A mild winter: picture| Valley Forge Headquarters building in a small valley
Then the chase across New Jersey to the Battle at MONMOUTH COURT- HOUSE (Freehold). Then a move to White Plains and the New York Highlands. Boundbrook, Wallace House at Somerville, NJ, R&R & with Congress at Philadelphia. The loss at Savannah, GA.Valley Forge "Small Hills Near Philadelphia"
On January 3, General Greene mentioned that the fatigued army was tenting itself, and that the most particular need was for articles of shoes and stockings.
On January 5, 1778, Colonel Pickering wrote to his wife,
"The army has made great progress in hutting; but the want of tools has retarded the work. The huts are very warm and comfortable, being very good log-houses, pointed with clay, and the roof made tight with the same. The weather is now very mild, which is exceedingly favorable to out hutting; but 'tis a melancholy consideration, that hundreds of our men are unfit for duty, merely from the want of clothes and shoes..."
Washington wrote to congress to move with alacrity to provide supplies of clothing; but
measures.""it will never answer to provide supplies of clothing or provision by coercive
The hutting operation was nearly completed by January 15, and "the men are in comfortable quarters." [from the Diary of Joseph Clark].
On January 20, Washington wrote to General Arnold,
" ' have got the men tolerably well covered in huts."
On that day, a party of the enemy came near to the American lines and "had a curmige with our guards. Major Durban was wounded in the wrist; but there were two of the enemy, light horsemen, killed and one more wounded."
On the 25th of January, Washington wrote to General Putnam that the strictest attention be given to rebuilding the defenses, which had been destroyed by the British along the North River. West Point was selected on January 13 as the best place eligible for fortification.
Martha arrived at the Deborah Hewe's house at Valley Forge on February 10; she wrote to a Mrs. Mercy Warren,
"Officers and men are chiefly in Hutts, which they say is tolerably comfortable; the army are as healthy as can be expected in general. The general's apartment is very small; he has had a log cabin built to dine in, which has made our quarter much more tolerable than they were at first."
On February 16, Washington wrote to NY Governor Clinton,
"For some days past, there has been little less than a famine in the camp."
John Laurens wrote,
"We have lately been in a most alarming situation for want of provisions. The soldiers were scarcely restrained from mutiny by the eloquence and management of the officers."
LaFayette wrote in his memoirs,
"The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats, hats, shirts, nor shoes; their feet and legs froze til they became black, and it was often necessary to amputate them. ... it was almost impossible to levy recruits; it was easy to desert into the interior of the country."
On February 23, disciplinarian, Baron Von Steuben arrived. Shortly thereafter, he wrote,
"The arms at Valley Forge were in a horrible condition, covered with rust, half of them without bayonets, many from which a single shot could not be fired. The pouches were quite as bad as the arms. A great many of the men had tin boxes instead of pouches, others had cow horns; and muskets, carbines, fowling pieces, and rifles were to be seen in the same company. The description of the dress is most easily given. The men are literally naked, some of them in the fullest extent of the word. The officers who had coats, had them of every color and make. I saw officers at a grand parade at Valley Forge, mounting guard in a sort of dressing-gown, made of an old blanket or woolen bed cover. With regard to their military discipline, I may safely say no such thing existed."
By April 1, John Laurens wrote to Henry Laurens,
"I must not omit to inform you that Baron Steuben is making a sensible progress with our soldiers ... ".
He was appointed on May 5 as inspector-general of the American Army in place of General Conway.
On March 5, 1778, it was learned that British General Clinton had quarters at 1 Broadway on York [Manhattan] Island, in NY. Plans were set underway to capture him there, using Americans dressed in red similar to a British army uniform. The proper opportunity apparently did not arise; the plot was not executed.
On April 17, word came describing Lord North's Conciliatory Bills, which seemed designed to weaken American willpower. Congress rejected the advances saying,
"The only solid proof of this disposition will be, an explicit knowledge of the independence of these States, or the withdrawing of his fleets and armies."
Also, an attempted bribe of Joseph Reed was answered with, "I am not worth purchasing, but, such as I am, the King of Great Britain is not rich enough to do it."
Notice went out to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia to prepare cattle for use by the army in May, June, and July.
Washington mentioned to General Cadwalader that the army had lost a good many men from desertion and death. They were once without meat for six days, and a couple of days without provisions. Between two and three hundred officers had resigned their commissions, and more were in the humor to resign.
On April 21, General Charles Lee was exchanged for British General Prescott, [who had been a prisoner since July 10, 1777 near Newport, RI].
On May 20, Washington met Lee on the road from Philadelphia with a marching band and greeted him "like a brother", and placed him in command of the right wing of the army. Lee was quartered in Washington's small stone house in the room behind Martha's small sitting room. He asked and was given leave to go to York, PA to see Congress. Congress did not know then that he would soon go on trial for disobedient retreat or lack of valor in battle; he took an oath of allegiance to the United states on June 9.
This tough winter was just a prelude to a much worse winter of deep snows two years in the future at Jockey Hollow near MorrisTown, NJ. (in 1780).
On April 24, John Paul (Jones) on the ship Ranger burned several ships and captured the ship Drake with 200 sailors on the west coast of Scotland.
On May 1 and May 2, news arrived at Valley Forge and York(town), PA from Falmouth [Portland, ME] in Casco Bay. The French King's thirty-six gun frigate, Sensible, had brought news to America, carried by an American Commissioner to Paris, Simeon Deane, of treaties between France and the United States !
Washington staged a grand jubilee celebration, and directed that Divine Services be held.
After the celebration on the 7th, on May 8, a council of war decided that
"the line of conduct most consistent with sound policy, and best suited to promote the interests and safety of the United States, was to remain on the defensive and wait events, and not attempt any offensive operations against the enemy, till circumstances should afford a fairer opportunity for striking a successful blow."
On the 11th, most of the officers were called in to take the "oath of affirmation" requested by Congress.
Then Aaron Burr was put in command of the Headquarters secret service.
On May 15, George Rogers Clark captured Kaskaskia, IL.
The threat of a French Fleet would entirely change strategies for the British and the Americans.
THE FOX CHASE !
On May 29, Washington wrote to NY Governor Clinton that it was almost certain that the British were preparing to evacuate Philadelphia.
On June 5, the Americans had an inkling that the enemy intended to also pass overland through the Jerseys into New York."
On June 17, the majority of the officers were opposed to an attack, but said that it depended upon circumstances; however, Washington, Greene, LaFayette, Wayne and Cadwalader desired to attack the enemy in New Jersey, even though the enemy forces were larger.
British General Howe was replaced by General Henry Clinton, who began evacuation of Loyalists from Philadelphia on ships destined for New York.
On June 18, Clinton headed northeast toward New York - overland with about 13,000 soldiers.
On June 19, Washington broke camp at Valley Forge and sent General Lee in hot pursuit (up Route 202) with brigades under Generals Poor, Varnum, and Huntington.
Washington followed in the rain on June 20 via Norringtown and via Doylestown, PA;
Washington pitched his tent near the farmhouse of John Mann or Jonathon Fell. On June 22, they crossed the Delaware at Holcombe House at Coryell's Ferry [Lambertville, NJ] in the rain, and went east toward Princeton, but north of Hopewell. He stayed at John Hunt's in Hopewell.
On June 24, 1778, at Hopewell, General Charles Lee balked; he did not want to attack the enemy. Soon afterward, at Kingston, NJ on the 25th, Washington gave Lee's Command to General La Fayette ! Washington wrote to the Marquis,
"You are immediately to proceed with the detachment commanded by General Poor, and form a junction as expeditiously as possible with that under the command of General Scott. You are to use the most effectual means for gaining the enemy's left flank and rear, and giving them every degree of annoyance. All Continental parties, that are already on the lines, will be under your command."
Also on the 24th, General Knox wrote,
"We have now very numerous parties harassing and teasing them on all quarters."
They all moved north of Princeton to Cranbury, NJ., and then to Englishtown, where Washington returned the Command to General Charles Lee ...
General Lee, who was the superior Major-General, received this message on the 26th from Washington,
"Your uneasiness on account of the command of yesterday's detachment fills me with concern, as it is not in my power fully to remove it without wounding the feelings of the Marquis de LaFayette ... The expedient I would propose, is, for you to march towards the Marquis with Scott's and Varnum's brigades. Give him notice, that you are advancing to support him, and that you are to have the command of the whole advanced body."
On June 26, they were at Cranberry, NJ and the next day at Englishtown, NJ.
A skirmish
at MONMOUTH COURT-HOUSE (Freehold)
Headquarters at Englishtown . . .
www.ROADtoMONMOUTH.com
June 28 and 29, 1778
On Sunday, June 28 at 5 AM, Washington put his army in motion. General Lee was ordered to attack the enemy.
Early Morning, (with about 5,000 Continental soldiers) General Charles Lee sent General Anthony Wayne and three battalions to harass the "British rear guard." Lee sent General Charles Scott, the NJ Brigade and soldiers under General LaFayette to circle behind the main British forces. The British and Hessians rallied by sending about 8,500 to support their 1500 man "rear guard." General Scott's NJ Brigade was ordered to fall back and support Lee's defensive stance. Lee then ordered the other forces which he had sent out - to fall back to his defensive position. United States artillery forces, under Lt. Col Ebenezer Stevens, were placed on a hillside to fire upon the British. As the British horse-mounted dragoons with their sabers, pistols and short-muskets rushed toward Lee's position.
Washington observed General Lee and his troops retiring from the battle in what seemed a general disorder. General Washington entered the scene on horseback and rallied the troops. Washington commanded that Lee hold his position as Washington rallied the remainder of the army forward; he had General Stirling's fresh infantry and Lt. Col. Stevens positioned at the crest of the hill.
In the afternoon, General Wayne, Col. Nat. Ramsay and Col. Walter Stewart and their men struck back at the advancing British, but they were soon forced out of a wooded area to retreat to General Lee's defensive stony hedgerow and fence positions. The scene was filled with smoke from exploding powder accompanied by loud musket "crack" sounds. General Scott's brigade checked the Scottish 42nd Royal Highland Regiment coming from the north in an attempt to encircle Lee's positions. With the help of the 16th Light Dragoons Lee's position was outflanked. General Lee ordered a retreat over a bridge. The British follow across the bridge, but were driven back to their new artillery positions at the hedgerow by United States artillery. The British commander of the 2nd Battalion of Grenadiers, Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, was one of those killed in action.
Battle at MONMOUTH COURT-HOUSE (Freehold)
Headquarters at Englishtown . . .There was a great cannonade for two hours, the Revolution's largest, as the British, Scottish and Hessian enemy tried to flank the Continental position. Each side had ten cannons. The Continentals held high ground, but had smaller cannons. LaFayette was given leadership as General Lee stayed behind in anger. LaFayette's men checked any advance of the enemy by paralleling the enemy line of march until the enemy turned back in frustration. Then, Washington sent General Nat. Greene, 4 cannon and 500 men to go behind the British. Lt. Col. David Rhea, a Monmouth Courthouse native, was sent to tell Green of high-ground at Combs Hill, where they could fire directly down upon the British Lines. The position led the British to begin to withdraw their artillery. The British began to attach Greene's position, but then withdrew.
Then Washington sent two battalions to harass the withdrawing enemy forces. New Hampshire's Col. Joseph Cilley attacked the Royal Highlanders until that enemy decided to also retreat and join the other British south of the brook. General Wayne led an unsuccessful attack across the bridge, but he had to withdraw, and he was followed by the British. The Continental artillery again forced the British back across the bridge. After dark, the enemy, under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton, decided to withdraw British forces toward the New Jersey shoreline a few miles to the east.
Mary Ludwig "Molly" Hays is said to have manned a cannon in the heat of battle, where she was saved by inches from being hit directly by a cannon ball. This woman who usually delivered pitchers of water to the troops, is now known as "Molly Pitcher."
The next morning, General Lee wrote a very improper letter, and he was placed under arrest. LaFayette wrote in his memoirs,
"During the affair, which ended so well, although begun so ill, General Washington appeared to arrest fortune by one glance, and his presence of mind, valour, and decision of character, were never displayed to greater advantage than at this moment. The general and [LaFayette] passed the night lying on the same mantle, talking over the conduct of Lee, who wrote the next morning a very improper letter, and was placed under arrest. He was afterwards suspended by a council of war, quitted the service, and was not regretted by the army."
At midnight, the British troops retreated to Sandy Hook on the Atlantic coast to embark in ships for a short sail to New York. Washington wrote,
"The Commander-in-Chief congratulates the Army on the victory obtained over the arms of his Britannic Majesty yesterday, and thanks, most sincerely, the gallant officers and men who distinguished themselves upon the occasion, and such others as, by their good order and coolness, gave the happiest presages of what might have been expected had they come to action."
On July 1, the American army moved from Englishtown, NJ toward the northeast on sandy soil, with the horses suffering from a shortage of water, to New Brunswick; they arrived on July 3, and all rested there. On July 4th, 1778, they celebrated with a thirteen cannon salute.
On the 5th, Washington sent the army to the northeast via Scotch Plains, Springfield, Wardiston, and Aquackanonk. He was at Newark on July 9.
On July 12, at Paramus, NJ, Washington received this praise from Congress,
"Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of Congress be given to general Washington for the activity with which he marched from the Camp at Valley Forge in pursuit of the enemy; for his distinguished exertions in forming the lines of battle; and for his great good conduct in leading on the attack and gaining the important victory at Monmouth over the British grand army under the command of general sir H. Clinton, in their march from Philadelphia to New York."
On July 14, from Ms. Theorosia Prevost's, "The Hermitage", at Paramus, NJ - Washington wrote to French Admiral Count d'Estang,
"I take the earliest opportunity to advise you, that I have been informed of your arrival on this coast, with a fleet of Ships under your command, belonging to his Most Christian Majesty, our great ally. I congratulate you, Sir, most sincerely upon this event, and beg leave to assure you of my warmest wishes for your success. The intelligence of your arrival was communicated to me last night by Letter from the Honble. Mr. Laurens, President of Congress."
On July 15, Washington moved the army to the northeast via Cakaryatt [Kakeate], and on to the North River five miles below Stoney Point, at Udny Hay's at Haverstraw, NY. It was near the western landing of Kings Ferry. On the 16th, Washington rode fifteen miles north to visit West Point.
On July 17, Washington again wrote to the French Admiral,
"I have the honor of receiving the night of the 14th instant, your very obliging and interesting letter of the 13th dated off Sandy Hook, with a duplicate of another, dated the 8th at Sea."
The message dated July 8 from French Admiral Count d'Estaing, raises flattery to a new high,
"The talents and the great actions of General Washington have secured to him, in the eyes of all Europe, the truly sublime title of the liberator of America. Accept, Sir, the homage, which every man, and especially every military man, owes you; and be not displeased that I solicit, even in the first instant of intercourse, with military and naval frankness, a friendship as flattering as yours."
Beginning on the 17th through the 19th, the troops crossed the North River toward White Plains, destined to be positioned along the various roads to Boston. On July 19, Washington was at the Delavan House of Captain Drake.
Washington made Elijah Miller's House at Reuben Wright's Mill - White Plains his headquarters starting July 20,1778, until September 16. Congress had been admitting foreign officers and sent to Washington for employment. On July 24, Washington wrote to Gouverneur Morris,
"... There is an evil more extensive in its nature, and fatal is its consequences, to be apprehended, and that is, the driving of all of our officers out of the service, and throwing not only our army, but our military councils, entirely into the hands of foreigners."
Washington wrote to Congress in praise of General Greene's reformation and exertions for the department of quartermaster-general - and Colonel Wadsworth, Commissary General;
"... since his appointment on March 2, our supplies of provisions have been good and ample."
On August 20, Washington wrote to General Nelson that for two months the two armies stood poised near each other - in the positions where they had been two years before. He was pleased to see that the British were now reduced to a defensive posture, the use of pickaxe and shovel.
Baylor's Massacre took place on September 28, 1778 near what is now Riverdale, NJ.
In late September, Washington stayed at Fredericksburg, NY and remained there -on and off- until November 28, fifteen miles east of Fishkill (near West Point).
When visiting nearby Fishkill, NY, he stayed at Colonel John or Colonel Derrick Brinckerhoff's houses. On October 4, he wrote from Fishkill to Gouverneur Morris,
"Can we carry on the war much longer? Certainly NO, unless some measures can be devised & speedily executed to restore the credit of our currency, restrain extortion, & punish forestallers. Without these can be effected, what funds can stand the present expenses of the army? ..."
On October 8, he visited the hospital wards and patients at "Robinson House" on the east bank of the North River across from West Point, Doctor Thatcher wrote this description of Washington,
"... perfect gentleman ... accomplished soldier ...remarkedly tall, full six feet, erect and well proportioned ... deportment ... dignity ... grandeur ... one can feel the ascendency of his mind ... countenance - the idea of wisdom, philanthropy, magnanimity and patriotism ... wears his hair in a becoming cue, and from his forehead it is turned back and powdered in a manner which adds to the military air of his appearance. He displays a native gravity, but devoid of all appearance of ostentation. His uniform dress is blue coat, with two brilliant epaulettes, buff under clothes, and a three cornered hat with a black cockade. He is constantly equipped with an elegant small sword, boots and spurs, in readiness to mount his noble charger."
On October 10, Washington received an intelligent report and incorrectly speculated that the next British move by sea might be against the French fleet at Boston. However, the British planned to dispatch 5,000 troops to the West Indies, 3,000 more to Florida, 300 to Bermuda and 700 to Halifax. Sir George Clinton wrote,
"with an army so much diminished at New York ... nothing important can be done."
At noon on October 17, a 13 Cannon salute was fired in honor of the "13 States" and in honor of the victory the prior year over British General Burgoine.
On November 10, Washington stayed at the Glebe House in Poughkeepsie, NY.
On November 16, Washington received the ugly news of the killing of children, women, men and Colonel Ichabod Alden, who was in command of a Massachusetts regiment - in a settlement at Cherry Valley, NY near the east branch of the Susquehanna River, on November 10. Tories under Walter Butler and Indians under Joseph Brant did the "butchering in cold blood."
On November 27, Washington left Fredericksburg Headquarters for wintering at Middlebrook [Boundbrook, NJ]. He was at Fishkill, NY from November 29 - December 2, 1778.
The army's disposition for winter quarters was:
New England
Near Danbury, CT = Connecticut,
New Hampshire troops and Hazen's regiment
East of the North River near Fishkill, NY = five brigadesWest of the North River = North Carolina brigade near Smith's Cove, NY
West Point = One brigade and the regular garrison
Elizabethtown, NJ = the Jersey brigade
Pluckemin, NJ = the artillery at the artillery park
Middlebrook, NJ= Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia totaling seven brigades.On December 1 - 5, Washington stayed at Elizabeth, NJ, where he posted the New Jersey Brigade. He then went back to Paramus, NJ to counter a move by the British, after hearing that they had sent a large force up the North River - it turned out to be just as far north as King's Ferry. When he heard that they had fallen back, he again moved south toward New Brunswick on the 8th.
On December 8, Congress confirmed the acquittal with the highest honor, in the court-martial of General Schuyler for not being present - when General St. Clair evacuated Ticonderoga.
On December 11-21, 1778, Washington camped to winter near the Raritan River at Middlebrook [Boundbrook] about 25 miles south of Morristown.
He found shared-quarters at the Wallace House, four mile west of Middlebrook (visit now at Somerville, NJ); he set in motion the hutting of the army.
On December 21, he gave control of the troops to Lord Stirling, and he rode to Philadelphia to meet Congress about "a certain expedition" - and for some rest, "R-and-R", to be shared with Martha.
George and Martha arrived in Philadelphia late on the 22nd. They stayed with the Hon. Henry Laurens, Esquire. Washington sat for portraits by Charles Wilson Peale and Pierre Eugene du Simitiere.
On the 28th, the Rev. Brother William Smith, D.D. preached a sermon in Christ Church, in which Washington was alluded to as the Cincinatus of America.
On December 29, Washington advised the Marquis de LaFayette that "a certain expedition" had been laid aside. The letter did not reach LaFayette in Boston by January 11, before he sailed to France. This relates to a plan laid out by LaFayette and Congress to invade Canada with a combined force of French and American military-naval forces. Washington had opposed the plan.
On the 24th, a committee appointed by congress to meet with Washington reported against attempting "a certain expedition." Washington had visited John Jay at Fishkill earlier in the year; they had both concurred in disapproving an invasion of Canada.
Bad news ==> on December 29, 1778, Savannah, GA was captured by the British Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell. He would march on toward Augusta, GA.
Washington wrote to Benjamin Harrison on December 30,
"If I was to be called upon to draw a picture of the times and of Men, I should in one word say that idleness, dissipation & extravagance seems to be laid fasthold of most of them. --- That speculation --- peculation --- and an insatiable thirst for riches seems to have got the better of every other consideration and almost of every order of Men. --- That party disputes and personal quarrels are the great business of the day whilst the momentous concerns of an empire --- a great and accumulated debt --- ruined finances --- depreciated money --- and want of credit (which in their consequences is the want of everything) are but secondary considerations and postponed from day to day --- from week to week as if our affairs wear the most promising aspect --- after drawing this picture, which from my Soul I believe to be a true one, I need not repeat to you that I am alarmed and wish to see my Countrymen roused."
#1775, #1776, #1777, #1778, #NEXT1779, #1780, #1781, #1782, #1783,
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T. Collins in NJ, USA on 08/05/07 10:32 AM
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