on Frogs neck, in West Chester county, and soon after advanced to New Rochelle, and made a variety of movements, all calculated to effect this purpose. A few skirmishes took place; but a general action was carefully avoided by Washington, except in one case, in which he had such a manifest advantage, from his position on hills near the White plains, that general Howe declined it. The project of getting in the rear of the American army, was in like manner frustrated by frequent and judicious changes of position. General Howe, failing in his first scheme, varied his plan of operations. His efforts were henceforward directed to an invasion of New Jersey. Washington, penetrating his design, crossed the North river. He wrote to governor Livingston, urging him to put the militia of New Jersey in the best state of preparation to defend their country, and also recommending the removal of stock and provisions from the sea coast. About this time fort Washington was taken by storm, and the garrison, consisting of more than 2000 men, with their commander, colonel Magaw, surrendered prisoners of war. This was the only post held by the Americans on York island, and was an exception to the general plan of evacuating and retreating. Hopes

had

back been indulged that it might be defended, and, in conjunction with fort Lee, on the op posite: Jersey shore, made very useful, in embarrassing the passage of British vessels np and down the North river. This post having fallen, orders for the evacuation of fort Lee were immediately given: but before the stores could be removed, lord Cornwallis crossed North river with 6000 men. Washington, retreating before him, took post along the Hackinsack. His situation there was nearly similar to that which he had abandoned, for he was liable to be enclosed between the Hackinsack and Posaic rivers; he, therefore, on the appearance of the enemy, passed over to New Arkstood his ground there for a few days, as if determined on resistance, but being incapable of any effectual opposition, retreated to Brunswick, on the very day lord Cornwallis entered New Ark. At Brunswick, Washington kept his. troops in motion, and even advanced a small detachment, as if intending to engage the enemy. Nor did he quit this position till their advanced guards were in sight. Lord Stirling was left at Princeton, with 1200 men, to watch the British, and Washington proceeded with the residue to Trenton. There he meant to make a stand. Orders were

previously

previously given to collect and guard all the boats, for seventy miles, on the Delaware. The baggage and stores were also passed over. These being secured, Washington detached 1200 men to Princeton, to keep up the appear ance of opposition, and soon followed, with about 2000 militia who had recently joined him. Before he reached Princeton, intelligence was received, that lord Cornwallis, strongly reinforced, was advancing from Brunswick in different directions, with the apparent design of getting in his rear. An immediate retreat over the Delaware became necessary. This was effected on the 8th of December. Washington secured all his boats on the Pennsylvania side, broke down the bridges, and posted his troops at the different fording places. So keen was the 'pursuit, that as the rear guard of the retreating army embarked, the van of the enemy came in sight. The British, having driven the American army out of Jersey, posted themselves up and down the Delaware, and small parties passed and repassed from one to the other without interruption.

They made some attempts to get boats, but failed: they also repaired some of the bridges, that had been recently destroyed, and pushed forward a strong detachment to Bordenton.

Bordenton. This was intended to increase their chances for crossing, and to embarrass Washington, who could not tell from which of their several positions they would make the attempt. General Putnam was in the meantime sent on to superintend the erection of lines of defence, from the Schuylkill to the Delaware, for the security of Philadel phia. Small redoubts were hastily thrown up to guard the fording places, and Germantown was fixed upon as a place of rendezvous, in case the British should cross and drive the Americans from their extended encamp *ments on the Delaware. This retreat through the Jerseys was attended with almost every circumstance that could occasion embarrassment or depression. Washington was pressed with difficulties on all sides, and could not promise himself adequate support from any quarter. His gloomy prospects were not brightened by any expectations, on the fulfilment of which he could depend. Distrusting, but not despairing, he asked colonel Reed, "Should we retreat to the back parts of Pennsylvania, will the Pennsylva nians support us?" The colonel answered, "If the lower countries are subdued, and givė up, the back counties will do the same." Washington nobly replied " We must re

1

tire to Augusta county, in Virginia; numbers will be obliged to repair to us for safety, and we must try what we can do in carrying on a predatory war, and, if overpowered, we must cross the Alleghany mountains." Washington had no cavalry, but a small corps of badly mounted Connecticut militia, and was almost equally destitute of artillery, while conducting this retreat. It commenced a few days after the reduction of fort Washington, in which the flower of the American army were made prisoners of war. A great part of the retreating troops consisted of those who had garrisoned fort Lee. These had been compelled to abandon their post so suddenly, that they left behind them their tents, blankets, and cooking utensils. In this situa tion they retreated, badly armed, worse clad, and, in many instances, barefooted, in the cold months of November and December, through a desponding country, more disposed to seek safety by submission than resistance. Under all these disadvantages, they performed a march of about ninety miles, and had the address to prolong it to the space of nineteen days, that as much time as possible might be gained for expected reinforcements to arrive. But, as they retreated through the country, scarcely one of the inhabitants