TRENTON LINES

537

PS. If you could exchange the old Greys for young Mares, it it would be a good way of getting quit of them. If I never did, in any of my Letters, desire you to Plant locusts across from the New Garden to the Spinning House as the Wall is to run from the end of the Sunk Wall (and on that side of it next the Quarter) as also as the other Wall from the old Garden gate to the Smoke House or Hen House (and on the lower side of it) I must request it now in this Letter. let them be tall and strait bodyed and about Eight or ten feet to the first Limbs, plant them thick enough for the limbs to Interlock when the Trees are grown for Instance 15 or 16 feet a part.

The young Gentlemen who carry my Horses home should be assisted by you in getting to Fredericksburg, may be they woud purchase some of yr. Greys.'

75

Trentown, December 30th. 1776.

All the Attillory to be Drawn up on the high Ground over the Bridge two pieces to be posted to Command the pass at the Bridge Upon an alarm, the Troopps are to form on the Ground in the rear of the Artilery to form in three Lines. Stevens & Mercers Brigades in the front Line, Lord Sterling & Formoys Brigades form the Second Line, there to be under Command of General Green, Sergeants, Glovers & St. Clairs Brigades to form the third Line, to be under the Commant of Major General Sullivan the Distance of two Hundred & fifty yards to be left between each Line a Gard to be Posted on each of the Roads leading to the Town from the Country of a Capt

"From a photostat of the original kindly furnished by G. A. Baker & Co., of New York City. For the omitted portions see vol. 6, pp. 345 et seq.

76 The General Orders of the Trenton-Princeton campaign have not survived. The above was found by Dr Carlos E. Godfrey, director of Public Records of New Jersey, in an orderly book of the German battalion, Sept. 17, 1776-June 11, 1777, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

and forty Men who are to Keep patroles advanced two Milles with horse for each party General Mercer & Collonel Glovers is Desired to post the Guards. The Asst. QM: General to provide the horses The Officers are desired to Quarter ther Troops as much to gether as possible all the officers to march out the Ground to Dran up in Regular order The General expects to march verry Soon he Desires that officers and soldiers to hold themselves in compleat readiness to advance at a moments warning. The Troop to be Supplyed with ammunition if they are in Want. GENERAL WASHINGTON.

The Baggage Waggons to be drawn up in the rear of the artillery and the Distance of 500 Yards.

TO CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL SCHOTT

Head Quarters, January 31, 1777.

Sir: You have herewith your recruiting Instructions, and Warrant to draw Money to begin with. You have Liberty to Nominate your Subaltern Officers, in doing which you cannot be too particular as your own Reputation and the good of the Service in a great measure depend upon this Choice, should it happen that upon my seeing them I think them Incapable of filling the Posts to which they are nominat'd with honour, I shall not think myself bound to confirm your Choice. Fix upon some place contiguous to where you expect to raise the greatest number of men for your Rendezvous, and let me know from time to time how you proceed and when there is a probability of your Company being Compleat. I need not mention the necessity there is of putting your Men under Training duty as fast as they are rais'd, by which they will be capable of rendering immediate Service when call'd into the Field. Wishing you Success I am etc."

77

"In the writing of John Fitzgerald. From a photostat of the original kindly furnished by Mr. Hubert M. Schott, of Morristown, N. J.

ARMY MOVEMENTS

539

*To DOCTOR WILLIAM SHIPPEN

Morris Town, May 3, 1777.

Dear Sir: As Mrs. Washington never receiv'd the Jallop and Calomel you promised her. As the Small Pox, by my last advices from home, has got into my Family, and I suppose not less than three hundred Persons to take the disorder, I must beg you to furnish the bearer with so much of the above Articles for my use as you shall judge necessary; and it will exceedingly oblige Dr Sir Yr. etc.

PS My best respects in wch. Mrs. Washington joins are presented to Mrs. Shippen Miss Nancy &ca.78

*To JOHN TAYLOE

German Town near Phila., August 5, 1777.

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 21st. of June came to my hands about Eight days ago by Colo. Thornton; whom on Acct. of your recommendation, the regard I entertaind for his worthy Father, and I dare say I may add, his own merit, I have taken into my Family as an extra Aid de Camp, which is all I coud do with any degree of propriety.

After Genl. Howe had Imbark'd his Troops at Staten Island the presumption that he was going to operate upon the North River, in order to form a junction with the Canada Army under Command of General Burgoyne, was so strong, that I removd the Continental Army from Middle Brook to Morristown and from Morristown towards the North River. Indeed Circumstances were so much in favor of the Enemy having a design upon our Posts in the high-lands, that I threw part of the Army across the River; and lay in this Situation till they actually

From the Shippen Deposit in the Library of Congress.

Saild from the Harbour of New York; Philadelphia, from the concurrent voice of every one, then being thought the object in view, I counter march'd the Army; and arriving on the Banks of the Delaware (abt. 33 Miles above the City) was met by an express from Congress with Information that the Fleet had actually arriv'd off the Capes of Delaware, this brought us immediately on to this place, where we had scarce arrivd before another Express came with Intelligence of their disappearance; and this again, being confirmd by subsequent expresses, leaves us in a very disagreeable State of Suspence.

These Marches, and Counter Marches, in the extreme heat we have lately had, has injur'd our Men greatly; but a day or two will refresh them; and till we can get some trace of the Course of the Enemy it will be a folly to move.

Our Affairs in the Northern department have taken a turn not more unfavourable than unexpected; the Public Papers convey as much information on this Subject as I have it in my power to do, to these therefore I shall refer, adding, that a public enquiry is order'd to be made into the conduct of the General Officers who Commanded there; which will give them an oppertunity of justifying themselves if Innocent, or the public an oppertunity of punishing them if otherwise, this however will not retrieve the misfortune," for most certain it is, that this Affair has cast a dark shade upon a very bright prospect; but it is to be hoped that new Officers, and a re-inforcement of Men, will, in a little time dispel the Cloud which at prest. overwhelms that Northern Hemisphere.

My best respects attends Mrs. Tayloe, and the rest of the good Family at Mount Airy; as also your Neighbours of Sabine Hall. I am etc.

80

80

The evacuation of Ticonderoga.

From a photostat of the original kindly loaned by Mrs. J. Clayton Mitchell, of Lloyds, Va., through Dr. Josiah H. Penniman, provost of the University of Pennsylvania.

CONWAY'S PROMOTION

541

To DOCTOR SAMUEL KENNEDY 81

Camp of Pennybackers Mill, September 26, 1777.

Sir: I recd. yours of this date at this place. If the sick cannot all be accomodated at Reading part ought certainly to be removed to Lancaster, but I beg you will be careful to remove none to that place who will be soon fit for duty or who only want shoes Stockings or other Cloaths to make them so now. If you are obliged to make use of Churches or Houses that have no fire places you should purchase Stoves to make them warm and comfortable. I am etc.82

TO BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM WOODFORD

Camp near Potts Grove, September 26, 1777. Dear Sir: I have the pleasure of yours of the 25th. but am sorry to hear that your Wound is so troublesome to you. I have sent Colo. Biddle up purposely to see the Baggage properly disposed of, and I must beg of you to pay as much attention as your health will admit of to the conduct of the Baggage Guard, who will probably be licentious and distressing to the Inhabitants. Make my Compliments to the Marquis and be assured I am etc.88

To RICHARD HENRY LEE

Philadelphia County, October 28, 1777. Dear Sir: The report of Genl. Conways promotion was so prevalent, and came from such authority, among others from Baron Kalb, who told me, that by some members of Congress

81 Surgeon of the Continental Hospital. He died in June, 1778.

82

63 In the writing of Tench Tilghman. From a photograph of the original, the gift

of Gustav Oberlaender, of Reading, Pa.

In the writing of Tench Tilghman. From a facsimile of the original in the possession (1889) of Col. Elliott F. Shepard.