and woollen stockings as each can spare, for the use of the soldiers under the immediate command of General Washington, in NewJersey; and that they be delivered, as fast as collected, to Mr. Mease, the Continental Commissary:

'That it be recommended to the said Council of Safety, to appoint persons to appraise the blankets and woollen stockings, so collected, as aforesaid, that the value of them may be paid:

That the Committee, who are sent to Camp, be directed to make particular inquiry into the abuses in the medical department in the army, and report thereon to Congress.

November 27. Resolved, That the delegates from the four New England governments be directed to take the most effectual measures to have, at least, 10,000 pair of shoes, and 10,000 pair of stockings, purchased in those States, and sent to General Washington's Head-Quarters, with all possible expedition, for the use of the soldiers under his command.

'Ordered, That the Secret Committee take proper and effectual measures to procure a quantity of hard money, not less than 20,000 dollars, to be lodged in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief, for the purpose of secret services.

'Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the United States, respectively, to pass such laws, as will most effectually tend to prevent the counterfeiting or forging of the tickets of the public lottery.

'Ordered, That the Board of War be directed to detain such companies of the German battalion as have not already marched. November 29. 'Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to provide, as soon as may be, arms and equipage for 3,000 Horse.

'Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to consider and report a proper method for establishing and training Cavalry in this Continent.

November 30. A letter of the 27th, from General Washington, with a list of the prisoners taken by the enemy during the campaign of 1776; and one of the same date from the Council of Safety of New York, were read:

'Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.

'Resolved, That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to have eight carriages for field-pieces got ready, with all possible expedition, at the expense of the Continent; to be delivered as fast as made, to the order of the Board of War.

'Resolved, That the State of New York be empowered to raise another battalion on the Continental establishment:

'That the Convention or Council of Safety of New York be empowered to appoint an Aid-Major to each of the battalions raised by that State, the pay or expense of which to be borne by that State.

'Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to purchase, for the public service, six wagons, with four horses and proper harness to each wagon, and to employ suitable drivers.

The Assembly of Pennsylvania having, by Mr. Morris, informed Congress, that they have appointed a committee of their body to confer with a committee of Congress, on the requisition of Congress, to call forth immediately the Associators of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, and the counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, and Northampton,

"Ordered, That the Board of War confer with the Committee of the Assembly of Pennsylvania on this subject, and agree on such measures as shall be deemed most for the public service.

'Resolved, That the Committee of Intelligence be directed and empowered to establish expresses, to go daily to and from HeadQuarters.

'Resolved, That when any Resolutions are passed which respect the United States, or any of them, or the armies of the said States, they be sent by express, provided the President

shall judge it necessary.

December 1. Congress, on a summons, met this day, when two letters, of the 30th, from General Washington, at Brunswick, were read; whereupon,

'Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to order the German battalion to march immediately to join General Washington; and that the said Board use every measure in their power to expedite their march with all possible despatch:

That the Secret Committee be directed to appoint one or more trusty persons, to proceed immediately to the Eastern States, and see that the clothing and stores, which have been ordered to be purchased for the army, be collected and forwarded to the army, with all possible despatch; and that the said person, or persons, have power, to purchase, or cause to be purchased, such necessary clothing as can be procured in those States, and to have it forwarded to the army:

That General Washington be informed, he has the full approbation of Congress to order the troops, on the east side of Hudson's River, over to the west side of that river, whenever he shall think it conducive to the public service so to do:

'That General Washington be directed to order the clothes which have been, or shall be sent to Head-Quarters, or to any of the camps, to be distributed, first among such of the soldiers as stand most in need of them.'

GENERAL WASHINGTON to GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON.

BRUNSWICK, 1 December, 1776. DEAR SIR,-I wrote to you yesterday; but, as from every information of the motions of the enemy, their intent seems plainly

directed through this State, and then to Philadelphia, I cannot help calling on you, in the most urgent manner, and begging you to fall upon proper means to draw forth the strength of your Province to my support. The enemy's advanced parties were last night at Bonhamtown, four miles on this side of Woodbridge. They are impressing wagons and horses, and collecting cattle and sheep; which is a further proof of their intent to march a consid. erable distance. Unless my force, therefore, is considerably augmented, it will be impossible for me to make any stand at this place, when the enemy advance, as I have not, including General Williamson's militia, more than four thousand men.

* I wrote to General Williamson last night, and pressed him to exert himself; but, I have reason to believe, he has not the confidence of the people so much as could be wished. My accounts of the reinforcements to be expected from Pennsylvania, are very encouraging; but, from the distance and necessary delays attending a sudden march, I cannot look for them under a week or ten days; in which time the enemy will have reached the Delaware; at least if they are not opposed by more than my present numbers. General Lee is on his march down to join me; but, if the enemy should throw in a body of men between us, he will be obliged to make a considerable circuit to avoid them. The boats and craft, all along the Jersey side, should be secured; particularly the Durham boats, used for the transportation of produce down the river. Parties should be sent to all the landings, to have them removed to the other side, hauled up, and put under proper guards. One such boat would transport a regiment of men.

'I am, &c.'

Wash. Writ.

SAME to GENERAL LEE.

Sparks, vol. iv. p. 197.

BRUNSWICK, 1 December, 1776. 'DEAR SIR,The enemy are advancing, and have got as far as Woodbridge and Amboy, and, from information not to be doubted, they mean to push for Philadelphia. The force I have with me is infinitely inferior in numbers, and such as cannot give or promise the least successful opposition. It is greatly reduced by the departure of the Maryland Flying Camp, and by sundry other causes. I must entreat you to hasten your march as much as possible, or your arrival may be too late to answer any valuable purpose. I cannot particularize either your route, or the place at which you will join me. In these respects you must be governed by circumstances, and the intelligence you receive. I hope to meet a considerable reinforcement of Pennsylvania Associators. It is said they seem spirited upon this occasion.

'I am, dear Sir, yours, &c.'

SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. BRUNSWICK, 1 December, 1776. 'SIR,I yesterday had the honor of writing you, and to advise you of our arrival here. I am now to inform you that the enemy are still advancing, and that their vanguard had proceeded as far as [Bonhamtown,] a small town about four miles this side of Woodbridge, according to my last intelligence. As to their number, reports are various.

'I have for some time past supposed Philadelphia to be the object of their movement, and have every reason to believe my opinion well founded. I have written to Governor Livingston upon the subject, requesting his utmost exertions to forward on every succor in his power. The same, I trust, will be attended to in Pennsylvania. Without a sufficient number of men and arms, their progress cannot be checked. At present our force is totally inadequate to any attempt.

*

'I have sent forward Colonel Humpton to collect proper boats and craft at the ferry for transporting the troops; and it will be of infinite importance to have every other craft, besides what he takes for the above purpose, secured on the west side of the Delaware; otherwise they may fall into the enemy's hands and facilitate their views. I have the honor to be, &c.'

'P. S. Half after one o'clock, P. M.- The enemy are fast advancing; some of them are now in sight. All the men of the Jersey Flying Camp under General Heard, being applied to, have refused to continue longer in service.'

Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 327.

Wash. Writ.

SAME to the SAME.

EIGHT MILES FROM BRUNSWICK, 1 December, 1776.

Half after seven, P. M.

}

SIR, In a little time after I wrote you this evening, the enemy appeared in several parties on the heights opposite Brunswick, and were advancing in a large body towards the crossing place. We had a smart cannonade whilst we were parading our men, but without any or but little loss on either side. It being impossible to oppose them with our present force with the least prospect of success, we shall retreat to the west side of the Delaware, (and have advanced about eight miles,) where it is hoped we shall meet a reinforcement sufficient to check their progress. I have sent Colonel Humpton forward to collect the necessary boats for our transportation, and conceive it proper that the militia from Pennsylvania should be ordered towards Trenton, that they may be ready to join us, and act as occasion may require.

'I am, Sir, your most obedient servant.

'P. S. I wish my letters of yesterday may arrive safe, being

informed that the return express, who had them, was idling his time, and showing them on the road.'

Ibid. p. 328.

IN CONGRESS, December 2. A letter, of the 1st, from General Washington, was read:

'Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, and that they communicate the contents to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, and take such measures, in consequence thereof, as they shall judge proper.

'Captain Montgomery having offered his service, with that of his crew, as an artillery company,

'Resolved, That they be taken into the service of the Continent for two months, unless sooner discharged:

'That Mr. J. Mease be directed to advance one month's pay to Captain Montgomery's men, upon their enlisting, and that a like advance be made to the other companies of artillery :

'That the Board of War be directed to purchase, immediately, ten or twelve covered wagons for the artillery.

'Resolved, That the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to send expresses immediately to the counties that have been desired to send forth their Associators, urging them forthwith to march, in order to oppose the hasty advances of the enemy.

'Resolved, That it be recommended to the Governor and Council of Virginia, to take the most effectual measures for purchasing and collecting, for Continental use, all the copper and other materials fit for casting brass field-artillery, that can be got in that State, and that Congress will defray the cost and expense of the same.

'A letter, of the 1st, from General Washington, was read: 'Resolved, That it be recommended to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, to send immediately one of their galleys along the Jersey shore, between this and Trenton, to bring over all the river craft, vessels and boats from the Jersey to the Pennsylvania side of Delaware, in order to prevent their becoming serviceable to the enemy, in their attempts to cross the said river:

'That it be earnestly recommended to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, to order the battalions of this city immediately to march and join General Washington:

That the said Council of Safety be requested to furnish the Wagonmaster-General with one thousand wagons for the use of the army; and, as in the present emergency of public affairs, such a supply of wagons is absolutely necessary, that it be recommended to the said Council of Safety to impress the wagons, if they cannot be otherwise speedily procured.

'Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be directed to receive from Mr. Hyman Levy the goods in his hands purchased for the State of New York, paying him the balance due for the said goods, [and