The Life of George Washington, Vol. 3 | Page 6

the enemy as
to be of opinion that the issue of the engagement would be, almost
certainly, unfavourable.
General Du Portail, a French officer of considerable reputation,
maintained the same opinions; and the Baron de Steuben concurred in
them. The American officers seem to have been influenced by the
councils of the Europeans; and, of seventeen generals, only Wayne and
Cadwallader were decidedly in favour of attacking the enemy.
Lafayette appeared inclined to that opinion without openly embracing it;
and General Greene was inclined to hazard more than the councils of
the majority would sanction. The country, he thought, must be
protected; and if, in doing so, an engagement should become
unavoidable, it would be necessary to fight.
[Sidenote: The British army evacuate Philadelphia and march through
the Jerseys.]
On the morning of the 18th, Philadelphia was evacuated;[6] and, by
two in the afternoon, all the British troops were encamped on the Jersey
shore, from Cooper's Creek to Red Bank. Although they availed
themselves to a great extent of the transportation by water, yet their line
of march was so lengthened and encumbered by baggage, and the
weather was so intensely hot, that they were under the necessity of
proceeding slowly. Indeed their movements wore the appearance of
purposed delay; and were calculated to favour the opinion that Sir
Henry Clinton was willing to be overtaken, and wished for a general
engagement.
[Footnote 6: As the British army moved down Second street, Captain
M'Lane, with a few light horse and one hundred infantry, entered the
city, and cut off, and captured one Captain, one Provost Marshal, one
guide to the army, and thirty privates, without losing a man.]
As his line of march, until he passed Crosswicks, led directly up the
Delaware, General Washington found it necessary to make an extensive

circuit, and to cross the river at Coryell's Ferry; after which he kept
possession of the high grounds in Jersey, thereby retaining the choice
of bringing on, or avoiding an action.
[Sidenote: June 24.]
As Sir Henry Clinton encamped at, and about, Allentown, the main
body of the American army lay in Hopewell township, about five miles
from Princeton, Major General Dickenson, with about one thousand
militia, and Maxwell's brigade, hung on Sir Henry Clinton's left flank.
General Cadwallader, with Jackson's regiment and a few militia, was in
his rear; and Colonel Morgan with a regiment of six hundred men
watched his right.
[Sidenote: Council of war called by General Washington; decide
against attacking the enemy on the march.]
Notwithstanding the almost concurrent opinion of his general officers
against risking an action, Washington appears to have been strongly
inclined to that measure. He could not be persuaded that, with an army
rather superior in point of numbers to his enemy, too much was
hazarded by fighting him. The situation of the two armies was,
therefore, once more submitted to the consideration of the general
officers, who were asked whether it would be adviseable, of choice, to
hazard a general action? And, if it would, whether it should be brought
on by an immediate general attack, by a partial attack, or by taking such
a position as must compel the enemy to become the assailants?
If the council should be of opinion that it was unadviseable to hazard
an engagement, then he asked what measures could be taken with
safety to the army, to annoy the enemy in his march, should he proceed
through the Jerseys?
The proposition respecting a general action was decidedly negatived.
But it was proposed to strengthen the corps on the left flank of the
enemy with a reinforcement of fifteen hundred men, and to preserve,
with the main body of the army, a relative position which would enable
it to act as circumstances might require.

In pursuance of this opinion, the troops on the lines were strengthened
with a detachment of fifteen hundred select men, commanded by
General Scott; and the army moved forward the next day to Kingston.
[Sidenote: The opinion of the general against this decision.]
[Sidenote: June 25.]
Though the council had been almost unanimous against a general
action, several officers, whose opinions were highly valued, secretly
wished for something more than light skirmishing. Knowing this,
General Washington, who was still in favour of an engagement,
determined to take his measures on his own responsibility. As the
British army moved towards Monmouth court-house, he ordered
Brigadier General Wayne, with an additional detachment of one
thousand select men, to join the advanced corps. As the continental
troops, now constituting the front division, amounted to at least four
thousand men, he deemed it proper that they should be commanded by
a major general. Lee had a right to claim this tour of duty; but, as he
had declared himself openly and strongly against hazarding even a