Fort Mifflin

Camp near Potts Grove, September 23, 1777.

Sir: I have not had the honor of addressing you since your adjournment to Lancaster1 and I sincerely wish that my first letter was upon a more agreeable subject. The Enemy, by a variety of perplexing Manoeuvres thro' a Country from which I could not derive the least intelligence, being to a man disaffected, contrived to pass the Schuylkill last Night at the Fatland and other Fords in the Neighbourhood of it. They marched immediately towards Philadelphia and I imagine their advanced parties will be near that City to Night. They had so far got the Start before I recd. certain intelligence that any considerable Number had crossed, that I found it in vain to think of overtaking their Rear with Troops harrassed as ours had been with constant marching since the Battle of Brandywine, and therefore concluded, by the advice of all the General Officers to march from this place to morrow Morning towards Philadelphia, and on the way endeavour to form a junction with the Continental Troops under Genl. McDougall from Peekskill, and the Jersey Militia under General Dickinson, both of whom are I hope on this Side the Delaware.2 I am also obliged to wait for Genl. Wayne and Genl. Smallwood who were left on the other Side of Schuylkill in hopes of falling upon the Enemy's Rear, but they have eluded them as well as us.

When I last recrossed the Schuylkill, it was with a firm intent of giving the Enemy Battle, wherever I should meet them and accordingly advanced as far as the Warren Tavern upon the Lancaster Road, near which place the two Armies were upon the point of coming to a general Engagement but were prevented by a most violent Flood of Rain, which continued all the day and the following Night. When it held up, we had the Mortification to find that our Ammunition, which had been compleated to Forty Rounds a Man, was intirely ruined, and in that Situation we had nothing left for it, but to find out a Strong piece of Ground which we could easily maintain till we could get the Arms put into order and a Recruit of Ammunition. Before this could be fully effected, the Enemy marched from their position near the White Horse Tavern down the Road leading to the Swedes Ford. I immediately crossed the Schuylkill above them and threw myself full in their Front, hoping to meet them in their passage or soon after they had passed the River. The day before Yesterday they were again in Motion and marched rapidly up the Road leading towards Reading. This induced me to beleive that they had two objects in view, one to get round the right of the Army; the other, perhaps to detach parties to Reading, where we had considerable Quantities of military Stores. To frustrate those intentions, I moved the Army up on this side the River to this place, determined to keep pace with them; but early this morning, I received intelligence that they had crossed at the Fords below.3 Why I did not follow immediately I have mentioned in the former part of my letter. But the strongest Reason against being able to make a forced March is the want of Shoes. Messrs. Carroll, Chase and Penn, who were some days with the Army, can inform Congress, in how deplorable a Situation the Troops are for want of that necessary Article, at least one thousand Men are bare looted and have performed the late Marches in that condition. I was told of a great number of Shoes in the hands of private people in Philadelphia and sent down to secure them, but I doubt the approach of the Enemy will prevent it. I have planned a method, of throwing a Garrison into Fort Mifflin; if it suceeds, and they with the Assistance of the Ships and Gallies, should keep the obstructions in the River, Genl Howe's Situation in Philadelphia will not be the most agreeable; for if his supplies can be stopped by Water, it may be easily done by land. To do both, shall be my utmost endeavour, and I am not yet without hope, that the acquisition of Philadelphia may, instead of his good fortune, prove his Ruin.

Genl St. Clair who has been constantly with the Army for some time past, can give you many pieces of information which may have escaped me, and therefore I refer you to him for many particulars.

[If there are any Shoes and Blankets to be had in Lancaster or that part of the Country I earnestly entreat] you to have them taken up for the use of the Army. I have been informed, that there are large parcels of Shoes, in particular there. Finding that the inclosed came from Colo Gibson, I took the liberty of opening it, as I wanted much to know what Route he was taking. I have ordered all the Virginia Militia who are tolerably armed, to come forward and join the Army; those who have no Arms are to wait at Frederick Town in Maryland, till they hear whether any can be provided for them at Lancaster. You will therefore be pleased to make enquiry what number can be procured there, and send an Express to Frederick with orders for as many men to come forward, as there are Arms. I have the honor etc.4

1. 1. After Congress adjourned on September 18 "the president received a letter from Colonel Hamilton, one of General Washington's aids, which intimated the necessity of Congress removing immediately from Philadelphia; Whereupon, the members left the city, and, agreeable to the resolve of the 14 repaired to Lancaster." On September 27 Congress convened at Lancaster and that same day "Adjourned to Yorktown, there to meet on Tuesday next, at 10 o'Clock." (See Journals the Continental Congress.) At York, beyond the Susquehanna, they met on the 30th, and continued their sessions there till the British evacuated Philadelphia, June 18, 1778.
2. 2. See the proceedings of the Council of War, Sept. 23, 1777, and Washington's letter to Lord Stirling, Sept. 25, 1777, post. The Continental Army did not move from Potts Grove until the 26th.
3. 3. At this point the draft, which is in Tilghman's writing, has "This shew of moving up the day before being only a feint."
4. 4. In the writing of Tench Tilghman. The words in brackets, in Washington's writing, were in Tilghman's draft, but unintentionally omitted by him in copying the letter for Washington's signature.