send them,] together with those he has now ready, to General Washington, taking especial care that they be sent in so safe and secure a manner as to avoid any danger of falling into the hands of the enemy.'

SECRET JOURNAL, December 2. Resolved, That the Committee for establishing Expresses be directed to send Colonel Stewart, or any other officer, express to General Lee, to know where and in what situation he and the army with him are.'

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

PRINCETON, 2 December, 1776. 'SIR, I arrived here this morning with our troops between eight and nine o'clock, when I received the honor of your letter of the first, with its enclosure.

'When the enemy first landed on this side the North River, I apprehended that they meant to make a push this way; and knowing that the force which I had was not sufficient to opposé them, I wrote to General Lee to cross with the several Continental regiments in his division, and hoped he would have arrived before now. By some means or other he has been delayed. I suppose he has passed the river, as his letter of the 26th ultimo mentioned that he had marched a brigade the day before, and should follow the next himself. The remainder of the troops, I conceived necessary to guard the several passes through the Highlands; nor do I think they can be called from thence. Their number is very small, being reduced to very few by the departure of the troops who stood engaged till the 30th ultimo.

'I understand there are now at Bristol several prisoners. As their exchange at this time cannot be effected with propriety, I think it will be necessary, under the present situation of affairs, to have them removed immediately to some more interior place, upon their paroles. If they remain, they may be of infinite disadvantage. I have the honor to be, &c.'

To this letter, in the London edition, from which it is taken, is subjoined the following:-' On the outside of the foregoing letter, appears the following line, to Mr. Peters, Secretary to the Board of War.'

"Sir, despatch an express immediately, to have the prisoners at Bristol removed. R. H. HARRISON."

IN CONGRESS, December 3, 1776. A letter, of the 2d, from General Washington; one, of the same date, from Adjutant-General Reed, and one from J. Mease, were read.

'Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to have the prisoners, now at Bristol, removed from thence back into the country.

'Resolved, That Mr. J. Mease be empowered and directed to settle with and pay the militia of the Maryland Flying Camp:

'That such of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the said troops as will enlist for three years, be immediately clothed, and that Mr. Mease be directed to detain as many of the clothes, now in his hands, as will be necessary for that purpose:

'That each of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Maryland militia, who will not enlist for three years, but will engage to march to the immediate reinforcement of General Washington, and remain under his command one month, be supplied by Mr. Mease with a shirt, a pair of shoes, and a pair of stockings, on paying for the same:

That such of the militia as shall engage to serve to the 10th of March next, unless sooner discharged by Congress, be entitled to a pair of shoes and stockings, and to the same rations and the same monthly pay with the other troops on the Continental establishment, to commence from the time of their enrolment; and that one month's pay be advanced to each volunteer, upon his en

rolment.

'Resolved, That the officers of the Maryland troops be requested immediately to parade those troops, and to use their utmost influence to persuade their adoption of the terms proposed by Congress.'

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

HEAD-QUARTERS, Trenton, 3 December, 1776. 'SIR, I arrived here myself yesterday morning, with the main body of the army, having left Lord Stirling with two brigades at Princeton and that neighborhood, to watch the motions of the enemy and give notice of their approach.

*

Immediately on my arrival here I ordered the removal of all the military and other stores and baggage over the Delaware; a great quantity is already got over; and as soon as the boats come up from Philadelphia, we shall load them; by which means I hope to have everything secured this night and to-morrow, if we are not disturbed. After being disencumbered of my baggage and stores, my future situation will depend entirely upon circumstances.

I have not heard a word from General Lee since the 26th of last month; which surprises me not a little, as I have despatched daily expresses to him, desiring to know when I might look for him. This makes me fearful that my letters have not reached him. I am informed by report, that General St. Clair has joined him, with three or four regiments from the Northward.

I look out earnestly for the reinforcement from Philadelphia. I am in hopes, that, if we can draw a good head of men together, it will give spirits to the militia of this State, who have

as yet afforded me little or no assistance; nor can I find that they are likely to do much. General Heard has just informed me, that a person, on whose veracity he can depend, has reported to him. that on Sunday last, he counted a hundred and seventeen sail of ships going out of the Hook. You may depend upon being advised instantly of any further movement in the enemy's army or mine. I have the honor to be, &c.'

Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 330.

TRENTON, 3 December, 1776. ‘Dear Sir, —I was just now favored with your letter of the 30th ultimo. Having written to you fully both yesterday and today concerning my situation, it is unnecessary for me to add much at this time. You will readily agree, that I have sufficient cause for my anxiety, and for wishing your arrival as early as possible. In respect to instructions on your route, you must be governed by circumstances. This has been the language of all my letters, since I had occasion to call for your aid. The sooner you can join me with your division, the sooner the service will be benefited. As to bringing any of the troops under General Heath, I cannot consent to it. The posts they are at, and the passes through the Highlands, being of the utmost importance, they must be guarded by good men. I would have you give me frequent advices of your approach. Upon proper information in this instance much may depend. I am, &c.'

Wash. Writ.

Sparks, vol. iv. p. 200.

SAME to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

TRENTON, 4 December, 1776. 'SIR, Since I had the honor of addressing you yesterday, I received a letter from General Lee. On the 30th ultimo he was at Peekskill, and expected to pass the river with his division two days after. From this intelligence you will readily conclude, that he will not be able to afford us any aid for several days.

'The inclosed is a copy of a letter which came to hand last night from Major Clark, to which I beg leave to refer you for the intelligence it contains. The number of the enemy said to be embarked is supposed to be rather exaggerated. That there has been an embarkation, is not to be doubted, it being confirmed through various channels.'

Lond. ed. vol. i. p. 331.

Wash. Writ.

SAME to RICHARD PETERS, Secretary to the Board of War. HEAD-QUARTERS, TRENTON, 4 December, 1776. 'SIR, I yesterday received a letter from you without a date, mentioning that the prisoners from Yorktown were directed to halt at Newtown for my orders.* On hearing they were there, I sent Colonel Moylan to conduct them and the prisoners from Reading, who arrived nearly at the same time, over towards Brunswick, and deliver them in.

'I hope you have not sent Captain Price, Lieutenant Peacock, and Major Campbell, on to this place, as it is highly improper they should see and know the situation of our army here and at Princeton.

'Lieutenant Symes came over to me at Brunswick from Bethlehem without the least guard or escort; and a lieutenant of the seventh regiment went through our whole army, and was at last discovered by a mere accident. He had a pass from the Council of Safety, and that was all. Such an irregular mode of suffering prisoners to go in alone must be put a stop to, or the enemy will be as well acquainted with our situation as we are ourselves. If they are left at liberty to choose their own route, they will always take that through our army, for reasons too obvious to mention.

I am, Sir, &c.'

'I have been obliged to send down a number of our sick to Philadelphia, to make room for the troops, and to remove them out of the way. Be pleased to have some care taken to have them properly accommodated.'

Ibid. p. 332.

IN CONGRESS, December 4, 1776. A letter, of the 3d, from General Washington, was read.

'Resolved, That it be recommended to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, to detain from marching with the militia, the printers engaged in printing certificates for the Continental Loan-Offices, and to direct them to continue executing the business in which they are employed.

December 5. A letter, of the 4th, from General Washington, enclosing a copy of a letter from Major Clark, was read.

'Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the Council of Safety of Pennsylvania, to procure the use of the Pennsylvania Hospital, for the purpose of accommodating the sick belonging to the Continental army.

'Some inhabitants of New Jersey being sent under guard to Philadelphia, charged with the crime of enlisting men for General Howe, and some, of enlisting themselves in the service of the

enemy,

* Prisoners to be exchanged.

'Resolved, That they be sent under guard to Frederick, in Maryland, there to be safely confined, and that, until they can be sent away, they be kept confined in the State Prison in Philadelphia.

'Resolved, That Captain Ottendorf be directed to raise an independent corps, consisting of 150 men, sergeants and corporals. included.

That the Board of War write to the General, and desire him to send Isaac Corren, of the artillery, to Philadelphia.'

GENERAL WASHINGTON to the PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. TRENTON, 5 December, 1776. SIR, AS nothing but necessity obliged me to retire before the enemy, and leave so much of the Jerseys unprotected, I conceive it my duty and it corresponds with my inclination, to make head against them so soon as there shall be the least probability of doing it with propriety. That the country might in some measure be covered, I left two brigades consisting of the five Virginia regiments and that of Delaware, containing in the whole about twelve hundred men fit for duty, under the command of Lord Stirling and General Stephen, at Princeton, till the baggage and stores could cross the Delaware, or the troops under their respective commands should be forced from thence. I shall now, having removed the greatest part of the above articles, face about with such troops as are here fit for service, and march back to Princeton, and there govern myself by circumstances and the movements of General Lee. At any event, the enemy's progress may be retarded by this means, if they intend to come on, and the people's fears in some measure quieted, if they should not. Sorry I am to observe, however, that the frequent calls upon the militia of this State, the want of exertion in the principal gentlemen of the country, or a fatal supineness and insensibility of danger till it is too late to prevent an evil that was not only foreseen but foretold, have been the causes of our late disgraces.

'If the militia of this State had stepped forth in season, (and timely notice they had,) we might have prevented the enemy's crossing the Hackinsac, although without some previous notice of the time and place, it was impossible to have done this at the North River. We might with equal probability of success have made a stand at Brunswick on the Raritan. But as both these rivers were fordable in a variety of places, being knee deep only, it required many men to defend the passes; and these we had not.. At Hackinsac our force was insufficient, because a part was at Eliza. bethtown, Amboy and Brunswick, guarding a coast, which I thought most exposed to danger; and at Brunswick, because I was disappointed in my expectation of militia, and because, on the day of the enemy's approach, (and probably the occasion of it,) the