flank about the time Greene's column was CHAP. IV.

commencing a retreat.

These embarrassments, arising entirely from circumstances which would have been overcome by experienced troops, gave the enemy time to recover from the consternation into which they had at first been thrown. General Knyphausen, who commanded their left, detached one battalion to support the chasseurs, and part of the third and fourth brigades under generals Gray and Agnew, to attack the front of the column led by Sullivan which had peпеtrated far into the village, while its left was detained at Chew's house.

1777.

cans repulsed

Some corps from both their right and left attacked the regiments which had penetrated farthest into Germantown, where a part of Muhlenberg's and Scott's brigades were surrounded and made prisoners. The different The Ameribroken parts mistook each other for the enemy, and while a part of Sullivan's division was very warmly engaged, and sanguine hopes of victory were yet entertained, the main body of the army began to retreat.

Great efforts were made to rally the American troops, when this retrogade movement first commenced, but they were ineffectual. A general, confusion prevailed, and the confidence felt in the commencement of the action was entirely lost. With infinite chagrin, general Washington was compelled to relinquish the victory he had thought within his grasp, and

CHAP. IV. turn his attention to the security of his army. 1777. The enemy not having yet recovered sufficiently to endanger his rear, otherwise than by their artillery, the retreat was made without loss.

In this battle, about two hundred Americans were killed, and near three times that number wounded. The most considerable mischief was done from Chew's house, and in German. town, where the regiments which had separated from their brigades suffered severely before they surrendered. About four hundred were made prisoners. Among the killed was general Nash of North Carolina, who fell at the head of his brigade; and among the prisoners, was colonel Mathews of Virginia, whose regiment had penetrated into the centre of the town, and made a large number of prisoners, when they were surrounded and obliged to surrender.

The loss of the enemy as stated in the official report of general Howe, was but little more than five hundred in killed and wounded, of whom, less than one hundred were killed. Among the latter were brigadier general Agnew and colonel Bird.

The grenadiers who had been in Philadelphia, under lord Cornwallis, hastened on the first alarm to the support of their brethren. They ran the whole distance, and reached the field of battle almost breathless and exhausted, just as the action terminated.

Annual Register.

The American army retreated the same day CHAP. IV. about twenty miles to Perkyomy creek, where 1777. it was permitted to take rest and refreshment, and where a small re-enforcement of fifteen hundred militia, and a state regiment from Virginia were received, after which, it again advanced a few miles towards the enemy, and encamped once more on Skippack creek.

The plan of the battle of Germantown must be admitted to have been most judiciously formed, and in its commencement to have been happily conducted. Although general Howe in his official letter states intelligence of the approach of the American army to have been received about three o'clock in the morning, yet there is reason to believe that only small* parties of observation could have been expected, and that the meditated surprise was complete. The camp, part of which was traversed by several American regiments furnished strong evidence of this fact; and it is rendered the more probable by the circumstances attending the march of the re-enforcements from Philadelphia. But to have given the plan success, it was necessary that those intrusted with the execution of its several parts should have adhered strictly to it. It was also neces

CHAP. IV. sary that the utmost vigilance should have 1777. been used to prevent the breaking and separat

ing of the different brigades from each other, and to preserve the smaller parts entire, a duty of great importance, the performance of which was rendered extremely difficult by the numerous enclosures to be passed, and the thickness of the fog.

Major general Stephen who commanded the right of the left wing, was cashiered for misconduct on the retreat and for intoxication. No inquiries appear to have been made into the conduct of other general officers.

Congress expressed in very decided terms their approbation both of the plan of this enterprise and the courage with which it was executed; for which their thanks were given to the general, and the army.

Immediately after the battle of Brandywine, the state of Jersey, had been requested to furnish the army with re-enforcements of its militia; and general Putnam had been ordered to detach fifteen hundred continental troops to cover the Jerseys and an equal number to join the army. The militia of Connecticut were relied on to maintain the very important posts up the North river, which, in consequence of these heavy drafts were left but weakly defended.

These troops were detained some time in Jersey for the defence of that state, which was threatened from New York.

1777.

Sept. 12.

Sir Henry Clinton, who commanded in New CHAP. IV. York, hearing that general Howe had landed at the head of the Chesapeak, readily conjectured that an alarm from the troops under his direction might be useful both to Howe and Burgoyne, by arresting for a time those aids which might be furnished to Washington, or Gates, from the north of the Delaware. With this view, he entered the Jerseys with about three thousand men, in two divisions, commanded the one by general Vaughan, and the other by general Campbell. They crossed at Elizabethtown-point, and at fort Lee, and united not far from the new bridge above Hackensack. They encountered very little opposition, and collected on their way a considerable quantity of fresh provisions. About the 15th, the continental troops from Peck's-Kill under general M'Dougal approached them, and general Dickenson, with very great exertions, was assembling the Jersey militia. On receiving intelligence of the force collecting to oppose him, sir Henry Clinton returned to New York and Staten island, with the cattle he had collected, having lost in this excursion only eight men killed and twice as many wounded.

After it was ascertained that Clinton had evacuated Jersey, general M'Dougal continued his march towards the Delaware, and the utmost exertions were made, both by governor Livingston and general Dickenson, to collect a strong