Battle of Princeton painted by John Trumbull - from Photo Division of the Library of Congress
PRINCETON
Then
winter at MORRISTOWN. To MIDDLETOWN, Westfield, Morristown, Pompton, Suffern, NY
HIGHLANDS. To Reading, Philadelphia. Loss at Brandywine, Loss of PHILADELPHIA, 1st Victory
at Freeman Farms, NY, Battle at Oriskany. Victory at Bennington, Loss at
Germantown, 2nd Victory at Freeman Farms. VICTORY AT SARATOGA
- France, Spain and then Holland
declared war upon
England. Loss of Forts
on the Lower Delaware River. The snowy march from Whitemarsh, PA to a
quiet winter at Valley Forge to be
near Philadelphia to ready for a possible recapture of that large town.
Washington called a Trenton council
of war at the Douglas House on
January 2, 1777, when he discovered that the British forces coming west into
Trent's-Town were superior in number.
The council decided to abandon the Delaware River area. They would try to strike at Princeton, and then rush to New Brunswick - and attempt an attack on the British supply depots there. The British were already entering Trenton north of the Assunpink Creek; their attempts to cross a bridge at that creek were delayed.
On January 3, Washington made sure that all camp fires were re-stoked as the American army started the move eastward at midnight. They quietly passed just south of Trent's-Town under the cover of darkness.
Battle of Princeton painted by John Trumbull - from Photo
Division of the Library of Congress
At sunrise on January 4, 1777, about 350 Virginians under the command of General Hugh Mercer, surprised British Colonel Charles Mawhood's troops at a bridge near Clarke's cherry orchard just west of Princeton. The British set in motion a bayonet and artillery attack, mortally wounding General Mercer, who was taken to the Clarke house before he died.
Washington rallied the Virginia forces, and fought for about forty minutes, winning an impressive victory. Colonel Mawhood's brigade split. His seventeenth regiment retreated toward Trent'sTown; his fifty-fifth regiment and his fortieth regiment rushed in the opposite direction toward New Brunswick to defend the British supplies.
General Hugh Mercer's body was carried to Philadelphia by a somber procession of about 10,000 persons. Hugh Mercer had been the doctor for Washington's mother in Fredericksburg, VA (many Mercer counties are named for him).
Location
Location Location
at MORRISTOWN HQ
Washington's troops pursued the British forces to about three miles northeast of Princeton - toward Brunswick, the site of the British army stores. However, his troops were in much need of rest.
The Americans destroyed a bridge and decided to move northward to the highlands for winter encampment - at MorrisTown, but they first camped at Millstone, NJ.
Washington and some of his staff stayed overnight at the house of John Van Doren just south of Millstone, then Somerset Courthouse, NJ.
After a funeral for an enemy soldier, Colonel Leslie - who had been killed at Princeton, the army marched, about 20 miles, to Pluckemin, at the foot of the NJ Highlands. [Some Hessian prisoners were taken to Whitehouse, NJ - and on to Easton, PA]. The British had now retreated from the western part of the state of NJ.
Washington and his army arrived at MorrisTown at sunset on January 6, 1777.
Many of the troops pitched tents in Loanaka Valley southeast of MorrisTown. Washington headquartered at Jacob Arnold's Tavern, an Inn near the Baptist and Presbyterian churches across from the Green, where Martha would join him later in the winter.
Artillery General Knox, who would someday be the Secretary of War in Washington's administration, drilled his men at Burnham Park, a half mile from the Green.
Smallpox was running rampant; and Washington was authorized to inoculate his army with the new smallpox vaccine. The Baptist and Presbyterian churches in town, and many churches in nearby towns, became hospitals. Washington had suffered from smallpox when he was a young man, so he was immune.Ten officers stayed at anti-slavery patriot Reverend Jacob Green's house on Hanover Road in East Hanover. Soldiers stayed at the Fish Farm in Afton (Florham Park). Even churches as far away as Succasunna were used for hospitals.
Presbyterian minister Reverend Johnes' daughter, Theodosa Ford, lost her husband and his father in January to respiratory attacks. Washington attended the burial services in the graveyard at the little white Presbyterian Church. She, with her children, would rent most of her large house to Washington' s staff in a couple of years, but in 1777, her property was the site for the Delaware brigade.
Washington sent out parties to attack the British enemy's winter food-foraging parties in many skirmishes - to help keep the enemy on a short- foraging leash, and to help feed American troops.
On January 24, Washington wrote a circular to be carried to northern Governors. It said,
"While our dependence is upon militia, we have a full army one day, and scarce any the next; and I am much afraid, that the enemy one day or other, taking advantage of one of these temporary weaknesses, will make themselves masters of our magazines of stores, arms, and artillery."
On January 25, 1777, Washington issued a public proclamation, which required that all of those who had signed British General Howe's proclamation of amnesty - should withdraw to within the British lines - unless they would now sign an oath of loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America. The jail on the Green was used to enforce loyalty to the revolutionary cause.
Washington scolded commissary officer Irving for excluding the provisions needed by Generals Maxwell, Johnston and troops at Chatham - and elsewhere - for American troops were starving.
Young Alexander Hamilton (later to be Secretary of the Treasury) was appointed Aide de Camp to George Washington, on March first.
Washington Spy Scandal 1777 - Letter Finds Home At New Spy Museum
Reported by Jacqueline Trescott, a Washington Post Staff Writer - June 20, 2002
On February 3, 1777 General George Washington gave a New York man, Nathaniel Sackett, the go-ahead to establish a spy network in the region and promised him $50 a month "for your care and trouble in this business."
The order by Washington is contained in this letter, The one page letter, written on February 4, 1777 in Washington's own slanted script, stayed in the family of Nathaniel Sackett, a political activist and a merchant for the Continental Army.
The letter was purchased in April 2002 by the museum from a private collector.by the organizers of the District of Columbia's new International Spy Museum, which will open the summer of 2002.
George Washington's letter authorizes Nathaniel Sackett to set up a spy network.
(Courtesy of International Spy Museum)
This rare document is high among many artifacts that organizers hope will form a heart of this new effort. Museum admission will cost from $8 to $11. The museum has acquired some 600 artifacts, spanning spy tales from the CIA to the KGB, from Nathan Hale to Robert Hanssen.
The president of the board is Dennis Barrie, the inaugural director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The executive director is E. Peter Earnest, whose 36-year career in the CIA included 20 years in the agency's clandestine service. H. Keith Melton, a military historian and collector of 7,000 pieces of espionage paraphernalia, led the museum's acquisitions search.
Washington encouraged the writing of letters in invisible ink, making up packages of false documents and designing schemes around double agents.
James C. Rees, the executive director of Mount Vernon said that the letter by George Washington is the oldest item in the collection. "He was ahead of his time in terms of how he used espionage and how he approached it. He handled it himself, not that he was a spy, but he handled it directly. He did that more for control. . ."
Washington successfully used disinformation, Rees said. John Honeyman pretended to be a Tory sympathizer who had "escaped" from Washington's men. Earlier, in late 1776, Honeyman went to Trenton and told the Hessians that Washington was totally disorganized, leaving them unprepared when Washington crossed the Delaware River and attacked. "He had a saying, that 'Secrecy and dispatch may prove the soul of success.' " - said Rees.
"Washington would compare information from one spy to another. He was always leery because most spies were in it for the money - and the fact that the British could afford more," John Nagy, an expert on American Revolutionary espionage, said.
On Feb. 3, 1777, Washington met with Nathaniel Sackett in Morristown, N.J. In his letter, written the next day, Washington says he is depositing $500 with the paymaster "to pay those whom you may find necessary to imploy in the transaction of this business." Story credit : The Washington Post Company.
In a letter from St. Croix, Hamilton's Presbyterian instructor, Hugh Knox, DD, who had received a Doctor of Divinity at Princeton, wrote a congratulatory letter in which he heaped praise on Washington as,
"...I feel myself, at times, under a strong impulse to prophesy, that Washington was born for the deliverance of America --- that that Providence who has raised and trained him up for that very purpose, will watch over his sacred life with a paternal and solicitous care; will shield his head in every day of battle --- will give him to see America free, flourishing, and happy --- and will adorn his fame, amoung latest posterity, with a Garland of Laurel, more verdant, blooming, and enviable, than ever adorned the brow of a Marlborough."
Aaron Burr, Jr. asked for duty in the field.
Small Pox inoculations were now being given to troops in Canada -and in Morristown and Philadelphia for troops coming from the south. Washington ordered that civilians also be inoculated by passing a needle with a "smallpox infected thread" - beneath the skin.
Washington wrote to the President of Congress on March 14,
"From the most accurate estimate that I can form, the whole of our numbers in Jersey, fit for duty at this time, is under three thousand. These, nine hundred and eighty-one excepted, are militia, and stand engaged only till the last of this month. The troops under inoculation, including their attendants, amount to about one thousand."
In April, bad news arrived from Danbury, CT. It mentioned destruction of private dwellings, public stores, and 600 army tents.
At Richfield, CT, Generals Arnold, Stillman and Wooster with militia - fought the British. General Wooster was killed. Not unlike Paul Revere, sixteen year old Sybil Ludington rode for 40 miles, warning the militia to gather.
In April, Washington surmised, correctly, that the British designs were on Philadelphia or possibly the North River [Hudson River] to make a junction with British troops from Canada.
In May at MorrisTown, Washington, concerned with discipline, issued orders to his army forbidding ALL Officers and Soldiers against dice, playing of cards, or any games except exercise. His forces were reinforced and trained by spring. This type of warning was issued about once per year.
Fire beacons had been built at Beacon, NY and Ramapo, Watchung, Navesink, and later, possibly at Fort Nonsense, NJ. These beacons were several stories high, filled with wood. Before being set ablaze, the soldiers would fire a certain number of cannon shots to give assurance that the enemy had not set the fire.
Middlebrook, Westfield and MorrisTown
On May 28, 1777, Washington moved his headquarters south to Boundbrook, NJ - then nearby to Middlebrook on the Raritan River until July 3rd. (It is said that Washington's Masonic lodge held meetings at the Middlebrook Tavern. The Franklin Inn and tavern in East Millstone was built in 1752 - British General Cornwallis had plotted the capture of Washington - there).
The enemy moved out from New York back to the New Brunswick and Somerset region. Many men under General Sullivan were at the Sourland Hills.
Washington's army grew to be over 7,000 men. He had forty-three regiments from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey --- under Major-Generals Stirling, Lincoln, Sullivan, Stephen, and Greene.
New York, and New England troops were concentrated at Peekskill and Ticonderoga, NY.
The enemy had been near New Brunswick and Somerset, but retreated On June 22, toward Staten Island and to Amboy, burning many houses along the way.
On June 24 and 25, Washington's army moved six miles east to Quibbletown, NJ (New Market, Middlesex county) to be nearer to challenge the British army. Washington stayed at the Drake House.
On June 26, the British returned northwest to skirmish at Westfield in an attempt to gain the Watchung mountain highlands. Washington put his troops in motion; they "advanced to-the-rear" to Middlebrook - and the British struck their tents and then withdrew to Staten Island.
Washington asked for the practice of weekly divine service be observed in the future; non-compliance would be a disregard of decency, virtue and religion and a breach of orders.
It was observed that General Howe had his troops leave by ships from Amboy; they sailed around Staten Island.
On July 4, 1777 through July 11, 1777, Washington returned with the main body of the army to the highlands of MorrisTown, with the idea that the enemy would next attempt to advance up the Hudson River toward West Point and Albany. General Sullivan was sent via Pompton toward Peeks-Kill.
Way to the north, on July 1, British General Burgoyne had occupied the high grounds of Mount Hope, and on July 4, Mount Defiance --- which commanded Ticonderoga and defenses at Mount Independence.
An American council of war determined that both locations would be abandoned. Some of the troops repaired to Casleton, VT, but their rear guard were defeated in battle on July 8, when the "Green Mountain Boys" fought at Hubbarton, VT.
It was believed that Howe at New York town would now try to advance up the Hudson to join Burgoyne. Congress became angry enough to replace General Schuyler with General Gates; General St.Clair was suspended.
THE MOVE TO THE NY HIGHLANDS
Washington had received a letter at Morristown from General Schuyler on July 10, about the evacuation of Ticonderoga by General St. Clair's surrounded troops. Washington set the main army in motion toward West Point and the North River.
On July 11, and rainy July 12, and 13, he made headquarters in Pompton Plains, NJ, possibly opposite the Ryerson House on the banks of the Wynockie.
On July 14, they marched to Van Aulen's, east of Pond Church. On the 15th, they moved north to Suffern's Tavern for a stay of five days.
On July 15, Washington wrote to General Schuyler,
"The evaluation of Ticonderoga and Mount Independence is an Event of Chagrin and surprise, not apprehended nor within the compas of my reasoning . . . This stroke is severe indeed, and has distressed me much."
On the 18th, he wrote again,
"upon my Requisition, General Arnold, waiving for the present all dispute about rank, left Philadelphia and arrived here last Evening, and this day proceeds in his journey to join you." On July 19, he wrote to General Heath the supposition that after the "Blow to the Northward", Howe "certainly ought in good policy to endeavor to cooperate with General Burgoine".
Then the main army marched eleven miles north to Galloway's at Smith's Clove in NY, about 20 miles northwest of West Point.
They arrived on July 20, at an old log house ... "with plenty of sepawn and milk", "The General lodged in a bed and his family was on the floor about him." (Martha and John Parke?).
On July 22, Washington received intelligence that Howe had set out to sea. Only 40 ships remained by Sandy Hook, NJ and the Narrows. The others had gone elsewhere.
On July 24, Washington and the army headed south to Ramapo, NJ.
On July 24, he received a letter, obtained from the enemy, from General Howe to Burgoyne, indicating his intention of an expedition on Boston. Washington was not fooled by the dis-information.
And on July 24, Washington wrote to General Putnam,
"I have just received advice of the Enemy's fleet having sailed from the Hook; in consequences of which I have to desire, that you will immediately order General Sullivan's & Lord Stirling's Divisions to cross the river [the North River], and proceed towards Philadelphia."
The 20 year old, very wealthy Marquis d' LaFayette (Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier) arrived in South Carolina on his own ship, "Liberty."
He went north to Philadelphia where he traded his liberal financial aid for a commission as Major General. He carried an anti-British-passion, since, his father had been killed by the British in an earlier war, when LaFayette was a very small boy.
The rush to PHILADELPHIA ...TOP
British ships set sail down the NJ coastline from New York. It was assumed that they were advancing toward Philadelphia. Generals Stirling and Sullivan sent their divisions - from east of the Hudson - into New Jersey.Washington and his troops then moved rapidly toward Philadelphia.
George Washington passed through Pompton, NJ on the 25th and near MorrisTown on July 26, 1777. They were in Flemington, NJ on the 27th.
They then marched via Lambertville, NJ at Coryell's Ferry and Howell's Ferry Stockton, NJ, crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania and moved to Reading, PA.
Washington returned to stay at Holombe House or Oakham's near Coryell's Ferry on the 28th.
On the 31st, he set the troops underway down the Old York road to Philadelphia.
Washington arrived at Philadelphia on July 31, 1777 at 10PM. In the next morning, he examined the defenses of the Delaware River (Click for a map of Mud Island, Fort Mifflin; Red Bank (Fort Mercer)); and Billingsport and Marcus Hook and then he stayed overnight at Chester, PA, about 15 miles south of Philadelphia.
Washington stayed at Roxboro, Colonel Henry Hill's on August 4.
Washington met Lafayette for the first time at a public dinner in Philadelphia. After suggestions from Congress, Washington officially appointed the inexperienced General Gates to command the northern army, replacing Generals St.Clair and Schuyler.
News of Victory at BENNINGTON, VT
There was a report that a six-hour battle of Oriskany, NY on August 6, had losses on both sides.
Washington heard of the American victory of General John Stark at Bennington, Vermont, which followed the murder of a Jane McCrea by British allied Indians - and followed the need to raid Bennington for packhorses and food.
THIS TAKES A BIT OF TIME ==> Good Reading regarding the Philadelphia area.
On July 31, the British fleet was reported to be at the Capes of Delaware.
Washington moved his army to five miles north of Philadelphia between Germantown and the Schuylkill River at Schuylkill Falls on August 7, 1777 - with HQ at the home of Henry Hill on Indian Queen Lane [Taken down in 1780].
And then he moved, on August 10, east to Neshaminy Camp near Hartsville close to the Delaware river.
La Fayette joined Washington at the Moland House (click to see the wonderful STONE MOLAND HOUSE
which has survived !)Permission to use photo(s) being sought 8/03.
On August 23 at Stenton HQ at the home of the Logan Family, Washington issued the order for the troops to march from Nicetown at 4AM single file - to and through Philadelphia on Chestnut Street. THIS writing TAKES A BIT OF TIME ==> Phila-to-Head-of-Elk
They then marched to Derby and through Chester to Naaman's Creek.
On August 16, Washington wrote to General Putnam, who had reported on Fort Stanwick, the Battle of Oraskany,
" ... The people in the northern army seem so intimidated by the Indians, that I have determined to send up Colonel Morgan's corp of riflemen, who will fight them in their own way ... "
Washington rode to a new headquarters at Quaker Hill at a house at 303 West Street between Third and Fourth in Wilmington, DE, with his army encamped west of town and spread south to Newark, DE. He was there from August 25 until September 5.
On August 25, the British began to land at Turkey Point and march to Head of Elk (Elkton), MD.
On August 26, Washington went on horseback with Generals Green, Weedon and La Fayette to reconnoitre. They were caught in a terrible storm and stayed in a farmhouse at Gray's Hill near Head of Elk.
The enemy was at Gray's Hill on the 29th of August. On the 30th and 31st, Washington rode along many roads to reconnoitre that countryside.
Howe issued a "Declaration" intended to sway local people to switch their loyalties to the British.
On September 8, there were skirmishes; the Americans withdrew in the face of cannons.
The armies faced - 10 miles apart at Newport with the British at Iron Hill - then Milltown.
On September 9, Washington left Newport; he set his army marching at 2AM to the high ground near Chad's Ford on the east bank of the Brandywine River, thirteen miles north of Wilmington. THIS writing TAKES A BIT OF TIME ==> to Brandywine
On September 10, Washington stayed at the house of Benjamin Ring one mile east of Chad's Ford.
Two days later, the armies would meet three miles to the northward, near Birmingham Meeting House. The British had discovered an easy passage over the Brandywine River.
Loss at BRANDYWINE Brandywine !
On September 11, young Major General Lafayette was wounded in the leg at the Battle of the Brandywine Creek near Chads Ford. The American army was obliged to leave the enemy as masters of the battle field.
The main army returned via Chester on Queen's Highway, then to Leiperville, where Washington slept at John McIlvain's old stone house.
On September 12, the army marched to the old camp at Schuylkill Falls to Derby, Pa. - they had to wade waist-deep through the Schuylkill River.
On September 12 - 16, actions took place.
They were known as the ==> Battle of Clouds. This takes a Bit of time.On September 15 until October 3,
Washington's army played mouse and cat with the enemy; Washington stayed a night or two at the following places:
Buck Tavern at a private house - with his army camped between Swede's Ford road and White Horse Tavern
White Horse Tavern at the residence of Joseph Malin on September 16
Yellow Springs at the Pottsgrove Manor - The Red Lion Inn on the 17th during severe weather
Warwick Furnace at French Creek on the 18th, to avoid enemy flanking
Parker's Ford (Lawrenceville) on the 19th, where, cold and damp, the hungry and thirsty troops re-crossed to the east side of the Schuylkill River, and marched south via Trappe on the Reading Road to Perkiomen Creek
Paoli, PA: on September 20 and 21, northwest of Philadelphia, Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's troops were attacked by the British at Paoli, PA <==TAKES A BIT OF TIME.
Pottsgrove, PA (Pottstown) Washington was at Pott's Mansion from September 22 to the 26th with the army camped 28-34 miles from Philadelphia.Washington wrote to Alexander Hamilton,
"The distressed situation of the army for want of blankets, and many necessary articles of cloathing, is truly deplorable; and must inevitably be destructive to it, unless a speedy remedy be applied," and to Congress about the lack of shoes, "at least one thousand are bare-footed."
The enemy, after many unusual maneuvers, marched past Fatland, half a mile from Valley Forge ... and on toward Philadelphia.
Loss of ... PHILADELPHIA
On September 26, British General Cornwallis took possession of Philadelphia. The British would remain there until June 18, 1778.
From 8:30 AM until 10 AM, Lord Cornwallis marched into the city to acclamation of thousands of women and children. His forces were two Battalions of British and Hessian Grenadiers, two squadrons of Sixteenth dragoons and artillery - with the Chief-Engineer, Artillery Commanding Officer, Quartermaster, and Adjutant-General.
On September 27, American Commander Hazelwood brought galleys, gondolas, the sloop "Fly", and the "twenty four gun frigates", "Montgomery" and "Delaware." They began a cannonade against the batteries being constructed by the British at Philadelphia. When the tide fell, the "Delaware" was stranded aground and taken by the British.
From Pennypackers Mills (Schwenksville, Montgomery, County) - Washington wrote to William Henry at Lancaster,
"You are hereby authorized to impress all the Blankets, Shoes, Stockings and other Articles of Clothing that can be spared by the Inhabitants of the County of Lancaster for the use of the Continental Army, paying for the same at reasonable Rates or giving Certificates."
News arrived of a first VICTORY near SARATOGAOn September 28, Washington issued a gill of rum per man and discharged 13 pieces of artillery. This was to celebrate an advantage gained against British General Burgoyne above Albany, NY.
In the far north, on September 13, Burgoyne's army had crossed the upper North River on boats to the west bank, thus weakening the link to his supply lines.
On September 19th, he met with American forces under General Gates near (Map of) Bemis Heights. About a mile north of the heights, the American forces under General Benedict Arnold with the sharpshooting riflemen under General Daniel Morgan, met the British army at a small farm, Freeman's Farm, near Stillwater, NY.
American losses were about 350, the British losses were about 600. Washington must have been somewhat satisfied in that he had sent Morgan and his riflemen north, and that they were very successful in this engagement against Burgoyne.
The American army advanced five miles closer to Philadelphia to Methacton Hill at Skipjack, PA on October 1. Washington stayed at Peter Wentz's.
On the 3rd, they started marching at 7PM toward Germantown.
On October 3 at Wocester, Washington wrote to Congress,
"... we have sustained an additional loss in the capture of the [frigate] Delaware."
Loss at GERMANTOWN
On October 4, Washington, at Pennypacker's Mill, launched an attack on almost half of the British forces. They went against the enemy's left wing and drove them from the field; however, the Battle of Germantown, just north of Philadelphia, was lost in the fog and smoke from cannons, where some of the American troops fired upon each other in error, and when General Greene arrived too late for a fully coordinated attack.Washington must have dreamed of a rest at his Mount Vernon home !
The American defense of "the underwater chain barrier" in the Hudson River was bypassed and dismantled by the British.
Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton near Bear Mountain, seven miles southwest of West Point, were taken by the British on October 6, 1777.
They then moved north to Kingston (then Esopus), which they burned. Fire boats were set afloat in narrow sections of the Hudson River to frighten or torch British ships.
News of a second VICTORY at Bemis Heights, NY
On October 7, 1777, at the second battle of Freeman's Farm, after an argument with General Horatio Gates, Benedict Arnold was relieved of his command. However, he then stayed with his troops and took heroic action and was wounded in the leg. British General Burgoyne's troops lost about 400 with Americans suffering a much smaller number.
Meanwhile, from October 5 until October 20, 1777, after the Battle at Germantown,
Washington stayed at Pennybacker's Mills - Pawlin's Mill - 4 days,
Towamencin - a week - at the Farm house of Frederick Wampole near Kulpsville, PA,
and Wocester - 4 days at the two story stone house of Peter Wenz - on the road from Centre Point and Heebnersville.
News: a Major VICTORY at SARATOGA !With about 20,000 American soldiers surrounding the British army at the heights of Saratoga, negotiations for the surrender of British General Burgoyne and his entire outnumbered army began on October 14.
And negotiations continued until October 17 with the signing of the "Convention" [not a capitulation] between Lt. General Burgoyne and Major-general Gates.
Strangely, [possibly with the fear that British General Clinton may be on the way from New York town], General Gates let Burgoyne write his own terms of surrender, which allowed the British soldiers to return to England, with the promise that they would not fight again.
Sadly, the soldier's return to England freed-up other troops there - to come here.
This victory would encourage France, Spain and then Holland to declare war upon England.
New York Governor Clinton dispatched this note, dated from Albany on October 15, 1777,
"Last night [October 14] at 8 o'clock the capitulation whereby General Burgoyne & whole Army surrendered themselves Prisoners of War, was signed and this Morning they have to march out towards the River, above Fish Creek with the Honours of War (and there ground their Arms) they are from thence to be marched to Massachusetts bay."
On the 17th, at Peter Wentz's of Worcester, PA, Washington wrote,
"The Northern army, before the surrender of General Burgoyne, was reinforced by upwards of 1200 Militia who shut the only door by which Burgoyne could Retreat, and cut off all his supplies.
How different our case ! the disaffection of a greater part of the Inhabitants of this State --- the languor of others, & internal distraction of the whole, have been amoung the great and insuperable difficulties I have met with, and have contributed not a little to my embarrassments this Campaign." ...
On the 27th, from Whitpain, he wrote,
"It is a matter of astonishment to every part of the continent, to hear that Pennsylvania, the most opulent and populous of all the States, has not twelve hundred militia in the field, at a time when the enemy are endeavouring to make themselves completely masters of, and to *fix their winter quarters in, her capit[o]l."
On October 18, an entry in the orderly book at Worcester, PA read:
"The General has his happiness completed relative to the successes of the Northern army. On the 14th instant General Burgyne and his whole army surrendered themselves prisoners of war. Let every face brighten, and every heart expand with grateful joy and praise to the Supreme Disposer of all events, who has granted us this signal success. The chaplains of the army are to prepare short discourses, suited to the occasion, to deliver to their several corps and brigades at five o'clock this afternoon."
On October 21, Washington moved to within 15 miles of Philadelphia with his headquarters at Dawesfield, the James Morris' house at Whitpain, PA - for 7days.
On October 24, a proclamation was issued giving a full and free pardon to deserters.
Battles at Forts on the lower DELAWARE RIVER
The next day, Washington congratulated our troops on successes on October 22. Washington wrote,"A Body of about 1200 Hessians under the Command of Count Donop made an attack on Fort Mercer at Red Bank [on the Delaware], and after an action of 40 Minutes were repulsed with great loss. Count Donop himself was wounded and taken prisoner together with his Brigade Major and about 100 other officers and soldiers, and about 100 were left dead on the Fields, and as they carried off many of their wounded their whole loss was probably at least 400 --- our loss was trifling, the killed and wounded amounting only to about 32."
On the next day, October 23, the British sixty-four gun frigate Augusta, the 18 gun Merlin, and the forty-four gun Roebuck approached Fort Mercer. They were met in a furious engagement by galleys and floating batteries of the Pennsylvania fleet.
The Augusta blew up at noon. At about 3PM, the Merlin also blew up. The Roebuck withdrew downriver.
A court-martial was held on October 25, 26, 27 and 30 for the trial of Brigadier-General Anthony Wayne regarding the loss at Paoli, PA. General Sullivan presided. This was the results, also approved by Washington,
"The Court, having fully considered the charge against Brigadier General Wayne, and the evidence produced to them, are unanimously of opinion that General Wayne was not guilty of the charge exhibited against him, but that he, on the night of the 20th Ultimo, (that is of Septr last) did everything that could be expected from an active, brave, and vigilant officer, under the orders he then had. The Court do acquit him with the highest honor."
On November 1, 1777, Washington forwarded to Congress a copy of NY Governor Clinton's account of the 1776 assault on North river towns by British General Vaughn. After the British under their Sir Henry Clinton took Fort Montgomery [six miles above Stoney Point] and Fort Clinton on October 6, 1776 --- they were abandoned by orders of General Howe on the 26th. The account read,
"After removing the chevaux-de-frise at Fort Montgomery, the British passed up the river with several armed vessels commanded by Sir James Wallace, and a body of troops under General Vaughn. They burnt such shipping as they found in the river, and also houses and mills on the shore, and on the 15th of October, led on by General Vaughn himself, set fire to the village of Kingston. So complete was the destruction, that not more than one house escaped the flames."
Whitemarsh:
On November 2, Washington's troops marched to about 12 miles north of Philadelphia, to Whitemarsh. The headquarters was at George Emlen's, a large, 2-1/2 story high stone building next to Camp Hill.
They were expecting reinforcements from the northern army. Washington began to strengthen the position.
On a hazy November 5, heavy cannonading was heard to the southeast on the Delaware. Washington rode out to Germantown to investigate. American row galleys, the Roebuck and 64 gun Somerset were cannonading another ship.
On November 9, Washington wrote to the plotting General Thomas Conway - [this must have frightened Conway],
"A letter, which I received last night contained the following paragraph. 'In a letter from General Conway to General Gates he says, "Heaven has been determined to save your country or a weak General and bad counsellors would have ruined it."
The Conway and Gates conspiracy to overthrow Washington as Commander-In-Chief failed in December when one of Washington's aides wounded General Thomas Conway gravely in a duel.
On November 13, Washington wrote from Whitemarsh to Patrick Henry regarding the lack of local Pennsylvania support,
"... the States of New York and New England, resolving to crush Burgoyne, continued pouring in their troops, til the surrender of that army; at which time not less than 14,000 militia, as I have been informed, were actually in General Gates' camp, and those composed, for the most part, of the best yeomanry in the country, well armed, and in many instances supplied with provisions of their own carrying."
Loss of Forts on the lower DELAWARE RIVER
On November 15, with the fall of Fort Mifflin after six days of bombing (300 Americans escaped) - the Delaware was now under control of the British navy.
On November 17, Washington wrote the President of Congress,
"I am sorry to inform you that Fort Mifflin [on the Delaware] was evacuated the night before last, after a defense which does credit to the American arms, and will ever reflect the highest honor upon the officers and men of the garrison."
It was decided to send the Pennsylvania fleet, under Commodore Hazelwood, up the Delaware River to Burlington, NJ below Trenton.
At Gloucester Point, ten vessels were set on fire as they tried their escape; however, thirteen galleys, twelve armed boats, one sloop and some craft with cannon and ammunition made their way up river on November 19 and 20.
On November 22, the orderly book stated,
"The Commander-in-Chief offers a reward of ten dollars to any person, who shall by nine o'clock on Monday morning produce the best substitute for shoes, made of raw hides."
On the 23rd, Washington wrote to the President of Congress,
"... the enemy are now in possession of all the [Delaware] water defenses." Lord Cornwallis had crossed the Delaware at Chester with about 2000 men, which joined with some British troops, recently arrived from NY - brought the loss of Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin on the river."
On November 24, a war council asked officers, including General Greene [then at Mount Holly, NJ] to submit written opinions - to attack Philadelphia or not. Eleven said, NO. YES votes were submitted by Generals Woodford, Scott, Wayne and Stirling.
Washington rode near to Philadelphia and observed that the British had built formidable defenses. General du Portail said that in such works, with 5,000 men he would bid defiance to any force that should be brought against him.
Washington stayed at Whitemarsh for thirty-nine days, where he planned for a winter at Valley Forge, PA, which is a series of small hills about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
On December 4, Howe moved from Philadelphia with a large force to Chestnut Hill on Washington's right flank about three miles distant.
Washington sent the Pennsylvania militia to skirmish with light advance parties led by Brigadier-General Irving, who was wounded and captured. On the 5th and 6th, the enemy moved to Washington's left, within a mile.
On Sunday, December 7, 1777, they moved further to the left. By every appearance, they were determined on an action. The enemy's advance and flanking parties were attacked by Colonel Morgan's corp and by Colonel Gist's Maryland militia. After marches and counter marches, they halted for the night.
On the morning of the 8th, Howe changed plans. He marched his forces back into Philadelphia via three routes.
On December 11, the Whole Army was ordered to march to Swedes Ford [Norristown] about 6 miles from Whitemarsh.
Along the way they ran across about 4,000 troops under Cornwallis positioned on the heights on both sides of the road leading to the river. American General Potter challenged them and then retired.
Cornwallis' men were on a foraging operation; they returned to Philadelphia. It was decided to move further north and three miles west of the Schuylkill River to Gulph Mill.
From December 13 to 19, Washington probably was six or seven miles from Valley Forge at "Walnut Grove", owned by Lt.-Colonel Isaac Hughes.
December 16th was a cold rainy day; tents were pitched to keep the men somewhat comfortable. John Laurens wrote to Henry Laurens,
"The army cross'd the Schuykill on the 13th and has remained encamped on the heights on this side. Our truly republican General has declared to his officers that he will set the example of passing the winter in a hut himself. The precise position is not as yet fixed upon, in which our huts are to be constructed; it will probably be determined this day."
Good news arrived - that a French ship had arrived at Portsmouth with 4,100 stands of arms, powder, 61,051 pounds of sulpher, 48 four-pounder cannons (2000 four-pound balls), 19 nine-inch mortars (2500 nine-inch bombs) and entrenching tools.
On December 19, a large encampment for over 11,000 men was established on low rolling hills, about 22 miles from Philadelphia, known as Valley Forge, Montgomery County, PA.
The men began by building temporary huts covered with leaves. A few days later, they would begin their log huts. Washington submitted particular instructions for building the huts; each was done by a party of 12 men.
About 8,200 were healthy soldiers and another 2,898 unfit for lack of shoes, stockings, blankets - and a few were near naked. Disciplinarian Frederich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben described rusty equipment and some soldiers dressed in old blankets.
Using an interpreter, he spent the winter training the army in the style of discipline he had known under King Frederick of Prussia.
General Washington pleaded for supplies from Congress then at York, PA. The food for Christmas was skimpy, but after a month things seemed mostly under control, but with a great shortage of meat.
Washington wrote to NJ Governor Livingston about the unhappy condition and supplies for ill soldiers in the hospital huts. He wrote,
"Our sick naked, and well naked, our unfortunate men in captivity naked !"
One report said,
"A considerable number of our men are in warm, comfortable huts; but others have made little progress as yet, for several thousand of the enemy had marched to Derby and remained until the 28th. This tied up construction of huts due to the need to watch this enemy force. It snowed four inches on Christmas day and night - followed by clear and cold weather.
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