ET. 45.] CORNWALLIS ATTACKS STIRLING-THE ENEMY EVACUATE THE JERSEYS. 355 formation of the spy was correct, he doubted | to abandon that stronghold where he had the ability of the enemy to carry the reported hitherto been so secure.* plan into effect. It did not appear that Burgoyne had brought any reinforcements from Europe. If so, he could not move with a greater force than five thousand men. The garrison at Ticonderoga was sufficiently strong, according to former accounts, to hold it against an attack. Burgoyne certainly would never leave it in his rear, and if he invested it, he would not have a sufficient number left to send one body to Oswego and another to cut off the communications between Fort Edward and Fort George. Such was Washington's reasoning in reply to Schuyler. In the mean time, he retained his mind unflurried by these new rumors; keeping from his heights a vigilant eye upon General Howe. On the 22d, Sir William again marched out of Brunswick, but this time proceeded towards Amboy, again burning several houses on the way; hoping, perhaps, that the sight of columns of smoke rising from a ravaged country, would irritate the Americans and provoke an attack. Washington sent out three brigades under General Greene to fall upon the rear of the enemy, while Morgan hung upon their skirts with his riflemen. At the same time the army remained paraded on the heights, ready to yield support, if necessary. Finding that Howe had actually sent his heavy baggage and part of his troops over to Staten Island by a bridge of boats, which he had thrown across, Washington, on the 24th, left the heights and descended to Quibbletown (now New Market), six or seven miles on the road to Amboy, to be nearer at hand for the protection of his advanced parties; while Lord Stirling with his division and some light troops was at Matouchin church, closer to the enemy's lines, to watch their motions, and be ready to harass them while crossing to the island. General Howe now thought he had gained his point. Recalling those who had crossed, he formed his troops into two columns, the right led by Cornwallis, the left by himself, and marched back rapidly by different routes from Amboy. He had three objects in view: to cut off the principal advanced parties of the Americans; to come up with and bring the main body into an engagement near Quibbletown; or that Lord Cornwallis, making a considerable circuit to the right, should turn the left of Washington's position, get to the heights, take possession of the passes, and oblige him Washington, however, had timely notice of his movements, and penetrating his design, regained his fortified camp at Middlebrook, and secured the passes of the mountains. He then detached a body of light troops under BrigadierGeneral Scott, together with Morgan's riflemen, to hang on the flank of the enemy and watch their motions. Cornwallis, in his circuitous march, dispersed the light parties of the advance, but fell in with Lord Stirling's division, strongly posted in a woody country, and well covered by artillery judiciously disposed. A sharp skirmish ensued, when the Americans gave way and retreated to the hills, with the loss of a few men and three field-pieces; while the British halted at Westfield, disappointed in the main objects of their enterprise. They remained at Westfield until the afternoon of the 27th, when they moved toward Spanktown (now Rahway), plundering all before them, and, it is said, burning several houses; but pursued and harassed the whole way by the American light troops.t Perceiving that every scheme of bringing the Americans to a general action, or at least of withdrawing them from their strongholds, was rendered abortive by the caution and prudence of Washington, and aware of the madness of attempting to march to the Delaware, through a hostile country, with such a force in his rear, Sir William Howe broke up his head-quarters at Amboy on the last of June, and crossed over to Staten Island on the floating bridge; his troops that were encamped opposite to Amboy struck their tents on the following day, and marched off to the old camping ground on the Bay of New York; the ships got under way, and moved down round the island; and it was soon apparent, that at length the enemy had really evacuated the Jerseys. The question now was, what would be their next move? A great stir among the shipping seemed to indicate an expedition by water. But whither? Circumstances occurred to perplex the question. Scarce had the last tent been struck, and the last transport disappeared from before Amboy, when intelligence arrived from General St. Clair, announcing the appearance of a hostile * Civil War in America, v. 1., p. 247. t Letter to the President of Congress, 28th June, 1777. 356 MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY-SPECULATIONS OF WASHINGTON. [1777. Deserters from Staten Island and New York soon brought word to the camp that transports were being fitted up with berths for horses, and taking in three weeks' supply of water and provender. All this indicated some other destination than that of the Hudson. Lest an attempt on the Eastern States should be intended, Washington sent a circular to their governors to put them on their guard. fleet on Lake Champlain, and that General | lands, as far as Pompton, while Washington Burgoyne with the whole Canada army was moved his own camp back to Morristown, to approaching Ticonderoga. The judgment and be ready either to push on to the Highlands, circumspection of Washington were never more or fall back upon his recent position at Middleseverely put to the proof. Was this merely a brook, according to the movements of the diversion with a small force of light troops and enemy. "If I can keep General Howe below Indians, intending to occupy the attention of the Highlands," said he, "I think their schemes the American forces in that quarter, while the will be entirely baffled." main body of the army in Canada should come round by sea, and form a junction with the army under Howe? But General Burgoyne, in Washington's opinion, was a man of too much spirit and enterprise to return from England merely to execute a plan from which no honor was to be derived. Did he really intend to break through by the way of Ticonderoga? In that case it must be Howe's plan to co-operate with him. Had all the recent manœuvres of the enemy in the Jerseys, which had appeared so enigmatical to Washington, been merely a stratagem to amuse him until they should receive intelligence of the movements of Burgoyne? If so, Sir William must soon throw off the mask. His next move, in such case, would be to ascend the Hudson, seize on the Highland passes before Washington could form a union with the troops stationed there, and thus open the way for the junction with Burgoyne. Should Washington, however, on such a presumption, hasten with his troops to Peekskill, leaving General Howe on Staten Island, what would prevent the latter from pushing to Philadelphia by South Amboy, or any other route? Such were the perplexities and difficulties presenting themselves under every aspect of the case, and discussed by Washington in his correspondence with his accustomed clearness. In this dilemma he sent Generals Parsons and Varnum with a couple of brigades in all haste to Peekskill; and wrote to Generals George Clinton and Putnam; the former to call out the New York militia from Orange and Ulster Counties; the latter to summon the militia from Connecticut; and as soon as such reinforcements should be at hand, to despatch four of the strongest Massachusetts regiments to the aid of Ticonderoga; at the same time the expediency was suggested to General Schuyler, of having all the cattle and vehicles removed from such parts of the country which he might think the enemy intended to penetrate. General Sullivan, moreover, was ordered to advance with his division towards the High In the midst of his various cares, his yeoman soldiery, the Jersey militia, were not forgotten. It was their harvest time; and the State being evacuated, there was no immediate call for their services; he dismissed, therefore, almost the whole of them to their homes. Captain Graydon, whose memoirs we have heretofore had occasion to quote, paid a visit to the camp at this juncture, in company with Colonel Miles and Major West, all American prisoners on Long Island, but who had been liberated on parole. Graydon remarks that, to their great surprise, they saw no military parade upon their journey, nor any indication of martial vigor on the part of the country. Here and there a militia man with his contrasted colored cape and facings; doubtless some one who had received his furlough, and was bound home to his farm. Captains, majors, and colonels abounded in the land, but were not to be found at the head of their men. When he arrived at the camp, he could see nothing which deserved the name of army. "I was told, indeed," remarks he, "that it was much weakened by detachments, and I was glad to find there was some cause for the present paucity of soldiers. I could not doubt, however, that things were going on well. The commander-in-chief and all about him were in excellent spirits." The three officers waited on Washington at his marquee in the evening. In the course of conversation, he asked them what they conceived to be the objects of General Howe. Colonel Miles replied, a co-operation with the Northern army, by means of the Hudson. Washington acknowledged that indications and probabilities tended to that con MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY-SPECULATIONS OF WASHINGTON~ [1777. flect on Lake Champlain, and that General | lands, as far as Pompton, while Washington Burgoyne with the whole Canada army was noved his own camp back to Morristown, to spproaching Ticonderoga. The judgment and be ready either to push on to the Highlands, cire-msportion of Washington were never more or fall back upon his recent position at Middlesaverely put to the proof. Was this merely a brook, according to the movements of the diversion with a small force of light troops and enemy. "If I can keep General Howe below" Indians, intending to occupy the attention of the IIighlands," said he, "I think their schenfes the American forces in that quarter, while the will be entirely baffled.”. main body of the aring in Cutada should come-Deserters from Staten Island and New York round by sea, and form a junction with the soon brought word to the canip that transports-ariny, under Howe? Hub General Burgoyne, were being fitted up with berths for horses, lu Washington's opinion, was a man of too and taking in three weeks' supply of water much spirit and enterprise to return from and provender. All this indicated sonte other" England merely to excente a plan from which estination than that of the Hudson. Lost an no honor was to be derived. Dil ho really attempt on the Eastern States should be inintend to break through by the way of Ticon- tended, Washington sent a circular to their deroga? In that case it must be Howe's n plan governors to put them on their guard. go-operate with him. Had all the recent munuœuvres of the enemy in the Jersoys, which had appeured so enigmatical to Washington, beou" intidy a stratagem to amuse him until they should receive intelligence of the move ments of Burgoyne? If so, Sir Williain must soon throw off the mask. His next move, h such case, would to ascend the Hudson, seize on the Highland passes before Washing ton condd fuan a union with the troops stationed there, and thus open the way for the junotions (wal Furgowe. Shoc Washington, deraremer, on sundale, premmpsloo, hasten with jike temps in Pa kaki, lering General Howe revent the lat pia by South forcement of the stres the aid of T expediency wi of having all the ru from such parts might think the trate. General Sullivan, mora and difficulties every aspect of eshtagion in his advance with his division tok. In the midst of his various cares, his yeoman soldiery, the Jersey militia, were not forgotten. It was their harvest time, and the State being evacuated, there was no immediato call for their services; he dismissed, therefore, almost the whole of them to their homes.. Captain Graydon, whose memoirs we have heretofore had occasion to 'quote, paid a visit to the camp at this juncture, in company with Colonel Miles and Major West, all American prisoners on Long Island, but who hail becu liberated on parole. Graydon remarks flat, to their great surprise, they saw no military parade upon their journey, nor any indication of martial vigor on the part of the country. Hero and there. a, militia man with his contrasted colored cape, and facings; doubtless some one who had received his furlough, and was bend home to his farm, Captains, majors, and colonels abounded in the land, but were not to be found at the head of their wen:) desk clearness, |