In the mean time General Washington remained without addition to his army, ignorant of Sir William Howe's intentions, and watching with anxious solicitude every indication of a movement. Corrupted as the people generally through the country were, and sunk in every species of disgraceful peculation and bribery as were the men of fortune and influence, it is inconceivable how Sir William could have remained in ignorance of the actual state of the American Commander in Chief. So late as the 21st of May, it appears that Washington's safety was still dependent on the chance of Sir William's obtaining correct intelligence. "Nothing" says he, in a letter of that date," but a good face and false appearances have enabled us hitherto to deceive the enemy respecting our strength." Towards the end of the month, however, he received a small reinforcement, and moved to Middlebrook, within a few miles of Brunswick, of which he took possession.

About this time an achievement of considerable brilliance was performed by Colonel Meigs of New Haven. He was detached by General Parsons with one hundred and seventy men, in thirteen whaleboats to Saggharbour for the purpose of destroying the stores of the royal army which had been there deposited. From Guilford, he crossed the Sound, and landing near Southhold, marched his men over land, carrying the boats with them, to the bay which separates the north and south branches of the island, and there reembarked. Having crossed this and arrived within four miles of the harbour, he ordered the boats to be secured in the woods, and leaving a proper guard with them, marched with about one hundred and twenty men to the scene of action, where

he arrived at two o'clock on the morning of the 24th. Such were the order and silence of his arrangement, that the first onset was a bayonet charge upon the guards; these soon gave the alarm, and a firing commenced upon the party from an armed schooner in the harbour, which was returned with such effect, that the vessel was soon fired, and the men to the number of sixty-four made prisoners. By this affair the enemy lost twelve brigs and sloops, a large quantity of forage, ten hogheads of rum, and a considerable amount of merchandize. Ninety prisoners were taken, and six of the enemy were killed, and by two o'clock of the same day the Colonel had returned with his party to Guilford.

At length, on the 13th of June, the movements of Sir William Howe indicated an attack. Passing rapidly from New York to Brunswick, he left the latter place at night with his troops and took the field. Washington had at first supposed his design to be to cross the Delaware; but the circumstance of his leaving at Brunswick not only all his heavy baggage, but the boats and bridges which had been built there as he supposed for the purpose of crossing the river, together with his halting so soon instead of making a rapid march, induced him to change his opinion. The subsequent sudden retreat of Sir William, baffled all Washington's conjectures as to his objects. It will be seen by the following extract from his letter of the 20th June, that, the Jersey militia showed something like spirit upon Sir William's taking the field, alarmed perhaps for their personal safety— "The enemy decamped the night before last, and have returned to their former position. It appears to have been in consequence of a sudden resolution, as

they had raised a chain of redoubts from Somerset to Brunswick. What may have determined them to change their plan, is hard to tell. Whether alarmed at the animation among the people, disappointed in the movements they may have expected us to make, thence concluding their design impracticable; or, whether they may have an operation in view in some other quarter, the event must show." The retreat of the British army was, as usual, attended with every species of wanton cruelty and enormity. They burned almost every farm house on the road, defaced and otherwise injured the churches and other publick buildings, and lost no opportunity of maltreating the inhabitants. They remained but a day or two at Brunswick, leaving it on the 22d for Amboy, to which place they had previously sent their baggage. The anticipation of this movement induced General Washington to make preparation for annoying them as much as possible on their march. For this purpose he detached General Greene with three brigades to fall upon their rear, while he kept at a convenient distance with the main army to render assistance if necessary. Wayne's brigade, and Morgans's regiment of light infantry were at Brunswick by sunrise; and a detachment from the latter attacked and drove in the Hessian pickets. The enemy perceiving their approach, crossed the bridge and threw themselves into redoubts on the east side of the river; but upon being briskly pursued by the Americans, they hastily retired along the Amboy road without making a stand. Morgan's regiment kept up a galling fire during the pursuit which did considerable execution. Why Sir William thought proper to retreat before a handful of men, prepared

as he was to maintain his position, is one of the many incidents in his military career which render his conduct wholly inexplicable.

Upon Howe's retreat to Amboy, Washington advanced his whole army as far as Quibbletown, while Howe with a view to deceive him ordered all his heavy baggage and a part of his troops to cross over to Staten Island. But there was scarcely time allowed for the deception to have its effect on Washington, for returning with the troops to Amboy on the same evening, the British General on the morning of the 25th, advanced with his whole army, as if determined to bring on a general engagement. General Washington, however, upon the supposition that Sir William's chief objects were to cut off his parties and gain possession of the passes in the mountains on his left, hastened to move his army from the low ground which they occupied, to the heights in face of the enemy. The subsequent movements of the enemy proved the correctness of Washington's judgment. Howe continued to advance until he fell in with a part of Lord Sterling's division, which his Lordship's bravery had well nigh given into his hands; for instead of retreating as common prudence and caution would have dictated, he entered into action with Howe's advance and continued to fight until the column under Cornwallis was almost upon him. He escaped however with a trifling loss. Howe continued the pursuit to Westfield, where he remained until the next day, and on the 27th returned to Amboy. On the 30th the whole army crossed over to Staten Island, thus leaving Washington in quiet possession of the Jerseys. These skirmishes were attended with but little loss to either party, if we except the injury

done to the houses and other property of individuals. The quarters which the royal troops had occupied in Brunswick were left in wretched condition, and their steps were every where marked by devastation.

While these things were passing in Jersey, General Schuyler had made his peace with Congress by a satisfactory letter of explanation, and was appointed to the command of the northern department, including Albany, Ticonderoga, Fort Stanwix and their dependencies. By this strange and unexpected measure, General Gates was superseded in his command, without the show of a single reason for the charge, except that General Schuyler was supposed to have more influence among the dissatisfied citizens of the state of New York. That his appointment might have less the appearance of a desire to supersede General Gates, and be more acceptable to Congress, an unsuccessful attempt was previously made to obtain an order for the abandonment of Ticonderoga and the western frontier. This was however softened down into a resolve" that General Gates should be empowered to abandon the fortification at pleasure;" under the expectation, no doubt, that he would retire from it of his own accord, and leave the command vacant. Only eleven of the thirteen States voted on this question, out of which six were decidedly opposed to the measure, but the other five, it seems, outweighed them in numbers. This is a curious fact, and may serve to show how little the measures of Congress depended on the opinions of the confederation. Only two months had elapsed since the same body had appointed Major General Gates to supersede General Schuyler, and with as little appearance of reason, unless we are to consider them as 4

VOL. II.