Letter George Washington to Continental Congress, December 29, 1776
The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 06
Sir: I am just setting out, to attempt a second passage over the Delaware, with the Troops that were with me on the Morning of the 26th. I am determined to effect it, if possible, but know that it will be attended with much fatigue and difficulty, on account of the Ice, which will neither allow us to cross on foot or give us an easy passage for the Boats. Genl Cadwallader crossed from Bristol on the 27th and by his Letter of Yesterday, was at BordenTown with about Eighteen Hundred Men. (7) In addition to these Genl. Mifflin sent over Five Hundred
[Note 7: General Cadwalader wrote to Washington at 10 o'clock the morning of December 27, from Burlington, N.J., that he had crossed with a considerable part of his 1,500 Pennsylvania Militia before being informed that Washington had recrossed into Pennsylvania. "This defeated the Scheme of joining your Army; we were much embarrassed which way to proceed. I thought it most prudent to retreat; but Colonel Reed was of opinion, that we might safely proceed to Burlington, and recommended it warmly, lest it should have a bad effect on the militia, who were twice disappointed. The Landing in open daylight must have alarmed the Enemy, or we might have been cut off by all their Force collected to this place. We had intelligence immediately afterwards, that the Enemy had left the Black Horse and Mount Holly. Upon this we determined to proceed to Burlington. Colonel Reed and two other officers went on from one post to another, till they came to Bordentown, where they found the Coast clear. We shall march at four to-morrow morning for that place."]from Philadelphia on Friday, Three Hundred Yesterday Evening from Burlington and will follow to day with 7 or 800 more. I have taken every precaution in my power for subsisting of the Troops, and shall without loss of time and as soon as circumstances will admit of, pursue the Enemy in their retreat, try to beat up more of their Quarters and in a word, in every instance adopt such measures as the exigency of our affairs requires and our situation will justify. Had it not been for the unhappy failure of Genls. Ewing and Cadwallader in their attempts to pass on the Night of the 25. and if the several concerted attacks, could have been made, I have no doubt but that our views would have succeeded to our warmest expectations. What was done, occasioned the Enemy to leave their Several Posts on the Delaware with great precipitation. The peculiar distresses to which the Troops who were with me were reduced, by the severities of Cold, rain, Snow and Storm, the charge of the Prisoners they had taken, and another reason that might be mentioned, and the little prospect of receiving further succours, on account of the Season and situation of the River, would not authorize a further pursuit at that time. Since transmitting the List of Prisoners, a few more have been discovered and taken in Trentown, among them a Lieut. Colo. and a Deputy Adjutant General. The whole amounting to about a Thousand.
I have been honoured with your Letter of the 23d. and its several Inclosures, to which I shall pay due attention. A Flag goes in this Morning with a Letter to Genl. Howe and another to Genl Lee. For the latter, Rob. Morris Esq has transmitted a Bill of Exchange, drawn by Two British Officers for £116:9:3 on Major Small for Money furnished them in South Carolina which I trust will be paid. This supply is exclusive of the Sum you have resolved to be sent him and which Mr Morris will procure in time. I have the honor etc.
P.S. I am under great apprehensions about obtaining proper supplies of Provision for our Troops. I fear it will be extremely difficult, if not impracticable, as the Enemy, from every account has taken and collected every thing they could find (.8)
[Note 8: In the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison. The draft, also in Harrison's writing, has minor verbal variations from the letter sent.]
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(gw060344))