A Letter Addressed to the Abbe Raynal | Page 7

interesting events. The Abbe has
preceded them by two or three pages, on the military operations of both armies, from the
time of General Howe arriving before New York from Halifax, and the vast
reinforcements of British and foreign troops with Lord Howe from England. But in these
there is so much mistake, and so many omissions, that to set them right, must be the
business of history, and not of a letter. The action of Long Island is but barely hinted at;
and the operations at the White Plains wholly omitted: as are likewise the attack and loss
of Fort Washington, with a garrison of about two thousand five hundred men, and the
precipitate evacuation of Fort Lee, in consequence thereof; which losses were in a great
measure the cause of the retreat through the Jersies to the Delaware, a distance of about
ninety miles. Neither is the manner of the retreat described, which, from the season of the
year, the nature of the country, the nearness of the two armies (sometimes within sight
and shot of each other for such a length of way), the rear of the one employed in pulling
down bridges, and the van of the other in building them up, must necessarily be
accompanied with many interesting circumstances.
It was a period of distresses. A crisis rather of danger than of hope, there is no description
can do it justice; and even the actors in it, looking back upon the scene, are surprised how
they got through; and at a loss to account for those powers of the mind and springs of
animation, by which they withstood the force of accumulated misfortune.
It was expected, that the time for which the army was enlisted, would carry the campaign
so far into the winter, that the severity of the season, and the consequent condition of the
roads, would prevent any material operation of the enemy, until the new army could be
raised for the next year. And I mention it, as a matter worthy of attention by all future
historians, that the movements of the American army, until the attack upon the Hessian
post at Trenton, the 26th of December, are to be considered as operating to effect no other
principal purpose than delay, and to wear away the campaign under all the disadvantages
of an unequal force, with as little misfortune as possible.
But the loss of the garrison at Fort Washington, on the 16th of November, and the
expiration of the time of a considerable part of the army, so early as the 30th of the same
month, and which were to be followed by almost daily expirations afterwards, made
retreat the only final expedient. To these circumstances may be added the forlorn and
destitute condition of the few that remained; for the garrison at Fort Lee, which
composed almost the whole of the retreat, had been obliged to abandon it so
instantaneously, that every article of stores and baggage was left behind, and in this
destitute condition, without tent or blanket, and without any other utensils to dress their
provision than what they procured by the way, they performed a march of about ninety
miles, and had the address and management to prolong it to the space of nineteen days.

By this unexpected, or rather unthought of turn of affairs, the country was in an instant
surprised into confusion, and found an enemy within its bowels, without any army to
oppose him. There were no succours to be had, but from the free-will offering of the
inhabitants. All was choice, and every man reasoned for himself.
It was in this situation of affairs, equally calculated to confound or to inspire, that the
gentleman, the merchant, the farmer, the tradesman and the labourer, mutually turned out
from all the conveniencies of home, to perform the duties of private soldiers, and undergo
the severities of a winter campaign. The delay, so judiciously contrived on the retreat,
afforded time for the volunteer reinforcements to join General Washington on the
Delaware.
The Abbe is likewise wrong in saying, that the American army fell accidentally on
Trenton. It was the very object for which General Washington crossed the Delaware in
the dead of night, in the midst of snow, storms, and ice: and which he immediately
re-crossed with his prisoners, as soon as he had accomplished his purpose. Neither was
the intended enterprise a secret to the enemy, imformation [sic] having been sent of it by
letter, from a British Officer at Princeton, to Colonel Rolle, who commanded the
Hessians at Trenton, which letter was afterwards found by the Americans. Nevertheless
the post was completely surprised. A small circumstance, which had the appearance of
mistake on the part of the Americans, led to a more capital and real