Philadelphia, 22d September, 1777.
Sir:
I left camp last evening, and came to this city to superintend the
collection of blankets and clothing for the army. Mr. Lovell sends to
inform me there is an express going off to Congress; and I do myself
the honor to communicate a brief state of things when I left camp. The
enemy moved yesterday, from where they lay opposite to Valley Forge,
&c., higher up the river, on their old scheme of gaining our right. I
don’t know precisely where they halted; but our army was preparing to
move up also, to counteract them.
I am this morning told, they marched about twelve o’clock at night for
that purpose. The general opinion was, that the enemy would attempt
crossing this day: every appearance justified the supposition.
We had intelligence that the enemy had, the night before last,
surprised Generals Smallwood and Wayne, and consequently dispersed
them, after a small opposition. The loss, it is said, was not great:
and our troops were re-assembling fast at the Red Lion. This seems to
have been a bad look out, and is somewhat disconcerting.
By a letter from General McDougal, received this morning, it appears he
was, on the twentieth, in the morning, at Second River, just setting
out on his march toward Woodbridge. He is pressing forward with all
possible expedition. The troops were pretty well refreshed, and in good
spirits.
I have, &c.,
A. Hamilton.