John Haslet's World by David Price

Author:David Price [Price, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781682619469
Publisher: Permuted
Published: 2020-09-09T22:26:56+00:00

By December 8, Washington’s entire force had been transported to the west side of the Delaware River after a crossing that took several days to complete, and its various contingents began to spread their encampments over some twenty-five miles of Bucks County countryside. The army had dwindled to about ten percent of its original strength from a combination of casualties, disease, desertions, and expired enlistments, and had sustained serious material damage as well. The British reaped huge benefits from their New York campaign: 4,500 prisoners, almost 3,000 muskets, nearly 250 cannons, and 17,000 cannonballs.14 Moreover, Washington faced the prospect of large-scale departures among his remaining men when their one-year enlistments expired on December 31. Many lacked proper clothing, shoes, stockings, and blankets as freezing winter temperatures enveloped them. This collection of citizen-soldiers was exhausted, hungry, and tattered—and dispirited with the realization that it had been defeated in every major action to date and had found it necessary to retreat on each such occasion.15

By employing a deft combination of adroit maneuvers and limited yet largely successful encounters, General Howe had compelled Washington to withdraw from Long Island, then New York City, Harlem Heights, Westchester, and White Plains—and eventually from New Jersey into Pennsylvania, with Cornwallis nipping at his heels. Sir William reasoned that when enlistments for the bulk of Washington’s troops expired at year’s end, the obvious futility of the rebel cause would thwart the recruitment of a new army.16

In what was regarded by many as a further blow to the Patriot enterprise, Washington’s second-in-command, General Lee, was overtaken by British dragoons on December 13 at a tavern near Basking Ridge, New Jersey. His force, camped nearby, had been making glacial progress in its march across New Jersey, while Washington fired off dispatches to Lee to rejoin him with all possible speed. And the day after Lee’s capture, the Continental Congress—in anticipation of Howe’s assault—fled from Philadelphia to Baltimore, joining the exodus of city residents who hurried to the countryside by the thousands, seeking refuge from the expected arrival of the King’s troops.

It seemed that the rebellion was near collapse. New York had been conquered by the Crown’s forces and much of New Jersey as well. In addition, General Clinton had led a triumphant Anglo-German invasion of Rhode Island that captured the key port city of Newport in early December, leaving three colonies under enemy occupation. To the British military leadership, the Continental forces appeared on the verge of disintegration. Captain Francis Lord Rawdon gave voice to this view when he opined that “their army is broken all to pieces” and “it is well nigh over with them.”17

Ensign Peter Jaquett of the Delaware Regiment reflected the bleak mood among many Americans: “A thick cloud of darkness and gloom covered the land and despair was seen in almost every countenance.”18 Indeed, some of Washington’s own officers and members of Congress shared increasing doubts about his judgment and leadership. The most urgent issue facing the commander-in-chief was to generate a flow of new

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