The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-02-21
STATES GRAND RECORD
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page
was less than three thousand. These
comprised about one thousand sol
diers, the skeletons of five Virginia
regiments and parts of continental
battalions, the two thousand remain
der composed of New Jersey and
Pennsylvania militia. At least one
thousand men and attendants were
under innoculation for small poX, in
oculation camps having been estab-
lished in Morristown, Philadelphia,
Connecticut and Providence. During
these hours of trial, Washington
himself was i'll, although benefited
by the ministrations of his wife, who
arrived in camp upon the 10Th. In
spite of the deplorable state OF the
army gambling was constantly spread
ing it's baneful influence among the
troops. So prevalent did the vice
become that the commander in chief
prohibited the officers and soldiers
from playing at cards, dice or any
games except those of EXERCISE
for diversion.
During May the situation improved.
By the end of the month forty three
regiments seven thousand strong as
sembled from New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware, Maryland and Vir-
GINA. Of ten brigades five
divisions were formed by
Generals Greene, Stephen, Sui
livan, Lincoln and Stirling, with the
artillery under the command of Knox.
At Middlebrook, upon the goth Of
May, General Washington established
new headquarters, where the main
body of the army was encamped,
General Sullivan occupying the region
of the Sourland Hills. The British
right lay at New Brunswick, the left
at Somerset. Upon the 22nd of June
the enemy evacuated New Brunswick,
their march to Amboy being marked
by burned houses and devastated
plantations. To be nearer the enemy,
General Washington moved his head
quarters to Quibbletown. now New
Market, on the Amboy road, six miles
from Middlebrook. To meet this adj
vance General Howe moved westward
from Perth Amboy to Westfield,
with the desire says Baker, &c either
of bringing on a general engagement
or to possess himself of the heights
and passes in the mountains on the
American left. The American army
reoccupied Middlebrook while the
enemy, ON the 27th of June, retired
to Perth Amboy.
The winter at Morristown was one
of uncertainty and delay. Howe
never had abandoned his intention of
attacking Philadelphia and only
awaited an opportune movement to
strike a blow at the city. But his
experience at Trenton had taught him
that the Revolutionary movement
contained vast reserve power. Find
ing that his guerrilla warfare in East
Jersey did not weaken the enthusiasm
of Washington, and that his army
was Injured to cold, nakedness. and
hunger, the British general in chief
devised the plan of sending his army
to Philadelphia by sea, and landing
upon the shores of Delaware or Ohes-
apeake, capturing the city with one
effective blow.
Of Howe's movements Washington
was in ignorance. His belief was
that the British would make second
attempt to control the valley of the
Hudson, a belief so firmly lodged in
Washington mind that even after
the departure of Howe from Sandy
Hook, about the LIST of July, Washing
ton advanced in northerly direction
to hold the Hudson against an intru
der who was sailing down the Jersey
coast toward the Delaware
In this Washington was deceived
by several feints made by the British
troops who under their commanders
endeavored to attract him from his
position in the hills and institute a
general engagement at some point
near New Brunswick or Elizabeth
town. Until the last he refused to
accept the challenge, and, finding his
enemy unconquerable at Morristown.
and refusing to fight, as body, upon
the lowlands, Howe determined upon
the total evacuation of the Jerseys.
The winter at Morristown was
marked by no military engagements
of more than local Importance, al
though there was constant border
warfare. Early in January 1777,
General Maxwell engaged body of
British troops at Spanktown, now
Railway, as we'll as at Elizabethtown,
and having occupied the latter place.
captured a large amount of supplies.
Toward the latter part of the month
Wing raiders captured quantity of
cattle, wagons, and horses near New