The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-02-21 00:00:00, page 1

PHILADELPHIA, February 7.
In CONGRESS, February 5, 1781.
ORDERED, That the report of Major-
General Parsons, with the papers enclosed,
relative to his fuccefsful enterprise against
the enemy's post at Morriffania, together
with io much of General Washington's letter of 31st
January lalt as relates thereto, be referred to the Com
mittee of Intelligence : And that the Commander in
Chief return the thanks of Congress to Major-Gene
ral Parlons, and the officers and men under his com
mand, and inform him, that Congress have directed
this publication to be made, in testimony of their ap
probation of his judicious arrangements, and of the
spirit and military condud displayed by the officers
and men employed under him 011 that occasion.
Extract from the Minutes,
C. THOMSON, Secretary.
Extras of a letter from General Washington to Con
gress, dated Head-Quarters, January 31, 1781.
" Enclosed are two reports of Major-General Par.
sons, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hull, of an enterprize
against Delancey's corps at West-Chester, in which,
with small loss on our fide, the barracks of the corps
and large quantity of forage were deftroyed —fifty- two
prisoners and a conliderable number of horses and cat
tle brought off, and a bridge across Haerlem, under
protection of one of the enemy's redoubts, burnt.
General Parfons' arrangements were judicious, and
the conduct of the officers and men employed upon
the occalion entitled to the highest praise. The po
sition of the corps, two or three miles within some of
the enemy's redoubts, required address and courage
riu the execution of the enterprize."
SI R, Crompond, January 25, 1781.
lEMBRACEI EMBRACE this firft moment ofleifure to commu
nicate to you the proceedings of the detachment
under my command, id the enterprize against Mor
riffania the night and morning of the azd infant.—
Major-General Heath having reinforced the troops
Rationed on the lines with five additional companies,
on the morning of the 20th I marched from this place
to North-Castle, under pretence of making a large fo
rage near the enemy's lines; all the teams in this part
of the country having been previously collected for
the piupofe. The fame evening I was joined by a
, small company of New-York levies, commanded by
Lieut. Molier, who had been for a conliderable time
Rationed on the lines, and had acted in conjunction
with the troops under my command. Capt. Honey
well likewise with about eighty mounted volunteers
joined the detachment, and were polted on the dif
ferent roads in my front, and on my flanks, to pre
vent either inhabitants or deserters giving intelligence
to the enemy of our movements.
As I imagined the following disposition was belt
calculated to carry my orders into execution, it was
consequently the next morning communicated to the
officers.
Major Maxwell, with two companies, command
ed by Captains Dix and J. Williams, was directed to
take a position near the redoubt No. 8, which, by the
best intelligence, was guarded by an hundred regulars,
to prevent a sally on the troops designed to aCt against
Morriffania, capture any of the enemy who Ihould
attempt to fly there for security, and destroy a pon
toon bridge of communication conftruCted over Haer
iem creek, which was covered by the cannon in the
redoubt.
Captain White, with his own company and a small
party of militia, was to advance to Delancey's bridge,
firprize, if possible, a subaltern's guard polled at
that place, and after leaving a fufficient force to fe
eure the pass for the troops on the weft fide of the
brunx, then to act against the enemy at Weft-Farms.
Captain Prichard, with his company, and Lieute
nant Mofier's levies, had directions to proceed to
Frog's-Neck, with a view of surprising the enemy Ra
tioned in that quarter.
Captains Dennet and Benton, with their compa
nies, were to be poked at Williams's bridge, to ob
'rve the motions of the enemy on the road leading
com Kingsbridge, repulse them if they attempted to
gross, and at sunrise take up the bridge, retire to
EaR-Cheßer, and join the troops polled at that place
to cover the retreat of the operating force.
Three companies under the command of Captains
Fox, S. Williams and Dorrance, with the principal
part of the volunteer horsemen, were to proceed to
Morriffania, destroy the enemy's huts, and aCt as cir
cumßances might require. Proper guides were ap
pointed to the different detachments, and a number
of horsemen to keep up a line of intelligence. Par
ticular places were likewise pointed out for the dis-
[Vol. IV.]J . THE, [Numb, ify]
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY, February 21, 1781.
ferent commands to break off from the column, and
the time of attack was fixed at half pad three o'clock
in the morning. After executing the different orders
+at the Several poßs, ail the detachments on the welt
fide of the brunx had orders to retire tu T)clanccy's
bridge, precisely at day-light, for the purpole of gain
ing EAt-Cheder early in the morning.
The disposition having been thus fettled, the morn
ing of the 21R the troops were put in motion in one
column, and proceeded down the road leading by
Young's, from thence through Mile Square, until
their arrival nearly opposite KingSbridge, when it was
thought advifeable to take the fields, to avoid the c
nemy's patroies on the different roads. On my ar
rival near the principal part of the huts atMorrdlh
nia, all the detachments having been made agreeable
to orders, the troops met with an unexpected ob
ftruCtion, which I was apprehensive would have de
feated my plan. —A small creek (over which by my
intelligence was a bridge) had been fuelled by a very
heavy rain the night and morning of the 21R, to such
a height, and so filled with broken ice, as rendered
the paßage exesffively difficult. Determined, how
ever, to make the attempt, the infantry was ordered
to mount behind the horsemen, and in the course of
15 minutes about seventy were carried over, which,
with the horse, were thought a fufficient force to ef
fect the bulinefs in that quarter ; and as not only this
detachment, but Major Maxwell's command, were
obliged to return ihe fame way to gain Delancey's
bridge, it was thought an object of the utmost con
fequencc that this pass Should be Secured —the re
mainder of the troops was ordered to take a portion
for the purpose. The noise unavoidably occalioned
in passing this creek, was heard by the enemy on the
other fide, who immediately fired an alarm, which
prevented the furprize being so complete as was de
signed. The infantry and horse were ordered to ad
vance, and after capturing a number of the enemy,
all the huts in that quarter were deftwyed.
After this ferviee was performed, that detachment
returned, and being joined by Major Maxwell, who
had destroyed the bridge over Haerlem creek, and in
deed executed every part of his orders, 1 proceeded
with all the troops then joined to Delancey's bridge,
where Captain White had forced the guard, and was
in possession of the pass, over which the troops re
tired with little or no loss, altho' the enemy hadcoi
leCted in conliderable force, and were attempting to
regain it.
On our arrival at West-Chester, Captain Prichard,
who had made the attempt on Frog's-Neck, joined
the main body. As he was passing over the crufe
way, the guard posted for its defence fired on him,
which gave the alarm, and prevented his Success be
ing as complete as was expected ; he, however, charg
ed the guard, wounded one and captured fix. • Oh
his way to Captain Siaync^s's quarters, he fell in with
a patrole, one of which was killed, and two made
prisoners. Whence arrived, every man had left the
house, and concealed themfeWes in the woods. Af
ter scouring the Neck, and capturing a number of
prisoners, he returned, and in re-paying the cause
way, Enfigu Thompson was unfortunately killed.—-
The objects of the ciiterprize having been th^s com
pleted, it became neceßary to make my retreat to
EaR-Cheßer, as fall as the very great fatigue of the
troops would admit. For this purpose a disposition
was made, and the prisoners, which confided of about
fifty, with the cattle and horses, were ordered be
tween the front guard and main body.
As soon as the line of march comnteuced, the ene
my appeared on my flanks and rear, and began a
Scattering lire. Dispositions were immediately made,
by reinforcing the rear and Rank guards, to Secure
the column, and annoy the enemy as much as poßi
ble after so long and Severe amarch. The enemy be
ing continually reinforced, and their fire inceiiantly
increasing, renderedit necessary for thetroops to move
exceedingly flow, and for the rear and flank guards
to be cucreafed. and ordered to positions beg calcu
lated lor the purpose.
On my arrival near EaR-Chefter, I was happy to
find that such a disposition was made of the troops
under your command, and measures were so juaici
oully adopted, as effectually Secured my retreat, aud
gave me an opportunity of placing myfelf under y,bur
immediate orders. What number of the enemy fell,
either in the night attack, or on the retreat, I am un
able to afeertain with prccifion—it mult however have
been considerable. Fifty-two of Col. Delancey's corps
were made prisoners, between thirty and forty large
huts built for their quarters destroyed, and a quan
tity of forage. A large number of horses and cattle
were likewise brought off. Encipfed is a return of
the killed and wounded, among which is Ensign
Thompson, of the 6th Maffachufctts regiment, kill,
cd, and Captain Dorrance, of the sth Connecticut,
wounded. The loss of Eulign Thompson is much to
be regretted, being an active and enterprizing officer.
Much credit is due to Major Maxwell for the ex
aflncls with which he executed his particular orders,
and for hrs general good conduct during the whole
expedition. Indeed I Ihould do injustice to my own
feelings, and be wanting in gratitude to the officers of
th, detachment, Ihould I forbear to mention their
conduct in the fullcft terms of approbation. The pa
tience and fortitude of the Soldiers in the execution of
so Severe a Service, and their order and bravery when
attacked by the enemy, place their conduct in a most
honourable point of view. The conduct of Captain
Honeywell, and the refugees under his command, de
serve particular commendation.
I have the honour to be, with the highest refped.
Your molt obediept Servant,
Wm. HULL, Lt. Col. 3d Mass. reg,
Hon. Major-General Parsons,
Camp in the Highlands, January 25, „Br."
Dear General,
IN obedience to your order I marched on the 19th
ink. from the Highlands, with the battal ons un
der my command, to destroy the huts in MuitdiaAa,
which covered the thieves affembied there under he
direction of Col. Delancey ; and on the 21st I driiwd
in Kingftrect, and Lieut, Col. Hull, with one b.tta
lion; at White Plains, nearly at the fame time. In
the evening of the zift, Lieut. Col. Hull took up his
march from White Plains, and having arrived near
Kingfbridge, detached Captains Dem et and B<atoa
with their companies.to Williams's bridge, to pre
vent any communication with the enemy on that road;
Captain White to Delancey's bridge, to occupy that
pass, and prefers a communication with the troop,
posted at EaR-Cfrdtt% to cover his operations, and
to ad against the enemy at Weft-Farms; Captain
Prichard with his cofopany, and a small body of mi
litia under Lieut. Motier, to poßffs himfelf of Frog's
Neck ; and with the remaining troops marched to
wards Morriffania, leaving a fufficient force under the
command of Major Maxwell, Captains Dix and J.
Wiliams, to w4tch the enemy at their redoubt No.
8, and to destroy a pontoon bridge over Haerlem ri
ver, conßrufted uhder command of that redoubt, to
keep tip an tafy communication with the troops at
Fort Washington.
The huts (destroying of which was the principal
object in view) were about two miles below the re
doubt, towards the point of Morriffania. In the
march Colonel Hull was unexpectedly obftrutted by
the dcßi action of a bridge over a creek within a Retail
dißance of the huts, and which by the heavy rain the
preceding day had been rendered deep and ver, diffi
cult in passing. Captain Honeywell having on this
occalion collected about seventy horfeme", the infan
try under Captains Fox, S. Williams and Dorrance,
was passed over the ci^ek by the horsemen, but so
much time being necessarily taken up in this matter,
they were difeovered' before they had' all eroded, and
molt of the- enemy fled. The troops immediately
fired all the huts in that quarter, killed and took all
the men who had not previously escaped, and in their
return forded the creek, the horsemen not being col
lected at that time.
In the mean time Major Maxwell succeeded in de
stroying the bridge, and executed eveiy oth< r part of
the duty assigned him, with faithfulrefe and good
conduct. The several detachments to Williams's and
Delancey's bridges, and on Frog's Neck, succeeded
according to my expectations. Colonel Hull and Ma
jor Maxwell arrived at Delancey'^ bridge in season to,
disperse the enemy, who had collt Cted to seize that
pass, and having joined the detachment under Capt.
White at the bridge, and that under Capt, Prichard
at WeR-Chefter, retired with their prisoners, cattle,
horses, &c. on the road towards EaR-Chefter. The
troops under my immediate command having arrived
at the village of East-Chester about half an hour after
fixin the morning, I immediately sent parties of ob
servation on the different roads leading to that place,
and detached some horsemen on the roads to Weft-
Chcßer.and Williams's bridge, for intelligence from
Colonel Hull; and soon found he was retiring on the
road from WeR-Chefter, and that the enemy had col
lected, and were harraffing him on his march in flank
and rear. On which I detached Colonel Hazen with
one hundred men, with orders to Colonel Hull, to
retire in the rear of Colonel Hazen's command, and
gain the village of EaR-Chefter with as much expedi
tion as the very fatigued Rate ofhis men would admit.
Colonel Hazen having posted his men in an advan
tageous and concealed place, Colonel Hull retired ac*