He does not gather information or look at maps. On June 28 th, General Dickinson, commanding the NJ militia, reports he is engaged with the British and they seem to be falling back. Lee moves forward slowly. He has failed to gather data on the ground or the position of the enemy, and now he hears conflicting reports that the British are moving out and that they are preparing an attack, and is annoyed of the lack of intelligence about the enemy-which he has failed to order gathered. Lee finally gets a picture of the enemy placements in his head and orders units to move to their left and right, to cut off the rear guard of the enemy and capture them.
Units march out to the flanks, but then receive no orders.
Wayne, in the center, is told to feint an attack. Lee wants hold the rear guard while he encircles them, but his generals don't know the plan. General Clinton believes the American army wants to capture and plunder his baggage train, and in response to the flanking units, decides to attack where he thinks the main column is, actually the right flank of the American line, to force the flank units in to support. He sends more men to reinforce the rear guard and make the attack. The movement of the British disrupts Lee's plan to isolate and destroy the rear guard, and threatens the right flank.