Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-05

to attack US about 8 O'Clock with q
continued irregular fire for nearly two
miles. The body of the rebsls consisted
of 120 men from SIX brigades making
720 men of what they call their regu-
lars, together with 1000 militia and
Philadelphia Light Horse, but the 720
men, when what were principally en-.
gagged they were opposed by Ohssseurs
and one battalion of light infantry only
the other battalion Of infantry whiohi
was sent to surround the rebels through
some mistake was led so far on our
right as to find an impassable swamp
between them and the army which pre-
vented this little spirited affair be-
coming so decisive. The rebels left
about 20 dead, among which was q
captain of Lord Sterling's Regiment.
We had three killed and 20 wounded,
amongst which was Lieut.. Haldane,
engineer, aud three more officers. The
rebel deserters since come in say they
lost five captains. This body of the
enemy was commanded by Gen. Max
we'll. From the Iron Hill the waters
of the Delaware and Chesapeake are
seen. At two the whole enoamped,
headquarters Aikens Tavern. Lord
Corvallis to Cooch's Mill on the
Little Christeen, where the rebels had
post this morning which we drove
them from. The guards on Iron Hill,
Dunop, the Hessian Grenadiers, to-
gether with the British and all the
light troops on the opposite side OF the
creek about one mile. The middle of
this day excessive hot. Accounts just
after this skirmish was over, Lieutenant
General Kniphuysen body had arrived
at Aikens Tavern. This spot is In the
Welsh Tract we called PENN Cadder.
Lieutenant General Kniphuysen's en-
campment formed kind OF second line
to US; two or three. shots exchanged in
the night. Total of cattle taken and
now brought in by Lieutenant Genaral
Kniphuysen amounts to 500 head of
horned cattle; 1000 sheep and 100
horses, but not above 40 Of these wa
| fit for dfaught "
John Marshall, who at that time was
| in Washington Is army and who a1ter-'
wards became the disting uished Chief
| Justice of the United States gives the
| following account Of the battle of
Cooch's Bridge in his Life of General
Washington
'Morgan's regiment Of rihemeh, ;,
which had been found arsicularly use-
| ful during the incursion into Jersey,
had been detached to the northern
army. A corps of light infantry was
formed of nine officers, eight sergeants
| and 100 rank and file from each brigade,
the command OF which was given to
Gen. Maxwell, who, in the course of
| the last winter, had acquired some repu-
tatIon as partisan. This corps was
advanced to Iron Hill, about three
miles 10 front of White Clay Creek,
aud extending towards Aiken g Tavern.
The cavalry, consisting of four regi-
Inents amounting to about 900 men. in
| Guiding persons of every description,
we're employed principally on the lines
in watching the enemy, gaining intelli-
gence and picking up stragglers.
The movement Intended to be made
by Gen. Howe on the Sd of Septemper
was discovered from his previous ar
iangements and it was recommended
| by the commander in chief to Gen,
Maxwell to post choice body of men
in the night, on an advantageous part
of the road, in order to annoy him on
his march. In the morning of the I'd
Gen. Grant being left with six battal
ions at the head of Elk, to guard the
baggage and preserve a communication
with the shipping. the two divisions
| under Lord CORVALLIS and Gen. Knip-
huysen moved forward, and formed
junction about Pencader or Atkins
| Tavern, where they enaRmped with the
right at Penoader and the left extend
ing across the Christaua towards New
ark. In their way the column under
Lord CORVALLIS fell in with and at
tackled Maxwell, who made short re
sistance and then retreated over White
| CLAY Greek, with q loss of about 40
killed and wounded The loss sustained
by the British, as stated in the official
letter of Sir William Howe, was only
three killed and 10 wounded. The
opinion of the Americans, corroborated
| by accounts from the country people,
ascrine to their arms in this skirmish
much more effect. "
As the official dispatches from Wash
ington which have quoted above show,
| the whole country between Wilmington
and Elkton was thoroughly reoonnoit
cred by Washington and his faithful
| division commanders, among the latter
being Gen. Nathaniel Greene, whose,
| biographer, in speaking of the opera
tions in this vicinity, gives the follow
ing inoident
Thus, Mastering forward, Washing
ton soon found himself as near the
enemy as he cared to bring the main
body of his forces without a more ao-
| curate knowledge of their position.
Then with Greene and Lafayette and
their aides he. went forward to recon
noiter. Grey's Hill and Iror Hill were
the only spots in the neighborhood of
Elkton, high enough to command an ex-
tensive view, and from these the Ameri-
can officers looked long and snxiously
southeastward, where a few tents,
with the British flag waving haughtily
over them, we're the only signs Of the
invader that the eye could detect. How
many were landed, or how soon they
would be prepared to push forward, 1t
was impossible to ascertain. Night
came upon the little PARTY as they
turned their horses heads homeward,
and with it a sudden tempest of wind
and rain. Washington sought, with
his companions, the shelter of neigh
boring farmhouse. 1t was gloomy
evening, with the black storm without
and the crowded little room within,
clothes drenched with rain, and upper
most in every mind, but Washington's g,
the fear that some partisan Of the
enemy might secretly bring him down
upon them as he had been brought
down upon Lee not a twelfth month
before. But the night passed away
without alarm, though sleepless for
Greene, and at daybreak they we're all
in the saddle again, glad to feel their
horses under them and see 40 open road
before them; and then as he set spurs
to his steed, Washington frankly nvowed
that he bad made q LUCKY escape and
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