Judge Jay related the following incident: "A short time before the death of John Adams, I was conversing with my father about the American Revolution. Suddenly he remarked:
""Ah, William! The history of that Revolution will never be known.
n.o.body now alive knows it but John Adams and myself."
""You surprise me, father; to what can you refer?"
""The proceedings of the old Congress."
""What proceedings?"
""Those against Washington; from first to last there was a bitter party against him.""
The "old Congress" sat with closed doors, so that the public learned only what it was wise to disclose.
Washington waited for recruits at Brunswick until the 1st of December.
On that day the vanguard of the British army appeared on the opposite side of the Raritan. Washington destroyed the end of the bridge next to the village, to intercept the pursuit of the enemy, and retreated.
Stopping at Princeton temporarily, he left twelve hundred troops there, under Lord Stirling and General Stephens, to keep an eye on the foe, and continued his retreat to Trenton.
While the American army decreased from week to week, the British army in pursuit was augmented; for, through the Jerseys, General Howe impressed men, horses, and wagons, and at the same time many Tories flocked to his standard. He issued a proclamation, also, offering pardon and protection to all citizens who would take the oath of allegiance to the king. There was so little hope of the American cause at that time, and Washington"s army appeared so plainly to be near destruction, that many citizens took the oath and joined the British army, as they thought, from absolute necessity. "Many who had been prominent in the cause, hastened to take advantage of this proclamation," says Irving. "Those who had the most property to lose were the first to submit; the middle ranks remained generally steadfast in this time of trial."
A British officer wrote to his friends in London:
"The rebels continue flying before our army. Lord Cornwallis took the fort opposite Brunswick, plunged into Raritan River, and seized the town.... Such a panic has seized the rebels that no part of the Jerseys will hold them, and I doubt whether Philadelphia itself will stop their career. The Congress have lost their authority.... They are in such consternation that they know not what to do. The two Adamses are in New England; Franklin gone to France; Lynch has lost his senses; Rutledge has gone home disgusted; Dana is persecuting at Albany; and Jay is in the country, playing as bad a part, so that the fools have lost the a.s.sistance of the knaves."
"This," says Sparks, "was the gloomiest period of the war. The campaign had been little else than a series of disasters and retreats. The enemy had gained possession of Rhode Island, Long Island, the city of New York, Staten Island, and nearly the whole of the Jerseys, and seemed on the point of extending their conquests into Pennsylvania. By the fatal scheme of short enlistments, and by sickness, the effective force with General Washington had dwindled away, till it hardly deserved the name of an army."
Still Washington was hopeful, and expected that the cause of right would triumph. When and how he could not tell; but he continued to say, "That Providence which has brought us out of many difficulties will yet crown our righteous cause with success."
"I expected substantial aid from the Jerseys," he said to General Mercer. "I am disappointed that the people have not flocked to our standard."
"I am more than disappointed," replied Mercer; "I am shocked and vexed at the cowardice of the people."
"What think you," continued Washington, "if we should retreat to the back part of Pennsylvania, would the Pennsylvanians support us?"
The mountainous regions of Pennsylvania were the field of his early exploits against the French and Indians, and Mercer was with him there.
"If the lower counties give up, the back counties will do the same,"
Mercer answered in a desponding way.
"We must then retire to Augusta County, Virginia," responded Washington, his indomitable spirit rising superior to all discouragements. "Numbers will repair to us for safety, and we will try a predatory war. If overpowered, we must cross the Alleghanies."
Before this time, Colonel Reed said to him one day, "When shall we stop this everlasting retreating and make a stand?"
Washington answered, without the least show of resentment:
"If it becomes necessary, we will retreat over every river and mountain in America."
Such an unconquerable spirit receives its reward at last.
Lee did not leave Northcastle until the last of November. True, he ordered General Heath to a movement that he claimed would support Washington; but when General Heath found that Lee was not obeying the orders of the commander-in-chief, he refused to entertain his commands.
"I am amenable to the commander-in-chief, and cannot supply you with troops as you order," he said.
"In point of _law_ you are right," said Lee, "but in point of policy I think you are wrong. I am going into the Jerseys for the salvation of America; I wish to take with me a larger force than I now have, and request you to order two thousand of your men to march with me."
"I cannot spare that number."
"Then order one thousand."
"No, not a thousand."
"How many, then?" continued Lee.
"Not one," answered Heath. "I may as well bring this matter to a point at once; not a single man will I furnish from this post by _your_ order."
"Then," exclaimed Lee in an excited manner, "I will order them myself."
"That makes a wide difference," rejoined Heath. "You are my senior, but I have received positive written instructions from him who is superior to us both, and I will not _myself_ break those orders. Read them."
He handed Washington"s letter to Lee, in which he positively forbade the removal of any troops from that post.
"The commander-in-chief is now at a distance," said Lee, after reading the letter, "and he does not know what is necessary here as well as I do."
Turning to Major Huntington, Lee said authoritatively:
"You will order two regiments (designating the two) to march early to-morrow morning to join me."
General Heath was surprised and indignant at Lee"s a.s.sumption of authority, and he said to the major, "Issue such orders at your peril!"
Then turning to Lee, he added:
"Sir, if you come to this post, and mean to issue orders here which will break the positive ones I have received I pray you do it completely yourself, and through your own deputy adjutant-general, who is present, and not draw me or any of my family in as partners in the guilt."
"It is right," answered Lee. "Colonel Scammel, do you issue the order."
"I have one more request to make," interrupted General Heath, "and that is, that you will be pleased to give me a certificate that you _exercise command_ at this post, and order from it these regiments."
Lee objected, but General George Clinton, who was present, said:
"That is a very reasonable request, General Lee, and surely you cannot refuse it."
Without replying, he immediately wrote the following:
"For the satisfaction of General Heath, and at his request, I do certify that I am commanding officer, at this present writing, in this post, and that I have, in that capacity, ordered Prescott"s and Wyllis" regiments to march."
The next morning General Lee rode up to Heath"s door, and said:
"Upon further consideration I have concluded not to take the two regiments with me. You may order them to return to their former post."