better condition to meet the foe when the Colonies have had time to
furnish their quotas of recruits, as recently ordered by Congress."
At the earnest solicitation of Washington, Congress had voted that the
Colonies should furnish eighty-eight battalions, in quotas, according
to their abilities; that the pay of officers should be raised; troops
serving throughout the war should receive a bounty of twenty dollars
and one hundred acres of land, with a new suit of clothes annually.
Those enlisting for three years were to receive twenty dollars bounty,
but no land. This provision was a response to Washington's frequent
protests against short enlistments and small pay, and it pointed to a
reorganization of the army, on a permanent footing, according to
Washington's frequently expressed ideas. The general had great
expectations of relief from this more liberal policy.
"Our present action should look solely to the safety of the army,"
interjected Lee. "To save it from annihilation or capture is our first
duty."
"Certainly," rejoined Washington; "and now let this question be answered
definitely: whether (considering that the obstructions in the North
River have proved insufficient, and that the enemy's whole force is in
our rear on Grog Point), it is now deemed possible, in our situation, to
prevent the enemy from cutting off the communication with the country,
and compelling us to fight them at all disadvantages or surrender
prisoners at discretion?"
Every number of the council except General Clinton decided that it was
impossible to occupy the present position without exposing the army to
destruction or capture; hence, another retreat followed.
XIX.
FROM HARLEM TO TRENTON.
Washington withdrew his army to White Plains, leaving nearly three
thousand of his best troops to garrison Fort Washington. Congress
believed that Fort Washington could hold the Hudson secure, and
therefore ordered that a strong garrison be left there. It was not
according to General Washington's idea, after he decided to retreat to
White Plains, but he yielded to the request of Congress. General
Putnam's obstructions in the river amounted to little. Four galleys,
mounted with heavy guns and swivels; two new ships, filled with stones,
to be sunk at the proper moment; a sloop at anchor, having on board an
infernal machine for submarine explosion, with which to blow up the
men-of-war; these were among the aids to the Fort, together with
batteries on either shore, to prevent the enemy ascending the Hudson.
Yet, on the ninth day of October, three British war-ships sailed
triumphantly up the river, sweeping through the obstructions, with
little damage to themselves.
The British pursued the American army. Washington threw up intrenchments
hastily, designing to make but a temporary stay there. General Lee
arrived with the rear division of the army, after the temporary
fortifications were well under way.
"This is but a temporary camp," remarked Washington to Lee. "Yonder
height (pointing to the north) is a more eligible location."
"I judge so," General Lee answered, taking in the situation at once.
"Let us ride out and inspect the ground for ourselves," proposed
Washington. And they galloped away. On arriving at the spot, General Lee
pointed to still another height farther north.
"That is the ground we ought to occupy," he said.
"Well, let us go and view it," replied Washington.
They had not reached the location when a courier came dashing up to
them.
"The British are in the camp, sir!" he exclaimed to Washington.
"Then we have other business to attend to than reconnoitering," quickly
and coolly replied the general, putting spurs to his horse and returning
to camp.
"The pickets are driven in, but our army is in order of battle,"
Adjutant-General Reed informed him, as he reached headquarters.
"Gentlemen, return to your respective posts, and do the best you can,"
the general responded, without the least excitement.
By this time the British army was discovered upon the high ground beyond
the village, advancing in two columns, "in all the pomp and circumstance
of war." General Heath wrote afterwards:
"It was a brilliant but formidable sight. The sun shone bright, their
arms glittered, and perhaps troops never were shown to more advantage."
A brief but hard-fought battle followed, in which there was a loss of
about four hundred men on each side.
The enemy waited for reinforcements, and Washington improved the time to
fall back to Northcastle, five miles, where, in the rocky fastness, he
could defy the whole British army. To add to his advantages, the day on
which the British commander decided upon an attack, after the arrival of
reinforcements, a violent rain set in, and continued through the day,
rendering an attack impossible, so that the Americans had still more
time to strengthen their position.
On the night of Nov. 4, a heavy rumbling sound was heard in the
direction of the British camp. It continued all through the night, and
resembled the noise of wagons and artillery in motion. Day break
disclosed the cause: the enemy was decamping. Long trains were seen
moving over the hilly country towards Dobb's Ferry on the Hudson.
"A feint!" said General Lee, as soon as he discovered the situation.
"A retreat, more like," replied another officer. "The enemy sees little
hope in attacking this stronghold."
"I can hardly believe that so large and well-disciplined an army is
going to withdraw without giving battle," responded Washington. "No
doubt an attack upon Fort Washington is the immediate purpose; and then,
perhaps an invasion into the Jerseys."
There was much speculation among the officers as to the meaning of this
manoeuvre, and all of them were in more or less perplexity. Washington
wrote immediately to Governor Livingston of New Jersey and hurried a
messenger away with the letter:
"They have gone towards North River and King's Bridge. Some suppose they
are going into winter quarters, and will sit down in New York without
doing more than investing Fort Washington. I cannot subscribe wholly to
this opinion myself. That they will invest Fort Washington is a matter
of which there can be no doubt, and I think there is a strong
probability that General Howe will detach a part of his force to make an
incursion into the Jerseys, provided he is going to New York. He must
attempt something on account of his reputation, for what has he done as
yet with his great army?"
Satisfied that General Howe intended to capture Fort Washington, he
advised its evacuation. He wrote to General Greene:
"If we cannot prevent vessels from passing up the river, and the enemy
are possessed of all the surrounding country, what valuable purpose can
it answer to hold a post from which the expected benefit cannot be had?
I am, therefore, inclined to think that it will not be prudent to hazard
the men and stores at Mount Washington; but as you are on the spot, I
leave it to you to give such orders as to evacuating Mount Washington as
you may judge best, and so far revoking the orders given to Colonel
Morgan, to defend it to the last."
General Greene took the responsibility to hold the fort; and when
Colonel Morgan received a demand from the enemy to surrender, he
replied: "I shall defend the fort to the last."
After a manly resistance, however, he was forced to surrender; and the
fort, with its garrison of twenty-eight hundred men, and abundant
stores, passed into the hands of the enemy. The prisoners were taken to
New York and confined in the notorious British prison-ship, where they
suffered long and terribly.
This was a very unfortunate affair for the American cause, and caused
the commander-in-chief great anxiety. He wrote to his brother about it
in a gloomy mood, and said:
"In ten days from this date there will not be above two thousand men, if
that number, of the fixed, established regiments on this side of the
Hudson River, to oppose Howe's whole army; and very little more on the
other, to secure the eastern Colonies, and the important passes leading
through the Highlands to Albany, and the country about the lakes.... I
am wearied almost to death with the retrograde movement of things, and I
solemnly protest that a pecuniary reward of twenty thousand pounds a
year would not induce me to undergo what I do, and, after all, perhaps
to lose my character; as it is impossible, under such a variety of
distressing circumstances, to conduct matters agreeably to public
expectation."
Washington's command was now at Fort Lee (formerly Fort Constitution).
The next movement of the enemy was designed to hem them in between the
Hudson and Hackensack, and capture them. The commander-in-chief ordered
a hasty retreat, the want of horses and wagons making it necessary to
abandon a large quantity of baggage, stores, and provisions, and even
the tents and all the cannon except two twelve pounders. The retreat
over the Hackensack was successfully performed, and here Washington
ordered Colonel Greyson to send the following message to General Lee:
"Remove the troops under your command to this side of the North River,
and there wait for further orders."
The next day Washington wrote to Lee:
"I am of opinion, and the gentlemen about me concur in it, that the
public interest requires your coming over to this side of the Hudson
with the Continental troops."
Not more than three thousand soldiers were with Washington at
Hackensack, without intrenching tools, tents, and necessary supplies. To
risk an engagement in these circumstances was hazardous in the extreme,
and a further retreat became inevitable. Leaving three regiments to
guard the passages of the Hackensack, and to serve as covering parties,
he withdrew to Newark, on the west bank of the Passaic.
To add to the perils of his situation, the term of enlistment of General
Mercer's command was about to expire. He must have reinforcements, or
his entire army would be destroyed. He hurried away Colonel Reed to
Governor Livingston of New Jersey, and General Mifflin to Philadelphia,
to implore aid. At the same time he depended upon General Lee for
immediate reinforcements, not doubting that the latter was obeying his
orders; but, to his amazement, a letter from Lee revealed the startling
fact that he had not moved from Northcastle.
Washington renewed his orders to Lee to move with all possible despatch
and come to his rescue. He said:
"The enemy are pushing on, and part of them have crossed the Passaic.
Their plans have not entirely unfolded, but I shall not be surprised to
find that Philadelphia is the object of their movement."
"We cannot make a stand here," said General Greene.
"By no means," answered Washington. "My hope is to make a stand at
Brunswick, on the Raritan; or, certainly, to dispute the passage of the
Delaware."
"Our retreat to Brunswick must be hastened, or the enemy will be upon
us," added Greene.
The retreat was precipitated; and when the rear-guard of Washington's
command was leaving one end of Newark, the vanguard of the British army
was entering at the other.
On reaching Brunswick, Washington wrote at once to Governor Livingston,
instructing him to collect all the boats and river craft on the Delaware
for seventy miles, remove them to the western bank of the river, away
from the enemy, and guard them.
He was doomed to additional disappointment at Brunswick. Colonel Reed
raised no troops in New Jersey, and many of those raised by General
Mifflin in Pennsylvania were deserting. The term of enlistment of
General Mercer's command had expired, and no inducement or entreaties
could prevail upon them to remain. He could not muster over four
thousand men.
Still worse, a letter from General Lee to Colonel Reed disclosed the
fact that the former had not given heed to the orders of his chief, and
he was still at Northcastle. Moreover, the letter revealed that General
Lee was plotting against him. Colonel Reed was absent when the letter
arrived, and, according to his custom, Washington opened the letter,
supposing it related to military business. What was his surprise to find
that the letter contained insinuations against himself, and also
implicated Colonel Reed, his old friend, in a plot to make Lee
commander-in-chief.
We will say here, once for all, that, while General Lee was an able
military officer, he was an ambitious, arrogant, and deceitful man. On
his return from the South, his fame had reached the zenith, and some
thought he ought to lead the American army. Washington's continued
retreats increased this feeling, until General Lee evidently thought
there was a fair prospect of the removal of Washington, and his own
promotion to commander-in-chief. Even Colonel Reed entertained this
opinion, though afterwards he saw his mistake, and made suitable amends.
This explains Lee's conduct before and after Washington retired from
Brunswick.
Judge Jay related the following incident: "A short time before the death
of John Adams, I was conversing with my father about the American
Revolution. Suddenly he remarked:
"'Ah, William! The history of that Revolution will never be known.
Nobody now alive knows it but John Adams and myself.'
"'You surprise me, father; to what can you refer?'
"'The proceedings of the old Congress.'
"'What proceedings?'
"'Those against Washington; from first to last there was a bitter party
against him.'"
The "old Congress" sat with closed doors, so that the public learned
only what it was wise to disclose.
Washington waited for recruits at Brunswick until the 1st of December.
On that day the vanguard of the British army appeared on the opposite
side of the Raritan. Washington destroyed the end of the bridge next to
the village, to intercept the pursuit of the enemy, and retreated.
Stopping at Princeton temporarily, he left twelve hundred troops there,
under Lord Stirling and General Stephens, to keep an eye on the foe, and
continued his retreat to Trenton.
While the American army decreased from week to week, the British army in
pursuit was augmented; for, through the Jerseys, General Howe impressed
men, horses, and wagons, and at the same time many Tories flocked to his
standard. He issued a proclamation, also, offering pardon and protection
to all citizens who would take the oath of allegiance to the king. There
was so little hope of the American cause at that time, and Washington's
army appeared so plainly to be near destruction, that many citizens took
the oath and joined the British army, as they thought, from absolute
necessity. "Many who had been prominent in the cause, hastened to take
advantage of this proclamation," says Irving. "Those who had the most
property to lose were the first to submit; the middle ranks remained
generally steadfast in this time of trial."
A British officer wrote to his friends in London:
"The rebels continue flying before our army. Lord Cornwallis took the
fort opposite Brunswick, plunged into Raritan River, and seized the
town.... Such a panic has seized the rebels that no part of the Jerseys
will hold them, and I doubt whether Philadelphia itself will stop their
career. The Congress have lost their authority.... They are in such
consternation that they know not what to do. The two Adamses are in New
England; Franklin gone to France; Lynch has lost his senses; Rutledge
has gone home disgusted; Dana is persecuting at Albany; and Jay is in
the country, playing as bad a part, so that the fools have lost the
assistance of the knaves."
"This," says Sparks, "was the gloomiest period of the war. The campaign
had been little else than a series of disasters and retreats. The enemy
had gained possession of Rhode Island, Long Island, the city of New
York, Staten Island, and nearly the whole of the Jerseys, and seemed on
the point of extending their conquests into Pennsylvania. By the fatal
scheme of short enlistments, and by sickness, the effective force with
General Washington had dwindled away, till it hardly deserved the name
of an army."
Still Washington was hopeful, and expected that the cause of right would
triumph. When and how he could not tell; but he continued to say, "That
Providence which has brought us out of many difficulties will yet crown
our righteous cause with success."
"I expected substantial aid from the Jerseys," he said to General
Mercer. "I am disappointed that the people have not flocked to our
standard."
"I am more than disappointed," replied Mercer; "I am shocked and vexed
at the cowardice of the people."
"What think you," continued Washington, "if we should retreat to the
back part of Pennsylvania, would the Pennsylvanians support us?"
The mountainous regions of Pennsylvania were the field of his early
exploits against the French and Indians, and Mercer was with him there.
"If the lower counties give up, the back counties will do the same,"
Mercer answered in a desponding way.
"We must then retire to Augusta County, Virginia," responded Washington,
his indomitable spirit rising superior to all discouragements. "Numbers
will repair to us for safety, and we will try a predatory war. If
overpowered, we must cross the Alleghanies."
Before this time, Colonel Reed said to him one day, "When shall we stop
this everlasting retreating and make a stand?"
Washington answered, without the least show of resentment:
"If it becomes necessary, we will retreat over every river and mountain
in America."
Such an unconquerable spirit receives its reward at last.
Lee did not leave Northcastle until the last of November. True, he
ordered General Heath to a movement that he claimed would support
Washington; but when General Heath found that Lee was not obeying the
orders of the commander-in-chief, he refused to entertain his commands.
"I am amenable to the commander-in-chief, and cannot supply you with
troops as you order," he said.
"In point of _law_ you are right," said Lee, "but in point of policy I
think you are wrong. I am going into the Jerseys for the salvation of
America; I wish to take with me a larger force than I now have, and
request you to order two thousand of your men to march with me."
"I cannot spare that number."
"Then order one thousand."
"No, not a thousand."
"How many, then?" continued Lee.
"Not one," answered Heath. "I may as well bring this matter to a point
at once; not a single man will I furnish from this post by _your_
order."
"Then," exclaimed Lee in an excited manner, "I will order them myself."
"That makes a wide difference," rejoined Heath. "You are my senior, but
I have received positive written instructions from him who is superior
to us both, and I will not _myself_ break those orders. Read them."
He handed Washington's letter to Lee, in which he positively forbade the
removal of any troops from that post.
"The commander-in-chief is now at a distance," said Lee, after reading
the letter, "and he does not know what is necessary here as well as I
do."
Turning to Major Huntington, Lee said authoritatively:
"You will order two regiments (designating the two) to march early
to-morrow morning to join me."
General Heath was surprised and indignant at Lee's assumption of
authority, and he said to the major, "Issue such orders at your peril!"
Then turning to Lee, he added:
"Sir, if you come to this post, and mean to issue orders here which will
break the positive ones I have received I pray you do it completely
yourself, and through your own deputy adjutant-general, who is present,
and not draw me or any of my family in as partners in the guilt."
"It is right," answered Lee. "Colonel Scammel, do you issue the order."
"I have one more request to make," interrupted General Heath, "and that
is, that you will be pleased to give me a certificate that you _exercise
command_ at this post, and order from it these regiments."
Lee objected, but General George Clinton, who was present, said:
"That is a very reasonable request, General Lee, and surely you cannot
refuse it."
Without replying, he immediately wrote the following:
"For the satisfaction of General Heath, and at his request, I do certify
that I am commanding officer, at this present writing, in this post, and
that I have, in that capacity, ordered Prescott's and Wyllis' regiments
to march."
The next morning General Lee rode up to Heath's door, and said:
"Upon further consideration I have concluded not to take the two
regiments with me. You may order them to return to their former post."
Evidently the ambitious and conceited general had come to the conclusion
that "discretion is the better part of valor."
General Lee did not cross the Hudson until the 4th of December, moving
snail-like, although he knew that Washington's army was in imminent
peril.
"Do come on," Washington's last plea was; "your arrival may be
fortunate, 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."
The "city" referred to was Philadelphia. Washington had written to him
that the enemy was designing to capture Philadelphia, a calamity that
must be prevented if possible.
At this time Washington had removed the baggage and stores of his army
across the Delaware. Being reinforced, however, by fifteen hundred
Pennsylvania militia, he resolved to march back to Princeton and await
developments. On his way he met General Stirling, who had evacuated
Princeton, as Cornwallis was marching upon it with a large force.
Returning to Trenton, he hastily collected all the boats possible, and
conveyed his whole force over the Delaware, including General Stirling's
command from Princeton. The rear-guard had scarcely crossed the river
when Cornwallis appeared in the distance with his "bannered hosts." As
Washington had taken possession of all the boats and transports, the
enemy could not cross.
The tact and skill of Washington as a general were as conspicuous in his
retreat through the Jerseys as they were on any battlefield. Thomas
Paine accompanied the army, and he wrote:
"With a handful of men we sustained an orderly retreat for near an
hundred miles, brought off our ammunition, all our field-pieces, 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 in. Twice we marched back
to meet the enemy, and remained out until dark. The sign of fear was not
seen in our camp; and had not some of the cowardly and disaffected
inhabitants spread false alarms through the country, the Jerseys had
never been ravaged."
On the 12th of December, General Lee had marched no farther than
Vealtown, eight miles from Morristown. He continued to disregard
Washington's appeals and instructions, receiving one almost every day.
In some of them the commander-in-chief showed that his patience was well
nigh exhausted.
"I am surprised that you should be in doubt about the route you are to
take after my definite instructions," he wrote on the 11th of December.
"I have so frequently mentioned our situation, and the necessity of your
aid, that it is painful for me to add a word on the subject," he wrote
on the same day.
At Vealtown Lee left his troops in command of General Sullivan, and took
up his own quarters at a "tavern" in Baskingridge, three miles off. He
was very partial to "_taverns_" especially if well stocked with certain
articles to please his palate.
On the next morning, about 11 o'clock, General Lee was writing at the
table, and Major Wilkinson was looking out of the window. The latter
arrived early in the morning with a letter from his commander, General
Gates, and General Lee was replying to it.
"The British cavalry are upon us!" shouted Wilkinson in consternation.
"Where?" exclaimed Lee, springing from his chair.
"Right here, around the house," answered Wilkinson, who beheld a
detachment of British cavalry surrounding the tavern.
"Where are the guards?" cried out Lee, in his surprise and horror.
"Why don't they fire?"