The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-03-25 00:00:00, page 1

This luccefs prompted new enterprises at a time
when all their thoughts were taken up with the ex
pedation of retiring into winter quarters.
By a sudden and bold manoeuvre they made them
fehes matters of Fort Lee, and tho' in itfelf it was
of no great confluence in the posture of affairs at
that juncture, the furprizal of the place reflected no
small discredit upon our arms.
For the New-Jersey Gazette.
NUMBER 111.
F"HI 1 H E army having returned to the city of
' New-York from Long-Bland, that place
became the immediate object of the
enemy.
Had the British army puffed the East
River and landed on the Bland of New-
York, by forming a line across it they might in all
probability have reduced us, hemm'd in on all tides,
to a Contention -But the danger was too palpable
not to 6e avoided. ——General Washington left the
city, and topk poll with his army on the heights of
Haerlem—the Britilh troops landed between him and
the town, and after some flight Skirmishes, obtained
possession of it.
The Succeeding day a body of their belt troops
marched out and advanced to Haerlem heights, in
full confidence of their meeting with little or no re
sffahce ; they expedit'd to penetrate as far as King§-
fridge; but they were attacked in their progress and
routed with configurable Daughter, the American
troops pursuing them back over their own ground,
which was Steep and difficult, with great vigour and
bravery.
The army having been considerably pared away
by sickness, desertion, and by the militia returning
home, their time of service being expired, it was
thought necefl'ary, on the landing ci General Howe
from the East River above, to decamp, and march
Ont into the country in order to prevent being in
dps'd, and to watch thtir motions.
With an army reduced to 10,000 men, our Ame
rican Fabius ba&d all the attempts of the enemy
during the remainder pf the campaign in that quar
ter.——The Britilh General being wearied out with
fruitUfs marches and counter-marches, meafurcs
back his Steps towards New-York, but was deter
mined to reduce the small posts in the neighbour
hood of KingSbridge and Fort Washington, in his
way.
. Accordingly he fends forward a considerable de«
tachment of Hefli^n troops to take post on the heights
of kingihridge, and follows with the remainder of
the army. ,
On the approach of the Hessians, the garrisons
were prudently withdrawn from all the potts above
Kingsbridge, and it was imagined the fame good
sense that pointed out the necessity of this measure,
would have likewise dictated the evacuation of Fort
Washington. For, as I have been informed, the sole
object in view in leaving a garrison there, was the
preserving the communication between Fort Lee ou
the Weft fide of Hudson's River and the army, as
thg readiest channel for Supplies, fa long as General
Washington continued in that neighbourhood. But
for what end the garrison remained on that fide after
the enemy had cut off all communication between it
and the army, and when it was well known they
were about to direct their whole force against it, I
eonfefs I have never yet met with any perlon who
could suggest a proper reason.
If it had been judged prudent, nay receffary, for
the whole army in order to their Security to remove
from that spot of ground when General Ilowe was
approaching, it furriy could not be expected that a
fourth part of the numbet would be able to defend
lines and ffiores at least fix miles in circuit.
If the fort was only calculated for 790. men, which
I am told was the case—supposing it had been amply
furnifhed with cafemates, wood and water, and the
works which were necessary appendages to it had
not been unfinished and unprovided with cannon or
even platforms; I fay, on supposition of none of
these difeouraging circumstances existing, the garri
son was too small for the^efence of the lines—too
large for the fort—and therefore from whatever fide
we view the case, it appeared absolutely nectary to
withdraw the garrison.
But the resolution to maintain that post having been
taken some time before General Washington return
ed rd Fort Lee, the enemy made four different at
tacks upon four several places at some distance from
one another with about 7,000 men, Supported by the
remainder of their army, and pushing the several de
tachments from their posts into the fort, it could not
be defended by reason of the crowd, and was obliged
after some refinance to surrender at discretion.
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. I.]
WED NESD A Y, March 25, 1778.
The many flood the proof, and became more
zealously attached to the interests' of their cow^-n
in proportion to the danger.to which the was cx
pofed, and which they now saw required thr greatest
exertions to prevent their total ruin. The few,
the unworthy few,, felt their virtue too weak in this
melancholy exigence of things-.-they kneeled at the
Shrine of power, and offered up the honour of their
characters, their own rights, and the more (acred
ones of their bleeding country, to expiate the most
virtuous actions of their lives-———
What a cause to require such Sacrifices!---what,
men to make them !
The retreat of the American troops, and the easy
reduction of a confidcrable part of the Jerseys, de
ceived the enemy into an opinion that they would
be perfectly Secure in their extensive cantonments.
They were not only too much Scattered, but the
idea they entertained of their security caused them
to relax the usual rigour of discipline. General
Washington, with his little army of only 2,400 men,
passes the Delaware and falls on some regiments of
Hessians quartered at Trenton —in a few minutes
obtains a complete and almost bloodless .victory,
takes 1000 prisoners with their arms and accoutre
ments and fix pieces of brass cannon -He returns
back to Pennsylvania to refresh his troops, and then
revisits Trenton, where he was joined by the Penn
sylvania militia and other forces, by which his army
was increased to about 6000 men.
The Britilh troops in the upper parts of New-
Jersey march to Trenton, in order to fuccour their
brethren below, and to re-eftQlifh their posts
they come into Trenton and take possession of it,
the' American army retiring to the heights on the
South fide of a small creek, by which that village
is bounded.
The bulk of our army being composed of raw and
inexperienced soldiers, chiefly militia, a movement
was thought absolutely necessary, as an attack was
expected and it seems determined upon, by the
enemy.
What was to be done in this delicate and impor
tant conjuncture, required no ordinary (hare of mi
litary abilities and genius to point out.
By a sudden arid rapid march made in the night
time, through the country to Princeton, a body of
the enemy stationed there was routed with the loss
of three hundred of their men, the enemy below
eluded, and a new and iinexpe^ed fceue opened in
favour of America.
This was a manoeuvre which would have done ho
nour to the greatest masters in the art of war, and has
forced the highest encomiums even from our enemies
It was pot only well concerted, but happily conduc
ed in every part, and cannot be too much admired
either as a masterpiece of gencralfhip, or for the im
It wa! then the enemy, flush'd with success, in
the fulnefs of their power, exhibited the most Strik
ing and melancholy proofs of their rigour and cruelty,
in laying waste a fine country in the highest state of
cultivation, and letting loose the fcldiery to ravage
and plunder it without mercy. ,
Where was now that humanity which Britons have
so often challenged as the characteriftick of their na
tion---it was called for aloud by the feeling difirerics
of the inhabitants-,--the cold charity of their pity
was even denied them. Their unbridled licentious
ness had extinguished in their minds every trace of
that ,magnanimity of which the British nation hath
certainly afforded Singular proofs, and the face of
this once happy and flourishing country remains to
this hour a mournful withe® of the truth of these
assertions.
They can offer nothing to excuse or even palliate
these excesses, but the hardness of their 'hearts or
the biggoted Stupidity of delation, which they have
so often unworthily and unjustly twitted us with.
This was a ctins which Heaven teemed to have
permitted in order to put our virtue and fortitude
to the proof -Our affairs, indeed wore a sickly
afpe&---Our armies waded away to a mere fkele-.
ton---the enemy numerous, vigorous, and fuccefs
ful
A very difficult pass, a few miles above Fort Lee,
had been left unguarded ; the enemy penetrated thro'
it, and by a quick march advanced to the fort, which
had been just before evacuated, and took some can
non, ammunition, provisions, tents, and a small quan
tity of-officers baggage.
Having thus got footing in New-Jersey, and the
remnant of ^ur army being too feeble to oppose
them, chiefly owing to the fatal policy of temporary
inliftments, General Wallington retired before them
from place to place 'till he was obliged to repays the
Delaware.
TH E
For the New-Jersey Gazette.-
From the original Letters of Mons. De Lisle.
Reading, December 10, 1777.
My dear Count,
TH E people of this country begin to congratulate
each other upon the profpe& of afpeed, rupture
between France and England. They expea this event
will draw the British fleets and armies froth their
coasts, and by those means restore rest and peace to
their country.
Your last letter enabled me to contradia the re
ports. upon this fubjed; and I have not been back
*ward ir, my endeavours to convince the leading med
in fevefal of the ftates„that a war between the courts
of France and Britain, at the present junaure, would
be highly injurious to the real interests of America.
You must not condemn me if my arguments upon
this head Shew me to be more of an American than a
Frenchman, I have become a citizen of the world,
and have made my prejudices in favour of my native
country yield to a Superior attachment to the rights of
mankind.
I have told the good people of this country, that
one of the most favourable circumstances attending
the present war, is, that it was undertaken on the
part of Great-Britain at a time when She was at peace
with the whole world ; when her alliances were most
numerous ; when her commerce was at its greatest
extent; and when the reputation and terror of her
fleets and armies seemed to ensure her the assistance
or neutrality of every power in Europe. To resist
Great-Brifain at that period of her glory, was truly
great in the American colonies---But to fdcceed so
for as they have done in their opposition, hath railed
a monument unparalleled in history, in honour of hu
man nature. What nation, or confederacy of nations,
will ever pretend, to conquer the United States, after
viewing the unfuccefsful attempts of Great-Britain
for that purpose, when in the plenitude of her power?
And what people will ever difpair hereafter of efta
blilhing their liberties, after viewing the miracles thas
have been performed by the once impotent dates of
America ? the love of liberty is like the faith of the
ancient patriarchs. ''lt fubdu^s kingdoms---worki
righfeoufnefs-^ obtains promises---stops the mouths
of lions---quenches the violence of sire---escapes the
edge of the (word—ft is made Strong out of weak
nefs-—lt waxes valiant in fight---And lastly, it turns
to flight whole armies of alien's." What are all the
boasted successes of arbitrary power, compared with
the EccelTes of a people Struggling for liberty ? In the
portance of the consequences that flow'd from the
success that attended it.
The enemy, justly apprehensive ofhavihg the com
munication interrupted, instantly retire to Brunswick;
and General Washington establishing his head-quar
ters at Morris-Town, with a few troops kept them in
continual alarms during the remainder of the winter.
Having given some account of the operations of
these armies, I Shall now leave them far a while, and
pay attention to what had happened in other places.
Arnold's march will form a Shining page in the an
nals of the American Dates—-it was an undertaking
that Efficiently teftified the active qualities and cou
rage of the man—the execution is beyond all praise.
The memory of Montgomery's fate will ever call a
tear from the brave and good—His loss is no less to be
lamented than his fame is to be envied. Had Wolfe
lived to have seen this fad'tragedy a&ed on the theatre
of his renown, he would have felt indignant that it
Should be Stained with that hero's blood in such 2
cause by British hands.--"&ag:^H tamen excidit aufa.''
The troops lent to Canada from England, experi
enced a courfc of uninterrupted fuccefs-=The taking
of Chamblee and St. John's were circumstances that
reflected great credit upon our arms; but these suc
cesses were not back'd by armies to maintain them,
and the fuperiotit, of the enemy's force in Canada
oblig'd the American troops to evacuate that country.
Having taken post at Ticonderoga, 'they were rein
forced Efficiently to make„ that place the ne plus ultra
df that campaign—They advanced indeed with an in
tention of reducing it ; but the vigilance, activity and
abilities of General Gates, effectually thwarted and
defeated all<heir measure attempt was judged
impracticable, and the enemy returned to that frozen
country for the winter.
General Lee's success at Charleftown was brilliant
and decisive in favour of that state—The gallant Moul
trie, who commanded in the fort, repelled the attempt
of the He<t in fitch macruci, inai they were obliged
to quit the euterprize, and with their Shattered Ships,
and Hqkly fun-burnt troops, to retire to New-York.
PATKUL.
[Numb. 17.]