[dateline] In Camp, June 20th, 1777
[salute] Sir
Yesterday the Enemy retreated back to Brunswick; they were followed and fired on by
a small party that happened to be near them. Since they came from Brunswick, the fourteenth
Instant we have killed about twenty and taken three Officers, three Light Horse, and
three or four privates. All is quiet at present.
1 Our Army is reinforced fast, by the New England Troops from Peekskill; and by the
militia of this State, who have shewn a
{ 228 } great deal of spirit on this occasion, and I wish to have it known that they took
several of the prisoners above mentioned, viz a Captain and Lieutenant of the British
Grenadiers, and some Light Horse; to their honour be it remembered, the militia were
eager for action. But the time is not yet come for Howe's destruction;—however I trust it does not
slumber. I did expect something very serious would have taken place before this hour
when Howe came to Somerset, as I apprehended from the extent of his lines, and the
detached State of his Troops, we might attack and carry one part before it could be
supported by another, and without any hazard of a general defeat on our side; but
I conceive the Generals thought it most prudent to collect a larger force before anything
great was attempted. I was afraid we should lose the game, as such opportunities have
commonly swift wings; but if “Whatever is, is right,”
this must be right also. It was easy to see Howe's design in this movement, as he had
not a force sufficient to attempt going to Philadelphia, he must therefore try to
draw us into a field most advantageous for him and if possible destroy our Army by
one decisive battle; and to lure us he encamped in several Divisions at some distance
from each other, thinking I suppose that he could bring all his troops to action in
case we attacked any one Division; but in this I conceive we might have out generalled
him, and cut off one before he could have brought the others up. Caution is good,
at all times, and essential in Generalship, but like some other good things it may
be over acted, and he that will run
no hazard of
being defeated will (I believe) never
defeat his Enemy.
Howe's excursion was about six or seven miles from Brunswick, and as usual he marked
his way with destruction, robbing plundering and abusing the miserable Inhabitants,
and on his retreat he burnt a number of houses; thus ended his expedition. What he or we may do next is hard to say, but time will tell the matter.
The fluctuating unsettled state of the Troops perplexes the business of my Department
exceedingly, they have so much duty to do that it is difficult to make them attend
sufficiently to this
new additional duty, and the other being often of more immediate importance this must be deferred until
the safety of the Army is secured; a great number of Officers are absent, in some
Companies there is not one Officer, but in these there is but a small number of men;
the men come into Camp in small detachments of Companies, and of Regiments, and join
their Corps in
{ 229 } so many different times that a muster Roll taken this day would not be the state of
the same
[ . . . ] or Company tomorrow; by reason of these and
[ . . . ] other things that might be mentioned, the Army cannot be completely mustered for
months to come. However I hope soon to make as perfect a Return of the muster Rolls
for the month of May as circumstances would allow to be taken; every future muster
will be I trust more easy to obtain, and more correct, as the Corps will be more formed
and the Officers be acquainted with their duty. I have not yet received any Returns
from the Muster Masters in the other Departments; they write me and complain of the
same difficulties that attend the Troops here. It may perhaps answer a good purpose
at present, although the Muster Rolls cannot be perfect, by checking those Officers
who are apt to make out their pay Rolls for
too many men. In many Company Rolls are inserted an amazing number of Deserters, so great as hath
almost inclined me to suspect there was dishonesty, but the Officers affirmed the
Rolls were sacredly true,—and “
Officers are men of honor.” Experience confirms me in the opinion which I ever entertained of my Department,
that it will neither bring me fortune nor fame; however, we ought to act from higher
motives, and if it procures me any satisfaction worthy of a patriotic mind, I
ought to be content.
I am perfectly happy in one respect, I do not want promotion, and with respect to this there is a perfect calm in my soul. I wish I felt as easy
with regard to the promotion of our Country. I have no doubt but time will bring all our national plans to maturity, and give
us peace with Independence; but many of the wheels in the great public Machine move
extremely slow.