusion. Captain Neil here lost his battery and his life. Colonel John Haslet of the Dela- ware Continental regiment was mortally wounded, a bullet entering his brain. General Mercer had his splendid gray horse shot from under him, a bullet injuring its foreleg; but although on foot, he immediately endeavored to rally his men. This he found impossible to accomplish. At this moment General Mercer, standing about fifty yards from the barn of Joseph Clark, was struck with the breech of a musket, which injured him severely. A surtout over- coat concealing his rank, the British thought they had taken General Washington, and called out for the "rebel general" to surrender. With reckless courage, being somewhat indig- nant at being called a rebel, he tried to strike his assailants with his sword, but was overwhelmed, beaten down and pierced with seven bayonet wounds in his body, in addition to the two wounds on his head. Then, as he feigned death, the British left him. He fell at the moment of defeat, but five minutes later he heard the welcome shout of his victori- ous comrades. Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood and his men pursued the disorganized brigade to the top of a ridge near William Clark's house. Here he espied General Washington, who had heard the firing, hurrying up on the left to the aid of Mercer's men, with Hitchcock's New England brigade and Cadwalader's Philadelphia battalions of Associators, which were the troops nearest to the scene of action. Just beyond a strip of woods General Washington, who up to this time had remained with General St. Clair's bri- gade of Sullivan's division, noticed the disorderly rout of Mercer's brigade and the eager pursuit by the enemy to the crest of the hill. Without a moment's hesitation he exposed WASHINGTOX'S DARIN(; 2,S3 himself to a terrible fire in tlie very front of his men, and urged them to hold their ground steadily. It was a difficult task for the new troops, but the New England Continentals WOUNDING OF GENERAL MEKCER maintained their position well, and the bra\'e but feeble Colo- nel Hitehcock spoke cheering words to the Pennsylvania men near him. The commander-in-chief then tried to rally Mercer's shattered force once more, and this he effected in a measure. The division of General Mifflin now came into 2S4 THE ];ATTLE.S of TREXTOX and I'RIXCETOX positirin on the riL;iit "f Cadwaladcr's troops, and an ad\'ance was (irdcrcd along the line. Colonel Hand's regiment of riflemen also made a demonstration against Mawhood's left, and being followed qnickly b}- the brigade of General St. Clair, they snceeeded in dri\ingback the J'dfty-frfth regiment, whieli was endeax'Oidng to join the small ])Ortion of that regi- ment fighting ^\-ith the Seventeenth foot. Captain Josejih Aloulder's battery, stationed at the right of Thomas Clark's hijuse, now tlie residence of Henrv I{. Male, again did good ser\-ice. For some reason the liritisb artillery was badly ser\'ed, failing to get the range of this new opposing force, and every time firing over their heads. ;e.\ek.\l .mekcek s sword Captain ^.loulder's youthful gunners, however, made every shot tell as they mowed down the ranks ni the redcoats. The king's troops stopped for a moment in their hot chase of the fugiti\"es as they noticed the colimm near them, and Cc)lonel Mawhood quickly reformed his men, took post by a fence near the farm buildings, and then made a dash fur Moulder's batter\-, Captain William Scott of the Seventeenth regiment of foot leading the assault. Caj)tain John Fleming, commanding the First \'irginia regiment, called out, as he tried to get his men into ]"iosition, " Gentlemen, dress the line bef(jre }'oa make ready," and the British troopjs replied, with curses, "We will dress you." Although Captain Fleming received his death wound, the attemijt failed, and, staggered by the shower of grapeshot, the hhatish were themselves dri\-en back with much slaughter. The coui'age shown by the British compelled General Washington's admiration, as he noticed how they f(jught. The tire of the Americans was so sharp that a general officer, writing fr(.>m Trenton, Janu- THE BRITISH RETREAT 28J ary 9,- says that " the British screamed as if so many devils had got hold of them." With a shout the Americans pushed rapidly forward in order of battle. It was now Colonel Maw- hood's turn to retreat. He quickly turned his column, found his brigade broken, and fell back, abandoning his guns to the patriots, as the troop of the Queen's light horse endeavored to cover his retreat. XVI The Continental army pursued and routed the enemy completely, killing large numbers, taking many prisoners, and collecting a large amount of baggage which had been dropped in their flight. The greater part of the Seventeenth regiment, chased by the Philadelphia troop of light horse, fled toward Maidenhead, or went up the brook and across the fields in the direction of Pennington, while the Fifty- fifth regiment ran back toward Princeton, where the Fortieth regiment was stationed. In this fine " fox chase," as Wash- ington called it, some fifty English soldiers were captured and later carried into Pennsylvania, where they were placed in charge of General Lord Stirling. The battle was really over ; a fight of scarcely fifteen minutes, but terribly severe in its results. The sight of the great chieftain placing himself in such peril between the two armies at the turning point of the con- flict lent new courage to the weary troops, and they promptly came up to the work. This voluntary exposure seemed dreadful to Washington's gallant aide, Lieutenant-Colonel John Fitzgerald, who, expecting every moment to see a bul- let pierce the heart of his commander, endeavored to avoid the appalling sight. A moment later the shout which greeted Washington's brave act, the heavy firing and the eager ad- vance of the men startled the worried aide-de-camp, and he looked up but to see the general coming forth uninjured from the smoke of battle and to hear himself calmly addressed in an order, "Bring up the troops. Colonel Fitzgerald; the day is our own 1 " An officer of the Continental line, writing from Morristown a few days after this gallant but hazardous exploit, used these words, " Our army love the general very much, but they have I I CORNWALLIS FINDS HIS FOE MISSING 2S7 THOMAS OLDEN'S HOUSE one thing; ag;ainst him, which is the Httle care he takes of himself in any action." ^ Immediately after the iight General Washington dis- patched a strong detachment, under Major John Kelly of Colonel James Potter's battalion of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, militia, to break down the Stony Brook bridge, in order to delay the advance of the British army. In the fog of the early morning of January 3 Lord Corn- wallis was suddenly aroused to receive the unpleasant in- formation that the entire American army had stolen away from the bank of the Assunpink Creek. Bitterly did he lament the way in which he had been so completely out- generaled by the American chieftain, and he was over- 1 The diary (now in mv posses.sion) of Tliomas Olden, wlio lived in the house now the lodge of Drumthwacket, states that (General Wash- ington, riding up to his door, directed several of the wounded Ijritish regulars to be cared for by his family. The diary also says that twenty wounded men Avere carried into William Clark's house, and several more, with the gallant Mercer, to Thomas Clark's house. At least si.xty wounded soldiers were placed in wagons and taken into the village of Princeton. 288 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON whelmed with mortification at the loss of what appeared to him an opportunity of destroying the rebel horde. The camp-fires were still smouldering, but the foe had dis- appeared by the very mode suggested at the council of waf the night before. Lord Cornwallis thought of the seventy thousand pounds in the money-chest and the great amount MAP OF PRINCETON BATTLEFIELD of Stores at Brunswick, and he quickly divined General Wash- ington's intention. Hastily forming his troops, he commenced a forced march toward Princeton, hurrying on, as General Knox writes, " in a most infernal sweat — running, puffing and blowing and swearing at being so outwitted." About eight o'clock he heard the booming of the guns before him, and General Sir William Erskine quickly interpreted the meaning of those reports of distant artillery, as they reached his ear on that sharp winter morning. It was the advance guard of this army, that part of the rear-guard of the previous day, under General Leslie's com- mand, which, looking down from a hill a short distance to the south, saw the Americans under Major Kelly demolish- ing the Stony Brook bridge. Already they had made such progress that it would have been impossible for the army to have crossed over it. The redcoats were ordered to ford THE BRITISH POSITION AT PRINCETON 2S(- the stream, which they quickly did, and with icy clothes pressed on toward Princeton. The gallant major, who had tarried too long in destroying the bridge, tell from a broken log into the stream, but, although covered with wet and frozen clothing, he yet secured an armed scout of the British army, and brought him safel)' into the American lines. While these events were taking place, the P'ifty-fifth regi- ment, joining the Fortieth regiment, which had mustered on the college grounds, endeavt)red to hold a position on the ' S 3 3 5 ■? B I S « J SJL^ 8 T S I B 9 i* H fT S 1 1^ n a H 8 5 8 » H 5 a 1 5 S 8 J*3 J B S jj a S B 1 9 8 S S a M B 444!^ S_R_SJ iJ^ijLt4fil9JLl ILUlILl^^ -^ nass.au h.all .at the ti.me en there is a Guard of 25 men opposite Mr. Field's, about 50 at Mr. Riche's opposite to Bordenton, about half a mile nearer Trenton about thirty, the rest lay above between Riche's and Trenton and over against Trenton there are two pieces of can- non. That Gen. Washingtons whole Army does not consist of more than 8000 men, about 5000 of them Troops formerly en- listed, partly brought from Jersey by Washington and partly by Sulivan, the rest are new raised Militia. That the time of Enlist- 338 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ment of Ewing's Brigade of 600 men all expire the first of Jan. next and that the officers and men and Gen. Ewing himself has declared they will serve no longer. That the New England Troops who came with General Washington it is generally believed from their Declaration that they will not serve longer than the Term of their Enlistment, which expires also the first of Jan'y next, that these Troops compose the main Part of Washington's Army. Mr. Hovenden further says that there are four regiments or rather the remains of them, whose time expires the ist of Jan'y and that he was informed by their principal officers that they would serve no longer out of their own Province. IV. {Intelligence by Capt. Losbiniere who left Bristol the 22"''- Dec. 1776^ That there were two Companys at Neshaminy Ferry with some Boats. At Bristol not more than 800 or 900 at most commanded by Col. Cadwalader. No Entrenchments or other works but 5 Cannon, three iron 4 pounders, two brass 6 pounders, and 7 flat- bottom boats which may carry about 50 men each and two ferry Boats, which may carry the like number. That they often send in the night a party of about 50 men over the river who land above Burlington, stay 24 Hours and return. At Minirks about 3 miles above Bristol are two companys, one Company at the Old house on Penns-bury. At Mr. Thos. Richee's opposite to Bordentown, between 4 and 500 men, and at Trenton Ferry about the same number, and that the whole number commanded by General Washington on Penn- sylvania side, supposing the Corps commanded by Gen. Lee to have formed their junction, which is confidently reported, are about 8000 men. That since their retreat from New Jersey a great number of sick are constantly sending to Philadelphia. That he knew not where Gen. Putnam is, but understood that Colonel Griffin is on the Jersey side of the River. That General MifHin set out from Philadelphia last week to raise a number of men in Westmoreland County and other frontier Parts of Penn- sylvania. BRITISH PRECAUTIONS 339 No. 26. Captain Loray to Colonel Rall. Crosswicks December 21st 1776. Sir: I have placed a guard at the large bridge, also have guarded all the road in the rear of your command. You may therefore feel that if the enemy does not attack you in front nothing can hurt you. My patrols went as far as Springfield and I heard that there are seven hundred men at Mount Holly, but it is not likely that they will undertake anything. I really believe that the whole party is nothing but a rebel patrol. To-morrow however I will report fully the particulars. Loray. No. 27. General Leslie to Colonel Rall. Princeton one o'Clock morning. Sir, I am honoured with your Letter at 12 o'Clock last night. I 've ordered the first L. Infantry to be at Trenton tomorrow at 10 o'clock and I take the 2"'' L'. Inf. and 300 men of the 2""^ Bri- gade to Maidenhead to be in the Way if wanted. I, wish you success and am Sir your most obed't and h'ble ser- vant A. Leslie. Today. I 've mentioned the movement to General Grant. No. 28. Colonel Reed to General Washington. Bristol 22d December 1776. Dear Sir : Pomroy, whom I sent by your order to go to Amboy and so through the Jerseys and round by Princeton to you, returned to Burlington yesterday. He went to South Amboy, but was not able to get over ; upon which he came to Brunswic, passed on to Princeton, and was prevented from going to Pennington, upon which he returned to Burlington by way of Cranbury. His intelligence is, that he saw no troops, baggage wagons, or artillery going to New York, except about eight wagons, which he understood had the baggage of some of the light horse, who had been relieved and were going into quarters. At Cranbury 340 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON he saw sixteen wagons going down to South Amboy for the bag- gage of about five hundred men, who Vvere to quarter about Cran- bury, being enlisted forces commanded by one Laurence. At Brunswic he saw four pieces of cannon ; the number of men he could not learn, but they did not exceed six or eight hundred. Princeton, he says, was called head-quarters, and there he saw a very considerable body of troops coming out of the College, meet- ing-house and other places where they quartered. He understood they were settled in their winter quarters, and had given over further operations till the spring. In Burlington County he found them scattered through all the farmer's houses, eight, ten, twelve and fifteen in a house, and rambling over the whole country. Colonel Griffin has advanced up the Jerseys with six hundred men as far as Mount Holly, within seven miles of their head- quarters at the Black Horse. He has written over here for two pieces of artillery and two or three hundred volunteers, as he expected an attack very soon. The spirits of the militia here are very high ; they are all for supporting him. Colonel Cadwalader and the gentlemen here all agree, that they should be indulged. We can either give him a strong reinforcement, or make a sepa- rate attack ; the latter bids fairest for producing the greatest and best efforts. It is therefore determined, to make all possible preparation today ; and, no event happening to change our mea- sures, the main body here will cross the river tomorrow morning and attack their post between this and the Black Horse, proceed- ing from thence either to the Black Horse or the Square, where about two hundred men are posted, as things shall turn out with Griffin. If they should not attack Griffin as he expects, it is probable both our parties may advance to the Black Horse, should success attend the intermediate attempt. If they should collect their force and march against Griffin, our attack will have the best efforts in preventing their sending troops on that errand, or breaking up their quarters and coming in upon their rear, which we must endeavour to do in order to free Griffin. We are all of opinion, my dear General, that something must be attempted to revive our expiring credit, give our cause some degree of reputation, and prevent a total depreciation of the Continental money, which is coming on very fast ; that even a failure cannot be more fatal, than to remain in our present situa- tion ; in short, some enterprise must be undertaken in our present REED URGES OFFENSIVE ACTION 341 circumstances, or we must give up the cause. In a little time the Continental army will be dissolved. The militia must be taken before their spirits and patience are exhausted ; and the scat- tered, divided state of the enemy affords us a fair opportunity of trying what our men will do, when called to an offensive attack. Will it not be possible, my dear General, for your troops, or such part of them as can act with advantage, to make a diversion, or something more, at or about Trenton ? The greater the alarm, the more likely the success will attend the attacks. If we could possess ourselves again of New Jersey, or any considerable part of it, the effects would be greater than if we had never left it. Allow me to hope that you will consult your own good judg- ment and spirit, and not let the goodness of your heart subject you to the influence of opinions from men in every respect your inferiors. Something must be attempted before the sixty days expire which the commissioners have allowed ; for, however many affect to despise it, it is evident that a very serious attention is paid to it, and I am confident that unless some more favourable appearance attends our arms and cause before that time, a very large number of the militia officers here will follow the example of those of Jersey and take benefit from it. I will not disguise my own sentiments, that our cause is desperate and hopeless, if we do not take the opportunity of the collection of troops at present, to strike some stroke. Our affairs are hastening fast to ruin if we do not retrieve them by some happy event. Delay with us is now equal to a total defeat. Be not deceived, my dear General, with small, flattering appearances ; we must not suffer ourselves to be lulled into security and inaction, because the enemy does not cross the river. It is but a reprieve ; the execu- tion is the more certain, for I am very clear that they can and will cross the river, in spite of any opposition we can give them. Pardon the freedom I have used. The love of my country, a wife and four children in the enemy's hands, the respect and attachment I have to you, the ruin and poverty that must attend me, and thousands of others will plead my excuse for so much freedom. I am with the greatest respect and regard, dear sir Your obedient and affectionate humble servant Joseph Reed. 342 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 29. General Washington to Colonel Reed. 23 December 1776 Dear Sir : The bearer is sent down to know whether your plan was attempted last night and if not to inform you, that Christmas-day at night, one hour before day is the time fixed upon for our attempt on Trenton. For Heaven's sake keep this to yourself, as the discovery of it may prove fatal to us, our numbers, sorry am I to say, being less than I had any conception of : but necessity, dire necessity, will, nay must, justify an attempt. Prepare, and, in concert with Griffin, attack as many of their posts as you possibly can with a prospect of success : the more we can attack at the same instant, the more confusion we shall spread and greater good will result from it. If I had not been fully convinced before of the enemy's designs, I have now ample testimony of their intentions to attack Philadelphia, so soon as the ice will afford the means of conveyance. As the Colonels of the Continental Regiments might kick up some dust about command, unless Cadwalader is considered by them in the light of a brigadier, which I wish him to be, I desired General Gates, who is unwell, and applied for leave to go to Phila- delphia, to endeavour, if his health would permit him, to call and stay two or three days at Bristol in his way. I shall not be par- ticular : we could not ripen matters for our attack before the time mentioned in the first part of this letter : -so much out of sorts and so much in want of everything are the troops under Sullivan &c. Let me know by a careful express the plan you are to pur- sue. The letter herewith sent, forward on to Philadelphia : I could wish it to be in time for the Southern post's departure, which will be I believe by eleven o'clock tomorrow. I am, dear Sir, Your most obedient servant Go. Washington P. S. — I have ordered our men to be provided with three days' provisions ready cooked, with which and their blankets they are to march : for if we are successful, which Heaven grant and the circumstances favor, we may push on. I shall direct every ferry and ford to be well guarded, and not a soul suffered BRITISH PRICES FOR ARMY SUPPLIES 343 to pass without an officer's going down witli the permit. Do the same with you. To Joseph Reed, Esq, — or in his absence to Jno. Cadwalader, Esq, only, at Bristol. No. 30. Quartermaster Gamble's Circulars. I. BuRDENTOWN December 24th 1776 The General commanding in Chief his Majesteys Forces in New Jersey, in order to encourage the Inliabitants to supply the Troops with necessaries has thought proper to establish the fol- lowing prices to be paid in Gold and Silver for the Articles here- after mentioned and from the generous prices fixed it is to be hoped that the Inhabitants will cheerfully furnish the supplies in order to prevent the disagreeable alternative of having them seized by foraging Parties. The Inhabitants living in the neigh- bourhood of Trenton are to deliver their Produce to Mr. Palmer Commissary at that Place and those living near Bordentown are to deliver their Produce to Mr. MacCulloch Commissary, and those in the neighbourhood of Burlington to Mr. Johnstone Com- missary in that place. prices. Hay taken from the Farmer do. delivered by the Farmer Oats delivered by the Farmer do. taken from the Farmer's house Indian Corn delivered by the Farmer do. taken from the house Wheat delivered by the Farmer do taken from the house Flour New York inspection delivered do taken from the mill Bran delivered do. taken from the mill Pork Beef. 1 (Captain Gamble (47th Foot) sent a copy of this circular with the following letter to Colonel von Donop, who was then at IVIount Holly.) 60/ (j: Ton 80/ jf do 3/ (! bushel 2/6 if: do 3/6 ^ do 3/ i. do 6/ .'Key's Ferry, 29th Dec'r 1776. Sir — Am happy in acquainting you that we have return'd from Tren- ton after defeating the Brass Caps and Crous coups and am now under marching orders on an other Expedition over the river, GOVERNOR TRYON'S CHAGRIN 373 hope it may prove as Successful! as the last ; we have taken, ex- clusive of what were not able to march off, with a Compleat band of Musick, the number kill'd uncertain. The men are not able to move for want of Shoes and Watch Coats which I expect you '11 forward p bearer immediately, with Gunn Screws, and the Regimental Coats for such as has been before mentioned. . . . Yr Ob't Servant Thomas Forrest Comp'" of Brother Officers to Mr Courtney and TurnbuU — Directed To CoUonel Procter, of Artillery, Philadelphia — No. 48. Governor Tryon to Lord Germain. New York 31 Decemb'r 1776 My Lord — The Rebels carrying off the Hessian Brigade under Coll : Rail 'at Trenton, has given me more real chagrin, than any other cir- cumstance this war : the moment was critical, and I believe the Rebel Chiefs were conscious, if some stroke was not struck that would give life to their sinking cause, they should not raise an- other army. Unlucky as was this loss, I have received great comfort by the assurances Heister and Gen'l Kniphausen have given me (who are most sincerely and deeply mortified at the event) that the Rebels will not with all their arts be able to seduce the Hessian Prisoners from their allegiance to their Prince and duty to His Maj'ty. I trust, this tarnish to the Campaign, will in due season be wiped away by some brilliant enterprize of the King's forces who entertain the keenest sense of the insult. I am with all possible respect My Lord Your 's Lord'p's most obed't and very humble servant W Tryon. No. 49. Memorandum in General Robert Anderson's Letter Book (In reference to his father, Captain Richard Clough Anderson, Fifth regi- ment, Continental infantry). He was ordered on Christmas eve, 1776 to proceed to . . . and if he did not find any of the enemy's forces there, then to , and if he did not find them at either of the places named 374 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON he was to go to Trenton where he would find them. His orders were to reconnoitre, to see where the enemy's outpost were, to get such information as he could about tliem, but to be very careful and not to bring on an engagement. Having gone to the places designated without finding the enemy, he advanced upon Trenton. The party came close upon the Hessian sentinel, who was marching on his post, bending his head down as he met the storm, which beat heavily in a driving snow in the faces of the patrol. He saw them about the same time that he was seen, and as he brought his gun to a charge and challenged, he was shot down. My father having now accom- plished the object of his mission, and knowing that the enemy's forces would be promptly turned out, and that an engagement which he had been ordered to avoid would ensue, ordered his company to countermarch, and marched them back towards his camp. He had not gone farbefore he saw, very much to his sur- prise, Washington's Army advancing toward him. As he was then in a narrow lane he ordered his company to withdraw one side into an adjoining field. The advance guard seeing a body of soldiers ahead, and supposing that they were the advance guard of the British forces, halted, and very soon an officer approached near enough to recognize them as American troops. General Washington approached and asked who was in command and where he had been. I have frequently heard my father remark that he never saw Gen^ Washington exhibit so much anger as he did when he told him where he had been and what he had done. He turned to Gen' S(tephen) and asked how he dared to send a patrol from camp without his authority, remarking " You sir, may have ruined all my plans, by having put them on their guard." He then addressed my father in a very calm and considerate manner and told him that as he and his men must be very much fatigued after such hard service, he should march in the van guard, when he would be less harrassed by the fatigue of the march. No. 50. Proclamation. The following advertisement was put up in the most public parts of the Jerseys : — His Excellency General Washington strictly forbids all the offi- cers and soldiers of the Continental army, of the militia and all recruiting parties, plundering any person whatsoever, whether CAPTAIN WILLIAM HULL'S ACCOUNT 375 Tories or others. The effects of such persons will be applied to public uses in a regular manner, and it is expected that humanity and tenderness to women and children will distinguish brave Americans, contending for liberty, from infamous mercenary rav- agers, whether British or Hessians. Go. Washington. Trentox, January i, 1777. No. 51. Captain William Hull, Seventh Connecticut Regiment, to Andrew Adams. Trenton, Jany ist 1777 Dear Sir : Have but a moment which shall embrace with Pleasure to inform you of the present State of our Army and our late Success. After we had recruited a few days of a fatiguing March of more than 250 Miles (thro' all our Windings) Genl. Washington gave orders for us to be every way equiped for Action. On the Even- ing of the 25 th Ult. we were ordered to March to a ferry (McCon- key's) about twelve Miles from Trenton, where was stationed near two Thousand Hessians. As violent a Storm ensued of Hail & Snow as I ever felt. The Artillery and Infantry all were across the Ferry about twelve O'clock, consisting of only twenty one hundred principally New England Troops. In this Violent Storm we marched on for Trenton. Before Light in the Morn- ing we gained all the Roads leading from Trenton. The Genl. gave orders that every Officer's Watch should be set by his, and the Moment of Attack was fixed. Just after Light, we came to their out Guard, which fired upon us and retreated. The first Sound of the Musquetry and Retreat of the Guards animated the Men and they pushed on with Resolution and Firmness. Hap- pily the fire begun on every Side at the same instant, their Main body had just Time to form when there ensued a heavy Cannon- ade from our Field Pieces and a fine brisk and lively fire from our Infantry. This continued but a Short Time before the Enemy finding themselves flanked on every Side laid down their Arms. The Resolution and Bravery of our Men, their Order and Regulariety, gave me the highest Sensation of Pleasure. Genl. Washington highly congratulated the Men on next day in Genl. Orders, and with Pleasure observed, that he had been in Many Actions before, but always perceived some Misbehaviour in some 376 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON individuals^ but in that Action he saw none. Pennsylvania itself is obliged to acknowledge the Bravery of New Eng'd Troops. I have a List from Head Quarters of the Killed and taken, which was taken the day after the Action, since which many more have been brought in ; i Col. wounded since dead, 2 Lieut. CoP taken, 3 Majors, 4 Capts, 8 Lieuts, 12 Ens'ns, 92 Serg'ts, 9 Musicians, 12 Drums, 25 Servants, 842 Privates, 2 Capt's killed, 2 Lieut's, killed, 50 privates. Six Brass Field Pieces, One Mortar and about 1500 Stand of Arms. A large Number of Horses and avast Quantity of Plunder of every kind. And this, Sir, I will assure you with only the Loss of six or seven on our side, this is no Exaggeration but simple fact, 'tis impossible to describe the scene to you as it appeared. We immediately retreated across the River and did not get to our Tents till next Morning — two Nights and one day in as violent a Storm as I ever felt. What can't Men do when engaged in so noble a Cause. Our Men's Time Expired Yesterday, they have generally engaged to tarry six weeks longer. My company almost to a man. Orders have now come for us to march for Princetown. We have a Rumor that it was burned last night by the Enemy, who we suppose are about retreating. Compliments to Miss Adams & Children. Adieu and believe me to be sincerely yours, Wm Hull. To Andrew Adams, Litchfield, Conn. No. 52. Colonel John Haslet to C^sar Rodney. (The last letter he wrote. In possession of Mr. Caesar A. Rodney, of Wil- mington, Delaware.) Allentown January 2d 1777. This morning we were called up at 2 o'clock under a pretended alarm that we were to be attacked by the enemy but at daylight we were ordered to march for Trenton, and when we reached Crosswicks found that the brigade had gone. We reached Tren- ton about II o'clock, and found all the troops from our different posts in Jersey, collected and collecting there under General Washington himself ; and the regular troops were already properly disposed to receive the enemy, whose main body was then within a few miles and determined to dispossess us. Trenton stands upon the River Delaware, with a creek called Assunpink passing through the town across which there is a bridge. The enemy COLONEL HASLET'S SPIRITED DESCRIPTION 377 came down on the upper side of this creek, through the town, and a number of our troops were posted with Riflemen and artil- lery to oppose their approach. The main body of our army was drawn up on a plain below or on the lower side of the Assun- pink, near the bridge, and the main force of our Artillery was posted on the banks and high grounds along the creek in front of them. Gen. Mercer's brigade was posted about 2 miles up the creek, and the troops under Gen. Cadwalader were stationed in a field on the right about a mile from the town, on the main road, to prevent the enemy from flanking. We had five pieces of Artillery with our Division and about 20 more in the field, near, and at the town. Our numbers were about five thousand, and the enemy's about seven thousand. The attack began about 2 o'clock and a heavy fire upon both sides, chiefly from the artil- lery, continued untill dark. At this time the enemy were left in possession of the upper part of the town, but we kept possession of the bridge, altho' the enemy attempted several times to carry it but were repulsed each time with great slaughter. After sunset this afternoon the enemy came down in a very heavy column to force the bridge. The fire was very heavy and the Light troops were ordered to fly to the support of that important post, and as we drew near, I stepped out of the front to order my men to close up ; at this time Martinas Sipple was about lo sets behind the man next in front of him. I at once drew my sword and threatened to cut his head off if he did not keep close, he then sprang forward and I returned to the front. The enemy were soon defeated and retired and the American army also retired to the woods, where they encamped and built up fires. I then had the roll called to see if any of our men were missing and Mar- tinas ^ was not to be found, but Lieut. Mark McCall informed me that immediately upon my returning to the head of the col- umn, after making him close up, he fled out of the field. We lost but few men ; the enemy considerably more. It is thought Gen. Washington did not intend to hold the upper part of the town. 1 This man appears again as a soldier in the 7th company. Captain John Rhodes, of Colonel David Hall's Delaware regiment. (See Whiteley's Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware, p. 30.) 378 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 53. Commissioned Officers of Rall's Brigade, Dec. 1776. Rail Regiment. Colonel, Johann Gottlieb Rail ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Balthasar Brethauer ; Major, Johann Jost Matthaus ; Captains, Johann Heinrich Brubach and Heinrich Ludwig Boking ; Lieutenants, Johann Heinrich Sternickel, Carl Andreas Kinen, Gregorius Salzmann and Johannes Stroebel ; Ensigns, Ludwig Kinen, Jacob Lebrecht Fleck, Carl W'ilhelm Kleinschmidt and Johann Georg Schroeder. Von Lossberg Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel, Francis SchefEer ; Major, Ludwig August von Hanstein ; Captains, Johann Friedrich von Riess, Friedrich Wilhelm von Benning, Ernst Eberhard von Altenbockum and Adam Christoph Steding ; Lieutenants, Heinrich Reinhard Hille, Georg Christian Kimm, Ernst Christian Schwabe, Georg Her- mann Zoll, Ludwig Wilhelm Keller, Wilhelm Christian Miiller and Jacob Piel ; Ensigns, Christian August von Hobe, Friedrich Franz Grabe, Friedrich von Zengen and Friedrich Christoph Hendorff. I'on Knyphausen Regiment. Major, Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow ; Captains, Bernhard von Biesenrodt, Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein, Barthold Hel- frich von Schimmelpfennig and Jacob Baum ; Lieutenants, Carl Ludwig von Geyso, Christian Sobbe, Andreas \^'iederhold, Nicho- las Vaupell, Werner von Ferry, Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt ; Ensigns, Carl Friedrich Fiihrer, Wilhelm von Drach and Heinrich Zimmermann. Yagers. Lieutenant, Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen. Artillery. Lieutenants, Friedrich Fischer and Johannes Engelhardt. Judge Advocate, Friedrich Moeller. [The spelling of the German names printed on this and following pages is often obviously inaccurate, but is given as in the records.] GENERAL MERCER'S ORDERS 379 No. 54. General Mercer to Colonel Durkee. 25 Dcr. 1776. Sir: You are to see that your men have three days provisions ready cooked before 12 o'clock this forenoon — the whole fit for duty except a Serjeant and six men to be left with the baggage, and to parade precisely at four in the afternoon with their arms, accou- trements & ammunition in the best order, with their provisions and blankets — you will have them told off in divisions in which order they are to march — eight men a breast, with the officers fixed to their divisions from which they are on no account to separate — no man is to quit his division on pain of instant pun- ishment — each officer is to provide himself with a piece of white paper stuck in his hat for a field mark. You will order your men to assemble and parade them in the valley immediately over the hill on the back of McConkey's Ferry, to remain there for farther orders — a profound silence is to be observed, both by officers and men, and a strict and ready attention paid to whatever orders may be given — in forming the Brigade Co. Durkee takes the right, Co. Stone left, Co. Bradley on the left of Co. Durkee & Co. Rawlings on the Right of Co. Stone — the Line to form & march from the Right — Co. Hutchinson to form by themselves. Your obt s'v't H. Mercer. No. 55. Hessian Outposts of Trenton. (The initials K denote regt. von Knyphausen ; L, von Lossberg; R, Rail.) Referring particularly to Lieutenant Piel's map, page 124 ante, B marks the spot on the Pennington road where the picket was stationed on Christmas night. The personnel, as far as shown by the records, has been already given. F is the post on the River road. It was the residence of General Dickinson then and now known as "The Hermitage," being to-day a part of the homestead of the Atterbury estate. This picket was called the Yager post and was in charge of Lieu- tenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen with two non-commis- sioned officers, Sergeant Georg Wilhelm Hassell and Corporal Franz Bauer, and fifty yagers. 38o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON H is the post at the Fox Chase Tavern kept by Mrs. Joseph Bond on the Maidenhead or Brunswick Road. This was a strong picket, the principal one of the cantonment, and from this point the patrols started out on the route D toward the left wing E of the same picket and the various stations of guards C\ C^, C, etc. to post B, thence to post F and back again through the chain of sentries to the tavern above mentioned. As we have said, this picket post consisted of one commissioned ofificer, one non-com- missioned officer and about seventy-five men, and was at this critical time in charge of Ensign Franz Friedrich Grabe of the von Lossberg regiment. Captain Johann Heinrich Brubach of the Rail regiment was also there on Christmas night as inspector of the guards, Lieutenant-Colonel Brethauer having been relieved. The rest of the men so far as the records give their names were : Sergeant Reinhard (K), Drummer Christian Schlieder and Fusi- lier Curt Anhagen (L), Grenadier Casper Brede (R), Fusilier Christoph Bucker (L), Fusiliers Direll, Doer and Fenner (K), Grenadier Johannes Gerhardt (R), Fusilier Heinrich Goebell (K), Fusilier Johannes Goebell (L), Fusilier Werner Hahn (K), Fusi- lier Friedrich Hohbein (L), Grenadier Jacob Koch (R), Fusiliers Diedrich Kruger, Philipp Matthias and Johannes Heinrich Mohme (L), FusiUer Reinhard (K), Grenadier Heinrich Rosb (R), Fusilier Anton Schenck (L), Grenadiers Philip Wernick and Nicholas Wicke (R). At the post K, the tavern formerly owned by Rensselaer Wil- liams, there were one commissioned officer, five non-commissioned officers and twenty-two men on Christmas night. This force was then commanded by Ensign Heinrich Zimmermann of the von Borch company of the von Knyphausen regiment. There was a guard composed of Sergeant Dietzell and nine men in a barn below the Ferry road, and a guard of Sergeant Diemer and nine more men at the "Doctor House." A patrol from the tavern visited these small posts every hour during the night. The fol- lowing is a list of Ensign Zimmermann's command on Christmas night : Sergeant Christian Diemer (L), Sergeant Jacob Dietzell (R), Sergeant Hamell (K), Corporal Johannes Wagener (L), Corporal Johannes Wolfskeil (R), Drummer Bechtell (K), Fusi- liers Carl Baake and Heinrich Brath (L), Fusiliers Diebell, Ditter and Doering (K), Grenadiers Caspar Fey, Johannes Foerster and Martin Fuhrmann (R), Fusilier Hattendorf (K), Fusilier THE HESSIAN OUTPOSTS 381 Hendrick Holste (L), Grenadier Jost Koehler (R), Fusilier Knieriem (K), Grenadiers Dietricli Koch, Christoph Loersch and Christopher Scheffer (R), Fusihers Schreiber and Schroder (K), Fusiliers Wilhelm Schweibe, Heinrich Seehaussen and Friedrich Tegetmeyer (L), Grenadier Heinrich Ulrich (R). At the bridge over the Assunpink Creek there was a guard of one non-commissioned officer and eighteen men. From this bridge a Small patrol was compelled to go to Doctor Bryant's residence every half hour during the night. The guard was at the flour mill on the south side of the bridge. In 1680 Mahlon Stacy had built on this site a mill of hewn logs one and one- half stories high. In 17 14 Judge William Trent had purchased this property and had built a two-story stone mill. This was used by the Hessians as a commissary storehouse. The men in charge of this guard were all from the von Knyphausen regiment, Sergeant Johannes Mueller of the von Borck company being the ranking non-commissioned officer. In the middle of the stone bridge over the Assunpink creek was a hut in which a sentinel stood and another sentinel was stationed just outside of the mill. Besides the sergeant just referred to, the following men were at the mill on Christmas night : Fusiliers Caspar Bambeg, Georg Berg, Engeland, Kurtz and Schultz (K). Next to the mill was George Bright's two-story stone bakery, and just beyond that Jonathan Richmond's tavern. In the wall of the bakery was embedded a rough sandstone block with the inscription " G. B. 1756." This has been seen in position by many now living. In the bakery were stationed : Fusiliers Hen- ninghausen, Mueller, Schmerer and Stroehler (K). The headquarters guard-house was at the residence of Pontius Delare Stille, then on the corner of Church alley and King street, and now still standing on the southeast corner of Warren and Perry streets. It was nearly opposite Colonel Rail's quarters, and on Christmas night the guard was commanded by Lieutenant Johann Heinrich Sternickel (R). The German records give us the names of only four of the watchguard : Corporal Friedrich Eberth (L), Grenadier Johannes Lindermann (R), Fusilier Hein- rich Rohrkoster (L), Fusilier Daniel Schmidt (K). In addition to these picket stations there was a strong post midway between Trenton and Bordentown at the drawbridge over the Crosswicks Creek. The main station of this outpost was at 382 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the drawbridge, and at the time of the battle it was commanded by Lieutenant Johannes Stroebel (R), who had with him twenty- four men. Lieutenant Heinrich Reinhard Hille (L) was stationed a short distance from the drawbridge on the road to Allentown in charge of twenty soldiers. On the road to Trenton and about a quarter of a mile north from the drawbridge Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking (R), with one non-commissioned officer and twenty men, occupied three farmhouses^ and a mile nearer Tren- ton Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt of the von Borck company of the von Knyphausen regiment had a small detach- ment of two non-commissioned officers and fifteen men. The entire number of soldiers at the post of the drawbridge was four commissioned officers and eighty-two men. These men had left Trenton about noon on December 24 for a forty-eight hours' tour of duty at the drawbridge, and of course the surprise at Trenton on December 26 found them still at their posts. It appears from one statement that Colonel Rail and his Adjutant, Lieutenant Piel, visited this picket on two occasions during the occupancy of Trenton, but other accounts deny that he visited any picket posts. The detachment of Lieutenant Stroebel consisted of : Sergeant Helmerich, Corporals Ahlhaursen and Heidmuller, Drummer Christoph Hattendorff and Fusilier Wilhelm Barthels (L) ; Gren- adier Heinrich Baumbach (R) ; Fusiliers Christian Grundmeyer, Curth Herding, Friedrich Holsti, Heinrich Holste, Carl Laescke, Friedrich Lehmkuhe, Friedrich Lucke, Herman Matthias, Otto Mayer, Conrad Raabe, Conrad Rohmer, Christoph Schmoe, Sie- mon Schultz, Otto Schwacke and Julius Seemele (L) ; Grenadier Heinrich Sirbert (R) ; Fusiliers Carl Warsmith and Balthaser Weber (L). The detachment of Lieutenant Heinrich Reinhard Hille of the drawbridge picket was : Drummer Mueller ; Fusiliers Beetz, Joachim Bichard, Biesse, Wilhelm Conrad, Curth, Eisenach, Wie- gand, Goebell, Jackell and Heinrich Krengell (K) ; Grenadier Nicholas Landgrebe (R) ; Fusiliers Heinrich Melchior, Ochse, Ruhl, Schreiber, Schrenck, Seitz, Stock, Wilke and Zeiss (K). The detachment of Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking, the senior officer of the drawbridge picket, was as follows : Sergeant Wilhelm Kreiss, Drummer Heinrich Briell, Grenadiers Conrad Arnd, Georg Draube, Andreas Fuhrmann, Conrad Gerth, Michael Giese, Caspar Gundlach, Assmath Heiter, Philip Himmelreich, HESSIANS WHO ESCAPED CAPTURE 383 Christoph Jordan, Urban Mueller, Johannes Nultejo, Johannes Pfliging, Johannes Reinbold, Heinrich Reitz, Heinrich Rierch- hart, Adam Ritter, Henricus Scheffer, Herman Wagner and Johannes Wissmann (R). The picket commanded by Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt, and stationed on the road leading from the drawbridge to Trenton, was composed of: Corporals Nicholas Tenner and Schmidt (K) ; Grenadiers Wilhelm Andress and Adam Back- hauss (R) ; Fusiliers Heinrich Bodensieg and Heinrich Buddie (L) ; Fusiliers Heinrich Geisell, Gottschalk, Homberger, Koeh- ler and Johannes Muench (K) ; Grenadier Heinrich Nadler (R) ; Fusilier Peter (K) ; Grenadiers Conrad Brassier, Johannes Rea- ther (R) ; Fusilier Conrad Steinhard (K) ; Grenadier Georg Zange (R). No. 56. Hessians who escaped Capture. Rail Regiment. List of the men of the Rail regiment in the affair at Trenton who were not captured : the initials denote their companies, as Matthaus (M), Poking (B), Body (By), Kohler (K) : — Ensign Ludwig Kinen (M), Sergeants Martin Appell (B), Nich- olas Gundlack (K), Georg Keuthe (By), Johannes H. Rueppell (B), Andreas Schneider (By) ; Corporals Matthaus (M), Ludwig Hordes (B), Heinrich Koch (M), Wilhelm Roese (K), Heinrich Schotte (M) and Siemion ^^'eltner (K) ; Drummers Nicholas Bindernagell (B), Martin Fiant (B) and Christian Franke (B) ; For- ager Heinrich Giesselmann (B), Forager Georg Schilling (By) ; Sur- geon Kuhlmann (M) ; Grenadiers Johannes Amelung (By), Engel- hard Bartell (By), Henricus Bartscher (By), Johannes Behnert (K), Johannes Bernhardy (B), Rudolph Bettenhausen (M), Justus Biermann (B), Johannes Bolte (B), Georg Bretthauer (By), Jacob Bruckman (By), Peter Deisserath (B), Christoph Diegemann (M), Conrad Doring (By), Georg Dornemann (M), Heinrich Emloth (K), Heinrich Engell (By), Johannes Erchelenz (B), Paul Ernest (M), Johannes Etzell (K), Georg Ewald (B), Ludwig Ewald (By), Johannes Giese (M), Georg Goebell (By), Heinrich Goertell (By), Jacob Gross (By), Peter Gundlach (By), Christoph Guthe (By), Adam Haensell (B), Georg Hausler (K), Caspar Hechenthal (B), Conrad Herboldt (B), Conrad Hertzog (By), Churt Hilgen- berg (By), Georg Homburg (M), Heinrich Horstmann (B), Martin 384 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Kahrsbach (B), Samuel Kilmer (By), Georg Kothe (K), Joseph Kothe (K), Johannes Knopfel (K), Wilhelm Kreutzberg (M), Friedrich Loenier (B), Christoph Ludolph (By), Sylas May (B), Heinrich Meyard (B), Conrad Meybert (By), Diedrich Mueller (B), Johannes ^Mueller (Kj, Heinrich Neumeyer (B), Georg Neurath (B), Caspar Noll (By), Georg Nolte (M), Johannes Nolte, Sen. (B), Friedrich Orth (K), Alexander Paul (By), Christian Poepler (B), Heinrich Rang (M), Ernst Riel (M), Daniel Riemann (B), David Rietze (B), Jost Roeddijer (M), Ludwig Roeddijer (K), Johannes Rose (M), Heinrich Schacht (B), Heinrich Scheffer (By), Ludwig Scheffer (By), Conrad Schehlhaase (B), Johannes Scherpf (B), Jo- hannes Schultze(By), Georg Schwartz (M), Caspar Schweitzer (By), Johannes Seeger (M), Wilhelm Siemon (K), Johannes Signer (K), Christian Ulrich (M), Georg Umbach (By), Georg Vocheurath (K), Conrad Vogeler (K), Christoph Vogeler (K), Arnold Wass- math (M), Caspar Wenert (M) and Christoph Wiegand (B). This list (of I officer and 99 men) was prepared in Philadel- phia, April 6, 1778. All of these men went to Bordentown ex- cept Drummer Bindernagell and Grenadier Loenier (B), who in some way joined Captain Baum of the von Knyphausen regi- ment, and wandered off with him to Princeton. (There is no statement in the documents in Germany as to the number of men of the von Lossberg regiment who made good their escape, although Corporal Wilhelm Hardung of the body company testified that he succeeded in eluding capture.) Von Ktiyphausen Regiment. Roster of the men of the von Knyphausen regiment (50 offi- cers and 75 men) at Trenton. Initials denote Minnigerode (M), Body (By), Borck (Bk), Biesenrodt (Bt), Dechow (D) : — Field Preacher Wilhelm Bauer; Captains Jacob Baum and Barthold Helfrich von Schimmelpfennig ; Lieutenants Nicholas Vaupell and Carl Ludwig von Geyso ; Sergeants Eckhard (M) and Heinrich Prinz (Bt) ; Corporals Heeland (M), Hopiann (By), Leymann (Bk), Ruhl (D), Schwalm (By), Spertzell (Bt), Stumpf (D), von Dalwigk (Bt) and Yager (D) ; Drummers Justus Aune (Bt), Ashmann (By), Froehlich (D), Abraham May (Bt) ; Farriers Crausse (Bk), Wiegand (Mj ; Fusiliers Abrecht (By), Johannes Arnth (Bt), Bastsen (By), Friedrich Becker (Bk), Heinrich Becker HESSIANS WHO ESCAPED CAPTURE 385 (Bt), Werner Blith (Bt), Johannes Berg (Bk), Boeth (D), Heinrich Bonn (Bk), Johannes Claus (Bt), Corell (D), Heinrich Dipp (Bk), Doehnhard (D), Dorst (D), Heinrich Eisenach (Bk), Engeland, Sen. (D), Ernst (By), Adam Eueller (D), Helwig Fanner (By), Heinrich Grass (Bk), Johannes Hamell (Bt), Andreas Hass (Bt), Georg Haust (Bt), Hech (By), Conrad Heiderich (Bk), Heine- mann (D), Kitz (D), Johannes Klippert (Bt), Kochsen (By), Knaaf (D), Kreuther (M), Caspar Loos (Bt), Luckhard (By), Muench (D), Conrad Muhling (Bk), May (M), Menges (D), Johannes Rhein (Bt), Johannes Riebeling (Bt), Johannes Roeth (Bk), Rud- wig (By), Georg Ruppert (Bk), Schmeiss (M), Georg Schmidt (D), Schreiber (M), Johannes Schwalm (By), Johannes Schwalm (Bk), Heinrich Seyl (Bt), Stauffenberg (D), Conrad Stein (Bt), Viehmann (D), Vogell (D), Heinrich Volker (Bt), Ciriacus Wag- ner (Bk), Jacob Wagner (Bt), Georg Weckesser (Bt), Yaeger (D) and Zulanf (M). Regiment of Artillery. April 10, 1778, Lieutenant-Colonel Hans Heinrich Eitel, com- manding officer of the Hessian regiment of artillery, and at that time on duty in Philadelphia, prepared a list of his men (i officer and 16 men) who had escaped capfure in the surprise at Trenton : Lieutenant Johannes Engelhardt ; Bombardiers Heinrich Ide and Johannes Humberties Westerburg ; Artillerists Bautzer, Dil- forth, Geisse, Heckert, Korn, Christian Kuhn,' Kulm, Loelekes, Muench, Rasch, Ruhl, Schmeermund, Zahn, Zaun. A small guard oi ten men who went to Princeton with baggage on Christmas day, of course took no part in the fight. They may be said to have escaped. Their names were : — Corporal Heinrich Grebe (M), Grenadiers Johannes Brawn (M), Bernard Loose (By), Georg Hesse (K) and Wilhelm Wim- melmann (M), all of Rail regiment ; Fusiliers Koch, Jr. (By), ^ Christian Kuhn, a soldier of gigantic stature, after escaping from the Trenton battle, appears to have deserted the Hessian Corps, for later on in the war he joined Captain Zebulon M. Pike's company of Colonel Stephen Moylan's Fourth regiment. Continental dragoons, and subsequently was discharged therefrom on account of a sabre cut on his arm. Under Act of Congress, August 11, 1790, he was placed on the New Jersey Invalid Pension Roll as Christian Koon, spelled also Khun, Kuhn and Coon, and died January 23, 1823, at Montgomery, Orange County, New York. 386 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Nicholas Luckhard (D), Ochse (M), Jacob Schmidt (M) and Schumacher (D), all of von Knyphausen regiment. No. 57. Return of Prisoners taken at Trenton December 26, 1776, by the Army under the Command of General Washington. JS dj f. fe Regiments. 5 '0 u s ■a I I C u I a rJ G S H 4 2i CO ^8 e 1 E p 6 c .2 D tern 3 Landspatch . . , 206 274 Knyphausen . I 2 2 S 2S 6 6 2s8 10^ Rohl . I I I I 2 =; 2 2S a 4 p 244 lO^ Artillery I 4 I 32 38 I 2 3 4 8 12 ^ 92 20 9 25 740 918 6 dble fortifyed Brass three pound's with carreages compleat. 3 ammunition Waggons, As many Muskets, Bayonets, Cartouch Boxes and Swords as there are prisoners. 12 Drums. 4 Colours. No. 58. Hessian Prisoners of War. List of the Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers, Drum- mers and Privates of the Grenadier Regiment of Rall, now Prisoners of War. No. Companies' Names. T3 n . io C .2 'e . u z tn (-1 p^ <1 I Body Company . . . . . I 7 3 46 S7 2 Lieutenant-Colonel Scheffer .... I 7 I I 38 48 3 Captain von Altenbockum ... I I I 2q 37 4 Major von Hanstein . 1 6 39 48 S Colonels — vacant . . . 3 6 I 47 57 Total 9 31 - 6 199 247 T Adjutant. Middle and under Staff, I Drum Major. F. Scheffer, 5 Hautboys. Lieutenant- Colonel. List of the Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers, Drum- mers AND Privates of the Regiment von Knyphausen, now Pris- oners of War. No. Companies' Names. Body Company . Colonel von Borck Lieutenant-Colonel von Minnigerode Major von Dechow Captain von Biesenrodt Total. 25 257 54 55 71 52 62 294 Middle and under Staff. I Adjutant. i Judge. i Hautboy. VON Biesenrodt, Captain. 388 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON List of the several detachments of Artillery belonging to the Regiments of von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rall, taken IN the action at Trenton, the 26th of December, 1776, and NOW remaining Prisoners of War. ■s i No. Names of the Detachments . |i is go 3 S E 3 Q 12 s c 3 13 14 2 s s 3 2 I 3 I 3 Of the Regiment von Lossberg . Of the Regiment von Knyphausen Of the Regiment Rall . I 2 18 3 Total I 4 29 6 40 Note. — That exclusive of the above-mentioned prisoners, there are 3 Gun- ners wounded, and 2 Gunners sick, who remained as Prisoners at Trenton. F. Fischer, Lieat. of Artillery. Philadelphia the 5th January 1777. Postscript. We cannot answer for the exactness of these Lists, because the Night before the Troops have marched to Lancaster, some Privates have joined them. Our request to remain with the Subalterns and Privates and to march along with them to Lancas- ter, having been denied. We are going this day towards Balti- more. F. SCHEFFER. Philadelphia 6th January 1777. No. 59. Roster of Officers of Rall's Brigade. The roster of officers of Rail's brigade and their condition at the close of the Trenton battle may be stated thus : — Rail Regiment. Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rall, severely wounded, paroled, and died in Trenton, December 27, 1776; Lieutenant-Colonel Bal- thasar Brethauer, prisoner and died while a prisoner of war; Major Johann Jost Matthaus, prisoner ; Captain Johann Heinrich Brubach, prisoner and died while a prisoner of war; Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking, escaped ; Lieutenant Johann Heinrich OFFICERS OF RALL'S BRIGADE 3S9 Sternickel, wounded, paroled and died while a paroled prisoner of war in Trenton ; Lieutenant Carl Andreas Kinen, prisoner (he was also suffering from a wound received at Fort Washing- ton) ; Lieutenant Gregorius Salzmann, paroled in Trenton and remained there sick for many months ; Lieutenant Johannes Stroebel, escaped ; Ensign Ludwig Kinen, in Bordentown at the time of the fight ; Ensign Jacob Lebrecht Fleck, prisoner ; En- sign Carl Wilhelm Kleinschmidt, acting as adjutant of the regi- ment, prisoner ; Ensign Johann Georg Schroeder, prisoner. Von Lossberg Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Scheffer, prisoner ; Major Ludwig August von Hanstein, prisoner ; Captain Johann Friedrich von Riess, killed ; Captain Ernst Eberhard von Altenbockum, badly wounded, paroled in Trenton ; but he soon rejoined his regiment, probably exchanged, and did not sign the parole of December 27'*"; Captain Adam Christoph Steding, prisoner ; Captain Fried- rich Wilhelm von Benning, killed ; Lieutenant Heinrich Rein- hard Hille, escaped ; Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm, killed ; Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe, wounded, paroled and left in Trenton ; Lieutenant Ludwig Wilhelm Keller, prisoner, died at Dumfries, "Virginia, October 6, 1777, prisoner of war; Lieu- tenant Georg Hermann Zoll, acting as adjutant of the regiment, wounded, paroled and left in Trenton ; Lieutenant Wilhelm Christian Miiller,, prisoner; Lieutenant Jacob Piel, acting as adjutant of the brigade, prisoner ; Ensign Christian August von Hobe, wounded and taken prisoner; Ensign Friedrich Franz Grabe, prisoner ; Ensign Friedrich von Zengen, prisoner ; En- sign Friedrich Christoph Hendorff, prisoner, but did not sign the parole of December 27"'. Vo7i Knyphausen Regiment. Major Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow, badly wounded and died in Trenton December 27, 1776; Captain Bernhard von Biesen- rodt, prisoner ; Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein, pris- oner; Captain Barthold Helfrich von Schimmelpfennig, escaped ; Captain Jacob Baum, escaped ; Lieutenant Christian Sobbe, act- ing as adjutant of the regiment, prisoner ; Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold, prisoner, but did not sign the parole of December 27*'' ; Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso, wounded and escaped ; 390 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Lieutenant Nicholas Vaupell, escaped ; Lieutenant Werner von Ferry, prisoner, but did not sign the parole of December 30* because probably he signed one of a similar kind when he had permission to visit Trenton ; Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt, escaped ; Ensign Carl Friedrich Fuhrer, prisoner, but signed a separate parole from the rest of the officers. It was said that he joined the American army ; Ensign Heinrich Zim- mermann, escaped ; Ensign Wilhelm von Drach, prisoner. Artillery. Lieutenant Friedrich Fischer, prisoner ; Lieutenant Johannes Engelhardt, escaped. Yagers. Lieutenant Friedrich Wilhelm von Grothausen, escaped, but mortally wounded in Trenton, January 2, 1777, and died soon afterward in Princeton ; Judge Advocate Friedrich Moeller, prisoner. The German records at Marburg give us some personal history of a few of these officers, related by themselves under oath, and it will not be amiss to record it here. It shows many of them to have been veterans in war and to have entered military life at a very early age. Rail Regiment. Major Johann Jost Matthaus, 58 years of age, was born at Schwarzenberg. At the age of 19 he served in the regiment Prinz Carl, then in the von Hugne regiment, and was finally com- missioned in the Rail regiment. He was married. Captain Heinrich Ludwig Boking, 35 years old, was born in Cassel, and joined the army at 17 years of age. He was married. Lieutenant Carl Andreas Kinen, 19 years of age, was born at Dillenburg. He had been in service for three years, first in the regiment von Mirbach, and then in the Rail regiment. He had been wounded November 16, 1776, at the assault on Fort Wash- ington, and had come to Trenton with his regiment, though he had done no duty with it on account of these wounds. While trying to escape over the bridge in the fight, he had been cap- tured with others on Queen street between Second and Front streets. Lieutenant Johannes Stroebel, 43 years old, was born at Nie- PERSONAL HISTORY OF HESSIAN OFFICERS 391 der Hessen, and had been in the Hessian service since the year 1753- Ensign Ludwig Kinen was born in the same village as his brother Lieutenant Kinen, and was one year younger than that officer. He had entered the army at 16 years of age. Ensign Jacob Lebrecht Fleck, 23 years old, was born at Hom- burg, had joined the von Donop regiment when he was 17 years of age, spent a year therein, and was then transferred to the Rail regiment for duty. Ensign Johann Georg Schroeder, 22 years old, was born at Cassel. This was his first year of service. Von Lossberg Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Scheffer, 54 years of age, was born at Hermsdorf, had been in service thirty-five years, and was a married man. Major Ludwig August von Hanstein was born at Obernhof, was married, and had been twenty-eight years in the army, first in the von Donop regiment, then in the Erbprinz, and finally in the von Lossberg regiment. His age at this time was 46 years. Captain Ernst Eberhard von Altenbockum, 40 years of age, was the commander of the company which bore his name. He was born at Courland, was unmarried, and had spent twenty- two years in the Hessian service. Captain Adam Christoph Steding, 39 years of age, commanded the von Loos company in this regiment. He was born in Fisch- beck, and had entered military life at 16 years of age. He was unmarried. Captain Johann Friedrich von Riess was the son of Friedrich Jacob von Riess of Stallburg. He was born in Frankfort-on-the- Main in the year 1745. His family came from Cassel, and were owners of the salt mines at Allendorf. He began his military life as a lieutenant in the Nassau Weilburg regiment, Upper Rhenanian, and then received his promotion to a captaincy in the von Lossberg regiment, only to meet his death as heretofore stated. Captain Friedrich Wilhelm von Benning of the von Lossberg regiment appears in the German records as a first lieutenant in the Leib regiment in the year 1766. He remained in this office until 1773, when the von Lossberg regiment was organized, and 392 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON then he was made a staff captain therein. In this commission he came to America, and received his death wound at the head of his company. Lieutenant Heinrich Reinhard Hille, 22 years old, was born in Rinteln, and for nearly two years had been in service in Lieu- tenant-Colonel Scheffer's company. Lieutenant Ernst Christian Schwabe was also born at Rinteln. He had been in the body company of this regiment for sixteen years, and was 30 years old at the time of the battle. Lieutenant Georg Hermann Zoll was born in the same village as Lieutenant Schwabe and Lieutenant Hille. He was 29 years of age, unmarried, and had been twelve years in service. Lieutenant Wilhelm Christian Miiller, 27 years of age, was born in Ziegenhain. He had been in Major von Hanstein's com- pany for nearly eleven years, and had previously served for two years in the regiment Prinz Carl. Lieutenant Jacob Piel, 34 years old, was born in Bremen, and had been in service in Major von Hanstein's company for four- teen years. He was not married. Lieutenant Georg Christian Kimm appears as an ensign in the Hessian regiment von Barthold in 1766. When the von Loss- berg regiment was formed in 1773, Kimm was made a second lieutenant in that organization. In 1776 he was promoted to be a first lieutenant, which rank he held when he fell mortally wounded in the streets of Trenton. He died on the evening of the battle. Lieutenant Christian August von Hobe was born in Mecklen- burg, had been in the Colonel von Loos company for six years, and was 22 years old. Ensign Friedrich Franz Grabe was born in Rinteln, was 17 years of age, and had been four years in the German army. Ensign Friedrich von Zengen was born in Bonenburg, was 19 years old, and had been in service in the body company for four years. Ensign Friedrich Christoph Hendorff, 30 years of age, was born at Rhinefels, and had been in service for eight years, first in the Hessian Hussar corps, and since February, 1776, in Major von Hanstein's company of this regiment. PERSONAL HISTORY OF HESSIAN OFFICERS 393 Von Knyphausen Regiment. Major Friedrich Ludwig von Dechow was the son of Hans C, von Dechow of Ratzeburg, Mecklenburg-StreUtz, in which place the Hessian soldier was born. He was a captain in the Prussian army under Frederick the Great. When the Hesse-Cassel regi- ment named after General von Knyphausen was sent to America, he became its major, and was for some months its commanding officer. He was wounded quite severely at Fort Washington, but soon recovered. He was an experienced officer, and in his com- mand enjoyed a reputation for great personal bravery. The wound which he received at the Trenton battle was in the left hip, and like Colonel Rail he died the next day. Captain Bernhard von Biesenrodt, 40 years of age, was born in Ober Kaufungen, and had been in the army since 1755. He was commander of a company named after himself. Captain Ludwig Wilhelm von Lowenstein, commander of the von Borck company, was born at Ronnenburg. He was 47 years of age, and had been twenty-seven years in the Hessian military service. Captain Barthold Helfrich von Schimmelpfennig, 37 years of age, was born in Hersfeld, and had been for twenty-four years in the von Knyphausen regiment. At this time he was staff captain in the von Biesenrodt company. Captain Jacob Baum was 44 years old, and twenty-six of those years had been spent in service. He was a staff captain in the body company. Lieutenant Christian Sobbe was born at Freystadt, was 2)Z years old, unmarried, and had been in this regiment for nineteen years. Lieutenant Carl Ludwig von Geyso was born at Marbach, and was nearly 20 years old. He was first in the regiment Prinz Carl, then in the battalion of the guard, and then in Major von Dechow's company of this regiment. He had entered the army in 1774. Lieutenant Nicholas Vaupell was born at Muden. He be- longed to the body company, but on the day of the battle was on duty with the von Dechow company. He was a married man. Lieutenant Werner von Ferry, 23 years of age, was born in 394 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Munster, and had served seven years in the body company of this regiment. Lieutenant Wilhelm Ludwig von Romrodt, 28 years of age, was born near Ziegenhain. He had served in the von Borck company for six years. Lieutenant Andreas Wiederhold was 24 years of age and a bright and active officer. He died at Cassel in 1803, then major and inspector of the arsenal. Ensign Heinrich Zimmermann, 21 years old,, was born at Cas- sel, and had joined the von Borck company in February, 1776. Ensign Wilhelm von Drach was born at Ellrichshausen. At the time of the battle he was 18 years old and was serving in the von Minnigerode company. Artillery. Lieutenant Friedrich Fischer, 38 years old, was born in Nie- dernhausen and had been twenty years in service. Lieutenant Johannes Engelhardt was born in Cassel. He was 23 years of age, and had been in the army but one year. No. 60. Lord Stirling to Governor Livingston. New Town, December 28th 1776 My Dear Sir: I dare say you have heard of our little expedition to Trentown, on the night of the 25* ; the result was, that we made a most complete surprise on them, and have taken and killed at least one thousand two hundred of the best of Hessian troops, with their artillery and stores. The effect is amazing; the enemy have deserted Borden Town, Black Horse, Burlington, Mount Holly and are fled to South Amboy ; we are now in possession of all those places, and the spirit of that part of the country is roused. I write this at the request of General Washington, with a lame hand, but I hope it will be well enough to give them another drubbing soon. I had the honour to make two regiments of them surrender prisoners of war and to treat them in such a style as will make the rest of them more willing to surrender than to fight. i I KINDNESS TO HESSIAN PRISONERS ENJOINED 395 God bless you ; be active and make the State of New Jersey what it ought to be. Most affectionately yours Stirling. No. 61. Proclamation by the Pennsylvania Council of Safety. In Council ok Safety December 31 1776 To the Public : There arrived yesterday in this City near one thousand Hes- sian prisoners taken by his Excellency Gen'l Washington in his late fortunate and successful Expedition to New Jersey. The General has recommended to this Council to provide suitable Quarters for them and it is his earnest wish that they may be well treated and have such principles instilled into them, whilst they remain prisoners, that when they return on being exchanged they may fully open the Eyes of their Countrymen in the service of the King of Great Britain who at present are not a little jealous of their English fellow soldiers. These miserable creatures now justly excite our Compassion. They have no Enmity with us. According to the arbitrary cus- toms of the tyrannical German Princes, they were dragg'd from their native Country, and sold to a foreign Monark, without either consulting their inclinations or informing them of the place they were destined for, or the Enemy they were to contend with. Their pay a mere pittance, they were necessitated and encouraged to plunder. It is therefore nothing strange that they have been guilty of great irregularities, tho' inferior to the brutal behaviour of the British Troops. But from the moment they are rescued from the authority of the British Officers, we ought no longer to regard them as our Enemies, at least whilst their Conduct will Justifie our favourable opinion. 'T is Britain alone that is our Enemy; all the rest of Europe is from the strongest motives interested in our favour. 'T is the Officers and Troops of Britain only that are heartily engaged in this unjust war against us from rancour, pride and ambition and notwithstanding the pains they have taken to prejudice the Germans against us, we hope they will find it impossible to prevail on them much longer to imbrue their hands in the blood of the Americans, many of whom are their Countrymen. The most favourable opportunity now offers 396 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON to weaken the force of our Enemies by making their Auxiliaries our friends, and we earnestly entreat you to embrace it by sup- pressing any resentment that might naturally arise on recollecting their late hostility and treating the much injured and deceived Hessians now in our power in the most friendly manner, as a people we would wish to unite with ourselves in improving the fertile forrests of America, extending its manufacture & Com- merce and maintaining its Liberty and independency against all attacks of foreign & Arbitrary Power. No. 62. Count de Schaumburg to Baron Hohendorf.' Monsieur le Baron : On my return from Naples, I received at Rome your letter of the 27''> December of last year. I have learned with unspeak- able pleasure the courage our troops exhibited at Trenton, and you cannot imagine my joy on being told that of the 1950 Hes- sians engaged in the fight, but 345 escaped. There were just 1605 men killed and I cannot sufficiently commend your prudence in sending an exact list of the dead to my minister in London. This precaution was the more necessary, as the report sent to the English ministry does not give but 1455 dead. This would make 483,450 florins instead of the 643,500 which I am intitled to demand under our convention. You will comprehend the prejudice which such an error would work in my finances, and I do not doubt you will take the necessary pains to prove that Lord North's list is false and yours correct. The court of London objects that there were a hundred wounded who ought not to be included in the list, nor paid for as dead ; but I trust you will not overlook my instructions to you on quittiiig Cassel and that you will not have tried by human succor to recall to life the unfortunates whose days could not be lengthened but by the loss of a leg or arm. That would be mak- ing them a pernicious present and I am sure they would rather die than live in a condition no longer fit for my service. I do not mean by this that you should assassinate them : we should be humane, my dear Baron, but you may insinuate to the sur- geons with entire propriety that a crippled man is a reproach to ^ Dr. Benjamin Franklin is generally believed to have been the author of this satirical letter. Tyler's Literary History of the Ameri- can Revolution, vol. ii. p. 380. Bigelow's Life of Benjamin Franklin, vol. ii. p. 395. SCHAUMBURG FS. LEONIDAS 397 their profession and that there is no wiser course than to let every one of them die when he ceases to be fit to fight. I am about to send you some new recruits. Don't economize them. Glory is true wealth. There is nothing degrades a soldier like the love of money. He must care only for honour and repu- tation, but this reputation must be acquired in the midst of dangers. A battle gained without costing the conqueror any blood is an inglorious success, while the conquered cover them- selves with glory by perishing with their arms in their hands. Do you remember that of the 300 Lacedemonians who defended the defile at Thermopylae, not one returned ? How happy should I be could I say the same of my brave Hessians ! It is true that their King Leonidas perished with them ! but things have changed, and it is no longer the custom for Princes of the Empire to go and fight in America for a cause with which they have no concern. And besides, to whom should they pay the 30 guineas per man if I did not stay in Europe to receive them ? Then it is necessary also that I be ready to send recruits to replace the men you lose. For this purpose I must return to Hesse. It is true grown men are becoming scarce there but I will send the boys. Besides the scarcer the commodity the higher the price. I am assured that the women and little girls have begun to till our lands, and they get on not badly. You did right to send back to Europe that Doctor Crumerus who was so suc- cessful in curing dysentery. Don't bother with a man who is subject to looseness of the bowels. That disease makes bad soldiers. One coward will do more mischief in an engagement than ten brave men will do good. Better that they burst in their barracks than fly in a battle and tarnish the glory of our arms. Besides, you know that they pay me as killed for all who die from disease and I don't get a farthing for runaways. My trip to Italy, which has cost me enormously, makes it desirable that there should be a great mortality among them. You will therer fore promise promotion to all who expose themselves ; you will exhort them to seek glory in the midst of dangers ; you will say to Major Maundorf that I am not at all content with his saving the 345 men who escaped the massacre at Trenton. Through the whole campaign he has not had ten men killed in consequence of his orders. Finally, let it be your principal object to prolong the war and avoid a decisive engagement on 398 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON either side, for I have made arrangements for a grand Italian opera and I do not wish to be obliged to give it up. Meantime I pray God, my dear Baron de Hohendorf, to have you in his holy and gracious keeping. No. 63. Colonel von Donop to General Knyphausen. Quarters at Allentown December 27th 1776. Sir: Perhaps your excellency has been already informed of the unpleasant affair which happened to the Rail brigade, but I think it my duty to report to you. On the 21^' instant I received word from Colonel Block at Black Horse, where his battalion was posted with the 42""^ Regiment, that a party of rebels had marched into Mount Holly, and that as yet he had been unable to ascertain its real strength, some reporting it two and some four thousand strong. I informed Colonel Rail immediately and advised him to be on his guard because while I believed the enemy would attack me, they might also make a demonstration against him. I arranged my plans so that I felt safe in case of a surprise and the next morning went myself to Black Horse. I found the enemy had all except a few patrols moved out no far- ther than the meeting house this side of Mount Holly. Immedi- ately on my return to Bordentown the alarm guns which I had ordered, were discharged at three o'clock in the afternoon by the two battalions at the Black Horse and by the battalion von Lin- singen lying between Black Horse and Bordentown. I informed Colonel Rail immediately and returned instantly to Black Horse. I found my men all under arms because as soon as I had left four or five hundred rebels had attacked the picket at Rancocas bridge, but effected nothing but the withdrawal of the twelve Scotish soldiers and their sergeant Captain von Eshwege who was quartered with his company in a house near came to their assistance and a picket of grenadiers that was stationed just beyond him and the rebels did not move a step further. In order to rid myself of these unpleasant guests I went next morning with the 42"*^ Regiment, the two battalions Block and von Linsengen directly to Mount Holly. I met a few hundred men at the meeting house but after firing a few shots they ran away and the whole party took the road to Moorestown. They were about a thousand men strong and under the command of VON DONOP TO KNYPHAUSEN 399 Colonel Griffin. It was the fault of one of my patrols that I did not get on them as I wished, for the patrol went against my direc- tion too far in advance. I had no wounded or dead men, but the rebels had three caused by my artillery fire although but a few shots were fired. At the attack on Rancocas bridge Captain von Eshwege's company had two and the guard of Scotsmen two slightly wounded men. The battalion von Linsengen then marched back again to their former quarters, Mansfield Square, in order to be near Bordentown, and the other two battalions remained at Mount Holly to gather food and forage for the stores at Bordentown. There was nothing in Colonel Rail's reports, and more especially in the communications from General Grant to fear at Trenton. The following morning I regret to say proved the contrary. Lieutenant Colonel von Minnigerode reported to me that he had heard by a messenger that the rebels had sur- prised the Rail brigade this morning at Trenton between eight and nine o'clock and that they were ten to twelve thousand strong. Soon after this Lieutenant Colonel von Minnigerode sent an officer to me saying the report of the surprise at Trenton had been confirmed by many who had escaped from there. I went immediately back to Black Horse, reinforced the command at the Crosswicks bridge so as to keep open the way to Prince- ton. According to all the reports of the men who escaped from Trenton and the statements of patrols I had sent in that direction, the whole Rail brigade has been lost and many thousand rebels are in their quarters. I did not think it advisable for me to remain any longer in so dangerous a situation, surrounded on all sides by the enemy and cut off from all communication with Princeton. I was also assured that a large part of the rebels had turned to Princeton and I had not the slightest word from Gen- eral Leslie. My ammunition had run low, only about nine car- tridges to a cannon and very little indeed for the fire-locks. Even if I had thought proper to face all attacks from the enemy in my dangerous position, to remain in Bordentown and wait for a doubtful success I would not dare to do it on account of the shortage of ammunition. Therefore after due consideration I withdrew to Allentown which is twelve English miles from Prince- ton and informed General Leslie of this fact. This place is so situated that I can push through from here or in one day if neces- sary resume my former position. I have brought all my baggage 400 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON along, but I am sorry I am compelled to leave about twenty sick and wounded at Bordentown, with a stock of provisions and forage. Some of the men were not able to be carried and the wagons were too scarce to carry the rations, which will therefore I fear fall into the hands of the rebels. I have organized all the escaped men from the Rail brigade and made up a force of two hundred and ninety-two men, including the command at the drawbridge of one Captain, three officers and one hundred men. Lieutenant von Grothausen with fifty yagers who had his com- mand at Trenton, with a detachment of light infantry and dra- goons, except one yager who was killed and one sick soldier, escaped from the fight. Colonel Rail it is said is mortally wounded and so is Major von Dechow. Lieutenant Colonel Bretthauer and many of the officers have been wounded, some of them killed. I could not find anything more definite than this. All the cannon and flags of the brigade are lost and the prisoners taken amount to seven hundred men. I am Your Excellency's ser't &c Donop. Whether this affair was an accident or whether a mistake had been made could not be determined from the stories told by the fugitives. All agree, however, that if Colonel Rail with his brigade had retreated over the bridge and then destroyed it he could have saved his command instead of fighting for an hour against such heavy odds. Nevertheless it certainly proves his splendid courage and that of his regiments, and this at least is greatly to their honour. Even the two regiments, the von Loss- berg and his own, could have been saved. The death of Colonel Rail has therefore avoided a painful investigation, for he would have had to answer for this grave responsibilit)'. No. 64. General Grant to Colonel von Donop. Brunswick 27th Dec 1776 Sir: Colonel Rail's Defeat is a most unfortunate business. I did not think that all the Rebels in America would have taken that Brigade Prisoners — one must not judge rashly of People who have been unfortunate but if you had been there and had found yourself overpowered by numbers, if I am not mistaken, you would have contrived to retreat across the bridge to Bordenton — VON HEISTER TO THE PRINCE OF HESSE 401 the Light Dragoons, Light Infantry and it appears from your let- ter to General Leslie that 200 Hessians did so. After all that has happened if I was with you, your Grenadiers and Yagers I should not be afraid of an attack from Washington's Army, which is almost naked and does not exceed 8000 men including Lee's, Gates's and Arnold's Corps. I have sent an express to General Howe and till I receive his commands about the future Arrange- ment of our cantonments, I must beg of you to remain at Allen- town, or if that should not be practicable, for I don't know the place, you must crowd into Princetown, Maidenhead, Cranbury and Kingston. I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most obed't h'lle servant James Grant. No. 65. General von Heister to the Prince of Hesse. To His Highness the Prince of Hesse Merciful Father of the Country ! Your Highness has I trust seen my letter of the 2^^ of Decem- ber. The fate of war which I had such good reason to praise in my last letter and which I humbly hope pleased your Highness has given us a sad example of its inconstancy — which is hard indeed for every true Hessian. The pain the first report gave me it is unnecessary to describe and I feel it anew when I am com- pelled to repeat it to you who must feel the loss of even a single subject. The three regiments of von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail which were quartered at Trenton in New Jersey were on the 26* of December surprised and attacked by a superior force of the rebels an account of which you may read in the enclosed journal written up to the 27'h of December. After a defense of nearly an hour and a half the entire body of officers and a large part of the men had been killed or wounded, the rest were sur- rounded and made prisoners. The fifteen flags and the six can- non were also lost. A small balance of 292 men as near as I can ascertain saved themselves and joined Colonel von Donop's force. They will be according to my request sent to General Howe's quarters and I therefore expect them daily. After they have rested and recruited themselves, if in fit condition, I will form them into a separate battalion which can be assigned to " Colonel von Donop's command and a Staff officer can be placed in charge of them. On the 3'^ inst. I sent Quarter Master Muller 402 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of the von Knyphausen regiment with twelve men of the brigade with permission of the General in Chief to Philadelphia to assist the prisoners there with money and underclothing until their re- lease for which I am working very hard. If Colonel Rail has made a mistake and caused this mishap nothing positive can be said until the imprisoned officers can be examined. According to the story of the men who escaped through his hot-headedness he was not willing to retreat and sacrificed his men because rather than use the bridge behind him which he could have held pos- session of with advantage. His death does away with many investigations and many complications. I have always judged him stronger in the attack than in the defense. The former he gallantly displayed at Fort Knyphausen. Just now I receive the report that an English brigade has shared the same fate as the Rail brigade, but I am not able to say how true this is. The English regiments have no flags and cannon with them and so they are saved the misfortune of losing them. The farther events your Highness will see in the Continental journales. I lay these facts before you and I am yours humbly. VON Heister. New York 5th of January 1777. No. 66. Earl of Suffolk to General von Heister. St James 3rd March 1777. Sir: The Baron de Kuzleben has sent me the letter which you hon- ored me with of date January 28*, but that of December 2^^^ never reached me. It was with great sorrow that we heard of the disaster which happened to the Hessian brigade, by which this most brilliant campaign was closed by the loss of so many brave men. In deploring the death of Colonel Rail we are not able at the same time to avoid the fact that his great rashness interfered with him as the commander of a post where he should have tried to preserve the lives of his men. We will always con- tinue to hope that the occasion will present itself that the troops of his Serene Highness may be able to give essential proof of their valour in the service of His Majesty, and that you will have to send us great accounts of their brave conduct. I have the honour to be With great esteem, Sir, Your very humble & very obt servant Suffolk. WRATH OF THE PRINCE OF HESSE 403 No. 67. Prince of Hesse to Lieutenant-General von Knyphausen. Cassel, i6th of June 1777. I I expected to receive the particulars of the fatal affair at Tren- ton on the return of Quarter Master Mueller from Lieutenant General von Heister. This has not been done and I therefore expect and demand of the Lieutenant General all the information necessary to give light on this unlucky business, and enable me to judge of the proper sentence. The general description has not yet been received and all the minor points are still wanting. Quarter Master Mueller's diary does not mention a word of it. My sensitive feelings are not quieted and the painful shock not lessened by keeping from me the details of this affair. I there- fore repeat the demand on the Lieutenant General for a thorough investigation of the whole matter. Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer particularly and the commanding officers of the other two regi- ments must on their return from imprisonment be subject to the severest investigation. The former must especially be questioned why he did not take command immediately after Colonel Rail was wounded and why he did not try to remedy the disaster when he knew that Colonel Rail was disabled from further command ? II Court Geismar, August 3, 1777 As soon as the three captured regiments are exchanged, the Lieutenant General is requested, as he has been already ordered to establish a court martial in which a Major General shall pre- side and all these questions must be answered : 1. — At what time in the day were the regiments attacked and captured ? 2. — How strong was the force of the enemy ? 3. — What plans had Colonel Rail made in case his regiments were attacked ? 4. — Were the quarters of the regiments separated or near to- gether ? What precautions were taken and were there any patrols, sent out to obtain information as to the near approach of the enemy ? 5. — How did the regiments defend themselves and how long 404 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON did this defense continue ? How heavy was the loss of wounded and dead on our side and how great on the side of the enemy ? 6. — Why did not Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer take command after Colonel Rail had been disabled, as it was his duty as senior officer, and why did he not retreat over the little bridge across the stream in their rear, after finding the enemy so strong? 7. — From whom did Colonel Rail receive his orders ? Did he not receive proper instructions ? Did Colonel Rail visit his posts often ? Did Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer give no orders when Colonel Rail found himself unable to save his men ? 8. — Why did not Colonel von Donop march to their assistance and was there no communication existing between Bordentown and Trenton ? The greatest responsibility after the death of Colonel Rail rests on Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer and after him on the two officers who commanded the von Knyphausen and the von Woellworth ^ regiments and these officers are to be held to account for their conduct. No. 68. Friedrich L. L Hessen to General Knyphausen. My dear Lieutenant General von Knyphausen : In regard to the report of that fatal affair at Trenton I would inform you that the importance of the matter has not permitted an earlier conclusion. It has been found that many facts need verification, that the behaviour of every one implicated should be clearly understood so that the conduct of each one should be judged properly and beyond question. I would respectfully ask the Lieutenant General to convene a just and impartial court according to the rules, that this unpleasant afiair may end and every officer implicated, irrespective of previous statements and testimony, be resworn in so important a matter. A Major Gen- eral should preside and there must be three officers ordered on the court of each rank. You may order such courts-martial to carefully investigate all the circumstances of this affair and after due consideration pass judgment thereon. If any are found guilty according to law you should pass sentence on each one according as your conscience may dictate and send the verdict to me. In the investigation it is shown ; 1 Formerly the Rail regiment. ADMIRABLE HINDSIGHT 405 1. — That the danger to which the regiments in Trenton were daily exposed should have made it apparent to Colonel Rail that he ought to have designated an alarm place for the brigade, that he should have made the necessary arrangements for defence, that he should have erected fortifications and breast-works and should have sent out frequent patrols to those places where the enemy was supposed to be, especially at Pennington, to Howell's and to Johnson's ferries. As the whole force of the enemy crossed over the Delaware river on the 25* of December 1776 ,and this crossing took sixteen hours it is apparent that the send- ing out of patrols had been neglected. If it had been done the regiments would have had timely warning and could have made preparations for resistance. 2. — An investigation is yet to be made by the court-martial as to what orders Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer gave after Colonel Rail had been wounded in the attack on the town which he made with the von Lossberg and his own regiment and after Major von Hanstein had informed Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer of the wounding of Colonel Rail and he according to his own statement had assumed charge of the command. 3. — As Major von Hanstein states that after the fruitless attack upon the town and during the retreat to the woods he. Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer and Major Matthaus had all agreed to break through the line of the enemy, a thorough investigation must be made why this resolution was not carried out. The pro- tocol of former investigations should be presented to this court- martial for its action. 4. — Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer is to be questioned as to why in the retreat not the least effort was made to break through and join the English troops at Princeton, when the troops had not even fired and by his own testimony an officer of the enemy was called out and made by him to understand that they were forced to surrender. Captain Steding said in his testimony that Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer and Major von Hanstein joined an officer of the enemy who rode up to them at the time of the re- treat and on their return both of the regiments surrendered. We may conclude from this as well as from Lieutenant Colonel Schef- fer's testimony that no fire was opened upon the enemy in front of them. Although the enemy was much stronger numerically, they were in no way equal to the brigade of Colonel Rail and it 4o6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON cannot be denied that their troops were much scattered and stronger on the flanks than on the front of Trenton. Therefore if the regiments intended to break through and were in order for so doing it ought not to have been a very hard task for these regi- ments unitedly at some one point to have effected an escape. The militia was a mixed force, much dissatisfied from previous misfortunes and losses and they would not have stood at one certain point against an attack with the bayonet. By this honor- able way a disgraceful surrender and capture might have been avoided. If this however had been found to be impossible then the regiments should have tried to withdraw toward the creek and made an effort to cross it. The testimony of Captain von Lowen- stein shows plainly in the trial that two hundred steps to the right of the position of the von Knyphausen regiment, and so accord- ing to this statement behind the von Lossberg and the Rail regi- ments also, the water was only knee deep. 5. — The regiment von Knyphausen remained too long at the quarters of Major von Dechow waiting for orders, as it stood there when the attack and the firing had begun at the upper part of the town. Because Colonel Rail had made no arrangements against a surprise the regiment could do nothing but guard the bridge over the creek at Trenton or aid the other two regiments already in conflict with the enemy. The signal to march should have been the cannon shots of the enemy. 6. — An investigation should be made earnestly and with dili- gence as to the cause which made the von Knyphausen regiment withdraw when in the apple orchard back of Trenton, when the Rail and the von Lossberg regiments were about to make the attack on the town and why did they turn to the left and separate themselves instead of assisting those regiments. 7. — Who gave the orders for this separation? Was the oc- cupation of the bridge the motive for this movement ? If so why did they not attack the enemy there with the bayonet ? Was no attempt made to do this ? 8. — How can Captain von Biesenrodt answer these questions ? Why did his regiment not attack the enemy at the bridge ? Why did his regiment march up and down the creek in an uncertain way and thereby separate itself from the other regiments then in action ? Why did he intentionally put the regiment in low ground when an elevation was before him and why did he remain KEEN GERMAN CRITICISMS 407 there ? Why did he send Lieutenant Wiederhold according to his own statement to an officer in advance of the enemy and soon after that walked up himself to General Lord Stirling an Ameri- can General and there capitulate, and then returning to the regi- ment surrendered them without hesitation. This regiment that would have accepted every chance, for it had lately at the capture of Fort Knyphausen fought so bravely and acted so well, was surrendered without having made an attack and scarcely without having fired a shot ? When his duty urged him to risk an escape by crossing the creek with the rest of his men where a part of his men had already crossed and where apparently there was no dan- ger of drowning, instead of doing this he surrendered in a shame- ful way. Besides these questions Captain von Biesenrodt should be also asked why he had not marched to the place already designated by Captain von Lowenstein where the water was shallow. 9. — It also seems that the Artillery officer Lieutenant Engel- hardt is guilty of a criminal act in leaving his cannon in such haste instead of remaining with his command. Even if he did lose a few artillerists and a few horses he certainly hurried over the bridge before the fate of his command had been decided. He should be more carefully questioned on this subject than has heretofore been done. As soon as all these points have been examined into as we have already stated the Lieutenant General having reconvened the Court-Martial, all those who are found guilty by the Court should be arrested and confined until my action in the matter shall be received in America. The kind of punishment will be indicated in the summing up of this unpleasant affair. Because of some facts worthy of consideration in the case of those officers now serving with the von Trumbach regiment in Georgia and who may be found guilty, their arrest will be deferred until my action in the matter is made known. Yours affectionately Friedrich L. I. Hessen. Weissenstein 23rd of April 1779 4o8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 69. Return Casualties Rall's Brigade. New York, 13th of December 1781. On account of the various returns from different sources, and especially from the statements of the officers, it is very uncertain what the loss, in dead and wounded, was of each regiment at the affair at Trenton and the strength of each regiment when cap- tured. It has therefore become necessary in order to make a correct judgment in the case to have extracts from the Commis- sary's office upon his word of honor of the dead, wounded and captured at the surprise at Trenton. This is to be taken from the total lists received of the losses of the Rail brigade at Tren- ton in 1776. And with this information every effort possible has been made to get correct accounts of the losses on the side of the enemy, both from the papers here or the rebel papers there, that it might be ascertained what was the strength of the enemy at the surprise. But it was all in vain, no papers could be found to give the facts accurately. Your obt. servt J. J. LOTHEISEN. EXTRACT OF THE RETURN sent under word of honour to the War Commissioner Lorentz, now deceased, examined by him and found correct, of the dead, wounded and prisoners taken at the surprise at Trenton on the 26* day of December 1776 of the regiments Alt von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail. Regiments. Dead and Missing. Wounded. Captured. 1 « !,. i. '" '.J = S t iil J, ise » £ 1 So e 1 so G 1 ^1 _> £ 1.1 3 > 0, il a £ Von Lossberg . I 3 I =;4 32 8 228 Von Knyp- hausen I 2 II 27 7 276 Rail 12 ID 25 10 255 Total . . I 16 3 75 84 25 759 HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 409 The above extract of the return I have examined and find it correct. I therefore according to my duty sign it with my own name. J. J. LOTHEISEN. New York 13th of December 1781 No. 70. Proceedings of Hessian Court-Martial. To THE Honorable Court Martial. — It is known to the honorable Court Martial that I have been for some time forced by sickness to remain in my quarters. The trouble which I have in my legs makes it impossible for me to wear shoes and I cannot therefore go out. In fact I am too weak to engage in any reading of the extensive testimony or to be pre- sent at the reading. I hope that the truthful explanation will excuse me and I pray that the Honourable Court Martial will send my testimony to my quarters to be read to me. I have nothing to add in refer- ence to the surprise at Trenton and I leave it to the action of the Court Martial. Very respectfully your obedient servant Scheffer New York 4th of January 1782. New York, 4th of January 17S2 An excuse was received today from Lieutenant Colonel Schef- fer that he could not be present at the meeting of the Court Martial because of sickness and he humbly asked to have a Committee sent to his quarters to read to him the statements which had been made. The Court Martial was also directed by His Excellency the Lieutenant General Knyphausen to order to be present at their meeting all officers who had been in the command of the three regiments at Trenton. Also to request Lieutenant Hendorff who has since then been discharged to be present but to leave it en- tirely to his honour whether he will respond to the call or not. J. J. Lotheisen. New York, 5th of January 1782 The following Committee was sent to Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer of the von Lossberg regiment and to Captain Schimmel- pfennig of the von Knyphausen regiment because of their inabil- 410 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON ity to be present at the meeting of the Court Martial, viz : Colo- nel von Kochenhausen, Lieutenant Colonel Eitel and Major Hessenmuller to Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer, and Major Pfaff, Captain Wachs and myself as Auditor to Captain Schimmel- pfennig. The minutes and the testimony was read to both of the sick officers and they declared they had no changes to make, that they left the facts just as they were stated and that they had no objection to any member of the Court Martial F. VON Kochenhausen H. H. Eitel VON Hessenmuller Friedrich Pfaff F. Wachs. J. J. Lotheisen. The members of the Court were : Major General Heinrich Jul. von Kospoth, formerly Colonel of the von Wutgenau regiment, President of the court ; Colonel Rudolph von Bunau of the garrison regiment von Bunau ; Colo- nel Friedrich von Kochenhausen of the regiment Hereditary Prince ; Lieutenant Colonel Otto Christian Wilhelm von Linsin- gen of the grenadier battalion von Linsingen ; Lieutenant Colo- nel Carl von Kietzell of the regiment von Wissenbach ; Lieuten- ant Colonel Georg Emanuel von Lengercke, of the grenadier battalion von Lengercke, and afterward of the regiment Prinz Carl ; Lieutenant Colonel Hans Heinrich Eitel of the Hessian Artillery ; Major Friedrich Pfaff of the regiment Hereditary Prince ; Major Friedrich von Eschwege of the grenadier bat- talion von Lengercke ; Major Heinrich Christian von Hessen- muller of the grenadier battalion Graff; Captain Heinrich Fried- rich Wachs of the regiment Hereditary Prince ; Captain Georg Hohenstein of the grenadier battalion Graff ; Captain Ludwig Eberhard Murarius of the regiment Landgrave ; Lieutenant Carl von Rabenau of the grenadier battalion Lowenstein ; Lieutenant Reinhard Yunck formerly of the garrison regiment von Seitz now of the grenadier battalion Graff ; Lieutenant Max Ludwig von Helmold of the grenadier battalion von Linsingen and afterward the regiment du Corps ; Ensign Heinrich Georg de Nolde of the regiment Landgrave ; Ensign August von Pappenheim of the regiment Landgrave ; Ensign Friedrich Wilhelm Kuester of the garrison regiment von Bunau. Johann Jacob Lotheisen was Auditor. FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 411 An extract from the minutes of the Court shows who were ordered before it to give their testimony or to confirm that already given. New York, 5th of January 1782 Court Martial. Major General von Kospoth, presiding. The following officers of the regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail heard the reading of the minutes and the testimony and offered no objections : — 1. — Lieutenant Zoll — Lieutenant von Hobe (formerly Ensign) — Lieutenant Hille — all of the regiment von Lossberg. — Captain von Biesenrodt — Captain Baum — Captain Wiederhold (formerly Lieutenant) — Captain Vaupell (formerly Lieutenant) — Lieutenant Sobbe — Lieutenant von Drach (formerly Ensign) — Lieutenant von Romrodt — Lieutenant Zimmermann (formerly Ensign) — all of the regiment von Knyphausen. 2. — Major Boking (formerly Captain) 13. — Captain Salzmann (formerly Lieutenant) — all of the regi- ment Rail 14. — Corporal Frank Georg Bauer of the Yagers No. 71. Finding of Hessian Court- Martial. The President and the members of the Court were then sworn : — They gave their decision according to their respective rank after they had been cautioned to keep the same secret : — The Ensigns. They agree that the disaster at Trenton was due to the neglect of Colonel Rail in not making the necessary preparations in case of retreat. Also that he was to blame for attacking the town instead of retreating, thereby causing the con- fusion in the Rail and von Lossberg regiments. They think that Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer in the situation in which he was when he took command of the regiments, against a superior force, would have found it impossible to have effected a retreat ; that 9 10 n I 412 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON he and all his officers did all in their power to encourage their men and preserve order and that the testimony shows no censure should be placed on them. In the matter of the pickets there could be nothing said against them as they were too weak in number to resist so strong an enemy and they were not guilty of making a premature retreat. Lieutenant Fischer according to the testimony remained with the von Lossberg regiment and Lieutenant Engelhardt could not save the cannon of the Rail regiment; therefore the Ensigns judge that no blame can be attached to the Artillery detachment of the brigade. The min- utes show in the case of the von Knyphausen regiment that the command marched into the low ground on a positive order ; therefore the regiment could not be held responsible for it. They also think that it was impossible for Captain von Biesenrodt, who took command when the von Knyphausen regiment already stood in the low ground, to force the bridge with his small regi- ment, and there was no way for him to make them cross the creek, and that he had taken the necessary steps in this matter, first to have the creek sounded, second to place an officer and forty men to protect the ford, and third to assume charge himself of the rear guard. Captain von Loewenstein had rtot then shown him where the water was only knee-deep and therefore no lack of resolution or want of bravery can be charged to him. That he finally surrendered himself and his men he could not be censured for, because first the other regiments were already captured, sec- ond the situation of the von Knyphausen regiment was already known to the enemy from Major von Dechow's movements, and third the enemy put its whole force now against the regiment von Knyphausen, and this regiment could not successfully resist after having the cannon stuck in the swamp and only numbering then but 276 men. We also find that Captain Schimmelpfennig, Lieutenant now Captain Baum, Lieutenant now Captain Vaupell and Lieutenant von Geyso did not go through the creek until the whole regiment had orders from Captain von Biesenrodt, and took the men across according to the statement already made. So the Ensigns believe Captain von Biesenrodt as well as the officers, the non-commissioned officers and the privates of the von Knyp- hausen regiment are free from blame and ought to be acquitted. H. G. D. NoLDE A. VON Pappenheim F. KUESTER. FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 413 The Lieutenants. The Lieutenants agree in tlie decision of the Ensigns in every particular, and for the same reasons tliey recom- mend that the three regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail be acquitted. C. VON Rabenau R. YUNCK M. L. VON Helmold. The Captains. The Captains believe, according to the facts set forth, that no faint-heartedness, premature retreat or any act of insubordination can be charged against the three regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail at the surprise at Tren- ton. The commanding officers as well as the other officers, the several commands, the pickets, as well as Sergeant Mueller who had command at the bridge, and the detachment of artillery, all did their duty and ought to be acquitted. All the men who were in service at the surprise at Trenton we include in this opinion and we desire it published in the newspapers here as well as at Cassel. That his Serene Highness of Hesse may grant the regi- ments above named new flags we desire to state these facts in addition to what has already been said : 1. — That Captain von Lowenstein, if he were yet alive, would have the greatest necessity for explaining why he apparently deceived Captain von Biesenrodt in that he did not show him the place where the creek could be crossed after Major von Dechow was wounded. 2. — It would appear that Captain Schimmelpfennig, Lieu- tenant Baum, Lieutenant Vaupell and Lieutenant von Geyso after crossing the creek should have halted on the bank and collected their men. But owing to the general confusion and especially the fact that von Geyso was wounded, they ought to be excused. 3. — It was perfectly right that Captain von Biesenrodt should form^the rear guard and that he should take command of it and offer to be the last man to cross. 4. — After Captain von Biesenrodt had given the order to cross the creek it was his duty to give special orders to his subaltern officers that they should cross and to see that the orders were carried out in the proper manner. 5. — It is known to us, especially to Captain Wachs and Cap- tain Hohenstein by personal knowledge that Captain von Biesen- rodt is a brave man. He has proven this so often in the face of 414 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the enemy, and according to the opinion of others he did his duty at the surprise at Trenton, so that we are convinced that he had not then lost his usual courage. H. Wachs G. HOHENSTEIN MURARIUS. The Majors. The examination shows nothing more to us than that Colonel Rail neglected to take the necessary precautions which it was his duty to do for the regiments he commanded and he left his officers without any orders in case of attack. Colonel Rail died without an examination which would probably have cleared up many things. We are therefore of the opinion that neither faint-heartedness, premature flight or insubordination is to be charged against the men at the surprise at Trenton and that their commander Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer, Major Matthaus and the other officers of the regiments von Lossberg and Rail, also the pickets and guards as well as Sergeant Mueller who had the watch at the bridge, and the detachment of artillery have all done their duty and we recommend them for acquittal. We think that all the officers still living, who served at the surprise at Tren- ton, should be fully exonerated from blame a'nd that this. should be published in the newspapers here and at Cassel. As far as the regiment von Knyphausen is concerned we believe that they obeyed strictly the orders of their commanding officer Major von Dechow and after he retired wounded and Captain von Biesen- rodt had taken command of the regiment they had already been placed in a bad position in low ground near the enemy. In this condition Captain von Biesenrodt did all that could be done under the circumstances. He gave orders for the regiment to retire through the creek, ordered the rear guard of forty men and took charge of it himself. The enemy pressed so violently and closed up on the regiment that no blame can be put on Captain von Biesenrodt and the rest of the officers of the von Knyphausen regiment. In order not to sacrifice the men uselessly they were compelled to surrender. It is to be hoped that His Highness the Count of Hesse will grant new flags to these three regiments, keep them in service and retain his good will toward them. Friedrich Pfaff Friedrich von Eschwege H. Hessenmuller. FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 415 The Lieutenant Colonels. We observe from the testimony that the surprise at Trenton was carried out with great force and determination by the enemy. This fact must be taken into con- sideration in rendering a decision. According to our opinion all the pickets and guards did their duty and did not leave their posts without proper defence and they then only retreated under continual fire, some of them to their regiments and some to Bor- dentown in order not to be captured. The Yager company can- not be blamed because they had no bayonets and they all fol- lowed their commander Lieutenant von Grothausen now deceased, but how much he was blameworthy cannot now be decided be- cause he cannot be examined, for he died of his wounds. The detachment of artillery did their duty and defended themselves as long as it was possible to do it. Artillery Lieutenant Engel- hardt did wrong by not joining the von Lossberg and Rail regi- ments after he had lost his cannon, but as it is known to us that he has both before and since the surprise of Trenton conducted himself very bravely, and being a young officer and having testi- fied on a former examination at Charleston that he was already cut off, he should be acquitted. After a due consideration of all the different perplexing situations in which Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer was placed after the wounding of Colonel Rail, we can neither find a want of courage or irresolution on his part, but rather great bravery because : — I'. — He formed his regiment in a large open ground under the direct fire of the enemy. 2. — While marching to attack the enemy, he obeyed according to his rank the order of Colonel Rail and began an attack on the enemy then in his rear in the town, and after the regiments had been beaten and Colonel Rail had been wounded he took command. 3. — After agreeing with Majors von Hanstein and Matthaus to break through the woods he did march against the enemy a certain distance but he was compelled to stop, because his regi- ments were not in order after leaving the town and because he found himself surrounded on all sides by the enemy. The regi- ments which can form in a great surprise and under fire of the enemy like the von Lossberg and Rail regiments and by an order' of their commander attack the foe and defend themselves a con- siderable time, which the loss of the von Lossberg sufficiently 4i6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON shows, cannot be judged otherwise than that the officers, non- commissioned officers and privates fully did their duty. Captain von Biesenrodt showed no lack of determination or courage in the situation when he took command of the von Knyphausen regiment. 1. — He received the command of the regiment when it was posted in a bad position, a low swamp, and their cannon were already stuck in the marsh. 2. — It was utterly impossible for a weak regiment, in much confusion and without cannon, to break through the enemy which had already placed a guard on all the high positions on the shore and at the bridge, and the bridge could not be forced. 3. — He had fully considered the crossing of the creek as the only way to save the regiment and had its depth sounded before giving orders to cross the same. 4. — The crossing took considerable time on account of the steep shore on the other side, and it was a good move to order Lieutenant von Ferry with forty men to watch the enemy posted opposite on the heights. S- — We think that as a brave officer he did not want to be the first to go through the water but was determined to go with the rear guard and is not censurable but rather praiseworthy for this act, although Captain Schimmelpfennig found fault with this action. 6. — The capitulation was not wrong because the crossing of the creek was impossible with the cannon and the howitzers of the enemy posted on the heights. 7- — It is to be supposed that Captain von Biesenrodt's plan would have worked well were it not that Major -s^on Dechow had gone toward the enemy previous to this and revealed the situa- tion of the regiment by having a white pocket handkerchief tied to a staff. This fact worked greatly, toward the discouragement of the men. We are therefore in favour of acquitting the three regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail, now Angelelli, and the detachment of Artillery, all the guards and the pickets. The names of the surviving officers should be mentioned and the sen- tence when confirmed by His Highness should justify the con- duct of these men and it should be published in the newspapers here and at Cassel. FINDING OF HESSIAN COURT-MARTIAL 417 We humbly leave all this to the mercy of his Serene Highness, that he may acquit the three regiments and grant them new flags. W. VON LiNSINGEN G. E. VON Lengerke H. H. ElTEL. The Colonels. It seems to us according to the testimony read to us that much is due to the bad conduct of Colonel Rail the commander at Trenton at the time of the surprise. I. — That he had not used prudence enough to put up some fortifications which had been suggested by Colonel von Donop and the plans prepared by Captain Pauli. 2. — Engineer Captain Martin was sent to Colonel Rail shortly before the surprise by Colonel von Donop to see Colonel Rail about the construction of a redoubt and he had disdainfully re- jected the idea with the expression that the rebels were a miserable band and fortifications against such a party were unnecessary. 3. — Colonel Rail entirely omitted to designate alarm places for the brigade. 4. — When Major von Dechow made the proposition the day before the attack to send away the baggage as it was only an incumbrance in case of an attack Colonel Rail replied ridiculing and belittling the suggestion. Colonel Rail having been mor- tally wounded and died of the wounds received at the attack on Trenton he cannot be held to answer these charges, and a deci- sion cannot be justly rendered against him. But no blame for want of courage, or because of an unnecessary retreat can be placed on the von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail regiments at the affair at Trenton. The uncertainty as to why the regiment von Knyphausen remained so long at the place of rendezvous cannot be cleared up because of the death of Major von Dechow, but it is probable that he, as no alarm place had been designated by Colonel Rail, waited there for orders where to march his regiment. Captain von Biesenrodt cannot be blamed for finding the regiment in a bad position and in disorder for it is well understood how diffi- cult it is to bring out order where once there has been confusion. The testimony shows further that Captain von Biesenrodt had ordered the crossing of the creek with all the care available but the strong opposing forces and the superiority of artillery made 4i8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the crossing impossible. The detached commands and the pick- ets, the guards at the bridge under Sergeant Mueller, and the detachment of artillery did their whole duty and should be acquitted. We also think that every surviving officer of the Rail brigade in the affair at Trenton should be acquitted and their names together with this verdict should be published in public orders and in the newspapers of the country. In reference to the lost flags of those three regiments we would humbly ask and pray that new flags be granted them. R. VON BUNAU H. W. VON KiLZEL F. VON KOCHENHAUSEN. The President and the Auditor. We agree with the opinion of the Lieutenant Colonels for the reasons given and we would also state that no blame should be attached to Captain Schimmelpfen- nig and the Lieutenants Baum, Vaupell and von Geyso because they crossed the creek before they were ordered by Captain von Biesenrodt who also ordered the whole von Knyphausen regi- ment to cross. Captain Schiramelpfennig states in his testi- mony that he reassembled about fifty men and retreated with them to Princeton. As the regiments have all been acquitted but are serving without flags according to the Articles of War this matter must be referred to and we would humbly submit to his Serene Highness to mercifully grant new flags to the Alt von Lossljerg, the von Knyphausen and the Rail, now the d'Ange- lelli, regiments. VON KOSPOTH J. J. LOTHEISEN. Verdict. On the surprise at Trenton of the regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail, now d'Angelelli, and their capture. The Court Martial resolves after thoroughly examining all the testimony and all the facts that by a unanimous vote they judge that the regiments von Lossberg, von Knyphausen and Rail, now d'Angelelli, cannot be blamed for any want of courage, pre- mature retreat or insubordination at the surprise at Trenton, and they believe that the commanders of the regiments, the other offi- cers, the regiments themselves, the guards and pickets, the watch SURVIVING HESSIAN OFFICERS 419 at the bridge under Sergeant Mueller and the detachment of artillery all did their duty. The following is a list of the living officers as far as known : — Regiment von Lossberg. i. Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer ; 2. Major von Hanstein ; 3. Captain now Major von Altenbockum ; 4. Captain Steding ; 5. Lieutenant now Captain Piel ; 6. Lieu- tenant Zoll ; 7. Lieutenant von Hobe ; 8. Lieutenant Miiller ; 9. Lieutenant Schwabe ; 10. Lieutenant Hille ; 11. Lieutenant Hendorff ; 12. Lieutenant Grabe ; 13. Ensign von Zengen and 14. Bombardier Volprecht. Regiment von Knyphausen. i. Captain von Biesenrodt ; 2. Captain Schimmelpfennig ; 3. Lieutenant now Captain Baum ; 4. Lieutenant now Captain Wiederhold ; 5. Lieutenant now Cap- tain Vaupell ; 6. Lieutenant von Romrodt ; 7. Lieutenant von Sobbe ; 8. Lieutenant von Ferry ; 9. Lieutenant von Geyso ; 10. Ensign now Lieutenant von Dracli ; 11. Ensign now Lieutenant Zimmermann ; 12. Sergeant Mueller. Regiment Rail, now d' Atigelelli. i. Captain now Major Bo- king ; 2. Lieutenant now Captain Salzmann ; 3. Ensign Fleck ; 4. Artillery Lieutenant Engelhardt. Yager Corps. Corporal Frank Georg Bauer. We desire to acquit all these officers and if the verdict is con- firmed we wish to have it announced in public orders and pub- lished in the newspapers here and in Cassel for the justification of the regiments. We also humbly pray that his Highness will grant these regiments new flags. New York, January nth 1782 VON KOSPOTH J. J. LOTHEISEN No. 72. Report of Hessian War Commission. To HIS SERENE HIGHNESS, PrINCE OF HESSE, Most gracious Prince and Lord : The War Commission humbly ask for a full pardon in the case of the survivirig officers at the surprise at Trenton. We • agree with the court that the sentence should be published in the gazettes and that permission be granted to carry new colors. The Commission would also point out the notable defects in the lines of testimony and they would refer to the premature publica- 420 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON tion of the opinion of the court by Auditor Lotheisen, and before the full statement of facts had been given to him. According to the records, by order of the English General Grant several regiments were given to the command of Colonel von Donop and winter quarters were assigned them in and around Trenton on December 13, 1776. Thereupon Colonel von Donop occupied the posts as ordered and Colonel Rail took command at Trenton of the Alt-Lossberg, Knyphausen and his own regiment with the artillery belonging thereto, the yagers and twenty English dragoons. They made an effective force of about 1200 men, were all selected for services well performed, and they took pos- session of Trenton December 14, 1776. Colonel Rail neglected however to protect his position by redoubts, where the safety of the village required them. Colonel von Donop instructed him, through Captains Pauli and Martin, to erect them, but he only posted a few detachments and picket-guards. He required his men to sleep with their clothing on and with their arms, over night at their quarters, and later he changed this, taking a regi- ment at a time in turn to be prepared for attack. On the 20* of December he made a request of Brigadier General Leslie at Princeton and Major General Grant at Brunswick, as Princeton was twelve miles from Trenton, to place a detachment of two hundred men at Maidenhead, as he feared the enemy would interrupt communication between the two places. He received the reply that this was unnecessary because of the small number and wretched condition of the enemy. But Colonel Rail still thinking the condition of his post dangerous sent out strong patrols toward Princeton and then called them back to Trenton. In the meanwhile several American officers in disguise presented themselves to him, and under the pretext of soliciting protection, spied out all his preparations. On the 25* of December, the day before the surprise, the picket on the Pennington road was attacked and six men were wounded. Major von Dechow then requested Colonel Rail to order the baggage packed and sent to the grenadiers. Colonel Rail replied " Fudge ! these country clowns canrwt whip us ! " Nevertheless he reinforced the picket on the Pennington road by a detachment under Lieutenant Wie- derhold and ordered his men to remain awake during the night at the alarm houses. Major von Dechow, who on December 26'*' should have gone out with the patrol two hours before day- REPORT OF HESSIAN WAR COMMISSION 421 light, with two cannon and the required men, notwithstanding the anxiety he had the day before expressed, neglected his duty and the patrol did not march. Colonel Rail, on that morning slept until half past seven o'clock and Lieutenant Wiederhold and the picket had already at that time exchanged shots with the enemy. Lieutenant Piel of the von Lossberg regiment, Adjutant of the brigade, finding Colonel Rail asleep between five and six o'clock and again at half past seven o'clock hesitated to wake him and report the attack of the enemy. He went however to the watch guard quarters and sent out a few men to aid the pickets. On returning he saw Colonel Rail standing at the window in his night clothes and to his question " What is the matter .■' What is the matter.? " he replied " Do you not hear the firing ? " Colonel Rail answered " I will be there immediately." In the meantime Lieutenant Wiederhold had withdrawn his men on the approach and constant firing of four battalions of the enemy, which was followed by their whole force amounting to from five to eight thousand men, and waited on the outskirts of the town until the regiments should come out. During this time the enemy gained the heights of the town with their cannon and howitzers. Lieutenants Engelhardt and Fischer of the artillery fired their field pieces at the enemy several tirnes but the loss of eight gun- ners and five horses prevented the use of the cannon and the officers were compelled to retire. After the loss of the cannon Rail's regiment withdrew from their position in great confusion and in disorder rushed through both the other regiments. Ensign Kleinschmidt, Adjutant of the regiment, tried as much as possible to restore order again. Colonel Rail then with his own and the von Lossberg regiment attacked the town, already advantageously occupied by the enemy. He directed Major von Dechow to protect their flank with the von Knyphausen regiment. This regiment was therefore obliged to separate itself from the others, and to march with the Von Lossberg cannon to the bridge in order to hold it, but one piece however was sunk in the morass. So much time was lost in endeavoring to recover the cannon from the swamp that before the regiments reached the bridge it was occupied by the enemy. Colonel Rail was forced to give up the town because the force of the enemy was so great. And in the conflict he received a fatal wound and the command fell upon Lieutenant Colonel Scheffer. He was anxious to break through 422 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the enemy and make his escape with the von Lossberg and the Rail regiments, numbering then 483 effective men, but because of the enemy's advantageous position, their dispositions, their strong artillery fire, as well as the bad weather which apparently pre- vented the guns from going off and rendered them useless, they were compelled to surrender. Major von Dechow then with the von Knyphausen regiment, numbering 276 men, wished to retreat through the stream. But he received a severe wound and had to give over his command to Captain von Biesenrodt. He was then informed that the other two regiments had been taken pris- oners and that he also with his regiment must surrender. Cap- tain von Lowenstein, who brought this message to Captain von Biesenrodt, failed to mention that in that neighborhood there was a place in the creek where the water was only knee-deep. Captain von Biesenrodt had no intention of surrendering, as Major von Dechow advised, but resolved to retreat through the woods. He found however this plan was defeated by the occu' pation of the wood by the enemy, and he then had the creek sounded and directed his regiment to march through it. He ordered an officer and 40 men to cover their retreat, and placed himself with the rear guard. But the accomplishment of this design was thwarted by the strong advance of Lord Stirling's brigade, their position having been discovered by the display of a white handkerchief on a spontoon by Major von Dechow, and he was forced then to capitulate. All this shows that Colonel Rail and Major von Dechow in many respects acted culpably, and laid the foundations for the ill fate of the brigade. All the surviving officers should therefore be absolved from the penalty passed upon them by the court-martial. The War Commission finds these to be the facts in the case and agrees with it the more readily, because the members of the court, by their accurate knowledge of the localities and of the accompanying circum- stances of the case, are in the best condition to judge of its merits. But the War Commission is of the opinion that the refer- ence to the publication of the sentence in the gazettes and the gracious permission to carry the flags does not properly belong to the penalty but rather belongs to the mercy of his Highness. They also think a reprimand should be given on account of the defects in the hearings; also that the Auditor should not have WHY CADWALADER FAILED 423 allowed his own opinions to have been communicated to the court-martial before the sentence had been announced. And we ever remain in deepest reverence, Your Serene Highness' humble, most obedient and faithful servants Bardeleben Schlieffen Wakenitz Jungkenn Wangermann Schramm Cassel 1 5 April 1782. No. 73. Colonel Cadwalader to General Washington. Bristol 26 December 1776 Sir: The river was so full of ice that it was impossible to pass above Bristol, where I intended ; and therefore I concluded to make an attempt at Dunk's Ferry. As soon as it was dark I sent down all the boats I could muster and marched down about eight o'clock. I embarked a few men to line the river and pre- vent any person from escaping to give intelligence to the enemy : and these were followed by a part of the first battalion of militia, then two field-pieces, with which I went over to see if it was practicable to land them ; and upon examination I found it was impossible the ice being very thick. Upon reporting this to the field-officers, they were all of opinion, that it would not be proper to proceed without cannon. During this time the third battalion was landed. We concluded to withdraw the troops that had passed, but could not effect it till near four o'clock this morning. The whole then were ordered to march for Bristol. I imagine the badness of the night must have prevented you from passing over as you intended. Our men turned out cheerfully. We had about eighteen hundred rank and file, including artillery. It will be impossible for the enemy to pass the river till the ice will bear. Would it not be proper to attempt to cross below and join General Putnam, who was to go over from Philadelphia today, with five hundred men, which number, added to the four hundred Jersey militia which Colonel Griffin left there, would make a formidable body. This would cause a diversion, that would favor any attempt you may design in future, and would expose their baggage and stores, if they attempt to cross. It is impossible, in our present situation, to cooperate with General 424 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Putnam. The militia will be easier kept together by being in motion. We shall have some service from Colonel Hitchcock's brigade, whose term of enlistment will be up in a few days. We have procured a considerable number of shoes, stockings and breeches for them. They are in good spirits and enlist very fast. I am Sir, with great respect, Your most obedient, humble servant John Cadwalader. No. 74. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop. Sir : I am honoured with yours by Captain Gamble. I am exceed- ingly sorry for Colonel Rail and his Brigade. I have informed General Grant of your being at AUentown this day and told him that I had desired you would remain at AUentown, untill you heard further. I have begged of him to let me know his pleasure in regard to your motions without loss of time. We are told the Rebels crossed over the river and carried their Prisoners with them yesterday. I have about 50 Hessians of Rail's here and 3 officers. I am with Respect, Sir, Your most obed't h'lle servant A. Leslie p. Town Dec. 27th 1776 4 afternoon. No. 75. General Leslie to Colonel von Donop. I. Princetown, Saturday morning 2 o'clock. Sir : About 1400 of the Rebels landed at Trenton yesterday and went to Pennington about 3 o'clock in the afternoon from thence they intended for Rockyhill there to be met by the Jersey Troops and they and another party were to attack the Troops here, in consequence of this I must beg of you to march the Troops under your command to this Place without Loss of time, which I shall inform General Grant of. I 've the honour to be Sir Your most obedt h'lle servant A. Leslie. To CoL. Donop. BRITISH FEARS FOR PRINCETON 425 II. Princetown 5 o'clock Saturday morning Sir: I sent off two Dragoons at 2 o'clock this morning to inform you of two separate Bodies of the rebels intending to attack this Place in consequence of which I beg you will march the Troops under your command without Loss of Time to this Place. I suppose you will order back the heavy Guns that are on the Road from South Amboy to Burlington. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed't h'ble servant Alex. Leslie. No. 76. General Grant to Colonel von Donop. Brunswick 28th Dec 1776. Sir : You will please to march the Troops under your command to Princetown where the General has ordered me to station the Hessian Grenadiers, Yagers and remains of Rail's Brigade. You will please to inform General Leslie when you intend to march and as nearly as you can judge about the hour you expect to arrive at Princetown. I have desired him to send a Patrol of the two Battalions of Light Infantry towards Trenton, when you move as he is upon your arrival at Princetown to order a part of his Corps to march to Kingston or Six Mile Run, the 2^^ Divi- sion to march the day after which Colonel Sterling is to follow with the 42"'^ Reg't. I have ordered Kohlers Bat. of Hessian Grenadiers to march tomorrow from Amboy, if no accident prevents their complying with this order, they will be at Princetown the 30th. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obed't servant James Grant. No. 77. General Grant to Colonel von Donop. Brunswick 28th Dec 1776. Sir: You wished some time ago to be stationed at Princetown and it is to be hoped you will find it agreeable Winterquarters. Your Grenadiers and Yagers have been much fatigued. I am sorry to hear you have so many sick and that my Friend Colonel Block is 426 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of the number. I flatter myself that under your care they will all recover soon and have no doubt if they should make an attempt on your cantonment that those Rebel Gentlemen would have reason to repent it. You will be kind enough to form Magazines for the subsistence of the Troops under your command agreeable to the General's Instruction at Trenton. I have wrote to the General for a supply of ammunition for your three pounders and the Troops. Powder and Ball shall be sent and you will be so good as to order Cartridges to be made, when you are furnished with the materials, in the mean time I have desired General Leslie to let you have all he can spare before he leaves you. It is not in my Power to leave Colonel Sterling with you, but I have ordered him not to march till Kohler's Reg't arrives at Princetown, they are to disembark to-morrow morning at Araboy and are to join you as soon as possible. You shall have a State of our new Cantonments as soon as fixed. I had the honour to receive your Letter by Mr. Henry, who sets out in the morning and I am Sir, Your most obed't servant James Grant No. 78. Colonel von Donop to General Grant. Princeton 29th Dec. 1776 Sir : This morning at six o'clock Lieutenant Henry brought your reply to me of yesterday in which you seem to place much confi- dence in me. I am very much obliged, my General, and I hope that you will never be mistaken if the occasion presents itself. This is what appears to be my actual situation and I confess to you that I am somewhat embarrassed, finding myself alone after the departure of Colonel Sterling. He was a reliable man and one able to interpret for me. I am now obliged to guess the meaning of your letters by the sense of the paragraphs, not being able to understand your language fully. Thus I am obliged to exercise much ingenuity in deciphering your orders. The same thing happens to me when the country people come to me to give me news of the movements of the army of Washington, who in my opinion ought to be driven immediately to the other side VON DONOP'S PERPLEXITIES 427 of the Delaware river. I do not believe at all that they have more than 500 of our men as prisoners which number cannot surely weaken our army. I acknowledge however that the shame is none the less for our nation to have lost six cannon, with fifteen banners and three regiments at one attack and this in a section of the country greatly demoralized. Colonel Rail was to have been buriefi with his Lievitenant Colonel -^ yesterday. I am very well satisfied becavise they would have been compelled to appear before a Court Martial, the former to explain his general conduct and the latter why he did not go out in the morning with Rail's patrol. You order me to make a store house here but I do not find Captain Gamble who is I think with you, although I have not given him permission to go away from here. I have however found one of the Commissary's who has told me that it was afterward arranged to have one of the Commissary's here. The two six pounders which belong to the 42"^ Regiment please give orders whether or not they are to remain with me. I desire very much that General Leslie should march as 400 men slept last night in the open air. You can imagine what must happen to my men. All sick. I am, with the greatest consideration Sir, your most h'lle serv't DONOP. No. 79. General Washington to Colonel Cadwalader. Head Quarters, Newtown Deer. 27th 1776. Dear Sir : I was just now favored with your two letters of the 25th and 26th instant, and regret much the cause that prevented your passing the river : had it not been for this accident I am persuaded our plans would have been accomplished to our utmost wishes. The same obstacle hindered Genl. Ewing from giving his aid and co-operating in the attack on Trenton. Could we have had his force to have secured the pass over the bridges, the whole of the enemy must have fallen into our hands ; but avail- ing themselves of this circumstance, all that could, retreated with the greatest precipitation without making the least opposi- tion. Those that remained, drew up, but in such confusion and disorder that they were incapable of making a successful resist- ance. You have the number of officers &c below. The damage we sustained was very inconsiderable, not more than a private or 1 Major von Dechow. 428 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON two killed, one or two wounded, and Captn. Washington of the Third Virginia Regiment. I should have most certainly pursued those that retreated had it not been for the distressed situation of my Troops (about Three or four & twenty hundred in number) who had experienced the greatest fatigue in breaking a passage thro the ice, and all the severities of rain & storm. This with the apprehension that we could receive no succours, and that the difficulty of passing & repassing the River might become greater, led us to conclude our return eligible. The officers & men who were engaged in the enterprize behaved with great firmness, perseverance, and bravery and such as did them the highest honour. I shall be extremely ready, and it is my earnest wish to pursue every means that shall seem probable to distress the enemy and to promise success on our part. If we could happily beat up the rest of their Quarters, bordering on and near the River, it would be attended with the most valuable consequences. I have called a meeting of the General Officers to consult of what measures shall be next pursued & would recommend that you & Genl. Putnam should defer your intended operations till you hear from me. Perhaps it may be judged prudent for us to pass here with the force we have, if it is practicable, or if it is not that I may come down to you & afford every assistance in my power. We will try to concert a plan & upon such principles as shall appear to promise success. Please to give me frequent information of the state of the River, & whether it is to be passed in Boats or whether the Ice will admit of a passage. I am in haste, Dr Sir With much esteem Yr. most obedt. servt Go. Washington Prisoners. 1 Col. 2 Lieut. Cols. 3 Majors 4 Captains 8 Lieuts. 12 Ensigns 2 Surgeon's Mates, 92 Sergeants 20 Drummers 9 Musicians 25 Servants 740 Rank & file Total 919, about 25 or 30 killed, 6 pieces of Brass Artillery, from 900 to 1000 stand arms &c To Col. John Cadwalader. WASHINGTON'S SECOND CROSSING 429 No. 80. General Washington to the Congress. Newtown, 29 December 1776. Sir: I am just setting out to attempt a second passage over the Delaware with the troops that were with me on the morning of the 26"\ I am determined to effect it if possible : but know that it will be attended with much fatigue and difficulty on account of the ice, which will neither allow us to cross on foot, nor give us an easy passage with boats. General Cadwalader crossed from Bristol on the 27''% and, by his letter of yesterday, was at Bordentown with about eighteen hundred men. In addition to these General Mifflin sent over five hundred from Philadelphia on Friday, three hundred yesterday evening from Burlington and will follow today with seven or eight hundred more. I have taken every precaution in my power for subsisting the troops and shall, without loss of time, and as soon as circumstances will admit of it, pursue the enemy in their retreat — try to beat up more of their quarters — and in a word adopt in every instance such measures as the exigency of our affairs requires, and our situation will justify. Had it not been for the unhappy failure of Generals Ewing and Cadwalader in their attempt to pass, on the night of the 25''', — and if the several concerted attacks could have been made — I have no doubt that our views would have succeeded to our warmest expectations. What was done occasioned the enemy to leave their several posts on the Delaware with great precipita- tion. The peculiar distresses to which the troops, who were with me, were reduced by the severities of cold, rain, snow, and storm — the charge of the prisoners they had taken, and another reason that might be mentioned,' and the little prospect of receiving succors on account of the season and situation of the river — would not authorize a further pursuit at that time. Since trans- mitting the list of prisoners, a few more have been discovered and taken in Trenton : — among 'em a lieutenant-colonel and a deputy adjutant general, — the whole amounting to about a thousand. I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obe- dient servant. Go. Washington. 430 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON P. S. I am under great apprehension about obtaining proper supplies of provisions for tlie Troops. 1 fear it will be extremely difificult, if not impracticable, as the Enemy, from every account has taken and collected every thing they could find. No. 8 1. British Forces in New Jersey. The British and Auxiliary Troops in New Jersey, stationed from Elizabeth Town to Maidenhead, may be given as follows : — Queen's Rangers ; First, Second, Third and Fourth Battalions Light Infantry, British ; First and Second Battalions Grenadiers, British ; First Regiment Waldeckers, Hessian ; Battalion von Linsingen, Hessian ; Battalion von Minnigerode, Hessian ; Bat- talion von Block, Hessian ; Hessian battalion — the escaped men of Rail's brigade ; Detachment Chasseurs, British ; Detach- ment Yagers, Hessian ; Detachment Royal Artillery, British — principally from First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Companies of Fourth Battalion ; Sixteenth Regiment Light Dra- goons, British, Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable William Har- court, commanding ; Seventeenth Regiment Light Dragoons, British, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Birch, commanding. Also the following Brigades of British Foot: — First Brigade. Major General Robertson's command, which in his absence was in charge of Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable Henry Monckton, as senior officer ; Fourth Regiment, or " King's Own," Major James Ogelvie, commanding ; Twenty-seventh Regiment or Inniskilling's, Major Henry Couran, commanding- Forty-fifth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel the Honorable Henry Monckton, commanding. Second Brigade. Brigadier General Alexander Leslie, com- manding; Fifth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel William Walcott, commanding; Twent3'-eighth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Rob- ert Prescott, commanding; Thirty-fifth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel James Cockburne, commanding ; Forty-ninth Regiment, Major Thomas Dilkes, commanding. Fourth Brigade. Major General Grant's command, but in charge of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood ; Seventeenth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood, commanding; Fortieth Regiment, Major Samuel Bradstreet, commanding, in the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave ; Fifty-fifth Regiment, Major Cornelius Cuyler, commanding. READY FOR THE NEW MOVEMENT 431 Sixth Brigade. Major General James Agnew commanding; Twenty-third Regiment, or Royal Welsh Fuzileers, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Bernard, commanding; Forty-sixth Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Enoch Markham, commanding. Two other temporary brigades had been formed. One under command of Lieutenant Colonel Sterling, as senior officer, was composed of : Forty-second Regiment or Royal Highland Watch, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Sterling, commanding ; Seventy-first or Scotch Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, commanding. The other temporary brigade under command of Brigadier General Mathew consisted of : First Battalion of British Guards, Second Battalion of British Guards. No. 82. General Mifflin's Orders. General Mifflin issued these orders on the last day of the year 1776, and the first day of the year following : — BRIGADE ORDERS. BoRDENTOWN, December 31, 1776. The General returns his most hearty thanks to the brigade for the Alertness shown by them on the Alarm last Evening. Such Conduct does them Honour and gives their Commanding Officer the best expectations of success. He recommends to all officers of the Brigade to hold their respective Corps in complete order for Marching at a minute's warning for which purpose they must prevent their Men from strolling too far from their quarters. A party of 200 Men goes out this day to harrass the Enemy, commanded by Majors Mifflin ^ and Hubley.^ The commanding officer to call at Head Quarters in this town for orders. Every Man in the brigade must always keep by him dressed Provisions for three Days. This Order must not be neglected as the least Deviation from it may ruin the best concerted Plans. 1 Major John Mifflin of Colonel Magaw's Fifth Pennsylvania battal- ion. He was evidently in this campaign acting as brigade-major to General Mifflin, an office he held prior to September, 1776. ^ Major Adam Hubley, Tenth Pennsylvania Continental regiment, then being organized. 432 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON BRIGADE ORDERS. BoRDENTOWN, January ist 1777 His Excellency Gen. Washington having last night, by Express, ordered the Brigade to be held in readiness to march in the Night, or early this morning, at a minute's notice. The Com- manding Officer, in obedience to orders, directed the Brigade to be paraded at two o'clock, but was surprised to find very little Attention paid to the Drums. Had the enemy advanced towards this Town at that time, the Army here might have been, to their eternal Disgrace and the Ruin of their Country, made Prisoners of War. In fu^ture when the Brigade is ordered to be assembled by Night or by Day, the long roll will be beat : upon which signal every Ofiicer and Soldier must turn out with the greatest alacrity and form on their proper Ground in the Street. They are not to wait for the Drums beating to Arms. The long roll is the proper signal for turning out, and must be attended to, as much as beat- ing to Arms. Gen. Washington has detached a large Body of Men toward the Enemy at Princeton, which in all probability will bring on a General Action. The Brigadier General, therefore, exhorts all his Officers and men, as they love their Country and wish to see her secure and happy, to hold themselves in complete order to march at a minute's warning. The reputation of the Brigade depends on their Alacrity and Readiness to obey orders and to turn out to face their Enemy. Dr. Potts,' Surgeon General to the Brigade, requests the offi- cers to make returns to him at Head Quarters in this Town of their sick and wounded without the least Delay, as the men fre- quently suffer much from the neglect of such returns. A Brigade hospital will be established this Day to receive the sick &c. In future the Guards and Picket are to be paraded near Head Quarters at 10 o'clock in the Morning, that the Relief may take Place time enough for those who are to be relieved to have their Dinners at a seasonable hour. Major Holland " is sent by his Excell'y Gen. Washington to ' Jonathan Potts of Pennsylvania, formerly surgeon for the troops on the Canadian Expedition. 2 Captain Thomas Holland of the Delaware Continental regiment died October 13, 1777, of wounds received at the battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777. THE NEW AMERICAN FORCE 433 assist in forming and arranging the Brigade, which consists of many small Corps and of course requires a general Arrangement. Unavoidable Difficulties and much Danger would arise from having them in their present state. The officers and men are, therefore, to pay great Attention to the Arrangement, to know their Places, and to be able to form, when Occasion requires in an instant. Good Order, Discipline and a Good Cause, are the Surest Steps to victory and to Glory. The new force then gathered in Burlington County between Trenton and Bordentown consisted of : Detachments from regiments of the Pennsylvania Continental Line then organizing ; Second Regiment, Colonel John Philip De Haas ; Tenth Regiment, Colonel James Penrose ; Eleventh Regi- ment, Colonel Richard Humpton ; Twelfth Regiment, Colonel William Cooke ; and also from the Philadelphia Rifle Battalion, Colonel Timothy Matlock. Detachments from the following organizations of Pennsylvania Associators : Lancaster County Battalions of Colonel Bartram Galbraith, Colonel James Crawford, Colonel Timothy Green, Colonel Thomas Porter, Colonel James Burd and Colonel George Ross ; Bedford County Battalion of Colonel John Piper; Northumber- land County Battalions of Colonel James Potter, a company of Colonel Philip Cole's battalion and Captain John Lee's company of Colonel Samuel Hunter's battalions ; Bucks County Battalion of Colonel Arthur Erwin ; Cumberland County Battalion of Colo- nel Joseph Armstrong ; Northampton County Battalions of Colo- nel George Ta)'lor, Colonel Henry Geiger and Colonel Jacob Stroud ; Detachment of New Castle County, Delaware Militia, Major Thomas Duff, commanding ; a company of Kent County, Delaware Militia, Captain Thomas Rodney, commanding ; Four companies of Philadelphia Militia, Captain George Henry, senior officer, commanding ; a detachment of Marines from the armed boat Hancock, Captain William Shippen, commanding; a de- tachment of Marines from Ship Montgomery, Captain William Brown, commanding ; a detachment of Marines under command of Major Samuel Nicholas ; a- detachment of Marines from the brigantine Andrew Doria, Captain Isaac Craig, commanding ; a detachment of sailors used to firing guns, under command of Cap- tain Thomas Read of the Continental Navy. 434 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 83. General Cadwalader to General Washington. Crosswicks, 31st December, 1776. Sir : A very intelligent young gentleman is returned just now from Princetown he left there yesterday morning and got in about 12 or I o'clock. He would have returned last night, but General Les- ley who commands and Colonel Abercrombie would not suffer him to go off. He made his escape this morning early, and informs me that from the best information he could get, they were about five thousand men, consisting of Hessians and British troops — about the same number of each. I have made a rough draft of the road from this place, the situation of the cannon and works begun and those intended this morning. He thinks there are not so many as they report. He conversed with some of the officers and lodged last night with them. They inquired what were our numbers. He mentioned about 16,000 from the best accounts. They did not believe we had more than five or six thousand. That many were forced into the service, and that they were de- serting in great numbers every day. No sentries on the back or east end of the town. They parade every morning an hour before day and some nights lie on their arms. An attack has been ex- pected for several nights past — the men are much fatigued and until last night in want of provisions, when a very considerable number of wagons arrived with provisions from Brunswick. All the baggage is sent to Brunswick, where there are but few men. This confirms the accounts I sent you last night. About fifty light horse at Princeton, one half quartered at Scudder's mill, the other on the west of the town. He inquired if there were any troops on the road. They say there are more on this side Brunswick. Some Hessians arrived yesterday (it is said) from Brunswick. I suppose they were those that landed at South Amboy as I cannot hear anything of them in this neighbourhood. I received your last letter last night by express. Our spy was near the party of chasseurs when they were taken and says an assistant quarter master general or commissary was with them. The enemy had heard it. Major Mifflin ^ is just setting off with a party of two hundred from Cumberland. Major Nicholas of ^ Major John Mifflin, acting on the staff of General Mifflin. REENLISTMENT OF THE TROOPS 435 the Marines '■ informs me that Ehsha Laurence,^ late sheriff of Monmouth, is now collecting men at Monmouth Court House : he has got together about seventy men. He has put twenty men into prison for refusing to bear arms. The person who brings the intelligence fled. Major Nicholas is desirous of going after Laurence's party. I think it is not an object at this time ; and have refused the application till I have your order. I am, Sir, your most obedient, very humble servant John Cadwalader. Sir: No. 84. General Washington to the Congress. Trenton i January 1777. On Monday morning I passed the Delaware myself : the whole of our troops and artillery not till yesterday, owing to the ice, which rendered their passage extremely difficult and fatiguing. Since their arrival, we have been parading the regiments whose time of service is now expired, in order to know what force we should have to depend on and how to regulate our views accord- ingly. After much persuasion, and the exertions of their officers, half or a greater proportion of those from the eastward have con- sented to stay six weeks on a bounty of ten dollars. I feel the inconvenience of this advance, and I know the consequence which will result from it : but what could be done ? Pennsylvania had allowed the same to her militia : the troops felt their importance, and would have their price. Indeed, as their aid is so essential and not to be dispensed with, it is to be wondered at, that they had not estimated it at a higher rate. I perceive that Congress, apprehensive of this event, had made unlimited provision for it. General Mifflin is at Bordentown with about eighteen hundred men and General Cadwalader at Croswix's with about the same number. We are now making our arrangements, and concerning a plan of operations, which I shall attempt to execute as soon as possible and which I hope will be attended with some success. As to the number and situation of the enemy, I cannot obtain certain intelligence ; but from the accounts most to be relied on, ^ Major Samuel Nicholas of Philadelphia. 2 Lieutenant-Colonel Elisha Laurence, First battalion, New Jersey volunteers, loyalists. 436 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON they have collected the principal part of their force from Bruns- wic and the neighbouring posts, at Princeton, where they are throwing up some works. The number there is reported to be from five to six thousand : and it is confidently said they have sent the chief part of their baggage to Brunswic. It is added, that General Howe landed at Amboy a day or two ago with a thousand light troops, and is on his march from thence. I have the honour to be, with due respect &c Go. Washington. P. S. I have not been able to procure returns of our force, owing to our situation. I suppose that about two or three and twenty hundred passed with me, which number is now reduced to fifteen or sixteen hundred. No estimate of our force can be formed from the number of regiments : many of them, by reason of sickness, cannot turn out more than a hundred men. No. 85. General Knox to his Wife. Trenton 2d Jan. 1777. We are collecting our force at this place, and shall give battle to the enemy very soon. Our people have exerted great fortitude, and stayed beyond the time of their enlistment, in high spirits, but want rum and clothing. Will it give you satisfaction or plea- sure in being informed that the Congress have created me a gen- eral officer — a brigadier — with the entire command of the artil- lery.' If so, I shall be happy. It was unsolicited on ray part, though I cannot say unexpected. People are more lavish in their praises of my poor endeavours than they deserve. All the merit I can claim is industry. I wish to render my devoted country every service in my power ; and the only alloy I have in my exer- tions is, that it separates me from thee — the dearest object of all my earthly happiness. May Heaven give us a speedy and happy meeting. The attack of Trenton was a most horrid scene to the poor inhabitants. War, my Lucy, is not a humane trade, and the man who follows (it) as such will meet with his proper demerits in another world. GENERAL PUTNAM'S ADVICES 437 No. 86. Colonel Reed to General Putnam. East side of Trenton Creek January 2d 1777, twelve o'clock at night Dear General Putnam ; The enemy advanced upon us today. We came to the east side of the river or creek, which runs through Trenton, when it was resolved to make a forced march and attack the enemy in Princeton. In order to do this with the greatest security our baggage is sent off to Burlington. His Excellency begs you will march immediately forward with all the force you can collect at Crosswicks where you will find a very advantageous post : your advanced party at AUentown. You will also send a good guard for our baggage wherever it may be. Let us hear from you as often as possible. We shall do the same by you. Yours, J. Reed. To Major-Gen ERAL Putnam, Mount Holly. No. 87. General Putnam to . II o'clock Philada 3rd Jany 1777 Gentlemen : I have the honor to inform you that I have this Morning by Captain Nicholson Advice of an Action yesterday at Trenton. Gen' Howe advanced with his whole Strength (supposed 7000) toward Trenton, & was met by Stirling's & Hand's Brigades a small Distance from that Place. The action commenced at i oClock P. M. & continued till Sunsett. Our two Brigades (who opposed the British Army) retreated across a Bridge to the main Body which were posted on this Side a Rivulet which divides the Town. In this Situation my Author left the Armies last evening — no considerable Loss was sustained on either Side. A Can- nonade began about Sunrise this Morning & still continues. I have ordered the Gallies & all the Boats which can be collected, to move up the River immediately — I am dispatching about 1000 Militia which have come in from different Parts of this State. It is needless to insist on the Necessity of forwarding every Man that is inlisted. You must be equally sensible with me that the fate of a Winter depends probably on the exertions of a few Days I have the Honour to be Gentlemen with the greatest Esteem your most humi Serv't Israel Putnam. 438 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 88. From the Journal of Captain Thomas Rodney. (Original journal belonging to iWr. Caesar A. Rodney of Wilmington, Dela- ware.) January 3d 1777. At two o'clock this morning, tlie ground having been frozen firm by a keen N. West wind, secret orders were issued to each department and the whole army was at once put in motion, but no one knew what the Gen. meant to do. Some thought that we were going to attack the enemy in the rear ; some that we were going to Princeton : the latter proved to be right. We went by a bye road on the right hand which made it about 16 miles. During this nocturnal march I with the Dover Company and the Red Feather Company of Philadelphia Light Infantry led the van of the army and Capt. Henry with the other three companies of Philadelphia Light Infantry brought up the rear. The van moved on all night in the most cool and determined order, but on the march great confusion happened in the rear. There was a cry that they were surrounded by the Hessians and several corps of Militia broke and fled towards Bordentown, but the rest of the column remained firm and pursued their march without disorder, but those who were frightened and fled did not recover from their panic until they reached Burlington. When we had proceeded to within a mile and a half of Princeton and the van had crossed Stony Brook, Gen. Washington ordered our Infantry to file off to one side of the road and halt. Gen. Sulli- van was ordered to wheel to the right and flank the town on that side, and two Brigades were ordered to wheel to the left, to make a circuit and surround the town on that side and as they went to break down the Bridge and post a party at the mill on the main road, to oppose the enemy's main army if they should pursue us from Trenton. The third Division was composed of Gen. Mer- cer's Brigade of Continental troops, about 300 men, and Cad- walader's brigade of Philadelphia Militia to which brigade the whole of our Light Infantry Regiment was again annexed. Mer- cer's brigade marched in front and another corps of infantry brought up the rear. My company flanked the whole brigade on the right in an Indian file so that my men were very much extended and distant from each other ; I marched in front and was followed by Sarjeant M^Knatt and next to him was Nehe- miah Tilton. Mercer's Brigade which was headed by Col. Haslet FROM CAPTAIN RODNEY'S JOURNAL 439 of Delaware on foot and Gen. Mercer on horseback was to march straight on to Princeton without turning to the right or left. It so happened that two Regiments of British troops that were on their march to Trenton to reinforce their army there, received intelligence of the movements of the American Army (for the sun rose as we passed over Stony Brook) and about a mile from Princeton they turned off from the main road and posted them- selves behind a long string of buildings and an orchard on the straight road to Princeton. The two first Divisions of our army therefore passed wide to the right and left, and leaving them undiscovered went in to Princeton. Gen. Mercer's Brigade, owing to some delay in arranging Cadwalader's men, had advanced several hundred yards ahead and never discovered the enemy until he was turning the buildings they were posted behind, and then they were not more than fifty yards off. He immediately formed his men, with great courage, and poured a heavy fire in upon the enemy. But they being greatly superior in number returned the fire and charged bayonets, and their onset was so fierce that Gen. Mercer fell mortally wounded and many of his officers \yere killed, and the brigades being effectually broken up, began a disorderly flight. Col. Haslet retired some small distance behind the buildings and endeavored to rally them, but receiving a bullet through his head, dropt dead on the spot and the whole brigade fled in confusion. At this instant Gen. Cad- walader's Philadelphia Brigade came up and the enemy checked by their appearance took post behind a fence and a ditch in front of the buildings before mentioned, and so extended themselves that every man could load and fire incessantly; the fence stood on low ground between two hills ; on the hill behind the British line they had eight pieces of artillery which played incessantly with round and grape shot on our brigade, and the fire was extremely hot. Yet Gen. Cadwalader led up the head of the column with the greatest bravery to within 50 yards of the enemy, but this was rashly done, for he was obliged to recoil ; and leaving one piece of his artillery, he fell back about 40 yards and endeavoured to form the brigade, and some companies did, form and gave a few vollies, but the fire of the enemy was so hot, that, at the sight of the Regular troops running to the rear, the militia gave way and the whole brigade broke and most of them retired to a woods about 150 yards in the rear:. But two. pieces 440 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of artillery stood their ground and were served with great skill and bravery. At this time a field officer was sent to order me to take post on the left of the artillery, until the brigade should form again, and, with the Philadelphia Infantry keep up a fire from some stacks and buildings, and to assist the artillery in preventing the enemy from advancing. We now crossed the enemy's fire from right to Left and took position behind some stacks just on the left of the artillery ; and about 30 of the Phila- delphia Infantry were under cover of a house on our left and a little in the rear. About 150 of my men came to this post, but I could not keep them all there, for the enemies fire was dreadful and three balls, for they were very thick, had grazed me : one passed within my elbow nicking my great coat and carried away the breech of Sarjeant M'^Knatts gun, he being close behind me, another carried away the inside edge of one of my shoe soles, another had nicked my hat and indeed they seemed as thick as hail. From these stacks and buildings we, with the two pieces of Artillery kept up a continuous fire on the enemy, and in all probability it was this circumstance that prevented the enemy from advancing, for they could not tell the number we had posted behind these covers and were afraid to attempt passing them ; but if they had known how few they were they might easily have advanced while the two brigades were in confusion and routed the whole body, for it was a long time before they could be reor- ganized again, and indeed many, that were panic struck, ran quite off. Gen. Washington having rallied both Gen. Mercer's and Gen. Cadwalader's brigade, they moved forward and when they came to where the Artillery stood began a very heavy platoon fire on the march. This the enemy bore but a few minutes and then threw down their arms and ran. We then pushed forwards towards the town spreading over the fields and through the woods to enclose the enemy and take prisoners. The fields were covered with baggage, which the Gen. ordered to be taken care of. Our whole force met at the Court House and took there about 200 prisoners and about 200 others pushed off and were pursued by advanced parties who took about 50 more. In this engagement we lost about 20 killed, the enemy about 100 men killed and lost the field. This is a very pretty little town on the York road 12 miles from Trenton ; the houses are built of brick and are very elegant especially the College which has 52 rooms in it; but the THE AIMERICANS IN HIGH SPIRITS 441 whole town has been ravaged and ruined by the enemy. As soon as the enemy's main army heard our cannon at Princeton (and not 'til then) they discovered our manouvre and pushed after us with all speed and we had not been above an hour in possession of the town before the enemy's light horse and advanced parties attacked our party at the bridge, but our people by a very heavy fire kept the pass until our army left the town. Just as our army began our march through Princetown with all their prisoners and spoils the van of the British army we had left at Trenton came in sight, and entered the town about an hour after we left it, but made no stay and pushed on towards Brunswick for fear we should get there before him, which was indeed the course our General intended to pursue had he not been detained too long in collecting the Baggage and Artillery which the enemy had left behind him. Our army marched on to Kingston then wheeled to the left and went down the Millstone, keeping that River on our left ; the main body of the British followed, but kept on through Kingston to Brunswick ; but one division or a strong party of horse took the road on the left of the Millstone and arrived on the hill, at the bridge on that road just as the van of the American Army arrived on the opposite side. I was again commanding the van of our army, and General Washington see- ing the enemy, rode forward and ordered me to halt and take down a number of carpenters which he had ordered forward and break up the bridge, which was done and the enemy were obliged to return. We then marched on to a little village called Stone Brook or Summerset Court House about 15 miles from Princeton where we arrived just at dusk. About an hour before we arrived here 150 of the enemy from Princeton and 50 which were stationed in this town went off with 20 wagons laden with Clothing and Linen, and 400 of the Jersey militia who surrounded them were afraid to fire on them and let them go off unmolested and there were no troops in our army fresh enough to pursue them, or the whole might have been taken in a few hours. Our army now was extremely fatigued not having had refreshment since yesterday morning, and our baggage had all been sent away the morning of the action at Trenton : yet they are in good health and in high spirits. 442 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON MoRRiSTOWN January 6th 1777 We left Pluckemin this morning and arrived at Morristown just before sunset. The order of march, was first a small advance guard, next the officers who were prisoners, next my Light Infantry Regiment, in columns of four deep ; next the prisoners flanked by the riflemen, next the head of the main column, with the Artil- lery in front. Our whole Light Infantry are quartered in a very large house belonging to Col. Ford having 4 Rooms on a floor and Two stories high. This town is. situated among the moun- tains of Morris County, about 18 miles from Elizabethtown, 28 from Brunswick and 20 from Carroll's Ferry. No. 8g. Private Lardner to Captain Smith. Dear Sir I thank you for the papers you sent me relating to the first Troop. The journal of Col. Reed Adjutant Gen' of the Army, I read with peculiar interest, it is a valuable state paper. A document coming from one so intimately acquainted with all the events of the day, will always be interesting, tho' but for the short period of 7 days. I am forceably struck, however inac- curacies creep into history. Marshal in relating the account of the attack at Trenton & the retreat to Princeton, takes one fact on the credit of the British account. Viz., that the army " took a circuitous rout thro' Allentown to Princeton". This would have been impossible, being more than double the distance of that taken by Washington by Quaker bridge. Instead of 6 or 7 hours it would have taken nearly the whole of the next day & exhausted the troops. In the B. History of the War, published in London 1780 p. 387 it says "They marched with such expedition towards Princeton, that tho' they took a circuit by Allentown, partly to avoid the Brigade which lay at Maidenhead" &c On the evening of i Jany 1777 a party of the Troop George Campbell, James Caldwell, myself & I think another, were posted as a patrole on this very road. We remained on it the whole night, occasionally going as high as Quaker bridge. We found that the Enemy had no patroles there, and that apparently they had no knowledge of it. Along this road Washington led his army the following night, on the memorable retreat, Sz: with which he must have been made acquainted or the patroles would nof have been placed there. WASHINGTON'S "OWN MANOEUVRE" 443 From my own knowledge I have the best reason to doubt Gen'l Wilkinson's statement, where he says Vol. I. 140 — "Gen'I St Clair had been charged with the guard of the fords of the Assampink & in the course of the day (2'' Jani'y) whilst examin- ing the ground to the right, he had fallen on the Quaker bridge." I am a living witness it was familiar to others some time before. But Wilkinson in another place observes, that the practicability of the rout was well understood by Colonel Reed the Adjutant Genl. — Surely it was. I well remember the circumstance of the Council sitting near to where the Troop was station'd, on the evening of the 2'^ Janry, and to have heard it confidently mentioned the next day & repeatedly afterwards as the universal sentiment — that the thought of the movement that night originated entirely with Washington — solely his own manoeuvre. I now give a list from my best recollection, of the gentlemen who served in that campaign. Mr. Nesbitt was not then a mem- ber, tho' with the army as an officer in a City Corps, he joined us immediately upon our getting home. Mr. Howell was not one of the first members — he came in about i Decem 1776. Mr. Peters was not an original member, we had all been of the Green light Infantry the year before. List according to (nearly) seniority of age or standing 1 Samuel Morris Captain 12 John'Dunlap 2 Levi Hollingsworth 13 James Hunter 3 George Campbell 14 Thomas Leiper 4 Blair M'^Clenachan 15 Thomas Leaming 5 Samuel Caldwell 16 William Hall 6 John Mease 17 Jonathan Penrose 7 William Pollard 18 John Donaldson 8 James Caldwell 19 Thomas Peters 9 George Gruff (of Lancaster) 20 John Lardner 10 James Budden 21 Samuel Howell Jun. 11 William Tod I am dear sir with much respect Your obedient Servant, John Lardner. Tacony, Near Philada July 31, 1824 Captain Smith. 444 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 90. Congressional News. Congress has received the following intelligence from the army at Pluckemin, in the State of New-Jersey, January 5, 1777. On the second instant the enemy began to advance upon us at Trenton ; and, after some skirmishing, the head of their column reached that place about four o'clock, whilst their rear was as far back as Maidenhead. They attempted to pass San- pinck creek, which runs through Trenton, at different places, but finding the fords guarded, they halted and kindled their fires. We were drawn up on the south side of the creek. In this situa- tion we remained till dark, cannonading the enemy, and receiving the fire of their field pieces, which did but little damage. At twelve o'clock, after renewing our fires and leaving guards at the bridge in Trenton, and other passes on the same stream above, we marched by a round about road to Princeton. We found Princeton, about sunrise, with only three regiments, and three troops of lighthorse in it, two of which were on their march to Trenton. — These three regiments, especially the two first made a gallant resistance ; and in killed, wounded, and prisoners, must have lost five hundred men. Upwards of one hundred of them were left dead on the field, and with those carried on by the army, and such as were taken in the pursuit, and carried across the Delaware, there are near three hundred prisoners, fourteen of whom are officers — all British. Colonels Haselet and Potter, Capt. Neal of the artillery, Capt. Flemming, who commanded the first Virginia regiment and four or five other valuable officers, with about twenty-five or thirty privates, were slain in the field. Our whole loss cannot be ascer- tained as many who were in pursuit of the enemy, whom they chased three or four miles are not yet come in. We burnt the enemy's hay and destroyed such other things as the occasion would admit. From the best intelligence we have been able to get the enemy were so much alarmed at the apprehension of losing their stores, at Brunswick, that they marched immediately thither from Tren- ton, without halting, and got there before day. The militia of the Jersies are taking spirit and we hear coming in fast. "DRUB'D AND OUTGENERALED" 445 No. 91. Doctor Potts to Owen Biddle. (Dr. Jonathan Potts, a Surgeon in the American Army, to Owen Biddle of Philadelphia.) My D'r Friend : Tho' the Ac'ct I send is a melancholy one (in one respect) yet I have sent an Express, to give you the best Information I can collect. Our Mutual Friend, Anthony Morris, died here in three hours after he received his wounds on Friday morning. They were three in number — one on his chin, one on the knee, and the third and fatal one on the right temple, by a grape-shot. Brave man ! he fought and died nobly, deserving a much better fate. Gen. Mercer is dangerously ill, indeed, I have scarcely any hopes of him, the Villains have stab'd him in five different Places. The dead on our side of this Place amount to sixteen, that of the Enemy to twenty-three. They have retreated to Brunswick with the greatest Precipitation, and from Accounts just come, the Hero, Washington, is not far from them ! they have never been so shamefully Drub'd and outgeneraled in every Respect. I hourly expect to hear of their whole Army being cut to pieces, or made Prisoners. It pains me to inform you that on the morning of the Action I was obliged to fly before, the Rascals, or fall into their hands, and leave behind me my wounded Brethren ; would you believe that the inhuman Monsters rob'd the General as he lay unable to resist on the Bed, even to the taking of his Cravat from his Neck, insulting him all the Time. The number of Prisoners we have taken I cannot yet find out, but they are numerous. Should be glad to hear from you by the bearer ; is the Rein- forcement march'd ? I am, in haste, your most obedient humble Serv't Jon'n Potts. Dated at the Field of Action, near Princeton, Sunday Evening, Jan'y 5th 446 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON No. 92. General Cadwalader to Council of Safety. Pluckimin 5th Jan'y 1777 Gentlemen — Our Militia are in great Distress : I have not time to inform you of our Successes — 300 prisoners were taken at Princetown by the different Parties who pursued & those taken in the Town — The Enemy have all left Brunswic & I have no doubt will leave this State in a few days — . . I am Genl with great Respect Your most obt Servt John Cadwalader Brig. Gen. Directed To the Honble the Council of Safety Philada. No. 93. Letter from an Officer of Distinction (In General Washington's Army, dated Pluckemin January 5, 1777.) I have been so much engaged with marches and counter- marches that I have not had a moment to write. We left Cross- wicks the first inst. about ten o'clock in the morning and arrived a little after sunset at Trenton, through the worst roads that were ever seen. About eleven o'clock we were alarmed by the approach of the enemy. We only sent out a brigade to amuse them, while we took post on the lower side of the creek, and back in the woods. There was a pretty smart cannonade till dark, when both sides ceased firing. The men ordered to keep their posts and lie on their arms. A council of war was held and it was determined to file off to the right, through the woods, and by bye roads leaving the enemy on the left and attack Princeton by daylight : about five hundred men, and two pieces of war can- non were left to amuse the enemy. Our whole army, with a great train of artillery, marched about one, and you may suppose that we must form aivery long line of march. We arrived one hour too late. About seven hundred British troops were prepared to march, to join their main body, part of which lay at Maidenhead. They saw our army about a mile and a half distance, which made a very formidable appear- ance. They returned to the town and made ready to receive us; one division of their troops formed in front of a house on the south side of the college and on the right hand of the road. A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER'S ACCOUNT 447 Gen. Mercer's brigade filed off to the right, and was attacked by the other division. The brigade did not fire till they advanced within forty yards. The enemy received this brigade with charged bayonets. Gen. Mercer was wounded (it is said by a ball fired) but it is a fact he was afterwards wounded in the belly by a bayo- net. Our brigade advanced through the skirts of a wood in front of the enemy, posted on an eminence with two field pieces. Gen. Greene ordered me to form as soon as we arrived on a hill about two or three hundred yards distance. Our column was formed from the right by divisions. About fifty light infantry of the enemy posted themselves behind the fence, about an hundred yards distance, And, on our left flank, I despatched Captain Henry with a body of light infantry, about an hundred to flank that party. But the first discharge from our field pieces on the left, drove them up to the main body. I immediately rode in front to the column, and ordered the second divisions to double up, to the right, the third to the left and so on alternately. This was done in the face of the enemy and under a shower of grape shot. About half the first battalion was formed when they broke, fell back upon the column, threw the whole into confusion. I immediately rode round the left and formed a division, joined one man after the other to it : but the fire was so hot that they again broke. Some of the officers behaved very bravely, and exerted themselves to the utmost. Gen. Washington came down and exposed himself very much, but expostulated to no purpose. I just then saw a considerable party of horse moving off to our right, to take advantage of the confusion, but a discharge or two from the cannon immediately dispersed them. I asked the Gen- eral if it would not be proper to form about an hundred yards in the rear. He desired me to try, which succeeded beyond my expectation. I collected some of the brigade and some New England men, and advanced obliquely to the right, passed a fence, and marched up to the left of the enemy. Two small parties were formed on the left, and advanced at the same time, and bravely pushed up in the face of a heavy fire. The enemy then left their station and inclined to the left, and gave us several heavy fires, in which two were killed and several wounded. I pressed my party forward, huzzaed, and cried out " They fly, the day is our own " and it passed from right to left. I fancy the enemy found it impossible to escape, as our troops 448 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON all began to rally and join in the pursuit. They all dropped their packs and flew with the utmost precipitation, and we pur- sued with great eagerness. The men were much fatigued for want of rest, provisions, and with marching We followed about two miles and then gave over. Many parties are yet out, and have taken several prisoners. The town surrendered and about sixty, including fourteen officers surrendered. We have taken in the whole about three hundred, about thirty killed and fifty wounded. I have no doubt but others will be brought in. We lost about thirty killed and thirty wounded. We took three pieces of brass artillery. The troops that lay at Maidenhead returned about the same time we returned from the pursuit. Horses could not be secured to carry off the artillery. Major Proctor made an exchange : he left an iron three-pounder, and brought a brass six-pounder. The enemy proceeded towards Brunswick with the utmost expedition ! the British arrived there at about day light and the Hessians at twelve yesterday. All was in the greatest confusion and the British troops left town last evening, and the whole this morning. We marched imme- diately to Morristown, where we shall be ready to fall down on Elizabethtown, Newark or Amboy. Gen M'Dougal is back of Newark, where three Continental regiments, and Jersey militia, altogether two thousand. Gen. Heath has crossed the North River with three brigades. General Putnam is to come up with all the troops he can muster. No. 94. Colonel Lambert Cadwalader to Mrs. Samuel Meredith. Philadelphia Jany 7, 1777 — My dear Peggy — Our victorious little army under General Washington, after having performed that signal service at Trenton, of which you have heard, returned to this side of the river, but having received intelligence of Johnny's ^ crossing near Bristol, the General returned again to Trenton. He was there joined by Johnny's and Mifflin's Brigades. Having heard that the enemy was mak- ing towards him from Princeton, he sent off about 700 men to meet and endeavor to drive them back — But the enemy proving too numerous, our division retired into Trenton, and over the ' General John Cadwalader. LETTER FROM GENERAL KNOX 449 bridge to the Mill-hill where the General in the meantime had posted our main force. The enemy took possession of Trenton. The General however kept up his camp fires and decamped suddenly in the night. He took his march by a back road, got into the Bordentown road, and forced his march to that place. On his way thither he met with a body of British troops which soon gave way. He then advanced rapidly to Princeton and took quite a number of prisoners. Our loss is General Mercer wounded, Col Haslitt and a Captain of Marines, with a few privates killed. After the encounter the General marched off for Somerset Court House which is eight miles out of the road to Brunswick, in order to join General Heath's Army from New England — There is a report that this has been effected and that our army has gone forward to Brunswick — General Howe cannot raise a large array anywhere to make headway against us, so we expect very great events in our favor. Our Army in the Jerseys must amount altogether to nearly twelve thousand. I forgot to tell you that we took five brass cannon in the late engagement. I am in great hopes that the enemy will be cleared from the Jerseys entirely. A son of Warwick Coates is in town who saw Johnny, Mere- dith, and Nixon, well at Princeton after the "action. Adieu in haste Your affectionate brother Lambert Cadwalader No. 95. General Knox to his Wife. MoRRisTOWN, Jan. 7, 1777 My Dearest Love. — I wrote to you from Trenton by a Mr. Furness, which I hope you have received. I then informed you that we soon expected another tussle. I was not out in my conjecture. About three o'clock on the 2d of January, a column of the enemy attacked a party of ours which was stationed about one mile above Trenton. Our party was small, and did not make much resistance. The enemy, who was Hessians, entered the town pell-mell, pretty much in the same manner that we had driven them a few days before. Nearly on the other side of Trenton, partly in the town, runs a brook (the Assunpink), which in most places is not ford- 450 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON able, and over which through Trenton is a bridge. The ground on the other side is much higher than on this, and may be said to command Trenton completely. Here it was our army drew up, with thirty or fourty pieces of artillery in front. The enemy pushed our small party through the town with vigour, though not with much loss. Their retreat over the bridge was thoroughly secured by the artillery. After they had retired over the bridge, the enemy advanced within reach of our cannon, who saluted them_with great vociferation and some execution. This continued till dark, when of course it ceased, except a few shells we now and then chucked into town to prevent their enjoying their new quarters securely. As I before mentioned, the creek was in our front, our left on the Delaware, our right in a wood, parallel to the creek. The situation was strong, to be sure : but hazardous on this account, that had our right wing been defeated, the defeat of the left would almost have been an inevitable consequence and the whole thrown into confusion or pushed into the Dela- ware, as it was impassable by boats. From these circumstances the general thought it best to attack Princeton, twelve miles in the rear of the enemy's grand army, and where they had the 17th, 40th and 55th regiments, with a number of draughts, alto- gether perhaps twelve hundred men. Accordingly, about one o'clock at night we began to march and make this most extra manoeuvre. Our troops marched with great silence and order, and arrived near Princeton a little after daybreak. We did not surprise them as at Trenton ; for they were on their march down to Trenton, on a road about a quarter of a mile distant from the one in which we were. You may judge of their surprise when they discovered such large columns marching up. They could not possibly suppose it was our army, for that they took for granted was cooped up near Trenton. They could not possibly suppose it was their own army returning by a back road ; in short, I believe they were as much astonished as if an army had dropped perpendicularly upon them. However they had not much time for consideration. We pushed a party to attack them. This they repulsed with great spirit, and advanced upon another column just then coming out of a wood, which they like- wise put in some disorder ; but fresh troops coming up, and the artillery beginning to play, they were after a smart resistance totally put to the rout. The 17th regiment used their bayonets THE ENEMY PANIC-STRICKEN 451 with too much severity upon a party they put to flight, but they were paid for it in proportion, very few escaping. Near sixty were killed on the spot, besides the wounded. We have taken between three and four hundred prisoners, all British troops. They must have lost in this affair nearly five hundred killed, wounded and prisoners. We lost some gallant officers. Briga- dier-General Mercer was wounded : he had three separate stabs with a bayonet. A Lieutenant-Colonel Fleming was killed, and Captain Neil of the artillery, an excellent officer. Mercer will get better. The enemy took his parole after we left Princeton. We took all their cannon, which consisted of two brass six- pounders, a considerable quantity of military stores, blankets, guns &c. They lost, among a number of other officers, a Captain Leslie, a son of the Earl of Leven and nephew to General Leslie ; him we brought off, and buried with the honours of war. After we had been about two hours at Princeton, word was brought that the enemy were advancing from Trenton. This they did, as we have since been informed, in a most infernal sweat, — run- ning, puffing, and blowing, and swearing at being so outwitted. As we had other objects in view, to wit, breaking up their quar- ters, we pursued our march to Somerset Court House, where there were about thirteen hundred quartered, as we had been informed. They, however, had marched off and joined the army at Trenton. We at first intended to have made a forced march to Brunswick ; but our men having been without either rest, rum or provisions for two nights and days, were unequal to the task of marching seventeen miles farther. If we could have secured one thousand fresh men at Princeton to have pushed for Bruns- wick, we should have struck one of the most brilliant strokes in all history. However, the advantages are very great : already they have collected the whole force, and drawn themselves to one point, to wit, Brunswick. The enemy were within nineteen miles of Philadelphia, they are now sixty miles. We have driven them from almost the whole of West Jersey. The panick is still kept up. We had a battle two days ago with a party of ours and sixty Waldeckers, who were all killed or taken, in Monmouth County in the lower part of the Jerseys. It is not our interest to fight a general battle, nor can I think under all circumstances it is the enemy's. They have sent their baggage to Staten Island from the Jerseys, and we are very well informed they are doing 452 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the same from New York. Heath will have orders to march there, and endeavour to storm it on that side. " There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the fiood leads on to vic- tory." For my part, my Lucy, I look up to heaven and most devoutly thank the great Governor of the Universe for producing this turn in our affairs : and the sentiment I hope will so prevail in the hearts of the people as to induce them to be a people chosen of Heaven, not to give way to despair, but at all times and under all circumstances never to despair of the Common- wealth. No. 96. Lord Stirling to S 1777 — New Town Jany 7 — 1777 — Sir — - I shall send off to Philadelphia about 70 British prisoners, tomorrow morning. Gen' Washington has upwards of 200 more with him some more I understand are gone by Burlington ; I have just received a letter from Gen^ Washington's Secretary he says the loss of the Enemy at Princetown was at least 500 includ- ing killed & prisoners a number of their wounded are scattered in the farm houses so that very few of the three Regiments viz : the 17"^, 40'^" & 55* & 60 dismounted light Horse made their Escape ; It was the Generals design to have surprised Bruns- wick : But the Enemy's main body pressed so close on his Rear that he was obliged to abandon that design & file off to the left at Kingston on the 5 th he was at Pluckimin about 16 mile to the North West of Brunswick by possessing the Hills in that Country he will be able to make the scituation of the Enemy very uneasy in East Jersey I doubt not it will oblige them to abandon it. With much respect & Esteem I am your most Humble Serv' Stirling. No. 97. American Officers Killed at Princeton. Colonel John Haslet, commanding the regiment of Delaware state troops, was an Irishman by birth. It appears that he was educated for the ministry of the Presbyterian church, but after- ward studied physic and practiced it for several years at his home in Dover, Delaware. He was a zealous patriot and one of the first men in the state in advocating independence. On the AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED AT PRINCETON 453 recommendation of the Council of Safety of the " Three lower Counties of Delaware " he was commissioned by the Continental Congress January 19, 1776, as colonel of the first organization raised in Delaware for the defense of the colonies. He was quite tall, erect and athletic. He was beloved by his men, whom it was his pride to have exceptionally well drilled and disciplined. His regiment took a conspicuous part in the battles of Long Island and White Plains. When Colonel Haslet was killed, an order was found in his pocket directing him to return home to recruit his regiment, which then numbered less than one hundred men. This order he delayed complying with while the active compaign was in progress and so he met his death. As has been stated, he fell with a bullet in his head and died during the after- noon of the fight. His remains were taken to Philadelphia and buried with military honors in the old Presbyterian burial-ground, January 25, 1777. On July 3, 1841, they were removed to the graveyard of the Presbyterian Church at Dover, Delaware. The Legislature of the State of Delaware by resolution on February 22, 1841, " remembering his virtues as a man, his merit as a citi- zen and his services as a soldier caused a monumental stone in testimony of their respect to be placed over his grave." Captain Daniel Neil was first appointed captain-lieutenant of the Eastern company of Artillery raised in the Colony of New Jersey by order of the Provincial Congress February 13, 1776. On the first of the following month Frederick Frelinghuysen of Somerset County was commissioned captain of the battery, but on May 9, 1776, Daniel Neil was promoted captain, and in December the company became attached to Knox's brigade of artillery on the Continental Establishment. He was personally very brave and greatly beloved by his men. General Greene, alluding in a letter to the efficiency and early death of this man and referring to the grief of his widow in the camp at Morristown, said it "melts the hearts of all." Captain William Shippin was born about 1750. For several years prior to the war he resided in Philadelphia and kept a grocer's store on the south side of Market Street wharf. He owned two vessels engaged in the coasting trade, but both of them were captured by the enemy. In the Journal of the Conti- nental Congress March 22, 1776, we find a notice of a petition from " Thorowgood Smith and others setting forth that they 454 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON have procured a vessel and raised money to fit her out as a priva- teer in order to cruise and guard the coast of Virginia and pray- ing that a commission be granted to William Shippin to whom they propose to give the command of said vessel and it was resolved that a commission be granted to William Shippin as captain of the above named vessel." In May, 1776, we find him in command of a company of marines on board the armed boat Hancock, Captain Thomas Moore, which vessel was attached to the Delaware fleet of Commodore Seymour in the December following. On the i6th of December, 1776, Margaret Morris notes in her journal that " A Captain, a smart little fellow, named Shippen " had been hunting for tories in Burlington. It is certain that when General MifHin passed over the river with reinforce- ments for General Washington's army Captain Shippin, filled with patriotic ardor, joined him with a ship's party and some marines, and so took part and received his death wound when the Pennsylvania militia entered the fight at Princeton. He was buried in the Friends' burial-ground on Stony Brook, but was afterward disinterred and carried over the Delaware River at Burlington at the same time as the body of General Mercer. The Pennsylvania Evening Post of Saturday, January 18, 1777, says: " Yesterday the remains of Captain William Shippin who was killed at Princeton the third instant, gloriously fighting for the liberty of his country were interred at St. Peters church-yard. His funeral was attended by the Council of Safety, the members of Assembly, officers of the Army, a troop of Virginia Light Horse, and a great number of inhabitants. This brave and unfortunate man was in his twenty-seventh year and has left a widow and three young children to lament the death of an affec- tionate husband and tender parent, his servants a kind master and his neighbours a sincere and obliging friend." A half-pay pension was granted his children after his death. In his will his name is spelled Shippin, not Shippen, as it is usually written, and he therefore could not have been of the family of William Ship- pen, Senior, Member of the Continental Congress, nor of Dr. William Shippen, Junior, Director General of the Hospitals of the Armies of the United States.'- Captain John Fleming was a very gallant officer, a member of ^ Letter of Dr. William Shippen in Pennsylvania Magazine,]3.rm3.ry, 1898, p. 497. AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED AT PRINCETON 455 what has been for many years a distinguished family in Virginia The field officers of his regiment, the First regiment Virginia infantry, were not present for duty at the time of the battle, and the command devolved on him. Captain Fleming was 'only twenty-one years old, and was considered one of the bravest young men in the army. The " Pennsylvania Evening Post " of February i and the "Journal" of February 5 contained elegies on his character " addressed to the Virginian youth." Lieutenant Bartholomew Yeates belonged to the same regi- ment, and was but eighteen years of age. He was said to be possessed of great wealth. His father was a clergyman of the Virginia church, the Rev. Robert Yeates of Gloucester County, and his mother was Mary, daughter of Edward Randolph, the youngest of seven sons of William Randolph, the founder of the Virginia family of that name. His name is usually spelled Yates, although in most Revolutionary papers another " e " is inserted. In the battle he was shot in the breast, after which he received thirteen bayonet wounds, besides being knocked on the head with a musket after he fell. His dying affidavit of the brutal conduct of British soldiers, made on January 9, 1777, was forwarded by General Washington to General Howe. In the " Pennsylvania Journal " of February 19, 1777, we find this tri- bute to him, — " But oh ! again my mangled Yeates appears, Excites new vengeance and provokes fresh tears ; Behold my wounds ! he says or seems to say Remember Princeton on some future day ; View well this body, pierced in every part, And sure 't will fire the most unfeeling heart." Ensign Anthony Morris, Jr., was an officer of the First bat- talion Philadelphia Associators. He was born August 8, 1738,' and was by trade a brewer. His great-grandfather of the same name was mayor of Philadelphia in 1704. Ensign Morris re- ceived three wounds, " one on the chin, one on the knee and the third and fatal one on the right temple by a grape shot." ^ He died in about three hours after he was wounded, and was first buried in the Friends' burial-ground at Stony Brook, as we find by an entry of January 14, 1777, in the diary of Margaret Morris of ^ Letter of Surgeon Jonathan Potts to Owen Biddle, Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, from "Field of Action," January 5. — Pennsyl- vania Magazine, January, 1896, p. 537, and see p. 445, ante. 456 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Burlington. The diary of Christopher Marshall of Philadelphia states, under date of January 24, 1777 : " Last evening came from the camp the light infantry of the First Battalion of City Militia : Also were brought the remains of Ensign Anthony Morris, Jr. who was killed at Princeton bravely supporting the Cause of Liberty and Freedom : buried this afternoon in Friends burial ground in a very heavy shower of rain and without military hon- ours it being the request of his relations to the General that he should be so interred." Among the wounded officers we find Major William Bradford of the Second battaUon of Philadelphia Associators, one of the publishers of the " Pennsylvania Journal " in Philadelphia, and the father of the Honorable William Bradford, the attorney-gen- eral of the United States during the presidency of Washington. General Washington reported Colonel Potter as among the killed, and from that time to the present nearly every historian has repeated the error. Colonel James Potter of the Second regiment of Northumberland County militia, in his impetuous dash after Colonel Mawhood's men, was so unfortunate as to be slightly wounded and taken prisoner. Being reported " missing,'' Washington thought he had been killed. On his being exchanged a few da3's after the battle, Colonel Potter engaged in a raid on the enemy at Brunswick, January 19, 1777. He was promoted brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia April 5, 1777, a major- general May 23, 1782, and afterward attained a high position in the councils of that Commonwealth. No. 98. British Officers Killed at Princeton. Captain Robert Mostyn entered the British service in the Sixty-fifth regiment June 30, 1768, was made a lieutenant No- vember 7, 1774, and a captain in the Fortieth regiment May 6, 1776. Judging from General Howe's return, hereafter referred to, Captain Mostyn must have been on duty that day with the Fifty-fifth regiment. Captain John McPherson entered the army October 27, 1763, was made a lieutenant in the Seventeenth regiment July 14, 1769, and captain September 8, 1775. He was shot near the lungs by a musket ball, and was carried, still living, into the village of Princeton. Here he was found by the brave old General Putnam BRITISH OFFICERS KILLED AT PRINCETON 457 when he took possession o£ that place several days after the fight. Up to that time Captain McPherson, although suffering great pain, had received little attention from the surgeon, but the gen- eral provided medical attendance, and bestowed such kindness upon his wounded foe that a great friendship sprung up between the Scotchman and the American. It is related that when Cap- tain McPherson rallied somewhat from the effect of the wound, and asked that a British officer at Brunswick be allowed to see him. General Putnam permitted the visitor to come in at night, and manoeuvred his insignificant force many times past the room where the wounded officer lay until he had succeeded in impress- ing his British guest with the idea that he had several thousand men in his command. Captain McPherson died in Princeton. Captain the Hon. William Leslie of the Seventeenth regiment was a son of the Scotch Earl of Levin, and a nephew of General Alexander Leslie, who had been posted at Maidenhead. He was a gallant officer, twenty-six years of age and greatly beloved by his men. He entered the English army as an ensign of the Forty-second regiment May 3, 1770, was made a lieutenant of the Seventeenth regiment July 12, 1773, and captain, February 26, 1776. He was mortally wounded in the fight, and, when dis- covered by General Washington as the latter passed over the field after the battle, was properly cared for by Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia, who was with Washington that day. Dr. Rush attended to the wants of his wounded foe with more than ordi- nary interest, in return, as he told General Washington, for some obligation which he owed to Captain Leslie's father for many kindnesses received at his hands when a student at the univer- sity in Edinburgh. Captain Leslie was carried off with the army on their march northward, and received every possible attention, but he died the next morning near Pluckemin, and on the follow- ing day, January 5, was interred with military honors in the vil- lage cemetery at Pluckemin. General Leslie, when he heard of the respect shown his nephew by the American officers, was greatly affected, and, when the opportunity occurred, sent his acknowledgments to General Washington by Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgerald of Washington's staff, who, some days after the bat- tle of Princeton, entered the British lines under flag of truce. Dr. Rush further showed his regard for the father of the young officer by erecting a monument to Captain Leslie's memory in 4S8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON the old graveyard at Pluckemin. The following is the inscription thereon : — In Memory of the Honble Captn Willm Leslie of the 17th British Regiment Son of the Earl of Leven in Scotland He fell Jany 3d 1777 Aged 26 Years at the battle of Princeton His friend Benjn Rush, M. D. of Philadelphia hath caused this Stone to be erected as a mark of his esteem for his WORTH and of his respect for his noble family No. 99. British Casualties at Princeton. General Howe's return of the killed, wounded and missing in this engagement was as follows : — Seventeenth Regiment — i Captain, 12 rank and file killed; I Captain, i Lieutenant, i Ensign, 4 Sergeants, 46 rank and file wounded ; i Sergeant, i Drummer, 33 rank and file missing. Fortieth Regiment — i Lieutenant wounded ; i Ensign, 3 Ser- geants, I Drummer, 88 rank and file missing. Fifty-fifth Regiment — i Sergeant, 4 rank and file killed; i Ensign, i Sergeant, 2 rank and file wounded ; i Captain, i Lieu- tenant, I Ensign, i Sergeant, 2 Drummers, 66 rank and file miss-' ing. Total : I Captain, i Sergeant, 16 rank and file killed ; i Cap- tain, 2 Lieutenants, 2 Ensigns, 5 Sergeants, 48 rank and file wounded ; i Captain, i Lieutenant, 2 Ensigns, 5 Sergeants, 4 Drummers, 187 rank and file missing. — 276. This official return omits the name of Second Lieutenant Frederick Desaguliers, and nine enlisted men of the Royal regi- ment of artillery, killed. No. 100. General Howe's Congratulations. Head Quarters, New York Jan. 8th 1777. General Howe desires Lieut. Col. Mawhood will accept his thanks for his Gallantry and good Conduct in the Attack made upon the Enemy on the 3d Instant. He desires his thanks may GENERAL MERCER 459 also be given to the Officers and Soldiers of the 17th Foot, to part of the 55th Regiment and other Detachments on their march who on that occasion supported the 17 th Regiment and Charged the Enemy with Bayonets in the most Spirited manner. The General desires his public Approbation may be signified to Capt. Scott of the 17'h Foot, for his remarkable good conduct in protecting and securing the Baggage of the 4th Brigade on the above Occasion. No. loi. Note on General Mercer. The Continental Congress directed that his son should be educated at the expense of the Government, and they also ordered a monument to be erected to his memory at Fredericks- burg, Virginia, with this inscription : SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF HUGH MERCER BRIGADIER GENERAL OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. HE DIED ON THE I2TH OF JANUARY 1 777 OF THE WOUNDS HE RECEIVED ON THE THIRD OF THE SAME MONTH, NEAR PRINCETON, IN NEW JERSEY BRAVELY DEFENDING THE LIBERTIES OF AMERICA. THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN TESTIMONY OF HIS VIRTUES AND THEIR GRATITUDE HAVE CAUSED THIS MONUMENT TO BE ERECTED. At the time of his death General Mercer was about fifty-six years of age. On his tombstone, erected by the Saint Andrew's Society, we find a record of his life. He was a native of Aber- deen in Scotland, an assistant surgeon in a Highland regiment in Charles Edward's army on the disastrous battlefield of CuUo- den, April i6, 1746 ; recipient of a medal from the Corporation of Philadelphia for his courage in the assault against the Indian settlement of Kittanning, on the Allegheny River, where he was severely wounded ; the companion of Washington in the Army of General Forbes at the reduction of Fort Duquesne ; a physician of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a man distinguished for his skill and learning, his gentleness and decision, his refinement and humanity, his elevated honor and his devotion to the great cause of civil and religious liberty. General Mercer was a Minute Man in 1775, an organizer of Continental regiments in 1776 and 46o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Congress promoted him June 5, 1776, from a colonel of the Third Virginia regiment to the rank of a general officer. A few months afterward " he poured out his blood for a Generous Prin- ciple." His patriotism is fully evinced in his remark in the Virginia House of Burgesses when he offered his services for the war, — " Hugh Mercer will serve his adopted country and the cause of liberty in any rank or station to which he may be ap- pointed." No. 102. Washington's Report on Princeton. (The following is General Washington's official report to Congress of the bat- tle of Princeton.) Pluckemin, 5 January 1777 Sir : I have the honor to inform you, that, since the date of my last from Trenton, I have removed with the army under my com- mand to this place. The difficulty of crossing the Delaware, on account of the ice, made our passage over it tedious, and gave the enemy an opportunity of drawing in their several canton- ments and assembling their whole force at Princeton. Their large pickets advanced towards Trenton, — their great prepara- tions and some intelligence I had received — added to their knowledge, that the ist of January brought on a dissolution of the best part of our army — gave- me the strongest reasons to conclude that an attack upon us was meditating. Our situation was most critical, and our force small. To remove immediately was again destroying every dawn of hope, which had begun to revive in the breasts of the Jersey militia : and to bring those troops, who had first crossed the Delaware and were lying at Crosswicks under General Cadwalader and those under General Mifflin at Bordentown (amounting in the whole to about three thousand six hundred) to Trenton, was to bring them to an exposed place. One or the other, however, was unavoidable. The latter was preferred and they were ordered to join us at Trenton, which they did, by a night-march, on the i^' instant. On the 2^, according to my expectation, the enemy began to advance upon us ; and after some skirmishing, the head of their column reached Trenton about four o'clock, whilst their rear was as far back as Maidenhead. They attempted to pass Sanpink Creek, which runs through Trenton, at different places : but, WASHINGTON'S REPORT ON PRINCETON 461 finding the fords guarded, they halted and kindled their fires. We were drawn up on the other side of the creek. In this situa- tion we remained till dark, cannonading the enemy, and receiving the fire of their field-pieces, which did us but little damage. Having by this time discovered that the enemy were greatly superior in number, and that their design was to surround us, I ordered all our baggage to be removed silently to Burlington soon after dark ; and at twelve o'clock after renewing our fires and leaving guards at the bridge in Trenton and other passes on the same stream above, marched by a roundabout road to Prince- ton, where I knew they could not have much force left, and might have stores. One thing I was certain of, — that it would avoid the appearance of a retreat (which was of consequence, or to run the hazard of the whole army being cut off) whilst we might by a fortunate stroke withdraw General Howe from Tren- ton and give some reputation to our arms. Happily we suc- ceeded. We found Princeton about sunrise, with only three regiments and three troops of light-horse in it, two of which were on their march to Trenton. These three regiments, especially the two first, made a gallant resistance, and, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, must have lost five hundred men : upwards of one hundred of them were left dead on the field ; and, with what I have with me and what were taken in the pursuit and carried across the Delaware, there are near three hundred prisoners, fourteen of whom are officers, all British. This piece of good fortune is counterbalanced by the loss of the brave and worthy General Mercer, Colonels Haslet and Potter, Captain Neil of the artillery. Captain Fleming, who commanded the first Virginia regiment, and four or five other valuable officers, who, with about twenty-five or thirty privates were slain in the field. Our whole loss cannot be ascertained, as many, who were in pursuit of the enemy (who were chased three or four miles) are not yet come in. The rear of the enemy's army lying at Maidenhead, not more than five or six miles from Princeton, was up with us before our pursuit was over : but as I had the precaution to destroy the bridge over Stony Brook, about half a mile from the field of action, they were so long retarded there, as to give us time to move off in good order for this place. We took two brass field pieces : but for want of horses, could not bring them away. We also took some blankets, shoes, and a few other trifling articles. 462 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON burned the hay, and destroyed such other things, as the shortness of the time would admit of. My original plan, when I set out from Trenton, was to have pushed on to Brunswic ; but the harassed state of our troops, many of them having had no rest for two nights and a day, and the danger of losing the advantage we had gained by aiming at too much, induced me, by the advice of my officers, to relinquish the attempt. But, in my judgment, six or eight hundred fresh troops upon a forced march would have destroyed all their stores and magazines, taken (as we have since learned) their military chest, containing seventy thousand pounds, and put an end to the war. The enemy, from the best intelli- gence I have been able to get, were so much alarmed at the apprehension of this, that they marched immediately to Brunswic without halting, except at the bridges (for I also took up those on Millstone, on the different routes to Brunswic) and got there before day. From the best information I have received, General Howe has left no men either at Trenton or Princeton. The truth of this I am endeavouring to ascertain, that I may regulate my movements accordingly. The militia are taking spirits, and, I am told, are coming in fast from this State ; but I fear those from Philadelphia will scarcely submit to the hardships of a winter campaign much longer, especially as they very unluckily sent their blankets with their baggage to Burlington. I must do them the justice however to add, that they have undergone more fatigue and hardship, than I expected militia, especially citizens, would have done at this inclement season. I am just moving to Morristown, where I shall endeavor to put them under the best cover I can. Hitherto we have been without any ; and many of our poor soldiers are quite barefoot, and ill clad in other respects. I have the honor to be, &c. Go. Washington. No. 103. General Washington to General Putnam. Pluckemin 5 January 1777 Dear General : Fortune has favored us in an attack on Princeton. General Howe advanced upon Trenton, which we evacuated in the even- ing of the 2d of this instant and drew up the troops on the south side of Mill Creek and continued in that position until dark, then WASHINGTON'S ALERTNESS 463 marched for Princeton, which we reached next morning by about nine o'clock. There were three regiments quartered there of British troops which we attacked and routed. The number of the killed, wounded and taken prisoners amounts to about five or six hundred. We lost several officers and about thirty privates. General Mercer is badly wounded, if not mortally. After the action we immediately marched for this place. I shall remove from hence to Morristown there shall wait a few days and refresh the troops, during which time I shall keep a strict watch upon the enemy's motions. They appear to be panic-struck, and I am in some hopes of driving them out of the Jerseys. It is thought advisable for you to march the troops under your command to Crosswicks and keep a strict watch upon the enemy in that quar- ter. If the enemy continue at Brunswic, you must act with great circumspection, lest you meet with a surprise. As we have made two successful attacks upon the enemy by way of surprise, they will be pointed with resentment and if there is any possibility of retaliating, they will attempt it. You will give out your strength to be twice as great as it is. Forward on all the baggage and scattered troops belonging to this division of the army, as soon as may be. You will keep as many spies out as you will see proper. A number of horsemen, in the dress of the country, must be constantly kept going backwards and forwards for this purpose, and if you discover any motion of the enemy, which you can depend upon, and which you think of consequence, let me be informed thereof as soon as possible by express. I am, dear General, yours &c Go. Washington. No. 104. Comments on the Battle of Princeton. Major-General Greene wrote to Thomas Paine with much enthusiasm and somewhat pardonable exaggeration : " The two last actions at Trenton and Princeton have put a very different face upon affairs. Within a fortnight past we have taken or killed of Howe's army between two and three thousand men. Our loss is trifling." He also wrote to Governor Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island : " Ever since the Trenton affair we have had a continual train of success. The Lord seems to have smote the enemy with a panic. They are near three thousand weaker than they were a month ago." 464 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON Alexander Hamilton said of this change of fortune : " After escaping the grasp of a disciplined and victorious enemy, this little band of patriots were seen skillfully avoiding an engage- ment until they could contend with advantage and then by the masterly enterprises of Trenton and Princeton, cutting them up in detachments, rallying the scattered energies of the country, infusing terror into the breasts of their invaders and changing the whole tide and fortune of the war." Sir Henry Clinton (incorrect as to the name of the creek and route of the army, as well as slightly derogatory to the general- ship of his comrade) said : " The two very judicious and officer like movements of Lord Cornwallis against Tippoo in 1791 and 1792 proves what he himself thinks of his conduct in 1776. He had driven Washington over the Assumption and the Delaware was impassable : the Assumption no where but at its bridge, that at Trenton. His Lordship held that at Aliens Town ; they held the string too. His Lordship thinking that Washington would wait for him till the next day, deceived by his fires &c into this belief, neglects to patrole to Aliens Town — over which Wash- ington's whole army and the last hope of America, escaped. I am sure no Hessian Corporal would have been so imposed upon. 'T is a wonder Washington did not march to Brunswick." Frederick the Great, referring to the events herein described, declared that " the achievements of Washington and his little band of compatriots between the 25th of December and the 4th of January, a space of ten days, were the most brilliant of any recorded in the annals of military achievements." Lord Cornwallis himself, responding to a toast at the grand dinner given at the headquarters of General Washington to the ofificers of the British, French and American armies, the day after the surrender of Yorktown, said : " And when the illustrious part that your excellency has borne in this long and arduous con- test becomes matter of history, fame will gather your brightest laurels rather from the banks of the Delaware than from those of the Chesapeake." William Livingston, New Jersey's Revolutionary war governor, to the General Assembly, January 24, 1777, wrote in his forcible style : " So far from any essential benefit redounding to them from their irruption into this state or their having made the least advance toward subduing the continent of America, they are now COMMENTS ON THE PRINCETON BATTLE 46J obliged to shut themselves up in a small corner of a colony, over which, but a few days ago they ridiculously arrogated utiiversal empire. As their blunders, if possible, are equal to their cruelty, I am persuaded that unless we are wanting to ourselves, we have no reason to be dispirited in our righteous contest with a prince and a people whom God Almighty, by thus infatuating seems determined to destroy." John Adams, the great statesman, in a letter dated Baltimore, 17th February, 1777, wrote to his wife his view of the conse- quences of the British movements. " Howe, as you know my opinion always was, will repent his mad march through the Jer- seys. The people of that Commonwealth begin to raise their spirits exceedingly and to be firmer than ever. They are actuated by resentment now, and resentment coinciding with principle is a very powerful motive." The sentiments of the American people were well expressed in the proceedings of the " Council of Safety of Pennsylvania," when they said : " When Washington turned on his pursuers at Trenton and Princeton they expressed a hope that it might be in his power to close the campaign with honour to himself and leave General Howe in a situation which should afford him little reason to boast." In Botta's history we find this account of the situation of affairs : " Thus by an army almost reduced to extremity, Philadel- phia was saved, Pennsylvania protected, New Jersey nearly re- covered and a victorious army laid under the necessity of quit- ting all thought of actin^g offensively in order to defend itself." . . . "Achievements so astonishing acquired an immense glory for the captain-general of the United States. All nations shared in the surprise of the Americans : all equally admired and ap- plauded the prudence, the constancy and the noble intrepidity of general Washington. An unanimous voice pronounced him the saviour of his country ! all extolled him as equal to the most celebrated commanders of antiquity : All proclaimed him the Fabius of America. His name was in the mouth of all ! he was celebrated by the pens of the most distinguished writers. The most illustrious personages of Europe lavished upon him their praises and their congratulations. The American general, there- fore, wanted neither a cause full of grandeur to defend, nor occa- 466 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON sion for the acquisition of glory, nor genius to avail himself of it, nor the renown due to his triumphs, nor an entire generation of men perfectly well disposed to render him homage." No. 105. Letter from the American Army. (Letter from a gentleman of great worth in the American army to the printer of tlie " Maryland Journal," dated near Princeton, January 7, 1777.) 1 On the 2d instant, intelligence was received by express that the enemy's army was advancing from Princeton towards Tren- ton, where the main body of our forces was then stationed. Two brigades, under Gen. Stephen and Fermoy, had been detached several hours before from the main body to Maidenhead, and were ordered to skirmish with the enemy during their march and retreat to Trenton, as occasion should require. A body of men under command of Colonel Hand were also ordered to meet the enemy, by which means their march was so much retarded as to give ample time for our forces to form and prepare to give them a warm reception upon their arrival. Two field pieces, planted upon a hill at a small distance from the town, were managed with great advantage, and did considerable execution for some time; after which they were ordered to retire to the station occupied by our forces on the south side of the bridge, over the little river (the Assanpink), which divides the town into two parts, and opens at right angles into the Delaware. In their way through the town, the enemy suffered much by an incessant fire of musketry from behind the houses and barns. The army had now arrived at the northern side of the bridge, whilst our army was drawn up in order of battle on the southern side. Our cannon played very briskly from this eminence, and were returned as briskly by the enemy. In a few minutes after the cannonade began, a very heavy discharge of musketry ensued, and continued for ten or fifteen minutes ; during this action a party of men were detached from our right wing to secure a part of the river which it was imagined, from the motions of the enemy, they intended to ford. This detachment arrived at the pass very opportunely, and effected their purpose. After this the enemy made a feeble and unsupported attempt to pass the bridge, but this likewise proved abortive. It was now near six o'clock in the evening, and night coming on, closed the engagement. ^ Presumed to have been Dr. Rush. LETTER DESCRIBING THE BATTLE 467 Our fires were built in due season, and were very numerous ; and whilst the enemy were amused by these appearances, prepar- ing for a general attack the next morning, our army marched at about one o'clock in the morning from Trenton, on the south side of the creek, to Princeton. When they arrived near the hill, about one mile from Princeton, they found a body of the enemy formed upon it and ready to receive them ; upon which a spirited attack was made upon them, both with field pieces and musketry, and after an obstinate resistance and loss of a considerable num- ber of their men upon the field, those of them who could not make their escape, surrendered prisoners of war. We immedi- ately marched on to the centre of the town, and there took an- other party of the enemy near the College. After tarrying a very short time in town. Gen. Washington marched his army from thence towards Rocky Hill, and they are now near Morristown, in high spirits and in expectation of a junction with the rest of our forces, sufficiently seasonable to make a general attack upon the enemy and prevent at least a considerable part of them from reaching their asylum in New York. It is difficult to precisely ascertain the loss we have sustained in the two engagements, but as near as I can judge I think we have lost about forty men killed, and had near double the num- ber wounded. In the list of the former are the brave Colonel Hazlett, Captain Shippen and Captain Neal, who fell in the en- gagement upon the hill near Princeton. Among the latter was Brig. General Mercer, who received seven wounds in his body, and two on his head, and was much bruised by the breach of a musket. His life was yesterday almost despaired of, but this morning I found him much relieved, and some of the most dan- gerous complaints removed, so that I still have hopes of his recov- ery, and of his being again restored to the arms of his grateful country. He is now a prisoner upon parole. The loss sustained by the enemy was much greater than ours, as was easily discovered by viewing the dead upon the field after the action. We have now one hundred of their wounded pris- oners in the town which, together with those who surrendered and were taken in small parties endeavoring to make their escape, I think must amount to the number of 400, chiefly British troops. Six brass cannon have fallen into our hands, a quantity of am- munition and several wagons of baggage. A Capt. Leslie was 468 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON found among the dead of the enemy, and was this day buried with the honors of war. A number of other officers were found on the field, but they were not known and were buried with the other dead. According to information from the inhabitants of Princeton, the number which marched out of it to attack our army amounted to 13,000 men, under command of Genl. Corn- wallis. This body, as soon as they discovered they were out- generaled by the march of Gen. Washington, being much cha- grined at their disappointment (as it seems he intended to have cut our army to pieces, crossed the Delaware and marched with- out any further delay ,_ to Philadelphia,) rushed with the greatest precipitation towards Princeton, where they arrived about an hour after Gen. Washington had left, and imagining he would endeavor to take Brunswick in the same manner, proceeded briskly for that place. Our soldiers were much fatigued, the greater part of them having been deprived of their rest the two preceding nights, otherwise we might perhaps have possessed ourselves of Brunswick. The enemy appear to be preparing to decamp and retire to New York, so they are much disgusted with their late treatment in New Jersey and have a great inclination to rest themselves a little in some secure winter-quarters. No. 106. Major Samuel Meredith to . Morris Town, Jany. gth, 1777. I have been so busy ever since I wrote you till this time, and, indeed, there has been no opportunity till this day or two, that it will plead my excuse. As I have not heard any disagreeable news from Phila., I take it for granted that my dearest and little ones are well, and if so, I shall be happy. The Greatest stroke of Generalship that has been shown in this war was exhibited by General Washington in our march from Trenton to Prince Town. It entirely disconcerted the progress of the enemy, who knew nothing of our march till the firing hap- pened at Prince Town between them and us, for we went a back road all the way. What was done there you have heard I don't doubt, with a good deal of exaggeration. It was, however, a very capital stroke, for those who were not taken or killed retired with utmost precipitation. Those from Trenton did so likewise. They are now posted on this side of Brunswick, the landing Piscataway, Amboy, &c. They retired from Elizabeth Town yesterday. The ANOTHER ACCOUNT 469 militia of this County fell upon their Rear & took 90 or 100 of them, (and killed some,) with a considerable quantity of Baggage. Our Baggage, when we left Trenton, was all sent down to Bur- lington, so that we have had no shift of clothes at all. But it is expected in a few daj's. The person this letter is to go by called just as I began, so that I have not an opportunity of say- ing as much as I would. Do remember me to all the Family, & believe that I am, with the greatest Love to you and the little ones, your affectionate, S. M. No. 107. Letter from the British Army. " Relation of the Engagement at Trenton and Princetown on Thursday and Friday the 2nd & 3rd of Jan'ry 1777 by Mr Hood 3rd Battn." About 12 oClock on Wednesday morning Orders came to them to march from Crosswicks to Trenton — they arrived at Trenton on Wednesday morning ^ ab't 9 oClock — in one hour after, the Alarm Gun fired and all thee Battalion got under arms immedi- ately — they were ordered to march over the Bridge & form a Line with the whole Brigade Comman'd by Gen'l Cadwalader — in about i h'r after they perceived the Enemy advancing and fir- ing their artillery, on which they were ordered to take possession of a wood up the Creek to prevent the Enemy from out flanking — at this time the Enemy & two of our Brigades were engaged beyond Trenton on the Princetown Road. Our People retreated into Trenton. They on this returned back to the Bridge & form'd in a line — with 3000 men & 2 field ps in the Main Street — and 2. field p's secreted behind Mr. Wain's house opposite the Mill — & some Rifle men in the Mill, & artillery all along the Creek — after they were so station'd the Enemy advanced towards the Bridge. While they were advancing, a Cannonade on both sides commenced, & the Enemy threw a number of Shells which did no execution and one Cannon Ball, passed through the 3d Battalion & killed 2 men. — the Enemy advanced ab't half way over the Bridge, when they were repulsed it is supposed with considerable loss as a heavy fire was kept up both in front and flank with the artillery and musquetry, for abt 12 minutes, the firing ceased in the dusk of the evening — they were then ordered to form a square round the Woods and to make up their fires & 1 This should read Thursday morning, January 2. 470 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON to lay on their Arms, — abt 12 oClock at Night they were ordered under Arms — they were then ordered to lay down their arms & return to their fires. — a little after One ordered to Arms again. they united the several Brigades together & the Artillery ad- vanced before them & the army followed, 'this was all done with greatest Silence — they continued their March round the head of the Mill Creek dam, & pass'd a Bridge and so continued their rout to the Princetown Road & then cross'd it & pass'd into a bye road & proceeded about i mile to the northward of Prince- town — and continued this rout till day light when they saw Princetown — and came through the Woods & field on the Back of the town and perceived the Enemy ab' 700 on the rise of a Hill ab' I of a Mile from the town, — a firing began by the Virginia Brigade, and then it was supported by Gen'l Cadwaladers brigade which was at first put in a little confusion, but rallied under the Hill immediately. ■ — in the meantime a New England Brigade advanced and the Rifle Men flanked the Enemy, and they broke & run immediately upon W^i^ our people pursued them, advanced to the Town, they fired one Shot into the College, when a man waved his Hat, another Shot was fired & a flag was sent out & they surrendered, to the number of 86 — afterwards a number more was brought in to the ammo'' of 200 — in this action ab'' 100 of the Enemy was killed & ab't 14 of ours. (We drove off 100 head of Cattle with the Army.) Gen'l Mercer advanced at the Head of his Brigade between a Barn & a house near where the Engagement began — his horse was shot under him & fell, when the Gen was recovering from the fall the Enemy thrust a Bayonet in his head, it is said he died of his wounds, and Cap- tain Shippen shot through the head — this party of the Enemy were entirely scattered & numbers of them were taken in small parties. — at Princetown 5 Field p's taken one of w'"^*" spiked up, several Baggage Waggons, and some ammunition & Stores — they then halted at Princetown ab't i hour when they heard a platoon fireing on the Princetown Road, they were order under arms & to form, — Gen'l Miflin came to them & told them the Enemy was a coming, to prepare for a Brush — they then march'd to Kingston took to the left went up Mill Stone Creek abt 3 Mile, the head of the Army halted there for the Rear — that the informant went to a farmers to get some refreshments, fell asleep and waked in the morning, the Army was gone — he heard CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS 471 they were at Somerset Court house on Saturday morning and that he intended to proceed to join Gen'l Heath ; that . . . No. 108. From the New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury. (January 13, 1777.) New York, 13 January 1777 Several Skirmishes between the King's Troops, and the Rebels have lately happened in the Jersies. But the most distinguished Rencounter occurred on the 3d Instant, near Princetown. The 17th Regiment, consisting of less than 300 Men fell in with the Rebel-Army of between 5 and 6000, whom they attacked with all the Ardor and Intrepidity of Britons They received the Fire of the Rebels from behind a Fence, over which they immediately leaped upon their Enemies, who presently turned to the right about with such Precipitation as to leave their very Cannon behind them. The Soldiers instantly turned their Cannon, and fired at least 20 Rounds upon their Rear, and had they been assisted with another Regiment or two, the Rebels would have found it rather difficult to make good their Retreat. This has been one of the most splendid Actions of the whole Campaign, and has given a convincing Proof that British Valour has not declined from its antient Glory. Of Col. Mawhood^ their gallant Commander ; and of his Conduct in the Affair, too many Enco- miums cannot be said. The Loss was about Twenty Killed and Eighty wounded of the Troops. Of the Rebels above 400 were killed and wounded. Among their Slain were eleven Officers. Mr. Mercer^ (one of the wounded Rebel-Officers, since dead) when he was taken up by our People, asked how many the Num- bers were who had thus attacked him, and upon being told, he cried out with astonishment ; " My God, is it possible ? I have often hfeard of British Courage ; but never could have imagined to find such an Instance as this ! " Another Account says. That the 17th Regiment just before they charged the Rebels, deliberately pulled off their Knapsacks, and gave three Cheers, then broke through the Rebels, faced about, attacked, and broke through them a second Time. Col. Mawhood then said, it would be prudent, as they were so few, to retire ; upon which the Men one and all cried out, " No, No ; Let us attack them again ; " And it was with great Difficulty 472 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON their Colonel could induce them to retreat ; which at length they performed in the utmost Order. To the Honor of this brave Regiment, both as Soldiers and as Men, not one of them has ever attempted to plunder, or encour- age it in others. In the several Skirmishes, the Rebels have lost above 700 Men. By the nearest Calculation that can be formed, the Rebels, in the Course of the last year, did not lose by Sickness and Battle less than 25,000 Men. An immense Draught in a Country, where the Price of Labor is so great, and the Hands so few. It is said, that several of the Hessian officers, from a just Sense of Honor, and Conviction of the Meanness of suffering a soldier to plunder, are resolved to discourage it intirely. Per- haps, the best Means of preventing it in future, would be to burn all that the Soldiers have collected before their faces, and to assure them they must expect the same Attention to real military Discipline hereafter. No. 109. General Greene to . (Extract of a letter from Major-General G (Greene) to a gentleman in Philadelphia, dated Morristown, January 9.) Not a line have I received from you since you left us at New- town — I am much obliged to you for the attention — Were I not fully persuaded that you are anxious to know the success of our late manauvres, I would not have wrote you a syllable this fort- night. I almost think the author of the Crisis a prophet where he says the Tories will curse the day that Howe arrived upon the Delaware. I verily believe the observation is coming true. The two late actions at Trenton and Princeton have put a very differ- ent face upon affairs. Within a fortnight past we have taken and killed of Howe's army between two and three thousand men — Our loss is trifling — we are daily picking up their parties — yesterday we took seventy prisoners and thirty loads of baggage. Great credit is due to the Philadelphia militia, their behaviour at Trenton in the cannonade, and at Princeton was brave, firm and manly ; they were broken at first in the action at Princeton, and soon formed in the face of grapeshot, and pushed on with a CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS 473 spirit that would do honor to veterans, besides which they have borne a winter's campaign with a soldier like patience. General Cadwallader is a brave and gallant officer. No. no. From the Freeman's Journal. (January 21, 1777.) General Washington, finding it absolutely necessary to rouse the spirits of the army, which have been sorely depressed by the long series of disasters which have attended us for almost the whole of the month, resolved to attempt surprising a considerable body of Hessians, quartered at Trenton, consisting of about nineteen hundred, and a detachment of British light horse. The plan was as spiritedly executed as it was judiciously concerted, and terminated in fully answering the warmest expectations of its projectors. Yesterday morning, orders were given for a large part of the army to have three day's provisions ready cooked, and forty rounds a man, and to be ready to march by three o'clock in the afternoon ; accordingly the farthest brigades marched by two o'clock. About eleven o'clock at night it began snowing, and continued so until daybreak, when a most violent northeast storm came on, of snow, rain and hail together. Early, the American army, which did not exceed twenty-four hundred men, crossed the Delaware with several companies of artillery and thirteen field-pieces, and formed in two divisions : one com- manded by General Greene, the other by General Sullivan, and the whole by General Washington. The attack began about seven o'clock by the van-guard of Sullivan's division, who at- tacked the Hessians' advanced guard, about a mile from the town. These they soon drove, when the whole pushed with the utmost vigor for the town, which they immediately entered. Gen- eral Greene's division attacked the town on the other side at the same time. The Hessians did as much as could be expected from people so surprised, but the impetuosity of our men was irresistible : fifteen minutes decided the action, and the enemy threw down their arms and surrendered prisoners of war. They consisted of three regiments of grenadiers and fusileers, and were equal to any troops the Prince of Hesse could boast of. The troop of British dragoons, without waiting to be charged, scam- pered off -with the utmost expedition. Could the brigade under Colonel Ewing have landed below the town, as was intended, the 474 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON light horse must inevitably have been taken, as well as a consid- erable number of the Hessians who got off : but the violence of the wind was such, and the quantity of the ice so great, that he found it impossible to cross. Our success, though not complete, was great. The men behaved with the utmost bravery. Finding that their guns did not generally go off, owing to their having been exposed to the snow and rain for six hours, they charged bayonets, and, with three cheers, rushed like bloodhounds upon the Hessians, who, astonished at their fury fled or threw down their arms : and it was owing to the ardor of the attack that so little blood was shed. The army returned the same day, and, notwithstanding a continual pelting for twelve hours, of a most violent rain, hail, and snow-storm, we had only two men frozen to death. Luckily they found some hogsheads of rum at Tren- ton, large draughts of which alone preserved the lives of many. The soldiers behaved exceedingly well with respect to plundering, considering they were animated by revenge for past insults, exas- perated by the injuries done their messmates taken at Fort Washington and animated by every incentive that could work upon the license of a successful army. The general gave the Hessians all their baggage and they have since gone to the west- ern counties of Pennsylvania, with their packs unsearched. They were amazed at the generosity of the general, so opposite to their own conduct, and call him a very good rebel. The enemy who lay at Bordentown soon had the alarm, which was communicated to all the parties along the river, who, after remaining under arms the whole day, in the evening marched off, leaving us to take possession of Bordentown, Mount Holly and Burlington. No. III. From the Pennsylvania Evening Post. (January 21, 1777, signed "An American Whig." The part of the letter not herein published is certainly in the style of Governor Livingston.) The late success of General Washington, in the Jersies, must afford the most heart felt pleasure to every American Whig. It was but the other day that the British and foreign troops made a rapid progress through that state, little or no opposition having been made to them — scarce an enemy to be seen — the remains of our little army being obliged to retreat before them, and take shelter on this side the Delaware. General Howe, in all that careless security which uninterrupted CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS 475 success usually creates, cantons his army up and down the coun- try in parties. Full of their own prowess, and entertaining a contempt for their enemies, they thought of nothing but getting rich in plunder, and are thrown entirely off their guard. Gen. Washington, perceiving this favourable opportunity, on a sudden resolves to take advantage of it. In one of those dark and dismal nights, which the greatest masters in the art of war recom- mend for an enterprize of this kind, he passes over the Delaware with only twenty-four hundred men and quick as lightening falls on the astonished and surprised enemy. He wins an almost bloodless victory, takes one thousand of the enemy prisoners, their baggage, cannon and colours — he afterwards returns — meanwhile a general panic seizes the whole. General Washington again lands on the other side ; and, having been joined by some other troops, the enemy recollect themselves, and prepare for the attack. He avoids it, and at midnight, decamping, marches round about, and leaving the enemy behind him at Trenton, comes upon a party by surprize at Princeton, routs them, takes three hundred prisoners, and three pieces of brass ordnance. This unlooked for manoeuvre perplexes and amazes those who were left behind. They, hearing the battle, march on to Prince- ton to succour their brethren, but all is over there. They pro- ceed in all haste to Brunswick, whilst our army turns off to the left, to meet a reinforcement, which will enable them to fall upon the enemy, and force them out of all their territories in the Jersey state. They will now, I hope, be brought to confess that there is either some little courage left among our troops, or that they have lost their own. . . . No. 112. From the Connecticut Journal. (January 22, 1777.) Immediately after the taking of the Hessians at Trenton, on the 26"' ult, our army retreated over the Delaware and remained there for several days and then returned and took possession of Trenton, where they remained quiet until Thursday, the 2"^ inst. ; at which time the enemy having collected a large force at Prince- ton, marched down in a body of 4,000, or 5,000 to attack our people at Trenton. Through Trenton there runs a small river over which there is a small bridge. General Washington, aware 4/6 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON of the enemy's approach, drew his army, (about equal to the enemy) over that bridge, in order to have the advantage of the said river and of the higher ground on the farther side. Not long before sunset, the enemy marched into Trenton : and after reconnoitering our situation, drew up in solid column in order to force the aforesaid bridge, which they attempted to do with great vigor at three several times and were as often broken by our artillery and obliged to retreat and give over the attempt after suffering great loss, supposed at least one hundred and fifty killed. By this time night came on and General Washington ordered fires to be kindled and every thing disposed of for the night. But after all was quiet he ordered a silent retreat, drew off his army to the right, marched all night in a round-about road and next morning arrived with his army at Princeton. All this was done without any knowledge of the enemy who in the morn- ing were in the utmost confusion not knowing which way our army had gone until the firing at Princeton gave them informa- tion. No. 113. Proclamation. Proclamation by His Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and Commander-in-Chief of all the forces of the United States of America. Whereas several persons, inhabitants of the United States of America influenced by inimical motives, intimidated by the threats of the enemy, or deluded by a Proclamation, issued the 30th of November last, by Lord and General Howe, styled the King's Commissioners for granting pardon &c (now at open war and invading these States) have been so lost to the interest and welfare of their country, as to repair to the enemy, sign a declaration of fidelity and in some instances, have been com- pelled to take oaths of allegiance and to engage not to take up arms or encourage others so to do against the king of Great Britain : And whereas it has become necessary to distinguish between the friends of America and those of Great Britain, inhab- itants of these States and that every man who receives a protec- tion from and is a subject of any State (not being conscientiously scrupulous against bearing arms) should stand ready to defend the same against every hostile invasion : I do therefore, in behalf of the United States, by virtue of the powers committed to me by Congress, hereby strictly command and require every person, having subscribed such declaration, taken such oaths accepted PROCLAMATION BY WASHINGTON 477 protection and certificates from Lord and General Howe or any person acting under their authority for them to repair to Head- quarters or to the quarters of the nearest General officer of the Continental Army or Militia (until further provision can be made by the Civil Authorities) and there deliver up such protections, certificates and passports and take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America; Nevertheless hereby granting full Liberty to all such as prefer the interest and protection of Great Britain to the freedom and happiness of their country, forthwith to withdraw themselves and families within the enemies lines; and I do hereby declare that all and every person who may neg- lect or refuse to comply with this order, within Thirty days from the date thereof will be deemed adherents to the King of Great Britain and tried as common enemies of the American States. Given at Headquarters Morris Town January 25 1777 GO. Washington By His Excellency's command Robert H. Harrison Secretary No. 114. From George Inman's Narrative of the Ameri- can Revolution. The beginning of Novr. was at the Reduction of Fort Washing- ton soon after crossed the North River to Fort Lee was also reduced and proceeded through the Jerseys to Trenton, meeting with little or no opposition, the beginning of Deer, we left Tren- ton for our own Cantonments at Hillsborough and 2 Brigades of Hessian Troops under Col. Rail, marched in to be Quartered there, we Enjoy'd our Winter Quarters but a few days, when Gen'l Washington having crossed the Delaware, came suddenly on Rail's Brigades at Trenton the 24th Deer, and Captured, Killed and dispersed the whole, the British Army was obliged to quit their Quarters and assembled at Prince Town the Americans still remaining at Trenton and daily receiving from their late success large reinforcements. The Season of the Year being severe, snow on the ground and for Nights having no other bed than hard frozen Earth or Ice and no other covering than a cloak oftentimes induced me to Reflect on past times when I used to sleep in soft downy Beds and with every comfortable necessary 4/8 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON around me, amongst them friends whom I left, and wch perhaps if I had remained might still have enjoy' d. The advance of the Army having proceeded to Trenton we were ordered on the 3d January 1777 from Prince Town as an Escort to Stores and at sunrise a large Body of the Enemy were discovered on our left wch Col. Mawhood immediately determined to attack, we having the 55th and a party of convalescents with a few of the 17th Dragoons, the enemy proved too powerful for us, the 55 th giving away and retired to Prince Town, where the 40th Reg't were posted and both Reg'ts quitted that Town, retiring before the Enemy to Brunswick ; we attacked their Centre Col- umn and drove them to their main body, but, they rallying we were obliged to retire, after making such an exertion as we were able to proceed to our Army then lying at Maidenhead. We suf- fered much out of 224 Rank and file that marked off the Parade at 5 o'clock that Morning we sustained a Loss of loi Rank and file. Killed and wounded and much the greater part of the first fire received, I being the only Officer in the Right wing of the Battalion that was not very much injured receiving only a Buck shot through my Cross Belt wch just entered the Pit of my Stomach and made me sick for the moment. We had a very severe march that day and all the following night, passing over the field of Action abt 4 o'Clock that afternoon through Prince Town and with the whole Army to Brunswick where we got on the 4th abt Nine in the Morning. After halting one day to re- fresh ourselves we proceeded to Amboy where we remained the Winter, but found it irksome and unpleasant Quarters, being out almost every day, wch harrass'd the Garrison much. No. 115. Sergeant Joseph White's Narration. (Extract from " An narrative of events in the Revolutionary War, with an account of the Battles of Trenton, Trenton Bridge and Princeton," by Joseph White, who was an orderly sergeant in the regiment of artillery.) On the afternoon of the 25th of December 1776, our whole army after marching several miles up the river Delaware, in a violent snow storm, crossed it, in order to attack a body of Hes- sians, posted at Trenton, under the command of Col. Rhol, who was killed in battle. At day light, their out guard, posted about three or four miles off from their main body, turned out and gave SERGEANT WHITE'S NARRATION 479 us a fire. Our advanced guard opened from right to left, we gave them four or five cannisters of shot, following them to their main body, and displayed our columns. The 3d shot we fired broke the axletree of the piece — we stood there some time idle, they firing upon us. Col. Knox rode up and said. My brave lads, go up and take those two field pieces sword in hand. There is a party going, you must go & join them. Capt. A. said Sergeant W you heard- what the Col. said — you must take the whole of those that belonged to that piece, and join them. This party was commanded by Capt. Washington, and Lieut. Munroe, our late President of the U. States, both of which were wounded. The party inclined to the right. I hal- lowed as loud as I could scream, to the men to run for their lives right up to the pieces. I was the first that reach them. They had all left it, except one man tending vent — run you dog, cried I, holding my sword over his head, he looked up and saw it, then run. We put in a cannister of shot (they had put in the cart- ridge before they left it) and fired. The battle ceased. I took a walk over the field of battle, and my blood chill'd to see such horror and distress. . . After staying in Pennsylvania from 26th of December 1775 (1776) to January 2d, 1777 our whole army crossed over to Tren- ton again with about one half the number less than we had when we retreated over the river Delaware. The night before a large body of malitia joined our army, and they were sent out to meet the enemy, and fight upon their retreat. As soon as they had got over the bridge, we had all our cannon placed before it, consisting of 18 or 19 pieces. The enemy came on in solid columns : we let them come on some ways, then by a signal given, we all fired together. The enemy retreated off the bridge and formed again, and we were ready for them. Our whole artillery was again discharged at them. They retreated again and formed : they came on a third time. We loaded with cannister shot, and let them come nearer. We fired all together again, and such destruction it made, you cannot conceive. The bridge looked red as blood, with their killed and wounded and their red coats. The enemy beat a retreat, and it began to grow dark. We were dismissed for an hour or two, to pull down all the 48o THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON fences we could find, to build fires with them — and get some refreshment. The fires were made to deceive the enemy : to make them suppose that we were there encamped. About 9 or 10 o'clock orders came by whispering, (not a loud word must be spoken) to form the line and march. We took such a circuitous rout, we were all night marching from Trenton to Princeton. A little before we got in sight of the enemy, our whole army halted. We marched on a short distance, we see them all formed in a line and ready to receive us. We marched forward so did they. I ordered the limbers off and to man the drag ropes. They were to the north of us, the sun shone upon them and their arms glis- tened very bright, it seemed to strike an awe upon us. . . . We then loaded with cannister shot, they made a terrible squeaking noise. Both armies kept on marching towards one another, until the infantry come to use the bayonets. Our company being on the extreme left, had to face the enemy's right ; consisting of grenadiers, highlanders & their best troops. Our left line gave way — but before I moved, saw the second come up, and Gen. Merser, who was killed, leading them. I never saw men looked so furious as they did, when running by us with their bayonets charged. The British lines were broken, and our troops followed them so close, that they could not form again. A party of them ran into the colleges, which is built of stone. After firing some cannon they surrendered. The pris- oners we took were about 500 men besides killed and wounded. I have seen in a book, a few years ago, printed in Philadelphia, said to be a return from the Adjutant General, that we lost 300 men killed and mortally wounded in the battle of Princeton. The British supposed to be about the same number in killed and wounded. No. 116. Extract from the Journal of Lieutenant Samuel Shaw of the Artillery. You have without doubt heard of our success at Trenton. Our army lay in the town two days. On the 3'^ day about noon we were alarmed by the enemy advancing, and in about two hours they came up from Princeton and drove our advanced LIEUTENANT SHAW'S JOURNAL 481 guard into Trenton — Our people on this retreated from tlie thickest of the town over a bridge and waited for the enemy to approach ; but night coming on put a stop to anything further being done at that time. In the mean while the General came to a resolution of stealing a march upon the enemy and attacking their troops which were left behind at Princeton, about eleven miles by a back road. We began our march about midnight which was performed with so much secrecy that the enemy knew nothing of it till the next morning discovered that we were gone, and the first news they had of us was our beating up their quar- ters at Princeton. We killed, wounded and took about five hun- dred of them at that place. This with our taking of the Hessians has given our affairs quite a different turn so that the Militia are embodying in all parts of the Jerseys and appear determined to have satisfaction for the injuries they have sustained from the enemy. I had the pleasure of being in both actions and can truly say, I think it impossible for any troops to behave better than ours did ; only at Princeton the militia who had never seen any action were a little skittish at first, but after that they behaved very well. We are under very little apprehension from the enemy at present, as they seem very much panic-struck ; and in so great haste were they to get to a place of security that they did not stay long enough at Princeton to take care of their wounded. The enemy have retired to Brunswick and Amboy where they are so narrowly watched by our people that they cannot get the least forrage without fighting for it. While we lay at Trenton after crossing the Delaware a second time when the enemy advanced from Princeton with a superior force nearly double of ours. Our out-guards were repulsed and the enemy entered one part of the town while we remained in possession of the other. There was now only a small branch of a River between us over which was a bridge ; this though well secured would have been but of little advantage to us as the stream was fordable in every part. Our army was drawn up in order of battle, and waited the approach of the enemy ; but the day being far spent put a stop to their making the attack that night — Then my friend — was the most critical moment our bleeding country ever beheld — The fate of this extensive Conti- 482 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON nent seemed suspended by a single thread and the Independence of America hung on the issue of a general battle which seemed inevitable — But happy for us happy for unborn millions, that we had a General who knew how to take advantage and by a mas- terly manuvre frustrated the designs of the enemy — This step considered in its consequences proved the salvation of the coun- try — The most sanguine among us could not flatter himself with any hopes of victory had we waited till morning and been reduced to the necessity of engaging a foe so vastly our superior both in numbers and discipline and who could never have a chance of fighting us on more advantageous terms — i No. 117. From Aliion's Parliamentary Register. (History of the Debates and Proceedings of the House of Commons, vol. xii. P- 39I-) In the course of the debate May 3, 1779, which reflected se- verely on Lord North and especially on Lord George Germain, the latter among other arguments for his own defense said : If the general in the tide of success, which run so strongly in his favor, had followed his advantages properly up, by crossing the Delaware, and had possessed himself of the Province of Penn- sylvania, which at that time would have been the consequence of the possession of Philadelphia, he thought both now and then, and he was well warranted and justified in assuring the House, that we had a fair prospect of a successful campaign, and of the happy termination of the war in the course of it. But all our hopes were blasted by that unhappy affair at Trenton. No. 118. General Howe to Lord Germain. (Extract of a letter from Sir William Howe to Lord George Germain, dated New York, 20 January, 1777.) It is with much concern, that I am to inform your Lordship, the unfortunate and untimely defeat at Trenton, has thrown us further back than was at first apprehended, from the great en- couragement it has given to the rebels. I do not now see a prospect of terminating the war, but by a general action, and I am aware of the difficulties in our way to obtain it, as the enemy moves with so much more celerity than we possibly can. A HESSIAN DIARY 483 No. iig. Lord Germain to H. M. Peace Commissioners. (Lord Germain to His Majesty's Commissioners for restoring Peace, 3 March, I777-) The affair at Trenton happened, it is true, subsequent to the date of your Letter. I trust, however, that the unexpected suc- cess of the Rebels there will not so far elate them as to prevent them from seeing the real horrors of their situation, and tempt them to disdain to sue for pardon. No. 120. Translation of a Hessian Diary (Published in the Pennsylvania Evening Post, Saturday, July 26, 1777.) December 13th, 1776. We marched to Trenton and joined our two regiments of Rail and Kniphausen, in order to take up a sort of winter quarters here, which are wretched enough. This town consists of about one hundred houses, of which many are mean and little, and it is easy to conceive how ill it must accommodate three regiments. The inhabitants, like those at Princeton, are almost all fled, so that we occupy bare walls. The Delaware, which is here ex- tremely rapid, and in general about two ells deep, separates us and the rebels. We are obliged to be constantly on our guard, and do very severe duty, though our people begin to grow ragged, and our baggage is left at New-York. Notwithstanding we have marched across this extremely fine provmce of New-Jersey, which may justly be called the garden of America, yet it is by no means freed from the enemy, and we are insecure both in flank and rear. This brigade has incontestably suffered the most of any, and we now lie at the advanced point, that as soon as the Delaware freezes we may march over and attack Philadelphia, which is about thirty miles distant. My friend Sheffer and myself lodge in a fine house belonging to a merchant, and we have empty rooms enough. Some of the servants of the inhabitants remain here ; last evening I gave one a box on the ear for his sauciness ; I bid him bring me a candle, and he replied, if I wanted candles, I should have brought them with me. I was furnished with a candle, but nothing else. Here is no wine, except Madeira at three shillings and sixpence sterling a bottle. On the third in- stant Capt. Weitershausen, of the grenadiers, was shot at Bruns- wick bridge by a rebel, who had concealed himself under the 484 THE BATTLES OF TRENTON AND PRINCETON bridge. The Capt. had wrote by the last packet to his wife, de- siring her to follow him to America. On the 13th General Lee, with two other officers, were taken prisoners by the English light- horse, to the great damage of the rebels. The i6th the rebels came over the river in boats, but effected nothing. The 18th seventy rebels came over the water, and we were obliged to turn out. But they only carried off a family who went willingly, with three cows and some furniture. The 19th one of the English lighthorse was twice badly wounded by a troop of rebels near Maidenhead. The 2ist a horseman was shot dead. The 23rd Count Donop wrote to us from Bordentown, desiring us to be on our guard, for that he was certain of being attacked. The 24th the enemy actually attacked our grenadiers last night, but without success, two Highlanders and a grenadier were wounded. We have not slept one night in peace since we came to this place. The troops have lain on their arms every night, but they can endure it no longer. We give ourselves more trou- ble and uneasiness than is necessary. That men who will not fight without some defense for them, who have neither coat, shoe nor stocking, nor scarce anything else to cover their bodies, and who for a long time past have not received one farthing of pay, should dare to attack regular troops in the open country, which they could not withstand when they were posted amongst rocks and in the strongest intrenchments, is not to be supposed. No. 121. From an English Book of Orders found at Trenton. His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief orders that all inhab- itants that shall be found with arms, not having an officer with them shall be immediately taken and hung up. From another Book found at Princeton. Head-Quarters, Trenton, December 12th 1776. Small straggling parties not dressed like soldiers' and without officers, not being admissible in war who presumes to molest or fire upon soldiers or peaceable inhabitants of the country, will be immediately hanged without trial as assassins. CONTEMPORANEOUS DOCUMENTS 485 No. 122. Contemporaneous Documents. Other contemporaneous documents and history which have a direct bearing upon the retreat through the Jerseys, the conduct of General Lee in this campaign, the surprise at Trenton, the affair at Assunpink bridge, the battle of Princeton and the march to Morristown may be found as follows : — Letters of General Washington in Ford's Writings of George Washington, vol. v. pp. 60-177, ^.nd in Sparks' Writings of George Washington, vol. iv. pp. 197-287. Letters to General Washington in Sparks' Correspondence of the American Revolution, vol. i. pp. 309-323. Force's American Archives, fifth series, vol. iii. pp. 1039-1619. Pennsylvania Archives, first series, vol. v. pp. 84-177. Pennsylvania Archives, second series, vol i. pp. 431-436. Archives of the State of New Jersey, second series, vol. i. pp. 240-279. Ensign William Beatty's Journal, on file in the Maryland His- torical Society at Baltimore. Sergeant William Young's Diary, in Pennsylvania Magazine, vol. viii. p. 255. General Joseph Reed's Narrative, in Pennsylvania Magazine, vol. viii. p. 391. Thomas Paine's Letter to the Abbe Raynal, pp. 16-24. Examination of Joseph Galloway before the British House of Commons, pp. 14-44- Letters to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War, by Joseph Galloway, pp. 43-60. Thacher's MiHtary Journal, pp. 79-87. Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i. pp. 95-151- Journal of Apollos Morris, in Sparks' Collection, Harvard Col- lege Library. John Howland's Narrative, in Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island, pp. 304-313. Ramsey's History of American Revolution, vol. 1. pp. 311-326. Reed and Cadwalader pamphlets and all the pamphlets relat- ing to the ' Reed Controversy " contain copies of original letters. See p. 75, ante. Diary of a French officer, in Magazine of American History, May, 1880. BOOKS EXAMINED AND AUTHORITIES USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS WORK. Adolphus' History of Great Britain. Aitkin's Annals of the Reign of George III. Allen's History of the American Revolution. Almon's Remembrancer. American Historical Record. Amory's Life of General Sullivan. Anderson's Life of Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson. Andrews' History of the War with America. Andrews' History of the Wars of England. Annual Register, 1777. Arnold's Rhode Island. Balch's Papers relating chiefly to the Maryland line. Bancroft's History of the United States. Barnard's History of England. Barnes' Centenary History. Barry's History of Massachusetts. Bartlett's History of the American Revolution. Bartlett's Rhode Island and Providence Plantation Records. Beatty, Ensign, Journal of. Belknap's History of New Hampshire. Belsham's Memoir of George III. Bigelow's Life of Benjamin Franklin. Bissett's History of the Reign of George III. Bonney's Legacy of Historic Gleanings. Botta's History of the War of Independence. Bradford's History of Massachusetts. Brewster's Rambles about Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Bryant and Gays Popular History of the United States. Burke's History of Virginia. Burr's Antiquarian Record. Butler's History of the United States. Caldwell's Life of General Greene. Cameron's Old Princeton. Campbell's History of Virginia. Carrington's Battles of the American Revolution. AUTHORITIES 487 Cairington's Strategic Relations of New Jersey. Centennial Celebration at Princeton. Centennial Collections of Morris County, New Jersey. Chastellux, Marquis de, Travels in North America. Clyde's Rosbrugh, a Tale of the Revolution. Colonial Records of Pennsylvania. Connecticut Journal. 1777. Cornwallis' Reply to Sir Henry Clinton. Cowell's Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island. Custis' Recollections of Washington. Daily's History of Woodbridge, New Jersey. Davis' History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Davis' Memoirs of Burr. Davis' Washington on the West Bank of the Delaware in 1776. Dawson's Battles of the United States by Sea and Land. Dawson's History of Westchester County, New York. Dodsley's Annual Register, Vols. XIX. and XX. Donne's Correspondence of George Third with Lord North. Drake's Life and Correspondence of General Knox. Duer's Life of Lord Stirling. Duncan's History of the Royal Artiller}'. Dunlap's History of the American Theatre. Dunlap's New York. Edmond's Life and Times of General Washington. Eelking's Deutsche Hiilfstruppen im Nord Amerikanischen Freiheit- skriege. Egle's History of Pennsylvania. Elliott's Women of the Revolution. Everett's Life of General Stark. Ewald's Notes on American War. Ewald's Beyspiele grosser Helden. Field's Battle of Long Island. Fiske's War of Independence. Fiske's The American Revolution. Fonblanque's Burgoyne. Force's American Archives. Ford's Writings of George Washington. Forester, Frank, Writings of. Freeman's Journal, 1777- Frost's American Generals. Frost's History of the United States. Frothingham's Rise of the Republic. Gaine's New York Gazette and Mercury. Gaine's Universal Register. 488, AUTHORITIES Galloway's Examination before the British House of Commons. Galloway's Letters to a Nobleman on the Conduct of the War. Galloway's Reflections on the American Revolution. Galloway's Reply to Howe. Gentleman's Magazine, London, 1776 and 1777. Girardine's History of Virginia. Godey's Magazine, Vol. XXXII. Goodrich's History of the United States. Gordon's History of the Rise, Progress and Establishment of the Inde- pendence of the United States. Gordon's History of New Jersey. Graydon's Memoirs. Greene's German Element in the War of Independence. Greene's Historical View of the American Revolution. Greene's Life of General Greene. Greene's New System of Military Discipline, by a General Officer. Griswold's Washington and his Generals. Guizot, Life of Washington. Hageman's History of Princeton, New Jersey. Hale's One Hundred Years Ago. Hall's History of War in America. Hall's History of Presbyterian Church, Trenton, New Jersey. Halsey's History of Morris County, New Jersey. Hamilton's Life of Hamilton. Hamilton's Rise and Progress of the American Republic. Harper's Magazine, July, 1874. Hatfield's History of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Hart's Sketch of Anthony Morris. Hart's Sketch of Colonel John Nixon. Hausser's Journal. Haven's Historic Manual. Haven's Thirty Days in New Jersey. Haven's Washington and his Army. Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania. Headley's Washington and his Generals. Heath's Memoirs. Henshaw, Colonel William, Orderly Book of. Hildeburn's Issues of Pennsylvania Press. Hildeburn's Sketch of Captain Shippin. Hildreth's History of the United States. Hills' History of the Church in Burlington. HiUiard d'Auberteuil's Essais historiques. Hinman, Connecticut in the Revolution. Hinton's History of the United States. AUTHORITIES 489 Historical Collections of Connecticut. Historical Collections of Massachusetts. Historical Collections of New Hampshire. Historical Collections of New Jersey. Historical Collections of New York. Historical Collections of Pennsylvania. Historical Collections of Virginia. Historical Magazine. History of the British Empire, by a Society of Gentlemen. History of Civil War in America, by an Officer of the Army History of First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. History of Lord North's Administration. Holhster's History of Connecticut. Holmes' Annals of America. Holt's Life of George III. Holt's New York Gazette. Honeyman, In Memoriam of St. John. How, Diary of David. , Howe, Narrative of Sir William. Howe's Battle of Trenton. . Howe's Letters to Lord George Germain. Howe's observations upon a pamphlet entitled Letters to a Nobleman. Howland, John, Life and Recollections of. Hughes' History of England. Hull, Revolutionary Services of General WiUiam. Humphreys' Life of General Putnam. Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts. Irving's Life of Washington. Jesse's Memoirs of Life and Reign of King George III. Johnson's Life of General Greene. Johnston's Campaign of 1776. Jones' New York during the Revolution. Journals of Proceedings of Continental Congress. Journals of Proceedings of New Jersey Legislature and of the Council of Safety. Kapp's Friedr. der Soldatenhandel. Kapp's Life of Steuben. Kapp's Life of DeKalb. Kidder's History of First New Hampshire Regiment in the Revolution- ary War. Knight's History of England. Lamb's Journal of Occurrences. Lamb's History of the City of New York. Langworthy's Memoirs of General Lee. 490 AUTHORITIES Lecky's History of England. Lee, General Charles, Memoirs of. Lee's Life of Arthur Lee. Lee's Papers, New York Historical Society. Linn's Annals of the Buffalo Valley. List of General and Field Officers of British Army, 1 776-1 777. London Chronicle of 1777. London Magazine for February, 1777. Lossing's Centennial History of America, Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution. Lossing's First Century of the United States. Lossing's History of the United States. Lossing's Mary and Martha Washington. Lossing's Washington and the Republic. Lowell's The Hessians and the Other German Auxiliaries of Great Britain in the Revolution. Magazine of American History. Mahon's History of England. (See Stanhope.) Manuscript Records from Hesse Cassel and Marburg, in possession of the author. Marshall, Christopher, Remembrances of. Marshall's Life of George Washington. Massachusetts Historical Society Collections. Maryland Journal, January, 1777. McSherry's History of Maryland. Moore's Ballads of the Revolution. Moore's Diary of the American Revolution. Moore's Treason of General Lee. Morris, Adolphus, Sketches of Affairs at Trenton and Princeton by. Morris, Margaret, Journal of. Moorsom's History of the Fifty-second British Regiment. Mott's History of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Mulford's History of New Jersey. Murray's History of Elizabeth Town, New Jersey. Murray's Impartial History of the Present War. Nelson's History of Paterson. New England Historical Genealogical Register. New Hampshire, Adjutant-General's Report of 1866. New Hampshire Historical Society Collections. New Hampshire State Papers. New Jersey Archives, Second series. New Jersey Gazette. New Jersey Historical Society Collections. New Jersey Officers and Men in the Revolutionary War. AUTHORITIES 491 New Jersey Revolutionary Correspondence. New York, Documents Relating to the Colonial History of. New York Historical Society Collections. Niles' Principles of Revolution. Ochs, Biography of General Von. Paine's American Crisis. Paine's Letter to the Abbd Raynal. Paterson, Life and Character of Major-General John. Pennsylvania Archives, Series I. and II. Pennsylvania Colonial Records. Pennsylvania Gazette. Pennsylvania Historical Society Collections. Pennsylvania Journal. Pennsylvania Ledger. Pennsylvania Magazine of History. Pennsylvania Packet. Peterson's History of Rhode Island. Piel, Journal of Lieutenant. Pitkin's History of the United States. Potter's Monthly, January, 1877. Ramsey's Life of Washington. Raum's History of Trenton, New Jersey. Raum's History of New Jersey. Rawle's Life of General Mifflin. Raynal, Abb^, on the American Revolution. Raynal, Abb^, Letters on North American Affairs. Read's Life of George Read. Reed controversy pamphlets. Reed's Life of General Reed. Reed's Oration on General Mercer. Rhode Island Revolutionary Records. Rivington's Army List. Rivington's Royal Gazette. Rodney, Captain Thomas, Diary of. Rosengarten's German Soldier in the Wars of the United States. Russell's History of Virginia. Saffel's Records of the Revolutionary War. Sargent's Life of Major Andr^. Scharf's History of Philadelphia. Sedgwick's Life of Governor Livingston. Shaw, Lieutenant Samuel, Journal of. Simm's Life of General Nathanael Greene. Smith's Life of General St. Clair. Soule's Book on the American Revolution (French). 492 AUTHORITIES Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. IV. Sparks' American Biographies. Sparks' Life of Washington. Sparks' Writings of Washington. Spencer's History of the United States. Sprend's History of the American Revolution. Stanhope's History of England. (See Mahon.) Staples' Correspondence of the American Revolution. Staples' Rhode Island in Continental Congress. St. Clair's Narrative. Stearns' First Church of Newark, New Jersey. Stedman's History of the American War. St. Leger's Account of Occurrences. Tagebuch, eines Hessischen Officers. Tagebuch, des Corporal Johannes Reuber. Thacher's Military Journal. Thomas' Reminiscences. Tilghman, Memoir of Lieutenant-Colonel Tench, Tome's Battles by Land and Sea Tower's Life of Lafayette. Tyler's Literary History of American Revolution. Tuttle's Annals of Morris County, New Jersey. Tuttle's Revolutionary Forefathers of Morris County, New Jersey. Tuttle's Washington in Morris County, New Jersey. Upham's Memoirs of General Glover. Van Dyke's Account of a Spy of Washington. Wallace's Life of Colonel William Bradford. Ward's Battle of Long Island. Warren's History of the American Revolution. Washington's Official Letters. Watson's Annals of Philadelphia. Watson's Men and Times of the Revolution. Weems' Life of Washington. Wells' Life of Samuel Adams. White's Narrative of Events in the Revolutionary War. Whitehead's History of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Whiteley's Revolutionary Soldiers of Delaware. Wiebke's First Years of the North American War for Liberty. Wiederhold, Lieutenant, Diary of. Wilkinson's Memoirs. WiUiams' Biography of Revolutionary Heroes. Willard's History of the United States. Winterbotham's American Revolution. Wolfe's Instructions. Young, Sergeant, Diary of. INDEX ACQUACKA\0.\'CK BRIDGE, 5. Adams, Andrew, letter to, from Capt. Wm. Hull, 375. Agnew, James, major-general com- manding 6th British brigade, 431. Allen, Nathan, 358. Amboy, 10. Anderson, Ephraim, cajjtain 2d bat- talion New Jersey Continentals, scouts through Hunterdon County, 87. Anderson, Ezekiel, 273. Anderson, John, lieutenant 5th Vir- ginia Continentals, 121. Anderson, Richard Clough, captain 5th Virginia Continentals, 121; said to have been wounded, 265 note. Anderson, Robert, General, letter book of, 373. Armstrong, Brigadier-General John, sent to Pennsylvania for reinforce- ments, 32. Armstrong, Major John, aide-de-camp of General Mercer, 64; wounded, 292 note; carries General Mercer off the field, 296. Armstrong, Joseph, colonel Cumber- land County battalion, 433. Army, American, headquarters at John Harris' house, near Newtown, 208; field officers under Washing- ton's immediate command, 351 ; commissary and quartermaster's de- partment at Newtown, Pa., 30 ; loss of, 2 ; at Hackensack, 3 ; desertions from, 4 ; numbers only 3000 men, 12; list of regiments in the cam- paign, 308 ; halts at Newark, 6 ; sick sent to Morristown, ib. ; demon- strations of, against the English, at Newark, 9 ; leaves Newark, ib. ; march of, south, to New Brunswick, 10 ; Maryland and New Jersey mili- tia ask for discharge and leave for home, 12; concentrated at Trenton, 17; march of, through the Jer- seys, 18 ; militia characterized, ib. ; reinforced by a German battalion raised in Pennsylvania and Mary- land, ig; active in preparations to prevent British from crossing, 30 ; reinforcements asked for from Penn- sylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, 32 ; in camp in Pennsylvania, 53 ; troops at Morristown, 60; arrive at Bethlehem, 60 ; parts of, on east side of Delaware River, 63 ; attacks British at Mount Holly, 69 ; militia retreats towards Moorestown, 70 ; movement on Trenton proposed, 73; Griffin's expedition, though directly fruitless, diverts the enemy's atten- tion from Trenton, 74 ; attack on Hessians near Mt. Holly not car- ried out, ib. ; how disposed of, 81 ; strength of, 85 ; council of war re- solves to recross the Delaware, ib. ; in need of clothing and supplies, 86 ; scouting through Hunterdon County by a small party, 87 ; gossip about, in Trenton, no ; deserters from, bring intelligence, ib. ; council of war held at Merrick's house, 112; plan of attack, 113; reconnoissance by, at Trenton, 117 et seq. ; reconnoissance at Trenton, who commanded, 121 ; move of, begins, 1 27 ; begins to cross the Delaware, 129; to cross at Mc- Konkey's Ferry, 130; ice delays the crossing, 133; marches on Trenton, 139, 142; powder discovered damp, 140; arrangement of, 142 ; first con- tact of, with the British, at Trenton, 146; movements of the brigades in battle of Trenton, 163; loss of, in battle of Trenton, 194; movements of, at Trenton, reviewed, 231 etseq. ; movements of Cadwalader, 239; ad- vance of, under Cadwalader, in Bor- dentown, 242; detachments of, sent to harass the rear of von Donop, 243 ; Continentals, whose term has expired, continue in service, 254 et seq. ; position of, before Princeton, 494 INDEX 258 ; part of, forced to retreat, 259 ; running fight of, for delay, 261 ; po- sition of, before Princeton battle, 261, 262 ; loss in Trenton skirmish, 265 ; list of killed and wounded, ib. note ; situation of, at Trenton, 269 d SCI].; flank movement of, on Prince- ton, 271-278; first contact of, with British, at Princeton, 2S0; pursues British, 286, 290; list of killed and wounded at Princeton, 292 ; bio- graphical sketches of officers killed at Princeton, 452. — Divisions and Brigades. Divisions and brigades, 142 ; rosters, 344 £t seq. ; division of General Horatio Gates, 60 ; brigade of General Roche de Fermoy, 352 ; New Jersey brigade wants to dis- band, 6 ; Mercer's brigade routed, 282 ; brigade of Gen. Hugh Mercer, 352 ; brigade of Gen. Adam Stephen, 353; brigade of Col. Paul D. Sargent, 354 ; brigade of Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 354; brigade of Col. John Glover, 355 ; New England brigade, 59, 86, 264 ; Philadelphia militia brigade. Col. John Cadwalader, 59- Regiments. Continental artillery regiment, 356; 2d light dragoons, 9 ; 2d Continental foot, formerly 3d New Hampshire, 354; 3d Conti- nental foot (Massachusetts regi- ment), 356; 5th Continental foot, formerly ist New Hampshire, 354; 8th Continental foot, formerly 2d New Hampshire, 354 ; 13th Conti- nental foot (Massachusetts regi- ment), 355; 14th Continental foot (Marblehead Massachusetts regi- ment), 355; 15th Continental foot (Massachusetts regiment), 354 ; 20th Conrinental foot, 292 note ; Connect- icut regiment, 352 ; 19th Conti- nental foot (Connecticut regiment), 356; :6th Continental foot (Massa- chusetts regiment), 354 ; 23d Conti- nental foot (Massachusetts regi- ment), 356; 24th Continental (3d Massachusetts) infantry regiment, 60 ; 25th Continental infantry, ib. ; 26th Continental foot (Massachu- setts regiment), 275, 356; 27th Continental foot (Massachusetts regiment), 352 ; Ward's regiment, Connecticut Continental infantry, 354 ; Connecticut regiment, or 20th Continental foot, 352 ; 6th Connecticut State Troops, 355 ; 7th Connecticut Continentals, 206, 208, 261 ; Connecticut State Troops, 353 ; Delaware regiments, i, 17, 27, 351 ; Delaware regiment, Col. David Hall, 377 note ; Kent County, Del., militia, 232, 433 ; Newcastle, Del., militia, 274, 433 ; Maryland regiments, i ; ist Maryland regi- ment, 27, 352 ; Maryland rifle bat- talion volunteers, 353 ; loss of Maryland troops, 257 ; battery (Mas- sachusetts) of Capt. Winthrop Sar- gent, 178; Massachusetts Conti- nental artillery company, 357 ; 6th Massachusetts Continentals, 922 note ; Massachusetts regiments, or 3d, 13th, 14th, 15th, i6th, 23d, 24th, 26th, 27th Continentals, 60, 352, 354, 355' 35*5; Col. John Glover's regi- ment from Marblehead, Mass., 134; 4th Hampshire County, Mass., regi- ment, 60 ; ist New Hampshire regi- ment. Col. John Stark, 167 ; or 5th Continental foot, 354; ist New Hampshire regiment, Derryfield company, 168; 2d New Hampshire, or 8th Continental foot, 354; 3d New Hampshire, later 2d Conti- nental foot, 354; New Jersey Con- tinentals, 4 ; 1st New Jersey Conti- nentals, 151 ; New Jersey militia, i ; militia around Trenton and Prince- ton, 108; East New Jersey State artillery company, 357 , West New Jersey State artillery company, 357 ; New Jersey militia, 18; ist regi- ment Hunterdon brigade, ib. ; 2d regiment Middlesex brigade, ib. ; Burlington County militia destroys bridges, 42 ; Gloucester and Salem mihtia, 74 ; ist Hunterdon County militia, 122 note, 138 note ; 2d regi- ment Hunterdon County militia, 125; 3d regiment Hunterdon County mi- litia, 115; 4th regiment Hunterdon County mihtia, 251 ; ist Middlesex County, N. J., mihtia, 290 ; 2d regi- ment Middlesex, N. J., militia, 251 ; Somerset County, N. J,, horse, 302; 1st New York Continentals, 355 ; 3d New York Continentals, 355 ; New York Continental artillery com- pany, 357 ; New York militia, i ; New York State artillery, Alexander Hamilton's company, 158; New York State Artillery company, 357 ; Pennsylvania regiments, i ; Pennsyl- vania State artillery, 158; Pennsyl- vania State artillery, Forrest's bat- tery, 19, 142, 158, 258, 357; 2d INDEX 495 company Pennsylvania State artil- lei'y' 357 ; roster of Pennsylvania company of artillery, 257; Philadel- phia battery, 136; battery (Philadel- phia Associators) of Capt. Joseph Moulder, 167, 174. — Philadelphia troop of light horse, 142, 358; on patrol duty in New Jersey, 208 ; ros- ter of Philadelphia City Troop, 443 ; Pennsylvania Continentals, 4, 129; 1st Pennsylvania regiment, 292 note; 1st Continental foot (Pennsylvania regiment), 352 ; 2d Pennsylvania Continentals, 433; loth Pennsyl- vania regiment, 292 note, 433 ; nth Pennsylvania Continentals, 15, 433; I2th Pennsylvania Continentals, 433 ; German regiment Continental infantry, 258, 352 ; Pennsylvania re- giment of musketry, 351 ; 1st Penn- sylvania rifles, 213; Pennsylvania rifles, 292 note ; Col. Edward Hand's Pennsylvania rifles, 47 ; Philadelphia rifles, 232, 258, 433; Pennsylvania militia, 12; Col. John Shea's regi- ment of Pennsylvania piilitia, 262 ; Philadelphia militia, 232, 433 ; ist Pennsylvania volunteers, 351 ; Phila- delphia Associators, 30, 274, 292 note ; 2d artillery company Phila- delphia Associators, 358 ; ist bat- tery Philadelphia Associators, 233 ; 3d battery Philadelphia Associa- tors, 232 ; Bedford County, Pa., battalion, 433 ; Bucks County, Pa., battalion, 433 ; Chester County, Pa., militia, 274; Cumberland County, Pa., militia, 274, 433 ; Lancaster County Pa., battalions, 433; 3d bat- talion Northampton County, Pa., militia, 267; Northampton County, Pa., battalions, 433 ; Northumber- land County, Pa., militia, 287, 433 ; 1st, 2d, and 3d Rhode Island regi- ments, 255 ; Rhode Island State regiment, 276; Virginia troops, 17 ; 1st Virginia Continentals, 351 ; 3d Virginia regiment, 27, 213, 351 ; 4th Virginia Continentals, 353 ; 5th Virginia Continentals, I2i, 353; 6th Virginia Continentals, 353 ; Scott's Virginia Continentals, 258; Colonel Weedon's regiment, 164; marines, 433- Army British, Sir William Howe be- comes commander of, 10; General Lee's opinion of, ib. ; leaves Bruns- wick, 17; reaches Princeton, ib. ; questions in Parliament regarding it, 20 ; opinion of a Quaker of, 22 ; disregard of protection papers, 24 et seq. ; moves toward the river, 27 ; enters Trenton, 28 ; movements of, frustrated, 29 ; lack of enterprise in, 37 ; the purchased troops, 39 ; the Hessians in an important position, ib. ; stations of, in New Jersey, 38; heavy artillery to come by way of Amboy, 46, 47 ; stations of, 47 ; troops at Pennington, 59 ; troops alarmed at Black Horse and Mans- field Square, 69; chain of canton- ments of, a weakness, 89 ; artillery, quarters of, in Trenton, 97 ; Hes- sians need clothing, 99 ; troops at Trenton constantly on duty, 100 ; the watch guard, 105 ; quartermas- ters sent to New York for supplies, 199; heavy patrol sent to Penning- ton, 109 ; patrol meets the enemy, 109 ; efforts of, to hold Trenton, 118; positions of regiments in Trenton, 119; officers careless, 145; surprised by American army in Trenton, 1 52 et seq. ; camp followers, 1 80 ; sol- diers of Rail's brigade join . von Donop's at Bordentown, 187 ; num- ber of men who escaped capture at Trenton, 188 note; position of de- tachments, 1S9, 190; losses of, in battle of Trenton, 194, 195 ; recov- ery of guns and flags taken from the Hessians at Trenton, 201 ; Hes- sian prisoners, how treated, 209, 210; parole signed by Hessian offi- cers, 212; prisoners taken to Phila- delphia, 213; captured officers taken to see General Putnam, 214; taken to Dumfries, Va., ib. ; disposal of Hessian soldiers prisoners, 215; reasons and excuses for the defeat at Trenton, 224 et seq. ; captured Hessian ofiicers examined, 229; on the retreat to New York, 235 ; quar- ters of, in and near Princeton, 238 ; after the battle of Trenton, 246 et seq. ; marches on Trenton, 258 ; part of, ready for battle, 259; detach- ments of, again in Trenton, 261- 265 ; efforts of, to capture American army at Trenton, 269 ; comes on a run from Trenton to Princeton, 288 ; regiments at Stockton's farm scat- tered, 290 ; loss of, at Princeton, 292 ; arrival of Hessian prisoners at Philadelphia, 369 ; Hessian out- posts at Trenton, 379; Hessians who escaped capture, 383 ; return 496 INDEX of prisoners taken at Trenton, 386 ; proceedings of Hessian courts-mar- tial, 409 et scq. ; members of, 410; testimony of Hessian officers at court-martial, 411 et seq. ; verdict of court, 41S; report of War Commis- sion on Trenton affair, 419; in New Jersey, 430; biograi^hical sketches of officers killed at Princeton, 456; casualties at Princeton, 45S. — Brig- ades. Second brigade. General Les- lie, 24S ; Fourth brigade. General Grant commanding, i6; Fourth brigade. General Grant's, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood, 24S ; Tory brigade of General Courtlandt Skinner, 246; stations of four brigades, 30 ; picket stations of Rail's brigade, loi et seq. ; list of officers of Rail's brig- ade, 378. — Regiments. Royal artil- lery, 430 ; 1 6th regiment, Burgoyne's Queen's light dragoons, 55, 430; quarters of, at Trenton, 96; 17th light dragoons, 430 ; British chas- seurs, 430 ; British light infantry, 430 ; Queen's Rangers, 430 ; 1st and 2d battalion Guards, 431 ; 4th regi- ment, " King's Own," 430 ; 5th regi- ment, 430; i6th regiment at Tren- ton, 40; 17th regiment of the line, 278, 430 ; roster of, 248 note ; 23d regiment. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 431 ; 27th regiment, or Inniskilling, 430 ; 28th regiment, 430 ; 35th regi- ment, 430 ; 40th regiment, 2S0, 430 ; retreating, 290 ; 42d regiment, Royal Highland Watch, 28, 46, 431 ; 42d regiment and von Block battalion at Mount Holly to gather forage, 70 ; 45th regiment, 430 ; 46th regiment, 5, 431 ; 49th regiment, 430 ; 55th regiment. Col. James Grant, 48, 278, 430; retreats, 290; 71st regiment, Scotch, 431 ; list of Hessian field officers, 316; Hesse -Cassel Body Dragoons, 106; Hessian yagers, 46, 430 ; at Trenton, 96 ; Hessian chasseurs at Bordentown, 68 ; Rail's Hessians, i6; Hessians in Burling- ton County, 66; Hessian artillery, 46 ; Hessian artillery regiment Eitel, 106; grenadier regiment Rail, 2, 41, 94; surrenders, 181; grenadier battalion von Block, 46, 69, 259, 430; regiment von Bose, 127 ; regiment Landgraff, 29; regiment von Knyphausen, 41, 104; station of, in Trenton, 96; in battle of Trenton, 170; roster of, 384; Hes- sian grenadier battalion von Koeh- ! ler, 46; regiment von Linsingen, 46, 69, 259, 430; ordered to take post near Mansfield Square, 48; regiment von Lossberg, 2, 41 ; reaches Trenton, 95 ; position of, in batttle of Trenton, 160; officers of, killed or wounded, 172 ; regiment surrenders, 181 ; regimentvon Loss- berg, company von ITanstein, 160 ; company von I^oos, 95, 160; com- pany von Scheffer, 95 ; company von Altenbockum, 95; quartered near the picket post, 118; fusiher regiment von Lossberg, company von Hanstein, quarters of, at Tren- ton, 95 ; company Bernberg, 243 j grenadiers, 430 ; battalion von Min- nigerode, 46, 430 ; position of, in battle of Trenton, 190 ; regiment von Trumbach, 202 ; regiment von Wissenback, 202 ; Waldeck, ist regi- ment, 41, 430; return of casualties of Rail's brigade, 408 ; 1st New Jersey volunteers, loyalists, 236, 246, 435 note. Arnold, Brig.-Gen. Benedict, 60 ; sent with his troops by General Schuyler, 61. Arnold, Ca]3tain Jacob, 303. Assiscunk Creek, 43. Assunpinck Creek, 90 ; picket at bridge over, 381. Atlee, Samuel J., colonel Pennsylvania regiment of musketry, 351. Atterbury estate in Trenton, 97. Attleborough, Pa., 213. Austin, Jonathan W., major i6th Con- tinental foot, cashiered, 354. Bailey, John, colonel 23d Conti- nental foot, 356. Baird, Wm., 358. Baldwin, Loammi, colonel 26th Con- tinental foot, 356. Baptisttown, Hunterdon County, 130 note. Barclay, Thomas, Washington at the house of, 30. Barnes, Major John, house of, on , Queen Street, Trenton, 37 ; a loyal- ist, 163 ; Washington at the house of, 246. Barnes, Thomas, house of, at Tren- ton, 95. Battles, of Long Island, i ; of Har- lem, mentioned, 2 ; of White Plains, mentioned, 2. INDEX 497 Baude, Henrich, fusilier von Alten- bockum's company, 165. Bauer, Frank Georg, corporal Hes- sian yagers, 151, 411. Bauer, Wilhelm, chaplain regiment von Knyphausen, 189, 384. Baum, Jacob, staff captain, 180; cap- tain regiment von Knyphausen, 378, 384; escapes, 389; biographi- cal note of, 393. Baum, Captain, 104, 411. Bauman, Captain, battery of, in sec- ond division, 142. Bauman, Sebastian, captain New York Continental artillery company, 357- Baylor, Lieut.-Col. George, aide-de- camp of General Washington, 18 1, 182 ; sent to Congress with report and captured flags, 221. Bear Tavern, 140. Beatty's Ferry, 30 ; American army crosses at, 27. Beaumont, Isaiah, private 20th Con- tinental foot, wounded, 292 note. Bedford, Gunning, lieutenant-colonel Delaware Continentals, 351. Beekman, Abraham, 358. Beekman, Christopher, 358. Beekman, Gerardes, 358. Bellerjean, John, 96. Bentley, Lieut. William, 5th Virginia Continentals, 121. Bergen Neck, General Mercer at, 4. Bernard, Benjamin, lieutenant-colonel Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 431. Bessonett, Charles, the tavern of, head- quarters of Colonel Cadwalader,233. Bethlehem, Pa., American hospital at, 127. Bicker, private, regiment von Knyp- hausen, 119. Biddle, Col. Clement, deputy quarter- master-general, letter from, to , 365 ; to Committee of Safety, 369. Biographical notes : of American gen- erals, 347; Blunt, Capt. John, 136; Boking, Hein. Ludw., captain, 390 ; Bryant, Dr. William, 1 1 1 ; Cadwala- der. Col. John, 81 ; de Fermoy, Gen. Math. A. de Roche, 349 ; Dickinson, Philip, 83 ; Engelhardt, Lieut. Joh., 394 ; Ewing, James, 82 ; Fischer, Lieut. Friedrich, Hessian artillery, 394 ; Fleming, Capt. John, 454 ; Glover, Col. John, 350 ; Griibe, Fr. Fr., lieuten'ant, 392 ; Greene, Gen. Nathanael, 348 ; Hamilton, Alexan- der, 158; Haslet, Col. John, 452; Hendorff, Ensign Fr.Chr., 392; Hes- sian officers, 390-394 ; Hille, Hem. Reinh., lieutenant regiment von Lossberg, 392 ; Hunt, Abraham, 122; Kimm, Geo. Chr., lieutenant regiment von Lossberg, 392 ; Kinen, Carl Andr., lieutenant regiment Rail, 390 ; Kinen, Ludwig, ensign regiment Rail, 391 ; Knox, Henry, colonel Continental artillery, 350 ; Leslie, Captain the Hon. William, 457; Livingston, Governor William, 12; LordCornwallis, 21; McPherson, Capt. John, 456 ; Matthaus, Johann Joost, major regiment Rail, 390; Mercer, Gen. Hugh, 459; Mifflin, Gen. Thomas, 8 ; Morris, Ensign Anthony, 455 ; Mostyn, Capt. Rob- ert, 456; Neil, Capt. Daniel, 453; Piel, Jacob, lieutenant regiment von Lossberg, 392 ; Rail, Col. Johann Gottlieb, 196 ; St. Clair, Gen. Ar- thur, 349 ; Sargent, Col. P. D., 350 ; Scheffer, Fr&ncis, lieutenant-colonel regiment von Lossberg, 391; Schroe- der, Johann Georg, ensign regiment Rail, 391; Schwabe, Ern. Christ., lieutenant regiment von Lossberg, 392 ; Shippin, Capt. William, 453 ; Sobbe, Christian, lieutenant regi- ment von Knyphausen, 393 ; Stark, Col. John, 350 ; Steding, Adam Christ., captain regiment von Loss- berg, 39T ; Stephen, Gen. Adam, 349 ; Stirling, Gen. Lord, 348; Stroe- bel, Johannes, lieutenant regiment Rail, 390; Sullivan, Gen. John, 347; Vaupell, Carl Nic, lieutenant regi- ment von Knyphausen, 393 ; von Altenbockum, E. E., captain regi- ment von Lossberg, 391 ; von Ben- ning, Fr. W., captain regiment von Lossberg, 391 ; von Biesenrodt, Bernh., captain regiment von Knyp- hausen, 393 ; von Dechow, Fr. L., major regiment von Knyphau- sen, 393 ; von Donop, Col. Carl Emil Kurt, 46; von Drach, William, ensign regiment von Knyphausen, 394 ; von Ferry, Werner, lieutenant regiment von Knyphausen, 393; von Geyso, Ludwig, lieutenant regiment von Knyphausen, 393; von Hanstein, Ludwig Aug., major regiment von Lossberg, 391 ; von Kobe, Chr. Aug., ensign regiment von Lossberg, 392 ; von Lowenstein, L. W., captain regiment von Knyphausen, 393; von Riess, Joh. Friedrich, captain regi- 498 INDEX ment von Lossberg, 391 ; von Roni- rodt, W. L., lieutenant regiment von Knyphausen, 394 ; von Schimmel- pfennig, B. H., captain regiment von Knyphausen, 393 ; Wiederhold, Andr., lieutenant regiment von Knyphausen, 394 ; Yeates, Lieut. Bartholomew, 455 ; Zimmerman, Heinr., ensign regiment von Knyp- hausen, 394 ; ZoU, Geo. Harm., lieu- tenant regiment von Lossberg, 392. Birch, Samuel, lieutenant-colonel 17th light dragoons, 430. Birmingham, N. J., 140. Black Horse, Burlington County, now Columbus, 47 ; " The Sun " inn at, 69. Blake, Joseph, 2d lieutenant Massa- chusetts Continental artillery com- pany, 357- Bloombury Farm, 91, 266. Blunt, Capt. John, of Portsmouth, '34- Bokuig, Hemr. Ludwig, captain regi- ment Rail, 190, 378, 382; escapes, 388 ; biographical note of, 390 ; ma- jor, 411. Bond, Mrs. Joseph, keeps Fox Chase Tavern, 102, 380. Bond, Col. William, 60. Borden town, British army post at, 42; von Donop in winter quarters at, 46; 42d British regiment, Lieut.-Col. Thomas Sterling, at, 46. Bottamer, Jacob, private German bat- talion, wounded, 265 note. Bottle Hill, now Madison, N. J., 303. Boyer, Peter, captain German battal- ion, 265 note. Bradford, William, major 2d battalion Philadelphia Associators, 456. Bradley, Philip Burr, colonel com- manding, 353. Bradstreet, Samuel, major 40th regi- ment { British), 430. Bray, Capt. Daniel, 2d Hunterdon County militia, 129. Bretha'uer, Balthasar, lieutenant-colo- nel regiment Rail, 118, 378, 380; commanding regiment Rail, 1 56 ; horse of, killed, ib. ; sick, 175; dies a prisoner, 388. Bright, George, picket near bakery of, 381. Bristol, American troops at, 81. Brooks, John, major 19th Continental foot, 356. Broste, Quartermaster, regiment von Linsingen, 109. Brown, Samuel, a loyalist, 337. Brown, Capt. William, 242 ; commands ship Montgomery, 433. Brubach, Joh. Heinr., captain regi- ment Rail, 1 53, 378, 380 ; dies a pris- oner, 388. Bryant, Dr. William, 91 ; house of, called " Doctor House," 103 ; bio- graphical sketch of, III. Buckner, Mordecai, colonel 6th Vir- ginia Continentals, 353. Budden, James, 2d lieutenant Phila- delphia light horse, 358, 443 ; cap- tures British soldiers on a scout, 249 et seq. Bunn, Edward, justice of the peace of Somerset County, 358. Burd, James, colonel Lancaster County battalion, 433. Burlington, British troops in, 44 ; can- nonaded from American boats, ib. ; between the devil and the deep sea, ib. ; British troops withdraw from, 45- Burlington County, farmers in, robbed, 47 ; Tories in, give information to von Donop, 68. Burroughs, Edon, ist regiment Hun- terdon County militia, 138 note. Burroughs, Stephen, ist regiment Hun- terdon County militia, 138 note. Busseltown, British army reaches, 42. Buyer, George, sergeant ist Pennsyl- vania, wounded, 292 note. Caldwell, James, private Philadel- phia light horse, 273 note, 442, 443. Caldwell, Rev. James, writes to Wash- ington, 24. Caldwell, Samuel, private Philadel- phia light horse, 250, 443. Calhoun, Alexander, house and store of, at Trenton, 95 ; Captain von Al- tenbockum at the house of, 146. Campbell, Archibald, lieutenant-colo- nel 71st regiment (British), 431. Campbell, George, private Philadel- phia light horse, 250, 273 note, 442, 443- Cadwalader, Col. John, 19, 59; station of his command, 81 ; to make the attack at Mount Holly, etc., 113; attempts of, to cross the Delaware, 232, 233 ; marches to Burlington, 240 ; position of, during battle of Trenton, 242 ; promoted general of Pennsylvania militia, 251 ; contem- plates taking Brunswick, ib.; marches to Crosswicks, 253; to Trenton, 254; INDEX 499 station of brigade of, before Prince- ton battle, 262; order of Washington to, 310, 311; report of, to Council of Safety, 446 ; letters of, to Washing- ton, 241 , 364, 365, 423, 434 ; to Coun- cil of Safety, Bucks County, Pa., 323; to von Donop, 76 ; letter to, from Washington, 132, 427. Cadwalader, Col. Lambert, 151 ; letter from, to his sister, Mrs. Samuel Meredith, 448. Chambers, Alexander, store of, where, 167. Chambers, David, colonel Hunterdon County militia," 115. Chambers, James, lieutenant-colonel 1st Pennsylvania Continentals, 352. Chambers, John, Hessians quartered at the house of, 119. Chester, John, colonel 6th Continen- tals, 355 ; of Sargent's brigade, sent witli the news of Trenton to General Heath at Peekskill, 221. Cilley, Joseph, major 8th Continental foot, 354. Clap, Ebenezer, lieutenant - colonel 13th Continental foot, 355. Clark, Aaron, 3d lieutenant E. N. J. State artillery company, 357. Clark, Hannah, 296. Clark, Sarah, 296. Clark, Thomas, house of, now Henry E. Hale's, 284 ; General Mercer dies at the house of, 296. Clark, Thomas, ist lieutenant E. N. J. State artillery company, 357. Claypoole, Abr. G., house of, at Tren- ton, 94. Clifford, John, 130 note. Clinton, Sir Henry, supersedes Sir William Howe, as commander of British forces, 10 ; plan of, 11 ; criti- cises conduct of English troops, 26 ; on the battle of Trenton, 224. Closter Dock, General Cornwallis lands at, 2. Clymer, George, 36. Clymer, , member of Congress, 245. Coates, William, lieutenant-colonel ist Philadelphia Associators, 239. Cochran, Robert, major 3d New York Continentals, 355. Cockburne, James, lieutenant-colonel 35th regiment (British), 430. Cole, Philip, colonel Northumberland County battalion, 433. Columbus, Burlington County, occu- pied by British troops, 47. Colvin, I^atrick, 103. Congress, denounces rumors of their intention to leave Philadelphia, but go two days later, 35 ; goes to Balti- more, 36 ; resolution of, for a Day of Fast and Prayer, 61 ; resolution of, investing Washington with power to raise additional troops, 243. Cook, Thaddeus, major Ward's Con- necticut Continental infantry, 355. Cooke, Nicholas, governor of Rhode Island, 1 2 ; letter to, from General Greene, 65. Cooke, William, colonel 12th Pennsyl- vania Continentals, 433. Cooper's Creek, 32. Cornwallis, Lieutenant-General, lands at Old Closter Dock, 2 ; halts at Brunswick under orders from Howe, 16 ; ordered to cross the river at Coryell's Ferry, 28 ; obtains leave to go to England, 48 ; opinion of, concerning defeat at Trenton, 224 ; not allowed to go to England, but ordered to his command, 247 ; marches on Trenton, 24S ; on the situation of American army, 26S ; rushes back to Princeton, 2S8 et seq. Coryell's Ferry, 30. Cottnam, Warren, Hessians quartered at the house of, 119. Couran, Henry, major 27th regiment (British), 430. Courtney, Hercules, ist lieutenant Pennsylvania artillery, 257 note, 357. Cowperthwaite, Joseph, major ist Philadelphia Associators, 233, 242. Cox, John, lieutenant-colonel Phila- delphia Associators, 73, 91, 242. Coxe, Miss Rebecca, house of, at Tren- ton, 95 ; Lieutenant Piel quartered at the house of, 153. Craig, Isaac, captain brigantine An- drew Doria, 242, 243. Cranberry, 238. Crane, John, major Knox's artillery, 356, 357- Crawford, James, colonel Lancaster County battahon, 433. Crosswicks Creek, \2 ; pickets at, 104, 381. Cuthbert, Lieutenant, of Captain Moulder's Philadelphia battery, 136, 358- Cuyler, Cornelius, major 55th regiment (British), 430. Dache, Anthony, private Philadel- phia Associators, wounded, 292 note. 500 INDEX Dagworthy, Miss Mary, 122 note. Dayton, Joseph, 2d lieutenant W. N. J. State artillery company, 357. Deane, Thomas, 2d lieutenant New York State artillery company, 357. De Fermoy, Gen. M. A. de Roche, brig- ade of, 30, 84, 142 ; instructions to, and others from, General Wash- ington, 62 ; biographical note of, 349- De Haas, John Philip, colonel 2d Pennsylvania Continentals, 433. Delaware River, 12; preparations for crossing, 15. De Nolde, Heinr. Georg, ensign regi- ment Landgrave, 410. Desaguliers, Lieut. Frederick, R. A., killed, 292. Dexter, David, captain Lippit's Rhode Island State regiment, 276. Dickinson, Brig. Gen. Philemon, 53 ; commanding New Jersey militia, 82 ; country seat of, British picket post at, 97, 189 ; pillaged, 102 ; on the River road, 118, 150; called "The Hermitage," 379. Dilkes, Thomas, major 49th regiment (British), 430. Dillwyn, William, 45. Dimon, David, Major Bradley's battal- ion, 353. Ditmass, Abr., 358. Donaldson, John, private Philadelphia light horse, 250, 443. Doughty, John, captain-lieutenant E. N. J. State artillery company, 357. Douglass, Alexander, house of, head- quarters of Gen. St. Clair, 270. Downs, John, private Philadelphia Associators, wounded, 292 note. Drake, Henry, Bull Head Tavern, 94. Duff, Thomas, major Delaware mili- tia, 433. Duffy, Patrick, 3d lieutenant 2d com- pany Pennsylvania State artillery, 357 ; letter of, to Col. Thomas Proc- ter, 370. Dumfries, Va., Hessian officers taken to, 214. Dunham boat, use of, 129. Dunk's Ferry, below Bristol, 30. Dunlap, John, cornet Philadelphia light horse, 249, 358, 443. Durkee, John, colonel 20th Conti- nental foot, 292 note, 352 ; letter to, from General Mercer, 379. Dyer, Thomas, major 20th Continental foot, 352. Fames, WoRSLEY, ist lieutenant Penn- sylvania artillery, 258 note, 358. East Hanover Street, formerly Pink- erton's Alley, 156. Eitel, Hans Heinrich, lieutenant-colo- nel Hessian artillery, io5, 385, 410. Elizabethtown, 10 ; British troops at and near, 430. Elliott, Thomas, colonel 4th Virginia Continentals, 353. Engelhardt, Johann, lieutenant of Eitel's artillery, 106, 119, 156, 157, 378, 385 ; escapes, 390 ; biographi- cal note of, 394. Eppes, Francis, lieutenant-colonel ist Virginia Continentals, killed, 351. Erskine, Sir William, 70 ; colonel and aide-de-camp to the king, acting as quartermaster - general in New Jersey, 268. Erskine, General, hears the news of Trenton at Amboy, 189. Erwin, Arthur, colonel Buck's County battalion, 433. Kwald, Capt. Johann, commanding company of Hessian yagers, 46; blames Rail, 200. Ewing, Gen. James, commanding divi- sion of Pennsylvania and New Jer- sey militia, 82 ; position of, in the attack on Trenton, 113. " Eyre, Major Jehu, 233. Eyssel, Sergt. Christian, of von Alten- bockura's company, 165. Faesch, John Jacob, Hessian pris- oners employed at the iron works of, at Mount Hope, N. J., 215. Farmer, Lewis, captain ist Pennsyl- vania rifles, 213. Ferries, 30. Filsin, George, private ist Pennsyl- vania Continentals, wounded, 265 note. Fischer, Friedrich, lieutenant of Hes- sian artillery, 107, 127, 166, 378 ; map by, 1 28 ; prisoner, 390 ; bio- graphical note of, 394. Fiss, , quartermaster regiment Rail, 109. Fitzgerald, John, lieutenant -colonel and aide-de-camp to Washington, 286. Flahaven, Capt. John, ist New Jersey Continentals, 115, 150. Fleck, Jacob Lebrecht, ensign regi- ment Rail, 378 ; prisoner, 389 ; bio- graphical note of, 391. Fleming, George, first iieutenant New INDEX SOI York Continental artillery company, 357- Fleming, John, captain ist Virginia Continentals, 351 ; mortally wound- ed, 284; biographical sketch of, 454- Flock, John Tindall, 250. Ford, Col. Jacob, Jr., of Morris Coun- ty, 60. Forman, Col. David, sent to Mon- mouth County, 9; called " Black David," ib. Forrest, Capt. Thomas, battery of, 19; in Second Division, 142, 158, 258, 357- Fort Lee abandoned, 2. Fort Washington surrendered, 2. Fortney, Wender, private German battalion, wounded, 265 note. Fox Chase Tavern, 102; in Maiden- head road, 118 ; picket at, 380. Frederick the Great on the sale of Hessian troops, 39. Frederic, Landgrave of Hesse, letter from, to General Knyphausen, on Trenton affair, 404. Freeman Tavern, Morristown, N. J., headquarters American army, 303. FreUnghuysen, Major Frederic, New Jersey militia, 174 note ; brigade major on General Dickinson's staff, 251. Frelinghuysen, Frederick, captam New Jersey artillery, 453. Frye, Ebenezer, captain ist New Hampshire regiment, 168. Fiihrer, Carl Friedrich, ensigti regi- ment von Knyphausen, joins the Americans, 215; prisoner, 390. Gage, General, superseded, 10. Galbraith, Bertram, colonel Lancaster County battalion, 433. Galloway, Joseph, a Tory, examined before House of Commons, 37 ; tes- timony of, against General Howe, 223. Gamble, Capt. Thomas, acting quarter- master-general British army, issues a circular to people of Hunterdon and Burlington counties, 78, 341 ; on von Donop's staff, 234. Gamble, Captain, 424. Gansevoort, Peter, colonel 3d New York Continentals, 355. Gates, Major-Gen. Horatio, 60; in- triguing, 131 ; letter to, from Charles Lee, 57 ; letter to, from Washing- ton, 64. Gearhart, Capt. Jacob, 2d regiment Hunterdon County militia, 129. Geiger, Henry, colonel Northampton County battalion, 433. Germain, Lord George, colonial sec- retary, letter from, to General von Heister, 226 ; letter from, to British Peace Commissioners, 483. Geulick, Samuel, 358. Gilliland, James, ist lieutenant New York State artillery company, 357. Gilman, Israel, lieutenant-colonel 2d Continental foot, 354. Glover, Col. John, Marblehead, Mass., regiment, 84, 134; brigade of, in first division, 142; colonel 14th Continental foot, commanding brig- ade, 355 et seq. ; biographical note of, 35°- Gloucester County, militia from, under Griffin, 74. Goebel, John, private German bat- talion, killed, 265 note. Grabe, Ensign Friedrich Franz, von Lossberg regiment, 118, 148, 378, 380; von Altenbockum's company, 165 ; prisoner, 389 ; biographical note of, 392. Grant, Major-Gen. Sir James, com- manding Fourth brigade British army, 16, 430 ; colonel 55th foot, 48 ; his opinion of Americans' fighting qualities, ib. note ; will keep the peace in New Jersey, 108 ; hears the news of Trenton at Bruns- wick, 189 ; letters of, to Colonel von Donop, 51, 67, 70, 115, 425; to Colonel Rail, 334 ; letter to, from Colonel von. Donop, 426. Graydon, Alexander, captain Shee's regiment, 263. Greaton, Col. John, 60. Green, John, major ist Virginia Con- tinentals, 351. Green, Timothy, colonel Lancaster County battalion, 433. Green, William, ist regiment Hunter- don County militia, 138 note. Greene, Gen. Nathanael, 12; aban- dons Fort Lee, 2 ; retreats to Hack- ensack, N. J., ib. ; takes command at Princeton, 17 ; commanding left wing, 142 ; Washington takes sup- per with, at Samuel Merrick's house, 112; letter from, to , 47 2 ; biographical note of, 348. Griffin, Col. Samuel, sick, 73; adju- tant-general, 74 ; headquarters of, at Haddonfield, ib. 502 INDEX Gruff, George, of Lancaster, private Philadelphia City Troop, 443. Guild, John, ist regiment Hunterdon County militia, 138 note. Hackensack, N. J., Washington's headquarters at, 3; uncertain loy- alty of people around, ib. ; Hacken- sack bridge burned, 5. Hageman, Joseph, 358. Haines, Mr., a loyalist, 337. Hale, Nathan, major 2d Continental foot, 354. Hall, Street, lieutenant-colonel igth Continental foot, 356. Hall, William, private Philadelphia City Troop, 443. Hamilton, Capt. Alexander, battery of, 15 ; in second division, 142 ; captain New York State artillery company, 357 ; biographical note of, 158. Hand, Edward, colonel Pennsylvania rifles, 258 ; colonel ist Pennsyl- vania Continentals, 352 ; attacks Mawhood's left, 284. Harcourt, Hon. William, lieutenant- colonel i6th light dragoons, 430; captures Lee, 55. Harris, David, captain Maryland rifle battalion, 353. Harris, John, American headquarters at the house of, 208. Harrison, Lieut. -Col. Robert H., trans- fers headquarters business to New- town, 112; Washington's secretary, 208. Hartung, Corp. William, of von Loss- berg regiment, 117 ; von Altenbock- um's company, 118. Haslet, John, of Delaware, 256; colo- nel Delaware Continentals, 280, 351 ; mortally wounded, 282 ; letter from, to Caesar Rodney, 376 ; biographical sketch of, 452. Hassell, Sergt. Geo. Wilhelm, Hes- sian yagers, 151. Hausseger, Col. Nicholas, ig ; German Continental infantry, 258, 352; taken prisoner and suspected of disloyalty, 262. Hayden, Josiah, major 23d Conti- nental foot, 356. Heard, Gen. Nathaniel, 9. Heath, General, 58. Heeland, , corporal regiment von Minnigerode, 180. Hendorff, Friedr. Christ., ensign regi- ment von Lossberg, 378 ; account of battle of Trenton by, 187 ; prisoner, 389 ; biographical note of, 392. Hendricks, James, lieutenant-colonel 6th Virginia Continentals, 353. Henley, Lieut.-Col. David, acting deputy adjutant-general on Wash- ington's staff, 28. Henry, George, captain Philadelphia militia, 232, 433. Henry, Patrick, lieutenant and adjutant ist New Jersey loyalist volunteers, 236. Henry, Samuel, ironworks of, 176; mill of, 262. Henshaw, Lieut.-Col.William, of Mas- sachusetts, 255. Hesse, Prince of, letter to, from Gen- eral von Heister, 401 ; from, to Gen- eral von Knyphausen, 403. Lleusser, , quartermaster regiment von Lossberg, 109 ; describes Colo- nel Rail, 199. Heutzeman, , of the Hessian artil- lery, 157. Ilille, Heinr. Reinh., lieutenant regi- ment von Lossberg, 190, 378, 382, 411 ; escapes, 389; biographical note of, 392. Historical authorities, documents, etc., list of, 485 et seq. Hitchcock, Daniel, 59 ; colonel New England brigade, 264; takes posi- tion with his Continental brigade, 266 ; praised by Washington, 297; Dr. Rush on, 298. Hobley, Thomas, lieutenant-colonel Bradley's battalion, prisoner of war, 353- Holden, Benjamin, lieutenant-colonel 27th Continental foot, 352. Holland, Thomas, captain Delaware Continentals, 432 note. HoUingsworth, Levi, 443. Honeyman, John, of Griggstown, Somerset County, Washington's s]3y, 87 ; letter of Washington protects family of, 88 ; accused of aiding the enemy, 358. Hood, Mr., 3d battalion, letter from, to , 469. Hoops, Major Robert, brigade major of Brig.-Gen. Phil. Dickinson's staff, sent to Lee, 53. Hopkinson, Francis, signer of the De- claration of Independence, library of, ruined, 234. Hovenden, Mr., a loyalist, 336. How, Micajah, house of, at Trenton, 95- INDEX 503 Howard, John, of Col. Lippit's regi- ment, 254. Howe, Lord Richard, admiral of the British fleet, might have intercepted American army on the Raritan, 11. Howe, Sir William, succeeds General Gage as commander of British forces, 10; in New Jersey, 38; re- turns to New York, 48 ; on the situ- ation, 66; letters of, to Lord George Germain, 327, 482 ; to Lord Germain on battle of Trenton, 219 ; to Colonel von Donop, 316 ; of thanks from, to Lieutenant-Colonel Mawhood, 458 ; report of, to Lord Germain, 293 ; proclamation of, 314. Howell, Arthur, 146. Howell, Hezekiah, 37. Howell, Richard, cooper-shop of, 146. Howell, Samuel, Jr., private Philadel- phia light horse, 250, 443. Howell's Ferry, 30, 150. Howell's house, English picket at, 119. Howland, John, of Lippit's Rhode Island State regiment, 276. Hubley, Adam, major loth Pennsyl- vania Continentals, 431 note. Hugg, Samuel, battery of, 142; cap- tain W. N. J. State artillery com- pany, 357. Hull, William, captain 7th Connecticut Continentals, 206, 261,356; account of, 208 ; letter from, to Andrew Adams, 375. Humpton, Col. Richard, 15; Pennsyl- vania Continentals, 129; colonel nth Pennsylvania Continentals, 433; or- der of Washington to, 310. Hunt, Abraham, 267; biographical no- tice of, 122. Hunt, Elias, 258. Hunter, James, corporal Philadelphia light horse, 250, 443. Hunter, Samuel, colonel Northumber- land County battalion, 433. Hunterdon County, American scout- ing party in, 122. Hutchinson, Israel, colonel 27th Con- tinental foot, 352. Hyer, Jacob, 89. Ide, , of the Hessian artillery, 163. • Inman, George, extract from his " Nar- rative of the American Revolution," 477- Inslee, Joseph, 1st Hunterdon County militia, 138 note. Jackson, Michael, lieutenant-colo- nel i6th Continental foot, 354. Jacobs, John, lieutenant-colonel 23d Continental foot, 356. Jerseys, the, \\'ashington's army in, i. Johnson, John, captain ist New York Continentals, 355. Johnson, Obacliah, lieutenant-colonel Ward's Connecticut infantry, 354. Johnson's Ferry, 109. Johnston, George, major 5th Virginia Continentals, 353. Johnstone, George, British diplomat, 7. Johonnot, Gabriel, lieutenant-colonel 14th Continental foot, 356. Jones, Capt. Thomas, 2d regiment Hunterdon county militia, 129. Keith, William, Washington leaves house of, 73. Keller, Ludwig Wilhelm, lieutenant regiment von Lossberg, 378 ; pris- oner, dies in Virginia, 389. Kelly, John, major Northumberland County, Pa., militia, 287. Kemble, Major Stephen, deputy adju- tant-general to General Howe, ob- servations of, on battle of Trenton, Kershow, Joest, 358. Kimm, Lieut. Georg Christian, von Altenbockum's company, 118; regi- ment von Lossberg, 378 ; killed, 149, 389; biographical note of, 392. Kinen, Carl Andr., lieutenant regiment Rail, 193, 378; prisoner, 389 ; bio- graphical note of, •390. Kinen, Ludwig, ensign regiment Rail, 378; absent during battle, 389; bio- graphical note of, 391. Kingston, British troops at, 236. Kirkbride's Ferry, 30. Kleinschmidt, Carl Wilhelm, ensign and adjutant regiment Rail, 168, 378; a prisoner, 389; joins the Amer- icans, 215. Knox, Henry, 84 ; colonel American artillery, 136, 356; addresses troops, 254 ;. letters of, to his wife, 266 note, 371, 436, 449; biographical note of, 35°- Knowles's Creek, 130. Knowlton, , lieutenant-colonel 20th Continental foot, mortally wounded at Harlem Heights, 352. Kosciusko, Thaddeus, 32. Kuester, Friedrich Wilhelm, ensign regiment von Bunau, 410. Kuhn, Christian, a Hessian soldier. 504 INDEX enlists in Moylan's 4th Continental dragoons, 385 note. Lamb, John, major Knox's artillery, 3S6- Lamb, Patrick, 273. Lanning, David, ibt regiment Hunter- don County militia, 138 note ; cap- tured by Hessians, escapes, ib. Lanning, Joseph, blacksmith at Tren- ton, 37. Lanning, Samuel, 37. Lardner, John, private Philadelphia light horse, 250, 273 note; letter from, to Captain Smith, 442, Lawrence, Elisha, lieutenant-colonel 1st New Jersey loyalist volunteers, 236. 435 "ote- Lawrence, John, mayor of Burlington, 43- Lawrenceville, formerly Maidenhead, 27. Lawson, Robert, lieutenant-colonel 4th Virginia Continentals, 353. Leaning, Thomas, private Philadelphia City Troop, 443. Lee, Maj. -General Charles, at White Plains, ordered to join Washington, 4 ; opinion of, regarding Sir William Howe, 10; treachery of, 52; plans of, 54 ; slowness of his movements, 55 ; captured, 55; writes to General Gates, abusing Washington, 57 ; a prisoner, sent away from Brunswick, 303 ; letter to, from Washington, 13- Lee, John, capt^n Northumberland County battalion, 433. Lee, William R., major 14th Conti- nental foot, 356. Leiper, Thomas, sergeant Philadelphia light horse, 250, 443. Leslie, Alexander, brigadier-general 2d brigade (British), 430; marches to Springfield, Bound Brook, and Princeton, 52 ; at Princeton, 49, i88 ; hears the result of battle of Trenton, 189; formerly colonel 64th foot, 248 ; letters from, to Colonel von Donop, 424. Leslie, Capt. the Hon. William, R. A., wounded, 293; captain 17th regiment roval artillery, biographical sketch of,' 457- Lewis, Capt. George, sent under flag of truce to attend General Mercer, 297. Lindenburger, John, lieutenant Penn- sylvania artillery, 214. Linnard, William, ist lieutenant 2d Artillery company, Philadelphia As- sociators, 358. Lippit, Christopher, colonel Rhode Island State regiment, 276. Livingston, Gov. William, asked to post guards, 12 ; message to legisla- ture, 25; letters to, from Lord Stir- ling, 219, 394; biographical note, 12. Livingston, Robert James, Hunterdon County militia, later ensign 5th Vir- ginia regiment, 194. Livingston, William Smith, major and aide-de-camp to General Greene, wounded, 292 note. Long Island, battle of, i. Loray, Capt. Friedrich Heinrich, Hes- sian chasseurs, 68; letter from, to Colonel Rail, 339. Losbiniere, Captain, 338. Lotheisen, Johann Jacob, judge advo- cate, reports, 230, 408. Lott, Cornehus, 358. Lowantica Valley, 303. Loyalists, information given by, 336